49: Hawaii

The Aloha State offers the nation’s best quality of life hands down, but residents and businesses pay dearly for it. The quality of the state’s roads and bridges is poor.

Published 4:17 PM ET Tue, 24 June 2014 Updated 3:13 PM ET Wed, 2 July 2014 CNBC.com

Category	Score	2014 Rank	2013 Rank
Cost of Doing Business	49	49	48
Workforce	87	49	45
Quality of Life	277	1	1
Infrastructure & Transportation	107	43	50
Economy	189	34 (Tie)	41
Education	50	42	40
Technology & Innovation	110	33	45
Business Friendliness	58	44	40
Cost of Living	2	49	50
Access to Capital	9	33 (Tie)	39
Overall	938	49	50

Economic Profile

Governor: Neil Abercrombie, Democrat

Population: 1,404,054

GDP growth: 1.9 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2014): 4.4 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 6.4 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 11 percent

Gasoline tax: 66 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa2/stable

Major private employer: Hawaii Pacific Health

Economic profile sources: Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pacific Business News

America's Top States For Business

America's Top States For Business '14

CNBC unveils its 8th annual America's Top States for Business--see where your state ranks.
Inside the Kansas tax cuts

A massive tax-cutting package championed by the Kansas governor is having unintended consequences.
Businesses fear Indiana religious act

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has signed into law a religious freedom act that the state's business community strongly opposes.
Apple's $2B global command center in AZ

Apple plans one of its largest investments ever—a $2 billion center in Mesa, Arizona, powered largely by solar energy.

More From America's Top States For Business

Scott Cohn

Special Correspondent, CNBC

Top States for Business

America's Top States for Business 2023: See the full rankings

CNBC unveils its 16th annual America's Top States for Business ranking, scoring all 50 states on 86 measures of competitiveness across 10 broad categories.
These are the 10 American states that are the most prepared for extreme weather

Floods, extreme heat, and wildfire smoke are among climate risks touching all our lives, but where you live in the U.S. makes a big difference in level of risk.
These are the states in America that are the least prepared for extreme weather

Extreme weather is increasing, and these states are the worst in the U.S. at being prepared to protect residents and businesses.

From the Governors

Low-tax Wyoming chases American Dream

With an S&P Triple A rating, booming energy market and no or low taxes, Wyoming makes chasing the American Dream possible.

Latest Special Reports

CNBC Changemakers

CNBC Changemakers: Women Transforming Business is an annual list spotlighting women whose accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the business world.
Your Money

Unlock the keys to building a successful long-term financial plan: manage your money, grow your money, and protect it.
Sustainable Future

More than ever, the hope for a sustainable world has gained traction among the next generation of businesses, policymakers and investors. CNBC’s Sustainable Future focuses on how smart investments, new ideas and tech innovation can generate commerce — and a world — with staying power.