The Council on Revenues tweaked its state revenue forecast downward today despite numerous economic indicators pointing to an upward trend. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.
Wayne Yoshioka is an award-winning journalist who has worked in television, print and radio in Hawaiʻi. He also has been on both sides of politics as a state departmental appointee and political/government reporter. He covered Hurricane Iwa (1982) as a TV reporter; was the State Department of Defense/Civil Defense spokesperson for Hurricane Iniki (1992); and, commanded a public affairs detachment in Afghanistan (2006). He has a master's degree in Communication from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a decorated combat veteran (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and 22 other commendation/service medals). He resides in Honolulu.
The state Council on Revenues' latest forecast expects personal incomes in Hawaiʻi to slightly increase this year, but remain flat in 2026. Council member Carl Bonham says the increase is due to the strong start of the year Hawaiʻi had.
The boom in construction jobs and the ongoing Maui wildfire recovery could help drive up the total income earned in Hawaiʻi. A big part of the optimism has been the surge in construction jobs in the state.