Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

The May newsletter highlights DBEDT’s continued work to strengthen Hawaii’s economy through partnerships, infrastructure, housing, business development and public service. This month brought opportunities to advance Hawaii’s global relationships through the Hawaii-Philippines Business Tradeshow, Symposium and Reception and the 2026 Hawaii-Japan Sister Summit, reinforcing the value of long-standing partnerships while supporting new conversations around trade, investment, workforce development and resilience.

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.