© 2024 Hawaiʻi Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hawai?i's Defense Economy

Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons

A new website can now show you the economic impact the U.S. military has in the islands.

The U.S. military is the second biggest driver to Hawaii’s economy…with approximately 2 billion dollars being spent annually in the state.

Only tourism plays a bigger economic role.

A new project from the state and Department of Defense called the “Hawaii Defense Economy” aims to enhance the understanding of the military’s economic impact in the state.

State officials have launched a website detailing the services and local businesses that benefit from defense spending.

It also can also highlight trends of needed services.

Josh Michaels is the Program Coordinator for the Hawaii Defense Economy at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Michaels says this is the first step towards an action plan for the State to help prepare for possible changes in the defense economy and take advantage of new opportunities.

More information can be found at http://hawaiidefenseeconomy.org

Casey Harlow was an HPR reporter and occasionally filled in as local host of Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
Related Stories