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Article: Big Island hasrebound, growthpains
- Article from:
- Honolulu Star - Bulletin
- Article date:
- September 3, 2004
CopyrightCopyright Honolulu Star - Bulletin Sep 03, 2004. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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By Dave Segal
The Big Island's economy is seeing its best growth in several years as strong job creation, robust construction and real estate, and improved visitor arrivals from Japan fuel the resurgence.
But, just like the state's other islands, strains on infrastructure and a lack of affordable housing are curbing growth, face=+Bold; First Hawaiian Bankface=-Bold; economics consultant Leroy Laney said in separate forums yesterday in Hilo and Kona.
Laney, who also is a professor of economics and finance at Hawaii Pacific University, said the Big Island's unemployment rate of 5.6 percent in June was the lowest since 1991 and the continued low jobless rate has resulted in a tight labor ...