Hawaiʻi’s Economic Health: What It Means for Our Community

Aloha kākou,

Each month, our Executive Director shares insights in Ka Wai Ola, highlighting key issues shaping Native Hawaiian business, leadership, and community.

This month’s column, “Hawaiʻi’s Economic Health: An NHCC Snapshot,” takes a closer look at the state’s recovery and the realities behind the headlines. While Hawaiʻi’s economy has technically rebounded, the data shows that growth remains uneven, fragile, and not equally felt across communities.

Key Takeaways

1. Hawaiʻi’s recovery is real but uneven
Economic indicators like GDP and low unemployment suggest recovery, but that growth is narrow and lacks broad-based momentum. Many sectors and communities are still feeling the strain.

2. The visitor economy has shifted
Tourism remains the primary economic driver, but changes in visitor mix matter. Fewer Japanese visitors, who historically stayed longer and spent more, continue to impact local businesses even as overall visitor numbers appear stable.

3. The gap between wages and cost of living is growing
While wages have increased modestly, the cost of housing, food, and everyday expenses has risen much faster. This gap is driving financial pressure, workforce instability, and out-migration.

4. Native Hawaiian economic conditions are not reflected in statewide data
Although unemployment is low overall, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander unemployment remains significantly higher, highlighting disparities that are often hidden in statewide averages.

What This Means

This month’s column highlights an important reality. A strong economy is not defined by growth alone. It is defined by who benefits from that growth.

For business owners and leaders, this means looking beyond surface-level indicators and understanding the underlying conditions shaping opportunity, workforce stability, and long-term sustainability.

The data makes it clear that Hawaiʻi’s economy is not failing, but it is not fully working for everyone. Addressing this requires intentional investment in workforce development, small business resilience, and pathways that allow Native Hawaiians to build sustainable livelihoods while remaining in Hawaiʻi.

How NHCC Supports This Work

At the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, we are actively investing in solutions that strengthen long-term economic security through:

• Workshops and business education

• Programs like Project Hoʻomana

• Workforce and business development initiatives

• Building connections across our business community

These efforts are designed with a clear goal: increasing earning potential, strengthening businesses, and ensuring Native Hawaiians are positioned to lead Hawaiʻi’s economic future.

👉 Continue reading Andrew’s full column in Ka Wai Ola:
https://kawaiola.news/columns/e-hoololi-i-ke-kulana/hawaiis-economic-health-an-nhcc-snapshot/

About the Column

This monthly column in Ka Wai Ola, the newspaper of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, shares perspectives on economic development, leadership, and the future of Native Hawaiian enterprise.