Hawaii’s red-hot construction industry represents the only bright spot in an otherwise somber economic outlook heading toward the end of the year, with even more bad employment and economic expectations to come next year, according to the latest forecast from the University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization.

“It’s a little bit of a bleak outlook — not a lot to be optimistic about,” said UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham.

UHERO’s third-quarter economic forecast outlines a long list of forces — many driven by Trump administration policies — that are expected to lead to more job losses, rising costs and a “mild recession” for Hawaii that will affect everyone.

But Trump administration changes to Medicaid and reductions in SNAP benefits will hit low-income Hawaii residents dispro

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