Hawaii
Spotlight Now: Exploring Hawaii’s economy from strain to solutions
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Economist Paul Brewbaker said Hawaii’s economy will worsen this year as inflation pressures continue to build.
On “Spotlight Now,” Brewbaker said Hawaii took a major hit during the pandemic — bigger than many other states — and has not fully returned to its pre-pandemic trajectory.
“That’s sort of a definition of resilience: getting back to not just where you started, but getting back to the path you were on before. And adaptation is the key to doing that. The difficulty Hawaii is having is making the necessary adaptations,” he said.
Brewbaker said higher inflation expectations are pushing borrowing costs up, pointing to the 10-year Treasury note moving from about 4% at the end of last year to about 4.6%. He said mortgage rates and other borrowing rates are also being pushed higher.
Brewbaker said housing costs are the biggest driver of Hawaii’s high cost of living, and said the housing portion of the consumer price index has pulled overall costs higher. He estimated the cost of living in Hawaii is about 25% higher than the national average, a gap he said has not changed much since statehood, but said housing costs have climbed.
Sherry Menor, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, said running a business is “getting increasingly challenging,” pointing to high costs and ongoing uncertainty that make it difficult for companies to plan ahead.
Menor said some small businesses have reached a tipping point and decided to close because “there’s only so much cost they can absorb.”
Asked what factor weighs most on businesses beyond items like tariffs and minimum wage increases, Menor pointed to “uncertainty of everything,” calling conditions fluid and changing. She said the lack of stability makes it harder for businesses to plan, and added that no sector is immune.
Menor said small businesses feel the impacts most acutely because “each dollar counts,” while larger companies may be able to redirect resources.
Menor encouraged residents to “buy local first” to support local businesses and keep money circulating in Hawaii.
With health care systems facing staffing shortages, leaders with the Academy for Healthcare Innovation (AHI) say short-term certificate programs can help get local residents into stable, in-demand jobs.
AHI offers certificate-based training and entry-level programs such as medical assistant, nurse aide and surgical instrument processing.
AHI has graduated three nurse cohorts and one group of surgical instrument technicians.
Executive director Bridget Lai said each had a pathway to employment, including through employer-sponsored tuition or clinical externships that led to recruiting.
“The students who complete, certify and work for employers in the community are able to meet the workforce needs,” Lai explained. “We’re able to partner with hospital systems and other partners, like Arcadia and Ohana Pacific. We review our curriculum to see that the program we’re designing is meeting their needs.”
A nurse aide salary can range from $46,000 to $51,000, and said benefits can bring compensation into the $60,000 range, and surgical technology can pay over $100,000, Lai said.
Kimberly Gonzales is a recent graduate who wanted more experience while working at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
Her manager suggested the Academy for Healthcare Innovation program, where she completed eight weeks of training and a clinical externship.
She said she loves the work and is transitioning into being a medical assistant.
Learn more and apply: ahihawaii.org
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (Hawaii News Now)- Pageants are about more than beauty for 2026 Miss Hawaii Teen USA Olivia Tom, who is turning her title into a platform for impaired driving awareness.
Tom was crowned in May and joined HNN’s Sunrise Weekends to talk about her partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Hawaii and Drive with Aloha, along with her cause to end impaired driving.
She graduated this year from H.P. Baldwin High School in Wailuku, Maui, and said her experience on the pageant stage has given her a platform to speak out on issues that matter to her community.
“I think it’s so important because it could happen to you… one moment can affect so many,” Tom said.
A standout student, Tom served as valedictorian and will attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa this fall with a focus in business.
She said the issue is personal after a loved one was injured in an impaired driving incident during her senior year of high school.
“It literally made me feel that one moment, one experience, can change so many people’s lives, and it can affect so many,” Tom said.
Tom encourages others to think carefully before getting into a vehicle and to be aware of their surroundings and the people they are with.
“Before you get in the car, think about who you’re getting in the car with,” she said.
Tom will also serve as emcee for the MADD Hawaii Law Enforcement Recognition event on Thursday, June 25.
The event honors law enforcement officers across the state for their efforts to prevent impaired driving and keep Hawaiʻi roads safe.
To follow her journey, visit @missmauiteenusa on Instagram.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu police are investigating an shooting near Ala Moana that left one person critically injured.
Police say it happened around 4:53 a.m. near the intersection of Keeaumoku Street and Kapiolani Boulevard.
Honolulu EMS said crews treated a 23-year-old man with an apparent gunshot wound and transported him to an emergency room in critical condition.
No additional details were immediately available.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
LIHUE — A number of road-related projects are on tap in the days ahead with grass cutting, tree trimming and guardrail repair making up the bulk of the work, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said in an update on Friday.
Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice. All projects are weather permitting. A map of lane closures can be found here, https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/
The following is a list of projects scheduled for the workweek ending Friday. All work is weather permitting.
Kipu to Omao
Single lane closure on Kaumualii Highway (Route 50), possible in either direction, between mile post 2.9 to 8.5 in the vicinity of Kipu Road and Maha Road, on Sunday, June 14 to Friday, June 19 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for installing rumble strips on the edges and striping. Alternating traffic will be routed through the open lane.
Omao to Kalaheo
Single lane closure on Kaumualii Highway (Route 50), possible in either direction, between mile post 8 to 13, on Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for landscape maintenance.
Omao to Lawai
Single lane closure on Kaumualii Highway (Route 50), possible in either direction, between mile post 9 to 9.6 in the vicinity of Upa Road and Piko Road, on Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for reconstruction of weakened pavement.
Makaweli to Pakala
Single lane closure on Kaumualii Highway (Route 50), possible in either direction, between mile post 20.6 to 21 in the vicinity of Private Road, on Wednesday, June 17 from 9 p.m. to 12 p.m. for KIUC to do utility line work. Alternating traffic will be routed through the open lane.
Nawiliwili
Single lane closure on Rice Street (Route 51), possible in either direction, near mile post 0.8 in the vicinity of Lala Road and Kapule Highway, on Monday, June 15 to and Friday, June 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for installing pavement striping and markers on the roadway. Alternating traffic will be routed through the open lane.
Lihue
Center lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 56) in both directions, between mile post 0.1 to 0.3, in the vicinity of Hardy Street and Poinciana Street nightly on Sunday, June 14 to Friday, June 19 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for waterline replacement. No left turns will be allowed through the work area. Details: Details: https://bit.ly/48k1X3p
Roving single lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 56), possible in either direction, between mile post 4 to 12, in the vicinity of Kauai Beach Road, on Tuesday, June 16 to Thursday, June 18 from 1 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. for herbicide application on guardrails, signs and mile marker poles.
Anahola
Single lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 56), possible in either direction, between mile post 13 to 14, in the vicinity of Kukuihale Road and Aliomanu Road, on Monday, June 15 to Friday 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for landscape maintenance.
Kalihiwai to Princeville
Single lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 56), possible in either direction, between mile post 24.2 to 28.1, in the vicinity of Kahiliholo Road to Emmalani Drive, Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for striping.
Hanalei
Single lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 560), in the westbound direction, between mile post 2.6 to 2.8, in the vicinity of Aku Road and Malolo Road, on Sunday, June 14 to Friday, June 19 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for paving work. Traffic will be detoured to Weke Road via Aku Road and Malolo Road.
Waikoko
Single lane closure on Kuhio Highway (Route 560), in the westbound direction, between mile post 4.6 to 4.8, in the vicinity of Waikoko Bridge and Lumahai Beach, on Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for striping, planting, hydroseeding, and anchoring mesh. Alternating traffic will be routed through the open lane.
Kokee
Full closure of Waimea Canyon Drive (Route 550), between mile post 0.4 to 6.7, in the vicinity of Maule Road and Kokee Road, on Wednesday, June 17 to Friday, June 19 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. for full depth road reconstruction. Details: https://bit.ly/4eD9kX7
Single lane closure of Waimea Canyon Drive (Route 550), possible in either direction, between mile post 3 to 6, on Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for landscape maintenance.
Pua Loke
Single lane closure on Nawiliwili Road (Route 58) in the eastbound direction between mile post 1.8 to 1.9 in the vicinity of Haleko Road and Kukui Grove Street on, Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for sewer line installation.
Wailua Homesteads
Roving lane closure of Kuamoo Road (Route 580), possible in either direction between mile post 3 to 3.5, in the vicinity of Pokukala Street and Paako Street on Monday, June 15 to Tuesday, June 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for landscape maintenance.
Wailua to Kapaa
Single lane closure of Kapaa Bypass Road (Route 5600), between mile post 0.8 to 3, in the vicinity of Kuhio Highway (Wailua) to Olohena Road (Kapaa) on Sunday, June 14 to Friday, June 19 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for marking and striping. Details: https://bit.ly/4vWH8Fg
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