Talk of transforming the economy ignores the reality on the ground: people rely on tourism jobs, and alternatives take a long time to develop.

A study shows unemployment insurance payments aren’t keeping people from rejoining the workforce but economists don’t know why hospitality jobs have not fully returned.

The late Haunani-Kay Trask argued that the state’s top industry is a state-sanctioned prostitution ring.

Hawaii hosted 8% more tourists in March 2021 than in March 2020 but 35% fewer hotel and restaurant jobs.

Policymakers fear jeopardizing the industry’s recovery from the pandemic because Hawaii needs the jobs back.

No marketing campaign was needed. Tourists are practically beating down the door to get here.

The report says that “tourism needs to be managed responsibly so that the residents and destination may thrive.”

The state is about to reopen its tourism industry, the heart of Hawaii’s economic engine. Is it time to find another way forward?

Hawaii’s visitor industry is in a nosedive, but tracking guests could make things worse.

More than a dozen tourists have received financial assistance to return to the airports they flew in from, most after violating the quarantine order.