Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. — A new program offering below-market mortgage interest rates to qualifying first-time local homebuyers was announced by HHFDC.

DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 2.5 percent, compared to 2.7 percent in August.

Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority — HGIA announces the availability of $18 million of Green Energy Market Securitization loan capital to expand access for Hawaii’s underserved ratepayers to participate in the clean energy transition and lower their utility costs.

DBEDT released its 2025 Quarterly Statistical and Economic Report today, raising its economic growth projections to 1.6 percent for 2025 and 1.5 percent for 2026.

Hawaii residents are invited to hone high-demand creative industry skills with two production courses set for Spring 2026.

According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, total spending by visitors in October 2025 was $1.70 billion (measured in nominal dollars), a 6.7 percent increase compared to October 2024.

Agribusiness Development Corp. — Moving forward in its mission in local food sustainability, DBEDT and the Agribusiness Development Corporation broke ground on a Central Oahu Agriculture and Food Hub in Wahiawa today.

According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, there were 690,858 total visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in September 2025.

Agribusiness Development Corp. — The Hawaii Agribusiness Development Corporation Board of Directors held its first-ever meeting on the island of Maui this month.

According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, there were 806,776 total visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in August 2025, down 2.6 percent from August 2024.