#DBEDT

Maui County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.1% in September from 2.9% in August, according to figures the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released Monday.

Newly released data highlights potential for a deeper Hawaiʻi-Japan economic partnership. The 2026 Hawai‘i–Japan Economic Report is the first comprehensive analysis of its kind since 1998.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is encouraging Hawai‘i small businesses to take part in the Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey, now open through Nov. 13.

From Aug. 14 to 16, 2026, Hurricane Lala passed south of the Hawaiian Island and caused extensive flooding, landslides, property and infrastructure damage and power outages across the state. Visitors who arrived by air service to Hawai‘i during this period were affected by delays and cancellations of interisland and transpacific flights. A week later (Aug. 22 – 24, 2026) Tropical Storm Moke brought heavy rain and wind to parts of Hawai‘i island and East Maui.

The Hawai‘i Green Business Program (HGBP) recognized 51 Hawai‘i businesses and events Wednesday night for their commitment to energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, pollution prevention and community involvement, as well as cultural and natural resource preservation.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui in August was 2.9%, up from the 2.8% rate in July, and the 2.4% rate at the same time last year, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism will participate in the Innovate Maui Nui Conference on Maui on Sept. 23.

Gov. Josh Green recognized winners of the 49th annual Governor’s Awards including: State Manager of the Year, Dr. Darren Lerner, Director of Research Institute, University of Hawai‘i; State Employee of the Year, Jessica Chambers, Registered Nurse, Department of Health; and State Team of the Year, Finance Branch of the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

“The July 2026 visitor counts represent an 83.4% recovery when compared to pre-wildfire July 2023 with 297,082 visitors,” said DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka. “For the first seven months of 2026, there were 1,618,051 visitors on Maui, a 7.7% growth compared to year-to-date 2025, but 9.8% lower than the same period before the wildfires.”

Maui Countyʻs non seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July 2026 was 2.8%, down from the 3.2% rate reported a month earlier, and up from the 2.4% rate reported at the same time last year. Island specific unemployment rates were 2.8% on Maui, 4.0% on Molokaʻi and 3.0% on Lānaʻi.

Maui County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.2% in June, up from 2.5% in May, according to not-seasonally adjusted figures released Monday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Gov. Josh Green concluded this year’s bill signing period and issued his final veto decision with 266 of the 267 measures becoming law following the 2026 Hawai‘i State Legislative session. Of the four bills on the Intent to Veto List, Green issued one veto and signed three into law, issuing a line-item reduction for one of them.

Visitor spending on Maui rose 26.4% in May compared with a year earlier, outpacing every other island in Hawaiʻi, according to preliminary statistics released Tuesday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The fourth annual Hawaiʻi Made Conference wrapped up Tuesday in Waikiki after bringing together the state’s farmers, value‑added producers, food manufacturers, entrepreneurs, supply‑chain partners and resource providers.

Hawai‘i’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percentage point to 2.5% in May, up from 2.4% a year earlier, according to data released today by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Hawai‘i’s nominal personal income had a substantial increase of $12.9 billion or 12.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of 2024. The Bureau of Economic Analysis notes that this unusual increase was due to a settlement paid to households in the fourth quarter of 2025 to compensate for losses related to the 2023 Maui Wildfire.

A dozen Hawaiʻi-based food makers are getting a boost as they look to expand their locally sourced products to shelves in major retailers. A $25,000 grant from the Ulupono Fund at the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation is lowering barriers for these entrepreneurs to use the state’s first high pressure processing system.

The event will bring together Hawaiʻi farmers, value-added producers, food manufacturers, entrepreneurs, supply chain partners and resource providers for a full-day program focused on turning local food ideas into market-ready products.

Hawaiʻi  welcomed slightly fewer visitors in April 2026 than it did a year earlier, but those who came spent more—pushing total visitor spending to $1.77 billion for the month, a 4.8% increase over April 2025, according to preliminary data from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

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.