UH Manoa Athletics Pumps $188M Into Hawaii's Economy

Oct 30, 2026

A new study finds UH Manoa's athletics program is a major economic engine for Hawaii, and state leaders are rallying behind it.

  • The Rainbow Warriors and Wahine sports teams generated over $750 million for Hawaii's economy over the past four years, averaging about $188 million a year.
  • Athletics supported more than 1,200 jobs across the state.
  • The money comes from four areas: visitor spending on hotels and restaurants, spending by athletic staff and student athletes, athletic revenue like scholarships and media rights, and private donations.
  • Hawaii's governor and top business and labor leaders publicly backed the program, signaling continued investment ahead.

Outlook: With strong public and business backing, UH Manoa athletics is likely to keep drawing investment and visitor spending into the state.

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