Economy
Annual Hawaii Forecast With Global Outlook: Mainland COVID-19 surge means a bleak winter, but vaccines promise 2021 growth
The Hawaii economy began to recover from the COVID-19 downturn by the end of the second quarter, but subsequent global waves of the pandemic have disrupted economic progress. The ongoing mainland virus surge and the State’s tightened quarantine rules will weigh on near-term recovery, while news of coming vaccines fundamentally improves growth prospects for the […]
Read MoreUHERO partnering in Back on the Wave Oʻahu
The City and County of Honolulu and UHERO’s Ruben Juarez have developed a COVID-19 health and safety assessment for businesses in Oʻahu. Businesses, let your customers know that you’re helping Oʻahu get back on the wave, and earn free personal protective equipment and free signage. Customers can access the directory of businesses and safe practices […]
Read MoreReopening Japanese Tourism in Hawaii: Is it Safe?
In this short policy brief, we aim to answer four questions. 1. Will Japanese tourists coming to Hawaii be COVID-19 free after taking a pre-departure PCR test? 2. Are some Japanese tourists likely to be infected in Hawaii and bring COVID-19 back to Japan? 3. Will the combination of a pre-departure test and a quarantine […]
Read MoreCharging Higher User Fees to Tourists at Hawaii’s State Parks
By James Mak “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” [1] In May 2000 the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks began to charge $1 entrance fee per adult—tourist and local—who walked into the park to hike the iconic Diamond Head trail. A $5 entrance fee per […]
Read MoreEstimating economic conditions during the COVID-19 crisis
By Carl Bonham and Peter Fuleky When the long-lived expansion of the past decade was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many economists turned their attention to new sources of data to track economic conditions. The indicators we have used historically were not timely enough in the quickly changing economic landscape. Take for example gross domestic […]
Read MoreRecovery to Resilience: Steps Toward the Post-COVID Economy
Wednesday, October 21, 8:00 am Register on Zoom and submit questions in advance HERE. Covid-19 has provoked the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and Hawai‘i now has the weakest economy in the nation, as a measure of GDP decline. Join us to discuss strategies to navigate the recession and set the stage for […]
Read MoreRecovery: Challenges & Opportunities for Hawai‘i’s Economy
Date Friday, October 23, 2020 at 11:00am – 12:00pm Details Join Provost Michael Bruno for the fifth webinar in the UH Community Conversations series featuring: Carl BonhamExecutive Director & Professor of Economics, UH Economic Research Organization (UHERO) Provost Bruno and Dr. Bonham will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Hawai‘i’s economy, opportunities for economic recovery, […]
Read MoreCarl Bonham on Hawaii’s Recovery for Big Island News
On Monday, economic recovery in Hawaiʻi was discussed by members of the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness. UHERO’s Executive Director, Carl S. Bonham, Ph.D., discussed the latest UHERO State Forecast Update during the virtual meeting. The forecast predicts another delay in economic recovery. “Everything is pushed back roughly six months because of the […]
Read MoreUHERO State Forecast Update: Hawaii in early stages of recovery, then a setback
Hawaii’s COVID-19 resurgence put the brakes on a very tentative economic recovery. The further delay of the visitor industry restart and renewed strict social distancing on Oahu have hit both tourism and locally-focused businesses. Our baseline forecast now sees meaningful economic recovery delayed until the middle of next year, and an attenuated recovery period thereafter.
Read More