Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

The Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism will host the fourth annual Hawaii Made Conference on Tuesday, June 23, at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.

Total spending by visitors in April 2026 was $1.77 billion (measured in nominal dollars), a 4.8 percent increase from April 2025, according to preliminary statistics from DBEDT.

he 2026 Hawaiʻi–Japan Sister Summit concluded yesterday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki 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.

The Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was 2.5 percent, compared to 2.4 percent in March.

The state of Hawai‘i, through the Office of the Governor, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i, is convening the Opportunity Zones 2.0 Market Activation Summit on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center and the John A. Burns School of Medicine with a virtual attendance option available.

The Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA) has officially launched the Condominium Association Loan Program, providing direct loans to Associations of Apartment Owners (AOAOs) to support critical repairs and maintenance needs.

DBEDT Releases New Report Highlighting Economic Ties With Japan Across Tourism, Housing, Defense, Education, Finance and Agriculture.

DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 2.4%, compared to 2.3% in February.

Hawaii State Film Commissioner Donne Dawson will be retiring from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism effective April 30, 2026, concluding 25 years of service managing the Hawaii Film Office and the state’s film program.

Total spending by visitors in March 2026 was $1.96 billion (measured in nominal dollars), a 1.6 percent decrease compared to March 2025, according to preliminary statistics from DBEDT.