Hawaii looks to boost construction to offset industry slowdown

Construction work in Hawaii is likely to slow next year, but state lawmakers seem inclined to go along with Gov. David Ige’s plan to budget extra money to boost state construction spending and give a lift to the industry. In a presentation to House and Senate lawmakers last week, Chief State Economist Eugene Tian said the good news is that state tax collections are up by about 6% thus far this fiscal year, initial unemployment claims are down, and the number of air seats to Hawaii is expected to increase by more than 6% in the first half of 2020. In recent months the state construction industry also has been doing great, Tian said, but the value of private building permits issued for the first 11 months of 2019 was flat.