Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, there were 240,525 total visitors in Hawaii on any given day in February 2025, which was an increase from February 2024, but fewer than pre-pandemic February 2019.

DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 3.0 percent, the same as the previous seven consecutive months.

The DBEDT Community-Based Economic Development Program has awarded an $8,000 grant to the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE) Center for Entrepreneurship.

DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 3.0 percent, the same as the previous six consecutive months after benchmark revision.

DBEDT released its first quarter 2025 Statistical and Economic Report today. In the report, DBEDT adjusted its economic growth projections for 2025 to 1.7 percent, lower than the 2.0 percent projected in the previous quarter.

According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, there were 792,177 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in January 2025, a 3.8 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corp. — The expansion of a state-sponsored housing program could help provide homeownership to City and County of Honolulu employees who are working in professions that are facing shortages.

Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority — The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii has named Riley Saito as its new executive director.

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.

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.