Business & Tourism
Hawai‘i’s economy, in all its complexities.
What do we talk about when we talk about ‘the economy’ in the Islands? We talk about the cost of living, the cost of doing business, what it takes to make Hawai‘i a place where people can succeed, where they can build a career or a business and afford to raise a family. We cover such issues as Hawai‘i’s efforts to maintain a strong, sustainable tourism industry, but also its attempts diversify the economy. We look at everything from small business success stories to major players such as Hawaiian Airlines and the hotel industry.
News

Tiki's Grill & Bar expands to Japan
Tiki's Tokyo — a partnership between Tiki's Grill & Bar and Tiki's SHIBUYA Limited Liability Partnership — will open April 25. It's the restaurant's first location outside of the Islands.
Stephanie SalmonsApril 11, 2025

RevoluSun: Homeowners beware of ‘misleading’ sales tactics by Mainland solar companies
RevoluSun’s Eric Carlson shares tips for individuals who may be targeted by door-to-door scammers. “If it feels off, it probably is,” he said in an interview with Aloha State Daily.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 09, 2025

High school students from across Hawai‘i compete in Maritime Welding Competition
Organizers said the goal of the event was to raise awareness of local opportunities for "well-paying careers in in maritime manufacturing, such as welding, machining and logistics," and for local companies to share specific career opportunities available within the community.
Stephanie SalmonsApril 08, 2025

Brother-sister duo from O‘ahu bring L&L Hawaiian Barbecue to the Big Apple
Franchisees Henry and Sephra Engel already have locations in Manhattan's Lower East Side and East Harlem but opened their third restaurant in Brooklyn on March 20.
Stephanie SalmonsApril 04, 2025

Community Voices: We can do more to help Hawai‘i businesses rebound
Hawai‘i’s anemic economic growth — the second slowest in the country — should be a sign that we haven’t done enough to help local business rebound since the Covid-19 lockdowns. If anything, it seems we’re doing the opposite. The major tax hikes that are still alive in the current legislative session all promise to be significant burdens on local businesses.
Keliʻi Akina & Ph.D.April 04, 2025

Pipikaula Corner: Did stocks just "plunge" and "tumble" after tariff announcement?
Here's an important skill to develop when decoding the news put in front of you — look at the scale. Now let's walk through today's headlines about the stock market, including taking a look at some of Hawai‘i's publicly traded companies.
A. Kam NapierApril 03, 2025

Longtime Hawaii attorney Gerald Clay wants his legacy to be ‘Partnering’
“Partnering", a collaborative approach designed to help groups become more effective, is an alternative to the legal system’s traditional dispute resolution because it promotes dispute prevention among stakeholders, says Clay, who is a trained facilitator. He recently wrote an article for the Hawai’i Bar Journal about why he launched Clay Partnering LLC, a company that aims to positively impact local businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and beyond.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 02, 2025

Kīlauea's eruption has paused again
There have been 15 episodes of "lava fountaining" separated by pauses in activity since the current eruption began on Dec. 23, 2024. The latest episode ended Wednesday.
Stephanie SalmonsMarch 28, 2025

Local staffing firm supports annual fundraising event, volunteerism
What to expect from Aloha United Way’s Women United “Chocolate, Champagne & Couture For-A-Cause," and why ALTRES looks forward to this event every year.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 22, 2025

From Waipahu to Fort Street Mall, this new sober living store and bar prepares to open in Downtown Honolulu
Viper Heart, owner of Viper’s SanctuarNII, took over Waipahu-based Nii Superette last year after her friend and store owner Stephen Nii died suddenly. Heart, who is in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, hopes to promote healing in the new space, which officially opens April 1. Its offerings include spiritual services and community events complete with hand-crafted mocktails, herbal teas and mushroom coffee, crystals, chicken feet and more.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 15, 2025

Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i wants kama‘āina to 'Come Home'
The job placement program connects former residents who have moved to the Mainland to engineering job opportunities in the Islands.
Stephanie SalmonsMarch 12, 2025

Hawai‘i distillery sues over Jones Act
The legislation requires cargo transported between U.S. ports to be carried on vessels that are built in the U.S., and are owned and crewed by U.S. citizens. ASD spoke with the attorney representing the Hawai‘i-based business that says the Jones Act puts the distillery at a disadvantage.
Stephanie SalmonsMarch 05, 2025