The forecast also said Hawaii is gradually recovering from the tourism slump triggered by last year’s Maui wildfires, while the construction industry is booming.

The administration has not yet released a budget plan for covering those costs, but the governor says it can be done without tapping into the rainy day fund.

Housekeepers and other staff at top hotel chains in Waikiki and Kauai joined thousands of hotel workers on strike in other cities as contract talks stalled.

A working group of insurers and workers’ compensation doctors is already planning for the 2025 legislative session.

Sea level rise, permitting and a push for restoration of a buried historic site and wetlands make it challenging.

For restaurants, the outages meant lost tips and wages and spoiled food, but also damaged equipment from power surges.

Economic factors are changing the way Japanese visitors perceive a trip to Hawaii in the post-pandemic era — and the growth model of small businesses that cater specifically to them.

Housing policy advocates say Helen Lau’s story is all too common amid Honolulu’s housing crisis.

The Hawaii Technology Development Corp. refocuses on its core mission after a 2023 legislative session filled with drama and intrigue.

But others worry the tax cut, which will cost the state billions of dollars, will mean deep cuts to needed state programs.