#carl Bonham
Council Committee opens budget deliberations with Finance Department review
The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee launched its first day of fiscal year 2027 deliberations on Wednesday in Council Chambers, beginning with an overview from the Department of Finance.
Economist warns council of vulnerable economy ahead of budget deliberations
University of Hawaiʻi economist Carl Bonham warned Maui County Council members Wednesday that a stagnant job market and a precarious reliance on wealthy tourists leave the county vulnerable as it begins annual budget deliberations.
UHERO analysis of vacation rental phase-out forecasts mixed results, widespread impacts
While Maui County’s proposed vacation rental phase-out in apartment-zoned districts could potentially unlock more than 6,000 transient vacation rental units for residential housing, the “bold attempt to rebalance Maui’s housing market” also risks widespread economic disruption, including 1,900 job layoffs and a $900 million loss in visitor spending, according to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic […]
Flip-flopping tariffs create confusion, price uncertainty for builders in Lahaina
Contractors worry a rise in costs could make it harder for people to afford rebuilding burned homes.
UHERO forecast: Federal cuts raise risk of Hawaiʻi economic downturn
The clearest near-term risk is federal layoffs, which could result in a loss of more than 2,000 local jobs, fully offsetting growth in construction and the lift from local tax cuts. Together with other federal policies, this places the Hawaiʻi economy at risk of recession over the next few years, UHERO reports.
Mānoa: Food insecurity a major driver of mental health challenges in Hawaiʻi, study finds
Food insecurity is a key driver of poor mental health in Hawaiʻi, according to a new study by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers.
Council’s $300,000 vacation rental phase-out study strays off course
A Maui County Council plan to contract its own study of the economic impacts of Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed phase-out of Maui County vacation rentals has fallen to the wayside, and Council legislative analysts will conduct research in-house instead.
Maui condo resales continue downward slide in January; median prices also fall
The median sales price of a condominium in Maui County has fallen to $675,000, the lowest level in two years. Meanwhile, condo resales volume has been down in the double-digit percentage points for eight of the last nine months.
‘Slow progress’ ahead for Maui County’s economy with tourism lagging
With visitors choosing to go elsewhere, Maui County can expect “slow progress” in its economic recovery in the wake of the August 2023 wildfire disaster, according to economics professor Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.
Maui wildfire survey uncovers alarming rise in poverty, housing instability for fire survivors
Maui households living below the poverty line has more than doubled since the August 2023 Maui wildfires, one of the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s findings in a new survey of fire-affected residents.
Lahaina fire leads to disappearing tourism jobs, desperately needed construction workers
Demand for constructor workers and contractors is outpacing the need in Lahaina, where a massive rebuild effort is just getting started.
Maui committee to receive presentation on post-wildfire economic overview from UHERO director
The Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee will receive a presentation at its meeting Tuesday at 9 a.m. regarding the wildfire impacts and forecasts on Maui County’s economy from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.
UHERO forecast: State faces headwinds, Maui recovery is ongoing
UHERO forecast: “There remain a host of uncertainties surrounding Maui’s future recovery path, including how fast residents can be moved from hotels to more permanent housing, the speed of ongoing cleanup work, the extent and duration of support programs, and how long and in what fashion rebuilding will occur.”
UHERO: ‘Wildfires deliver heavy blow to Maui economy,’ rebuilding challenges detailed
The report shows Maui lost more than $13 million of visitor spending each day in the weeks following the fire. With the planned Oct. 8 reopening of unaffected West Maui resort areas, economists are not anticipating a rush to travel, but a gradual recovery instead.
Relief may be in sight for Hawaiʻi food, rent prices; new UHERO forecast more optimistic
Relief may be in sight for Hawai’i at-home food prices, gas, new and used cars — and even rent, according to the latest economic forecast released today by University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.
Hawaiʻi sees more out-of-state homebuyers; Canadians, Californians purchase on Maui
More out-of-state residents bought Hawaiʻi houses in the first three quarters of last year compared with the same time in previous years, according to a state report.
New report: Hawaiʻi may dodge US recession, but Maui, Kauaʻi will feel brunt of downturn
University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s economic forecast released today predicts a mild recession for the US in the first half of next year. One silver lining is that Hawai’i may escape those impacts, thanks to the return of Japanese visitors. However, Maui County and Kauaʻi will likely feel the brunt of the downturn because of their reliance on US Mainland tourism, which is already slowing, Dr. Carl Bonham, UHERO executive director, said during a news conference Thursday.
Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association donates $1 million for UH health economic professorship
The Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association donated $1 million to establish the HMSA Distinguished Endowed Professorship in Health Economics at the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization. The endowment will support UHERO’s research in the area of health economics.
UHERO Executive Projects 30K Drop in Hawai‘i Population by 2022
Hawaiʻi’s population is expected to drop by about 30,000 people by 2022, according to projections by Carl Bonham, Executive Director of University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.
UHERO Projects 75% of Local Hawai‘i Economy Could Be Regained by End of Year
Carl Bonham, Executive Director of University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO), said he expects visitors will begin returning to Hawaiʻi during the 3rd quarter at levels about 28% of those from previous years and that number could be up to 50% by the end of the year. He expects that we will have regained about 100,000 jobs by the end of the year but will still have double digit percentage unemployment.
