News Releases

Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
State of Hawaii Begins Work to Develop Digital Equity Plan to Bridge Digital DividePosted on April 25, 2023 in News
DBEDT recently began the process of developing the state's first digital equity plan. When final, this plan will serve as a roadmap for actions and investments to achieve digital equity for residents over the next five years.
Read More State of Hawaii Begins Work to Develop Digital Equity Plan to Bridge Digital Divide
Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Hawaii’s March Unemployment Rate at 3.5 PercentPosted on April 20, 2023 in News
DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 3.5 percent, compared to 3.6 percent in February.
Read More Hawaii’s March Unemployment Rate at 3.5 Percent
Integrated Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub Completes Full Application for Federal FundingPosted on April 11, 2023 in News
Hawaii State Energy Office — The Hawaii State Energy Office and its partners have submitted a full application to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Hydrogen Hub programs.
Read More Integrated Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub Completes Full Application for Federal Funding
Hawaii Defense Economy
Meet the Primes on April 11Posted on April 5, 2023 in News
Defense-related expenditures bring in approximately $2.5 billion to Hawaii's economy. This spending is expected to increase during the upcoming years, highlighted by the recent award of a $2.8 billion Navy contract for work at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
Read More Meet the Primes on April 11
Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Tourism Recovery was Steady in February 2023Posted on March 30, 2023 in News
According to preliminary visitor statistics released by DBEDT, a total of 753,750 visitors arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in February 2023, an increase of 19.5 percent from February 2022.
Read More Tourism Recovery was Steady in February 2023
Made in Hawaii
Branding Workshop Attracts Over 200 Hawaii Entrepreneurs, Manufacturers and Business OwnersPosted on March 29, 2023 in News
More than 200 attendees gathered at the Hawaii Convention Center for DBEDT's first-ever Made in Hawaii Branding Workshop today.
Read More Branding Workshop Attracts Over 200 Hawaii Entrepreneurs, Manufacturers and Business Owners
Creative Lab Hawaii
Creative Lab Hawaii Music Immersive (CLHMI) Artists Place Music on ABC’s “The Company You Keep,” Airing this Sunday on ABCPosted on March 23, 2023 in News
Two Hawaii co-writers from Creative Lab’s Music Immersive February 2023 cohort have landed an original music sync licensing placement in the ABC series “The Company You Keep.”
Read More Creative Lab Hawaii Music Immersive (CLHMI) Artists Place Music on ABC’s “The Company You Keep,” Airing this Sunday on ABC
Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Hawaii’s February Unemployment Rate at 3.6 PercentPosted on March 23, 2023 in News
DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 3.6 percent, the same as in January.
Read More Hawaii’s February Unemployment Rate at 3.6 Percent
Made in Hawaii
Made in Hawaii Branding Workshop on March 29Posted on March 14, 2023 in News
DBEDT announced today that the first-ever Made in Hawaii Branding Workshop will be held at the Hawaii Convention Center on Wednesday, March 29.
Read More Made in Hawaii Branding Workshop on March 29
Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Hawaii State Broadband Coordinator Recognized with Two Prestigious AwardsPosted on March 14, 2023 in News
State Broadband Coordinator of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office, Burt Lum, was recently recognized with two awards for his important work championing digital equity in the state of Hawaii.
Read More Hawaii State Broadband Coordinator Recognized with Two Prestigious Awards