For Immediate Release: August 13, 2008
DBEDT Release News 08-21

HONOLULU--The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) has released the 40th annual edition of the State of Hawai‘i Data Book on the DBEDT web site at http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt.

The state's Data Book offers a broad range of statistical information relating to Hawai‘i in areas such as population, education, labor, energy, tourism and transportation.

"This year's edition provides new data from exciting new sources in addition to our traditional data bases," said DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu. "The Data Book is a key resource for research about Hawai‘i. According to a survey of data users conducted by the Research and Economic Analysis Division early this year, 92 percent of the respondents used the Data Book."

The State of Hawai‘i Data Book is produced by the Department's Research and Economic Analysis Division. It contains 807 tables. Following are few of the more interesting facts revealed in this newest edition:

• Among 50 states, Hawai‘i moved up from 43rd to 28th between 2002 and 2008 in the technology and science index.
• About 78,000 deeds were filed at the Bureau of Conveyances in 2007, with 37% of them for transactions relating to the City & County of Honolulu and 33% for transactions relating to the County of Maui.
• The percent of households in Hawai‘i that faced foreclosure in 2007 was 0.2% which was far below the U.S. average of 1.0%.
• The value of U.S. Department of Defense prime contracts awarded in FY2007 was 8.7% greater than FY2006 - totaling more than $2.1 billion. The largest share (42.9%) and the largest increase (70.4%) was by the Department of the Navy [Navy and Marine Corps] reaching nearly $915.3 million.
• In 2007, the Hawai‘i per capita personal income was $39,239 or 1.6% higher than the U.S. average while the disposable per capita income (the total after-tax income received by persons) was $34,444 or 2.2% higher than the U.S. average.
• Hawai‘i homeownership in 2007 was 60.1%, about 10.0 percentage points higher than in 1997.

The State of Hawai‘i Data Book 2007 is available only on the DBEDT Internet site, at http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt. Tables there may be viewed or downloaded. DBEDT's Data Book Time Series may also be accessed at that site.

Information from DBEDT's Research and Economic Analysis Division may also be found by calling 808-586-2423.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young, DBEDT Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov