For Immediate Release: October 26, 2009
DBEDT Release News 09-30

HONOLULU—International students and their dependents spent $160 million in Hawai‘i during the 2008-2009 academic year according to a study just released by the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) and the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Hawai‘i-Pacific District (NAFSA).

The estimate was based on surveys of Hawai‘i schools which are authorized to enroll non-immigrant students by the Department of Homeland Security. Institutions include four-year universities, two- and 4 - year colleges, vocational, language, technical, and high schools.

The surveys were conducted online during the months of May to August 2009.

According to the survey, 13,124 international students studied in the state of Hawai‘i during the 2008-2009 academic year. The top five places of origin are represented by students from Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China respectively.

"This confirms that Hawai‘i's unique location and vast resources are ideally suited to meet the growing needs of international education," said DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu. "It is also very important to our local economy, therefore the State should continue to strengthen our international partnerships and position Hawai‘i to play an even larger role in the global economy."

"Hawai‘i has an advantageous position of being located geographically, ethnically and culturally in the center of the Asia-Pacific region between the world's two largest economies, and the world's fastest growing economy," said NAFSA Hawai ‘i Chair Darrell Kicker. "As such, there are unique advantages in Hawai‘i's ability to compete and succeed in the field of international education. These advantages should be leveraged through increased global outreach."

For more information, contact:
Dave Young, DBEDT Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov