Hawaii ranked worst state to make a living

[1voyager1]

Government spending [Military bases, etc], tourism, and retirees drive the Hawaiian economy, not necessarily in that order.
Tourism and retirees do support the economy, but are not going to create the high paying jobs that a true industrial economy would.
Same for the government spending except for the government employees, many of whom are here just passing through on a job financed excursion.
Of course that excludes the local government employees.
Many of which have a permanent well paid income financed by the taxes levied on the general population.
Milking the public trough has always been " the American way".

What is there on a group of islands in the mid Pacific to base a lucrative economy on?
I find it hard to envision anything.

The same has been happening in Alaska with the winding down of the oil income.
The big box store and tourism explosion has created a multitude of new jobs.
They list them as increases in employment opportunities.
Almost all are low paying service jobs in a high COL location.

For many, somethings are given up to be able to live here.
Lifestyle choices have to be made.
Even retirees are caught up in having to make those types of decisions.
If you're not willing to do that, you probably should be somewhere else.
At least you won't freeze to death because you can't afford to heat whatever you happen to be living in.