#Economic Development

The 2026 Hawaiʻi–Japan Sister Summit concluded yesterday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort, bringing together more than 350 participants – including nearly 30 governors, vice governors and mayors – from Hawaiʻi and Japan – for dialogue, cultural exchange and policy collaboration. 

In his address, he highlighted Maui County’s continued progress across housing, recovery, well-being and economic stability, while outlining actions to strengthen communities and build a resilient future.

The County of Maui Office of Economic Development is encouraging Maui County businesses to participate in the Maui Nui Business Health Check, a countywide survey focused on understanding current business conditions and identifying opportunities that support recovery, stability and long-term growth. 

The original law enhances and integrates Native tourism, empowers Native communities, and expands unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States. The bill passed by the US Senate in December, makes key updates to the existing law that will help improve the program and make it easier for Native communities to access federal resources.

A new list of laws take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. House Speaker Nadine K. Nakamura shared a list of laws that go into effect in the New Year.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee arrived on Lānaʻi to receive updates on economic development and sustainability efforts from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

In 2024, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) helped secure more than $6 billion in federal funding for Hawai‘i as he led efforts to deliver resources to support Maui’s recovery from last year’s fires and advance a range of other priorities for the state.

Earlier this week, members of the Hawaiʻi State government attended the National Forum on Education Policy in Washington D.C.

The Hawaiʻi State Senate Committee on Ways and Means passed out several bills aimed at addressing key priorities for the Senate, including bills to assist in wildfire recovery, agriculture, economic development, homelessness and housing.

With the 32nd State Legislature set to begin on Jan. 17, the Hawaiʻi Senate Majority said it is focused on addressing a range of issues, with a key focus on supporting ongoing disaster recovery efforts following the devastating Maui wildfires.

Governor Josh Green, M.D. delivered his inaugural State of the State Address to a joint session of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in the House Chamber Monday morning.

Honolulu County remains the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.8%, with the Big Island at 4.1% and Kaua’i at 4.4%.

Councilmember and Presiding Officer Pro Tempore Tasha Kama (Kahului Residency District) today announced that both of the resolutions she introduced at the annual conference of the National Association of Counties were passed by voting delegates into NACo’s federal policy package.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s has announced the officers for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board for Fiscal Year 2022/23. 

The council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee will discuss the findings and recommendations of its Tourism Management and Economic Development Temporary Investigative Group—including a proposal to establish caps on all transient accommodations.

The “Business Matters” show is hosted by Pamela Tumpap, President of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, who welcomes business, government and community leaders to share information and insight on Maui’s “sustainable quadruple bottom-line efforts” to embrace the island’s economy, environment, social wellbeing and our culture.

The 260,618 visitors to Maui in June 2021 contributed $503 million to the local economy, which is 5.4% more than the $477 million spent by the 295,926 tourists who came to the island pre-pandemic in June 2019.

Mayor Michael Victorino’s draft testimony before the Maui Council’s Economic Development and Budget Committee on the the Wailuku Civic Complex.

The state department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) released a report on Thursday that analyzes the impact that international students have on Hawaii’s economy.  DBEDT’s Research and Economic Analysis Division (READ) prepared the report, while the Business Development & Support Division (BDSD) led the state’s efforts for international student exchange. The report, or […]

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released a report on Top 20 Occupations in Hawaiʻi. Retail Sales Workers topped the list at 42,445 workers in 2016, which accounted for 5.9% of Hawaiʻi’s civilian workforce