Hawaii’s economy depends on its export of tropical plants and products, such as coffee, pineapples, and papaya, which are in demand across the U.S. and the world. Exporting $4.1 billion worth of goods and services annually, Hawaii’s international trade supports nearly 200,000 jobs in the state.

• In Hawaii, 200,000 jobs were supported by trade, representing 22.2% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2023, 663 companies exported goods from Hawaii, of which 86% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2022, 38,100 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Hawaii exported $4.1 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2023. ⁵
  • Canada ($386 million)
  • Mexico ($319 million)
  • United Kingdom ($310 million)
  • Japan ($307 million)
  • Australia ($264 million)
• Agricultural exports are important to Hawaii's economy, totaling $296 million annually, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $21 million in exports from 6 companies in Hawaii.⁷
• Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $8.2 million in exports from Hawaii companies.⁹

• From 2023-2024, 3,675 international students were enrolled in Hawaii colleges and universities, contributing $125 million to the Hawaii economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 1,536 Peace Corps volunteers from Hawaii have served in dozens of countries overseas.¹¹

1. https://www.uschamber.com/international/trade-agreements/trade-means-growth-for-america?state=
2. https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/edb/edbrel2023.pdf
3. https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/imne-1124.pdf
4. https://www.uschamber.com/international/trade-agreements/trade-means-growth-for-america
5. https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/state-trade-and-economy-factsheets
6. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-agricultural-trade-data
7. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-agricultural-trade-data/annual-state-agricultural-exports
8. https://www.exim.gov/customer-map/
9. https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/contracts-map
10. https://files.peacecorps.gov/documents/Home_states_of_Peace_Corps_volunteers.pdf
11. https://opendoorsdata.org/fact_sheets/state-fact-sheets/