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

2026 Sony Open field is announced. See who’s playing in Hawaii

Published

4 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

2026 Sony Open field is announced. See who’s playing in Hawaii

The Sony Open in Hawaii has the honors of being the kickoff event to the 2026 PGA Tour season after the cancellation of The Sentry at Kapalua this season.

Instead of Maui, the Tour debuts in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Jan. 15-18, at the Seth Raynor-designed Waialae Country Club, where Nick Taylor prevailed in a playoff over Nico Echavarria last year.

Among the changes this season is the field size, which was reduced from 144 to 120, and, there is no longer is a Monday qualifier offering four spots. Will that help with pace of play? Stay tuned.

The field includes the following notables in addition to Taylor and Echavarria: Daniel Berger, Keegan Bradley, Michael Brennan, Corey Conners, Tony Finau, Chris Gotterup, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Billy Horschel, Robert MacIntyre, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Sahith Theegala, Gary Woodland and 62-year-old Vijay Singh.

Here’s the full field for the Sony Open, which will be live on Golf Channel all four days as well as NBC with early-round coverage on Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s Sony purse is $9.1 million and the winner also will receive 500 FedEx Cup points.

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Hawaii

Hawaii Pacific basketball teams split with Menlo | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

16 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

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Hawaii

Hawaii County accepting applications for Summer Fun employees

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii County accepting applications for Summer Fun employees

HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – The County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for temporary positions in its 2026 Summer Fun program.

The two positions available are Activity Aide I ($17.50 per hour) and Activity Aide II ($19 per hour).

To be considered for employment, applicants must possess a valid first-aid certification, attend mandatory training June 2–5, and be available to work June 8–July 17.

Applications are available online on the Parks and Recreation website, and must be submitted to the Recreation Division Office at 799 Pi‘ilani St., Hilo, HI 96720, postmarked by Saturday, Feb. 28.

For more information, call the Recreation Division Office at (808) 961-8740.

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