Despite decades of effort, state and local government in Hawaii have had little success in fostering diversification of the islands' tourism-centric economy. The COVID-19 pandemic recession has once again generated calls for standing up new industries and expanding existing ones that do not include tourism.
This series explores what some of those industries of the future might be and what local leaders can do to bringa about their growth.
Amid Calls For Diversification, A Look Back At Hawaii's History of Single-Industry Dominance
Hawaii’s main industry, tourism and hospitality, has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Policymakers have been calling for economic diversification for decades, but single-single industry dominance has been the norm for centuries.
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Expanding Local Agriculture Into A Major Economic Industry Poses Challenges
Sales of farm products currently represent just 0.6% of Hawaii Gross Domestic Product. Experts say there are opportunities for it to grow, but substantial challenges as well.
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