#recession

Hawaiʻi’s economy is moving beyond last year’s mild recession, but the recovery will be gradual, according to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s first quarter forecast for 2026 released on Feb. 27. Maui is the standout, as ongoing recovery from the disastrous 2023 wildfires will continue to propel rising tourism activity, if at a slower pace than last year.

In recognition of Poverty Awareness Month, Child & Family Service highlights the wide range of programs and services available across Hawaiʻi to help individuals and families address financial hardship and build long-term stability.

Economists say Maui’s tourism industry is “outperforming” other islands as visitors continue to return after the 2023 wildfires, a trend that could help cushion the island from an overall weakening economy.

Department officials say many economists believe that the US economy will experience a recession during the second half of 2023. However, the Hawai‘i economy has not recovered from the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism sector is growing at high rates, but the rest of the economy is just not moving, according to the latest report released by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.

The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) today released an update to their state forecast saying that “Hawaii’s recovery pace has slowed to a standstill this year” and that the debt crisis in Europe is Hawaii’s biggest economic threat.

During the recession, the concept of who constitutes as “poor” or “needy” has drastically changed. People who were generally well situated financially, with college degrees in their back pockets are never the image that one sees associated with the words needy and poor, but that is exactly who has been eliciting help from services that […]