#unemployment Maui

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority has launched “Mākaukau Maui,” a campaign that aims to revitalize Maui’s economy in the aftermath of last year’s devastating wildfires. Apart from the fire-affected areas of Lahaina Town, the campaign signals that Maui is ready to welcome visitors back to the island.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 6.2% in January 2024, compared to 5.8% the previous month, and 3% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Hawaiʻi’s economy has been sustained by a resilient US economy and the gradual return of international visitors. According to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s first quarter forecast for 2024, with the islands’ post-pandemic recovery now largely complete, the economy will downshift this year, and growth will increasingly come from local sources, including a robust construction sector bolstered by the rebuilding of Lahaina, Maui.

Despite slower growth projections at the national level, the economic growth projections for Hawaiʻi remain unchanged at 3.2% for 2022.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce published its annual legislative priorities packet.

Maui’s unemployment rate remains the highest in the state with the state Department of Labor and Industrial relations reporting a 34.5% unemployment rate for Maui Island in May.  

Credit Unions of Maui Donate $7,500 to the Maui Food Bank: Because of the pandemic, the Maui Food Bank has seen a decline in donations from grocery stores and food drives at businesses, so monetary donations are vitally important right now.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has distributed a total of $140,300,082 in unemployment insurance benefits over the past week.

In total, the state has processed 141,077 claims as of yesterday (May 6, 2020)–that is just shy of 63% of the total number of claims received. Of the claims that have been processed to date, 100,602 claims were paid out–that represents just under 72%.  The residual amount of 40,000 are claims that were denied. The state currently has in process 84,510 claims, which is the priority at this time.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino continued to offer encouragement to those who have been unable to get through to the state’s antiquated system for unemployment assistance. There are an estimated 37,000 individuals who have filed for Unemployment in Maui County. 

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced that between April 17 to April 23 it distributed $68,097,470 in unemployment insurance benefits.

Prior to the pandemic, Hawaiʻi was processing in late February about 700 claims per week.  “And so you can imagine what happens when you end up with about a quarter of a million–somewhere around a quarter million claims,” said Murakami.  In a single day, Murakami said the department received about 25,000 filings.  

The Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations released improved software to apply for and track unemployment claims. The IRS has launched a Get My Payment application where the public can check on the status of Economic Impact Payments.

The rural community of Hāna in East Maui could hit 65 to 70 percent unemployment by next week.  “The numbers are sobering,” said Sen. J. Kalani English during an online community meeting last night for members of remote location which reported its first COVID-19 positive case yesterday.

The Hawaiʻi Emergency Laulima Partnership or H.E.L.P. program provides essential needs such as food, personal hygiene, medicine, rent, mortgage, utility services, phone or internet services, car payments and other necessities to affected residents. 

I am extremely worried about the future of Maui with a huge influx of illegal Mexican immigrants and the homeless population from the mainland…

Maui County’s 3.3% unemployment rate for August was down slightly from the 3.6% reported a month earlier, and the 3.5% reported at the same time last year.

Unemployment rates in Maui County were a mixed bag. Maui Island’s 4% rate was unchanged from last month; Molokaʻi’s rate 13.9% rate was down from month before levels; and Lānaʻi’s 2.9% rate increased slightly from September.

Job seekers have an opportunity to find new employment and explore career paths at the upcoming Holiday Job Fair hosted by Pacific Media Group. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Queen Kaahumanu Center Court in Kahului.

Unemployment rates in Maui County increased on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi from month before levels, with Lānaʻi bringing in the most impressive rate of 2.5%, the lowest in the state.