Hawaii

Hawaii faces new inflation risk on top of Trump tariffs

Published

9 months ago

April 7, 2025

Hawaii faces new inflation risk on top of Trump tariffs

Hawaii is facing a new inflation risk and incoming financial trouble due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The state’s only interisland shipping company, Young Brothers, has applied to The Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to raise shipping rates by an average of 20 percent. Young Brothers has said this price hike will help cover the cost of new equipment, infrastructure and operating expenses. However, it will also raise the cost of shipping items between the islands.

Newsweek reached out to the PUC and Young Brothers via email for comment.

Why It Matters

This proposed rise in shipping prices within Hawaii comes at the same time as Trump’s retaliatory tariffs, which are expected to raise the cost of goods across the United States. This means Hawaii residents will not only pay more upfront for their goods but will also have to pay even more to ship them.

Hawaii is already one of the least affordable states in the country.

Matson oceangoing cargo shipping containers line Kawaihae Harbor, the point of entry for much of Hawaii’s transportation of goods and building materials, on December 16, 2016.

George Rose/Getty images

What To Know

With a house price-to-income ratio of 10.6 and 67.9 percent of a resident’s income needed to cover an average mortgage, Hawaii is the most expensive state in the country for housing.

Hawaii is the third most expensive state for goods in the U.S. due to existing shipping costs. Since everything has to be shipped to the islands, the cost of transportation is added to the price of the goods. So, a loaf of bread that costs $3.66 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, will cost $5.34 in Honolulu.

Young Brothers is set to host four public meetings about its application to raise costs. The first meeting is scheduled for April 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission Hearing Room, 465 South King Street, Room 103, Honolulu.

Honolulu news station KHON2 reported that if the shipping company raises its prices, container shipping costs will rise by at least 20 percent. Shipping to Hilo will cost 35 percent more. Shipping a car will cost 30 percent more, and shipping refrigerated items will cost 40 percent more.

Young Brothers wants to raise prices to cover the cost of new equipment. Its Facebook account shows several shipping delays over the past year due to mechanical failures.

Trump tariffs on steel and aluminum may also result in their new mechanical purchases being higher than anticipated.

What People Are Saying

The Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission, in a statement: “The Commission will review Young Brothers’ requests to determine whether the proposed General Rate Increase, WICI, and Temporary Rate Increase are just and reasonable.”

What Happens Next

Young Brothers is hosting four public hearings about its proposal. The first is today, April 7, at 5:50 p.m. HST on Oahu. It will be hosted at the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission Hearing Room in Honolulu.

The second is April 8 at 5:50 p.m. HST on Hawaii island. It will be at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai’i Authority (NELHA), Kailua-Kona.

The third is April 9 at 5:30 HST at Hawai’i Community College in Hilo.

The fourth is April 14 on Kauai at 5:50 p.m. HST at the Līhu’e State Office Building.

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Hawaii

Hawaii, Cal players brawl as Rainbow Warriors pull off incredible comeback victory

Published

7 hours ago

December 25, 2025

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Hawaii, Cal players brawl as Rainbow Warriors pull off incredible comeback victory

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The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors’ comeback win in the Hawaii Bowl over the California Golden Bears on Wednesday night was marred by a fight near the end of the game.

Golden Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele tried to answer Hawaii’s go-ahead score with one second left in the game. He fired a pass to wide receiver Trond Grizzell, who tried to pitch the ball back to a teammate but lost the ball.

Cal’s Jacob De Jesus picked up the loose ball and tried to lateral the ball to another teammate, but Hawaii defender Virdel Edwards II recovered the bouncing ball to end the game.

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California Golden Bears and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors players brawl at the end of the Hawaii Bowl at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex Dec. 24, 2025 (Marco Garcia/Imagn Images)

A fight breaks out between California Golden Bears and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors players at the end of the Hawaii Bowl at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex Dec. 24, 2025. (Marco Garcia/Imagn Images)

Behind the recovery, California’s QuaRon Adams and Hawaii’s Brandon White began to mix it up. A fracas began as Hawaii players and coaches rushed onto the field to celebrate the win. It took a few minutes for the brouhaha to end.

Hawaii won the game, 35-31, coming back from a 21-point deficit.

Backup quarterback Luke Weaver threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left to take the lead. He entered the game after Micah Alejado took a hard hit on the previous play.

GEORGIA COACH KIRBY SMART PUSHES BACK ON TRANSFER PORTAL HYPE, STRESSES PRACTICE OVER PUBLICITY

Alejado was 32 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Hawaii wide receiver Pofele Ashlock had 14 catches for 123 yards for two touchdowns. The Rainbow Warriors scored 22 points in the fourth quarter.

“These boys just keep continuing to fight through adversity and I love them for that. They learn the hard way, but they learn how to do it and that’s what’s important,” Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang said.

Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang in the first half during against Arizona on Aug. 30, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, file)

Cal’s Sagapolutele was 28-for-39 for 343 passing yards, a touchdown pass to De Jesus and a rushing touchdown. Kendrick Raphael and Anthony League each had rushing touchdowns.

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Hawaii finishes the season 9-4, and Cal dropped to 7-6.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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Hawaii

Hawaii delivers last-second win over Cal in Hawaii Bowl | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

19 hours ago

December 25, 2025

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Hawaii delivers last-second win over Cal in Hawaii Bowl | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Jamm Aquino / jamm.aquino@staradvertiser.com

Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado (12) threw a pass against the Cal Golden Bears during the first half of Wednesday’s Hawaii Bowl at the Ching Complex.

Reserve quarterback Luke Weaver came off the sideline and threw a 22-yard scoring pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left to deliver the Hawaii football team a 35-31 victory over California in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday.

The Golden Bears took a 31-28 lead with 1:57 to play on Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s 1-yard sneak.

The Warriors drove to the 22 on quarterback Micah Alejado’s 13-yard pass to Cam Barfield. But Alejado was hurt on the play, and he hobbled to the UH sideline.

Weaver, who was activated for this game, then lofted the decisive scoring pass to Cenacle.

Weaver was limited to four regular-season games to preserve his redshirt season. But the redshirt limit does not apply to the postseason, clearing Weaver to be activated.

The Warriors scored 21 points in a row to tie it at 21 with 13:50 to play.

Down 21-13, Micah Alejado lofted a 3-yard pass to the threshold of the end zone. Pofele Ashlock made a leaping catch, then curled the ball around the right pylon for the touchdown.

On the 2-point play, Alejado under-handed a shuttle pass to Barfield, who found the end zone to tie it.

Led by Campbell High graduate Sagapolutele’s accurate passing — many on side-armed throws to the flats — the Golden Bears scored on their first three possessions for a 21-0 lead.

But the Warriors eventually got on the board in the second quarter. A play after Pofele Ashlock dropped a screen, he made a one-handed grab for a 30-yard gain. The Warriors drove to the 13, from where Alejado found Ashlock at the end of a corner route to cut the deficit to 21-7 with 3:57 left in the half.

On the Bears’ next possession, Matagi Thompson broke up Sagapolutele’s third-down pass. On fourth down, reserve defensive back Riis Weber blocked Michael Kern’s punt. That set up Kansei Matsuzawa’s 29-yard field goal.

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Hawaii

Federal judge upholds Hawaii’s new climate change tax on cruise passengers

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2025

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Federal judge upholds Hawaii’s new climate change tax on cruise passengers

A federal judge’s ruling allows Hawaii’s new tourist tax, which includes a levy on cruise ship passengers, to take effect in 2026

HONOLULU — A federal judge’s ruling clears the way for Hawaii to include cruise ship passengers in a new tourist tax to help cope with climate change, a levy set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake on Tuesday denied a request seeking to stop officials from enforcing the new law on cruises.

In the nation’s first such levy to help cope with a warming planet, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed legislation in May that raises tax revenue to deal with eroding shorelines, wildfires and other climate problems. Officials estimate the tax will generate nearly $100 million annually.

The levy increases rates on hotel room and vacation rental stays but also imposes a new 11% tax on the gross fares paid by a cruise ship’s passengers, starting next year, prorated for the number of days the vessels are in Hawaii ports.

Cruise Lines International Association challenged the tax in a lawsuit, along with a Honolulu company that provides supplies and provisions to cruise ships and tour businesses out of Kauai and the Big Island that rely on cruise ship passengers. Among their arguments is that the new law violates the Constitution by taxing cruise ships for the privilege of entering Hawaii ports.

Plaintiff lawyers also argued that the tax would hurt tourism by making cruises more expensive. The lawsuit notes the law authorizes counties to collect an additional 3% surcharge, bringing the total to 14% of prorated fares.

“Cruise tourism generates nearly $1 billion in total economic impact for Hawai‘i and supports thousands of local jobs, and we remain focused on ensuring that success continues on a lawful, sustainable foundation,” association spokesperson Jim McCarthy said in a statement.

According to court records, plaintiffs will appeal.

Hawaii will continue to defend the law, which requires cruise operators to pay their share of transient accommodation tax to address climate change threats to the state, state Attorney General Anne Lopez said in a statement.

The U.S. government intervened in the case, calling the tax a “scheme to extort American citizens and businesses solely to benefit Hawaii” in conflict with federal law.

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