Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Agency name	Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Formed	1963
Preceding1	Hawaii State Planning Board
Jurisdiction	State of Hawaii
Headquarters	Honolulu, Oahu
Chief1 name	(see Organization and Leadership)

Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is a state-level cabinet agency based in Honolulu on Oahu responsible for coordinating economic development efforts, promoting tourism across the Hawaiian Islands, supporting business formation, and collecting statistical data for policy. The department serves as a central node linking executive offices such as the Office of the Governor of Hawaii, state agencies including the Hawaii State Legislature committees, regional partners like the City and County of Honolulu, and private-sector stakeholders such as the Hawaiian Electric Industries and Kamehameha Schools.

History

The department traces roots to mid-20th century territorial and state entities formed after Hawaii Admission Act admission to the United States in 1959 and the subsequent reorganization under the 1963 Hawaii State Constitution era. Early predecessors included territorial offices that worked with federal bodies such as the Department of Commerce and Labor (United States) and the United States Economic Development Administration on development projects tied to postwar growth, the expansion of Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, and infrastructure investments like Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. During the late 20th century, the agency coordinated responses to international events that influenced visitor flows—such as the 1973 Oil Crisis, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, and the 2001 September 11 attacks—and partnered with academic institutions like the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the East–West Center on research. In the 21st century the department adapted to challenges including the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, integrating data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and regional chambers such as the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce.

Organization and Leadership

The department is organized into divisions reflecting statutory mandates and operational programs, reporting to a director who is appointed by the Governor of Hawaii and confirmed by the Hawaii State Senate. Divisions interface with state boards and commissions like the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the Energy Resources Coordinator functions, and the Hawaii State Data Center. Leadership historically has included directors drawn from private-sector executives, academic administrators from institutions such as the University of Hawaii System, and former legislators who worked with entities like the Department of Transportation (Hawaii), the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and the State Procurement Office. The organizational chart includes counsel and administrative support units that coordinate with federal partners such as the Department of Commerce (United States), regulatory bodies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and nonprofit partners including the Nature Conservancy's Hawaii program.

Functions and Programs

Statutory functions include economic analysis, tourism marketing, business development, and community planning. The department maintains statistical programs that compile data used by researchers at the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and by policymakers in the Hawaii State Legislature to monitor indicators published alongside federal series from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Programmatic offerings range from export assistance that links local firms to trade missions with partners such as the U.S. Commercial Service and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forums, to incentive programs coordinating tax incentives with the Hawaii Department of Taxation and workforce grants aligned with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The agency also manages cultural and natural resource considerations through coordination with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Economic Development Initiatives

Initiatives emphasize diversification across sectors including renewable energy, technology, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and creative industries. Energy partnerships involve utilities such as Hawaiian Electric and renewable project developers that respond to state targets for integration with the Clean Energy Initiative (Hawaii). Technology and innovation efforts connect startup incubators, venture groups, and research units like the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research and initiatives supported by federal programs from the National Science Foundation. Agricultural programs work with cooperatives, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and extension services from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to address supply-chain resilience following disruptions such as those from the Hurricane Iniki era to modern biosecurity concerns involving the United States Department of Agriculture. The department has sponsored enterprise zones and incentive packages that mirror models used by jurisdictions like California and Texas to attract investment in manufacturing projects and film production ventures linked to studios and unions such as the Screen Actors Guild.

Tourism Promotion and Management

Tourism promotion is executed through destination marketing efforts, crisis response, and regulatory coordination with airport authorities including the Hawaii Tourism Authority and port operators at Hilo Harbor. Marketing campaigns leverage partnerships with airlines such as Japan Airlines and Delta Air Lines, travel trade organizations like the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and international consulates to sustain visitor markets from countries including Japan, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Visitor management programs integrate research from the UHERO and policy input from municipal councils to address overtourism, infrastructure capacity, and cultural preservation in sites such as Kailua-Kona, Maui, Kaua‘i's Nā Pali Coast, and Haleakalā National Park. The department coordinates public health and safety protocols with the Hawaii State Department of Health and emergency management agencies during events like volcanic episodes at Kīlauea.

Business Support and Workforce Development

Business support includes small-business counseling in partnership with the Small Business Administration (United States) and business accelerators; workforce development aligns training programs with community colleges in the Hawaii Community College system, vocational providers, and unions such as the Hawaii State Teachers Association for sector-specific education pipelines. Grants and loans run alongside programs administered through the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and regional development organizations including the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation. The department facilitates labor-market analyses with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and aligns credentialing frameworks with national standards such as those promoted by the U.S. Department of Education to support transitions between sectors like hospitality, renewable energy, and information technology.

Category:State agencies of Hawaii