Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

Governor Josh Green, M.D., has released $6.3 million to DBEDT to support a tourism recovery campaign to address the continued economic impacts from the August 2023 Maui wildfires and the expected downturn due to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.

At DBEDT, we remain committed to expanding and diversifying Hawaii’s economy, reversing the brain drain and growing our tax base. Hawaii recently received federal designation as the nation’s first statewide Economic Development District – more details about what that means are included in this issue. Together, we can build a stronger, more sustainable Hawaii for future generations.

According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, there were 910,055 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in December 2024, a 5.5 percent growth compared to the same month last year.

DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 3.0 percent, compared to 2.9 percent for the previous six consecutive months.

Office of Planning and Sustainable Development — DBEDT is proud to announce that Hawaii has become the nation’s first statewide economic development district (EDD), a designation approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.