Hawaii

Hawaii's governor announced that state employees would be furloughed two days a month; the state sold $750 million of GO bonds in October to fund operations.

Oahu's 20-mile rail project could lose $250 million in federal funding if the Federal Transit Administration doesn't grant an extension.

The state is easing a strict quarantine requirement that has left its all-important tourism industry with very few tourists.

Municipal issuers in the Far West sold $38.7 billion in bonds during the first six months of 2020, 8.8% more than they did the year before.

Total municipal CUSIP requests fell in July after three months of increases, according to CUSIP Global Services.

The drop in tourism amid the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a downgrade of Hawaii's ratings by Moody’s Investors Service affecting $9 billion in outstanding debt ahead of the state’s plans to price $900 million of taxable bonds Wednesday.

Municipal bonds were little changed on Monday ahead of this week's new-issue calendar.

Municipal bonds finished out the month on a strong note, with yields dropping by as much as two basis points on Friday.

Hawaii struggles to close shortfall while crafting reopening plan.

Fitch Ratings lowered its outlook on Hawaii's AA-plus rating to negative from stable, following a similar action by Moody's earlier this month.

With coronavirus decimating the state's dominant industry of tourism, Moody's dropped Hawaii's rating outlook to negative.

Tourism represents 17% of Hawaii's economy.

Fitch Ratings raised Hawaii to AA-plus from AA.

Hawaii moves ahead on plans to construct a new college football stadium amid concerns about declining attendance at college games.

Issuers in the nine-state Far West region sold $34.6 billion of municipal bonds in 2019's first six months.

Southwest Airlines' decision to enter the Hawaii market helped spur a positive outlook from Moody's.

Lawmakers are weighing legislation that would authorize $100 million of special purpose revenue bonds to build and operate the plant.

Attention in the municipal bond market turns westward as some of the week's biggest deals will be coming from Hawaii, Washington state and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Buyers will see the biggest issuance week of the year as $7.2 billion of deals will hit the screens.

The Hawaii finance team doesn’t expect the market’s volatility to hamper buyer interest.

Honolulu plans to price $250 million in GOs for the 20-mile-long elevated rail project.