Who Is Moving In and Out? Understanding Migration Trends in Hawai‘i
By JoonYup Park Migration is one of the most important forces shaping Hawai‘i’s population and economy. Yet, our understanding of who is moving in and…
The Economic Effects of Tariffs
James Roumasset* “Give me a one-handed economist. All my economists say, ‘on the one hand… on the other.’” President Harry Truman Updated 04/03/2025 Addendum on…
Watershed Protection Provides Strong Return on Investment on Kaua‘i
By Conrad Newfield, Nathan DeMaagd, Christopher Wada, Kimberly Burnett, and Leah Bremer Read the full report. Kaua‘i’s native forests play a vital role in sustaining…
Maui’s Recovery 1½ Years After the Wildfires
By Daniela Bond-Smith, Trey Gordner, Caleb Wood Eighteen months after the August 2023 wildfires, Maui’s fire-impacted households continue to face significant economic and housing instability….
Immigration Economics
By Byron Gangnes Immigrants have always been an important part of America’s population. But for just as long there have been concerns about the impact…
UHERO’s Trey Gordner on the Ka Pewa podcast
UHERO’s Trey Gordner appeared on the Ka Pewa podcast to discuss key insights from UHERO’s research on Maui’s recovery from the wildfires and how data-driven…
UHERO’s Andrew Mason Receives 2025 Robert J. Lapham Award
Andrew Mason is the 2025 recipient of the Robert J. Lapham award, bestowed biannually in recognition for contributions through the application of demographic knowledge to…
UHERO’s Carl Bonham on Spotlight Now
UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham appeared on Hawai‘i News Now’s Spotlight Now to discuss the impact of economic uncertainties and the outlook for Hawai‘i’s economy….
New UHERO Environment contribution in Ocean Nature Sustainability. Scaling biocultural initiatives can support nature, food, and culture from summit to sea.
Biocultural nature-based solutions provide many social, cultural, and ecological benefits. Yet, there has been little research on related land-sea societal benefits, hindering our ability to…
UHERO’s Carl Bonham Discusses the State of the Economy
UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham participated in a panel on Hawai‘i Public Radio to discuss the state of the economy and spoke with KITV’s Island…
Considerations for understanding water availability in West Maui
This piece intends to highlight some of the inherent tradeoffs that make managing water in West Maui especially challenging. In particular, subtracting current/authorized use from…
Wealth by Association? How Social Networks Drive Inequality in Hawaii
Studies show that economic connectedness, a poor individual’s share of wealthy friends, significantly impacts economic mobility. Hawaii ranks highly in this metric compared to other…
Taxing Tourists to Generate Revenue to Address the Negative Impacts of Climate Change on Hawai‘i Natural Resources
There is widespread agreement among Hawai‘i residents that the state government needs to spend more money on natural resource stewardship. A critical question is how…
Brief: Dissolving the Hawaii Tourism Authority
Summary Blog By Paul Brewbaker, Frank Haas, and James Mak State lawmakers in the 2023 state legislature are bashing the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)…again! This…
Public Campaign Financing: Evidence and Opportunities for Hawai‘i
By Colin Moore Concerns about the corrupting influence of money in politics have led to renewed interest in public campaign financing. Some argue that using…
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi: Federal cuts raise risk of Hawaii downturn
Hawaii’s economic growth is threatened by federal disruptions. While tax cuts may provide some stimulus this year, the Administration’s actions—including tariffs, mass deportations, and spending…
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi: Outlook more uncertain as federal policy changes loom
Hawaii’s economic expansion continues, but slowly. Now the incoming Trump Administration introduces uncertainty. Under the assumption of policy changes that are sharp but limited in…
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi: Lagging Maui recovery, slower speed limit for Hawaii growth
Hawaii’s economic outlook continues to be a story of two economies: a Maui economy that will only gradually recover from its post-wildfire downturn, and the…
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi: Expansion intact, but counties poised for slower growth
Hawaii’s economy will continue to grow, but at a slower pace than in past years. Maui rebuilding and the incremental return of international travelers will…
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi: Near-term slowing expected as pandemic recovery ends
Hawaii’s economy has been sustained by a resilient US and the gradual return of international visitors. With the Islands’ post-pandemic recovery now largely complete, the…
An Economic Analysis of the Proposal to Phase Out Transient Vacation Rentals in Maui County Apartment Districts
This report examines the Maui County proposal to phase out transient vacation rentals (TVRs) in Apartment districts, including removing long-standing exceptions for pre-1989 properties widely…
Return on investment for watershed protection on Kaua‘i
Native forests provide many societal benefits, including protecting freshwater resources that provide drinking water and sustain culturally, economically, and ecologically valuable springs, streams, and groundwater…
Construction Defect Litigation, Housing Affordability, and Homeownership in Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i faces a severe housing shortage, driven by high costs and regulatory barriers that hinder new development. One emerging factor is the rise of construction…
Investigating and Tackling Barriers and Needs for Small Business Success in Honolulu
This report examines the state of small businesses in Honolulu in 2024, using both quantitative data and qualitative insights to identify key needs, challenges, and…
Aging and Hawai‘i’s Generational Economy
Hawai‘i’s population is aging rapidly. By 2035 one in four people will be 65 or older according to the most recent projections. The purpose of…
How New Mass Transit Affects Labor Markets: The Honolulu Skyline
Understanding how the new rail system in Oahu is reshaping decisions around work, housing, and commuting can inform future transit investments. To get a more…
Scaling biocultural initiatives can support nature, food, and culture from summit to sea
Biocultural nature-based solutions provide many social, cultural, and ecological benefits. Yet, there has been little research on related land-sea societal benefits, hindering our ability to…
New Study Reveals Food Insecurity as a Major Driver of Mental Health Challenges in Hawaiʻi
A study published today in Frontiers in Public Health provides a comprehensive examination of how socioeconomic factors, particularly food insecurity, shape mental health outcomes among…
Carbon benefits through agroforestry transitions on unmanaged fallow agricultural land in Hawaiʻi
There are growing efforts to incorporate agroforestry into ecosystem service incentive programs. Indigenous and other place-based multi-strata agroforestry systems are important conservation and agricultural strategies,…
Co-Production of Knowledge at Sumida Farm Trains a New Generation of Community-Engaged Scientists
A collaboration between the University of Hawai‘i (UH), Hawai‘i Sea Grant, and the fourth generation of Sumida farmers focuses on training a new generation of…