Economy

Tina Yamaki, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi, discusses marketplace uncertainties and the survival of local businesses.

Tina Yamaki, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi, provides a snapshot of the retail industry amid growing economic uncertainty; Voice actors Sally Amaki and Kana Ichinose arrive in Honolulu for a fan meet-and-greet event

Today on The Conversation, experts discuss the current state of the economy amid market dips and federal funding uncertainties. Share your comments during the live show by calling 808-941-3689 (O’ahu) or 1-877-941-3689 (neighbor islands).

The state House of Representatives passed a $21 billion operating budget for the next two years. However, the budget remains in flux as decisions at the federal level create uncertainty at the state Capitol. HPR's Ashley Mizuo has more.

Devin Thomas, a senior analyst at the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, explained that because capital gains are taxed at a flat rate, it's not fair to those with lower incomes.

The federal government supports Hawaiʻi's food banks in a variety of ways, but there's a risk of that support drying up under the Trump administration. Some of that support has already stopped or has been put on pause. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote and Mark Ladao have more.

For the first time, the federal government is designating an entire state — Hawaiʻi — as an Economic Development District. The Conversation learned more about the opportunities for federal funding.

Archivists are working to preserve decades of moving images from Hawaiʻi's news broadcasts in the ‘Ulu’ulu Digital Archive; Oʻahu's fungi may offer a solution to plastic pollution

Oʻahu's office real estate market underwent many changes during the COVID-19 pandemic as people worked from home and companies downsized or moved out. But a new report says the office market rebounded in 2024. We get more on that story from Pacific Business News Editor-in-Chief Janis Magin.

The state House of Representatives majority caucus will focus on preparing keiki for school, combating high costs of living and food insecurity across the state. They also shared that natural resource preservation and food insecurity are also priorities.