Nicknamed “The Aloha State” and “Paradise of the Pacific” comprised of Polynesia’s northernmost group of islands within the central Pacific Ocean, Hawaii shipped US$460.7 million worth of exported products around the world in 2024.

That dollar amount results from a 43.7% advance from $320.6 million four years earlier during 2021.

Year over year, the overall value of Hawaiian exports for 2024 shrank by -19.4% compared to $571.6 million in 2023.

Hawaii’s most valuable exports include civilian aircraft including engines and other parts which generated over a quarter (26.8%) of the state’s total revenues from exports. Other major Hawaiian exports are light petroleum oil mixes excluding biodiesel (12.4%), iron or steel scrap (11.2%), aluminum scrap (4.1%) and military equipment (3.8%).

Geographically distant, Hawaii is America’s smallest exporter by state well behind front-runners Texas, California, Louisiana, New York state and Illinois. The value of Hawaii’s exports equals a tiny 0.02% worth of United States’ overall exported products for 2024 (US$2.065 trillion). That percentage lags the 0.03% score one year earlier.

Also, consider that Hawaii’s exported products comprise 0.4% of the tourism-based state’s total economic output in 2024 known as nominal Gross Domestic Product ($116.2 billion).

Given Hawaii’s population of 1.45 million people, its total $460.7 million in 2024 exports translates to roughly $320 for every resident in the Aloha State. That metric lags the average $397 per capita one year earlier during 2023.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate was 3% at December 2024, same as 3% in December 2023 per YCharts.

Hawaii’s Top 10 Exports

The following export products represent the highest dollar value in Hawaii global shipments during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Hawaii.

Figures are shown at the more granular six-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level, for more precise product identification.

1. Civilian aircraft including engines, parts US$123.7 million (26.8% of Hawaii’s total exports)
2. Light oil mixes excluding biodiesel $57.3 million (12.4%)
3. Iron or steel scrap $51.6 million (11.2%)
4. Aluminum waste, scrap $19 million (4.1%)
5. Military equipment $17.6 million (3.8%)
6. Refined petroleum oils excluding biodiesel $15.2 million (3.3%)
7. Macadamia nuts in shell $11.5 million (2.5%)
8. Copper waste, scrap $11.3 million (2.4%)
9. Cold-water shrimps, prawns $10.9 million (2.4%)
10. Unsweetened and non-flavored waters $10.1 million (2.2%)

Hawaii’s top 10 exports approached three-quarters (71.2%) of the overall value of the state’s global shipments.

Refined petroleum oils excluding biodiesel represent the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 3,773% from 2023 to 2024.

In second place for improving export sales were Hawaiian shipments of military equipment which soared 1,611%.

Then there were Hawaii’s exports of copper waste and scrap which increased 30% year over year.

There was a pair of double-digit decliners among Hawaii’s top 10 export products.

Sales of Hawaii’s exported civilian aircraft including engines and parts fell -39.6% compared to 2023. Exports of Hawaiian light oil mixes excluding biodiesel depreciated by -24.3% year over year.

More Key Facts about Hawaiian International Trade

Overall, Hawaii incurred a -US$1.71 billion deficit exporting and importing products during 2024. That dollar amount reflects a -18.7% reduction compared to Hawaii’s -$2.1 billion in red ink for 2023.

Another way of saying surplus or deficit is positive or negative net exports. In a nutshell, the term “net exports” quantifies the amount by which foreign spending on a state’s goods or services exceeds or lags that same state’s spending on foreign goods or services.

Below are Hawaii’s top 10 import products highlighting the state’s highest spending on foreign-made goods in 2024. All told, Hawaiian imports cost a total $2.71 billion for 2024.

1. Light oil mixes excluding biodiesel $370.8 million (17.1% of Hawaii’s total imports)
2. Refined petroleum oils excluding biodiesel $224.2 million (10.3%)
3. Mid-sized automobiles (piston engine) $137.8 million (6.3%)
4. Large automobiles (piston engine) $61.2 million (2.8%)
5. Hybrid vehicles (with both combustion/electrical motors) $55.6 million (2.6%)
6. Faster thrust turbo-jets $37.3 million (1.7%)
7. Bituminous mixtures $37.3 million (1.7%)
8. Petroleum gases $32.3 million (1.5%)
9. Liquefied propane $28.9 million (1.3%)
10. Aluminum door and window parts $27.3 million (1.3%)

Hawaii racks up highly negative net exports in the international trade of processed petroleum oils and automobiles. In turn, these cashflows indicate Hawaii’s competitive disadvantages under those product categories.

Major Trade Partners Buying Hawaiian Exports

The following list shows the top 10 international customers that purchased over three-quarters (76.1%) worth of the total value for products exported from Hawaii during 2024.

1. Japan: US$84.2 million (18.3% of Hawaii’s total exports)
2. New Zealand: $57.8 million (12.5%)
3. South Korea: $53.1 million (11.5%)
4. India: $45.7 million (9.9%)
5. United Kingdom: $22.9 million (5%)
6. mainland China: $20.1 million (4.4%)
7. Canada: $17.6 million (3.8%)
8. Netherlands: $17.1 million (3.7%)
9. United Arab Emirates: $16.9 million (3.7%)
10. Philippines: $15.4 million (3.3%)

Hawaii’s top trade partners located in Asia (Japan, South Korea, India, mainland China and the Philippines) bought almost half (47.4%) of the overall value of goods exported from the Aloha State during 2024.

In contrast, importers in Europe (United Kingdom and Netherlands) consumed 8.7% of Hawaii’s total exported product sales.

Hawaii Export Companies

Two Hawaii-based corporations rank among Fortune 1000 Companies, a list that showcases America’s largest businesses. Listed below are both firms that have their headquartered in Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu.

• Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (airliner for passengers, cargo)
• Hawaiian Electric Industries (electricity)

Shown within brackets for each company is a summary of the products or services which in each business deals, some of which are related to international trade.
 

Hawaii’s capital is Honolulu, a city nicknamed “Crossroads of the Pacific” and “Sheltered Bay”.

See also America’s Top 20 Export States, United States Top 10 Exports and Top United States Trade Balances

Research Sources:
FlagPictures.org, Flags of US States. Accessed on March 31, 2025

Forbes, 2017 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 31, 2025

GeoLounge, Fortune 1000 Companies List for 2017 , Fortune 1000 by State and Place. Accessed on March 31, 2025

Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Census. Accessed on March 31, 2025

hawaii.gov, Actual and Forecast of Key Economic Indicators for Hawaii. Accessed on March 31, 2025

IBIS World, Hawaii – State Economic Profile (including GDP). Accessed on March 31, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 31, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 31, 2025

State Symbols USA, State Nicknames. Accessed on March 31, 2025

United States Census Bureau, U. S. Exports of Goods by State, Based on Origin of Movement, by NAICS-Based Product. Accessed on March 31, 2025

USA Trade Online, Official Source of Trade Statistics. Accessed on March 31, 2025

Wikipedia, Category: Companies. Accessed on March 31, 2025

Wikipedia, Hawaii. Accessed on March 31, 2025

Wikipedia, List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Accessed on March 31, 2025

YCharts, Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Report. Accessed on March 31, 2025