The Hawai’i economy that powered its way through much of this decade slowed to a standstill in 2007. The drag from a weakening visitor industry and an unwinding construction cycle spread to the broader economy. A U.S. recession is now underway. The mainland slump, national credit market problems, and soft local fundamentals mean there will be little growth in Hawai’i for the next two years. Some sectors will see net job losses. Moderate growth is not expected to resume until 2010.
