(ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
April 21, 2021
5:12 PM ET
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The pandemic has wrought economic turmoil throughout the United States, but it has been especially tough on the state of Hawaii given its reliance on tourism.
The dramatic pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions have worsened income inequality, homelessness and will likely worsen government dependence in the long term due to economic suffering among Hawaii residents, according to a Monday report from The American Conservative.
Tourism accounted for almost a quarter of the state’s economy pre-pandemic, Hawaii Public Radio reported. But coronavirus has largely put tourism and travel on hold for the past year, wrecking Hawaii’s economy. Despite lowering (but still rather high) levels of unemployment, experts think that Hawaii’s economic woes could linger or worsen, especially in terms of homelessness.