Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was 3.3 percent, compared to 3.5 percent in March.

DBEDT is recruiting Hawaii companies to promote and sell Hawaii-made products at the Autumn 2023 Tokyo International Gift Show.

In another first for Hawaii’s Foreign-Trade Zone program, Par Hawaii is the first refinery in the nation authorized to use renewable feedstock to produce renewable fuels under Foreign-Trade Zone procedures.

According to preliminary visitor statistics released by DBEDT, a total of 900,800 visitors arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in March 2023, an increase of 14.2 percent from March 2022.

Agribusiness Development Corporation — The ADC board of directors and staff are deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of James “Jimmy” Nakatani, executive director of the State Agribusiness Development Corporation.

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.

DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 3.5 percent, compared to 3.6 percent in February.

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.

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.

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.