UHERO

What UHERO does

UHERO (UH Economic Research Organization) is a university-affiliated, nonprofit economic research organization founded in 1997 and headquartered at 2424 Maile Way, Saunders Hall 540, on the University of Hawaii campus in Honolulu. It produces economic forecasts, policy briefs, working papers, and annual reports — including the recurring Hawaii Housing Factbook — covering the state's housing, energy, environment, tax, education, and health sectors, with a tightly Hawaii-centric geographic scope spanning Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. The organization is led by University of Hawaii faculty researchers and, for its flagship MauiWES (Maui Wildfire Exposure Study) initiative, co-led by Dr. Ruben Juarez and Dr. Alika Maunakea.

UHERO's core product surface is a portfolio of interactive analytics dashboards and survey instruments built around a central Data Portal that hosts multi-decade Hawaii time-series economic data. Named products include the Hawaii Housing Dashboard (with Factsheet Builder and Subsidized Housing Explorer), the Maui Recovery Dashboard, the MauiWES Dashboard, the Kauai Economic Dashboard, the UHERO Rapid Survey, and the multi-language Maui Recovery Survey App. Underlying technology is described as data analytics platforms, survey instruments, longitudinal cohort study methodology, and interactive dashboards — there are no AI/ML, SDK, or API capabilities disclosed; the only stated integration is Google Sign-in for the survey app.

The organization's business model is grant-funded professional services: UHERO does not sell access to its research outputs, dashboards, or data portals, all of which are freely available to the public. Revenue (in the form of research grants and sponsorships) comes from foundations, government agencies, and institutional supporters — including the Hawaii Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, the National Institutes of Health, the City and County of Honolulu, the State of Hawaii, Maui County, and federal agencies — supplemented by community-partner relationships with organizations such as Maui Medic Healers Hui, Roots Reborn Lahaina, and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Customer segments are primarily government agencies, community organizations, academic researchers, and fire-impacted residents.

Name

UHERO

Legal name

UH Economic Research Organization

Website

https://uhero.hawaii.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UHERO is a nonprofit, university-affiliated economic research organization that produces Hawaii-focused economic forecasts, policy briefs, interactive data dashboards, and longitudinal community-health studies for government agencies, community organizations, and academic researchers across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Data, Vital Statistics & Population Health Informatics (BPAIAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) & Equity Measurement (HLAJAJAI)

Keywords

• Economic research
• Data analytics
• Economic forecasting
• Housing market analysis
• Policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: UHERO operates as a university research organization primarily funded through grants from foundations, government agencies, and institutional supporters. Funding sources include the Hawaii Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, National Institutes of Health, and other government and philanthropic sources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UHERO (University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization) is a nonprofit, university-based economic research organization that produces economic data, analytics, forecasting, and policy research focused on the State of Hawaii. It operates interactive analytics dashboards (Housing, Maui Recovery, MauiWES, Kauai, Subsidized Housing Explorer), a public Data Portal for time series data, and publishes reports, briefs, forecasts, and insights across housing, energy, environment, health, tax, and education topics.

Product overview

UHERO (University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization) is a research organization providing economic data, analytics, and forecasting for Hawaii. The portfolio consists of multiple interactive analytics dashboards built around a central Data Portal. Key products include the Hawaii Housing Dashboard (exploring housing market data), MauiWES Dashboard (monitoring wildfire health impacts), Maui Recovery Dashboard (tracking housing and jobs recovery), Kauai Economic Dashboard, and Subsidy Housing Explorer. Research outputs include the Hawaii Housing Factbook (annual), forecasts, briefs, and the MauiWES Community Report. These tools serve policymakers, researchers, and community organizations in understanding Hawaii's economy and recovery efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MauiWES (Maui Wildfire Exposure Study): A grassroots initiative to monitor the health and social impacts of the 2023 Maui wildfires over a decade. Led by University of Hawaii researchers Dr. Ruben Juarez and Dr. Alika Maunakea, in partnership with community-based organizations.
• Maui Recovery Dashboard
• Hawaii Housing Dashboard
• Kauai Economic Dashboard
• Maui Housing & Jobs Recovery Tracker
• Subsidized Housing Explorer

Products and services

• Hawaii Housing Dashboard Interactive analytics platform for exploring Hawaii's housing market data across neighborhoods, including factsheet builder, research reports, and subsidized housing explorer. Intended for policymakers, researchers, and the public.
• MauiWES Dashboard Grassroots initiative dashboard to monitor the health and social impacts of the August 2023 Maui wildfires over a decade, led by University of Hawaii researchers in partnership with community-based organizations.
• Maui Recovery Dashboard Monitors housing and socioeconomic recovery on Maui through bimonthly surveys tracking housing conditions, economic impact, employment, income, and assistance for fire-impacted households.
• Kauai Economic Dashboard Analytics dashboard providing economic data and indicators specific to Kauai county.
• UHERO Data Portal A collection of time series data tracking Hawaii's economy. Users can download data, build custom charts, and explore trends across the state and by county.
• Subsidized Housing Explorer Interactive inventory of all price-restricted housing units on Oahu, including units built or acquired with public or philanthropic subsidy, with data from local, state, and federal agencies.
• Maui Recovery Survey App Online survey platform for the Maui Housing and Jobs Recovery Tracker, available in six languages (English, Spanish, Tagalog, Ilocano, Tongan, Vietnamese) for fire-affected residents. Supports Google Sign-in via OAuth.
• UHERO Rapid Survey Survey platform for rapid data collection on health-related topics affecting Hawaii communities.
• The Hawaii Housing Factbook (Annual) Annual comprehensive report covering the state of housing in Hawaii, including housing production, regulatory barriers, insurance market impacts, and affordability crisis analysis.
• MauiWES Community Report: The Road to Recovery Comprehensive report assessing health, stability, and resiliency three years after the Maui wildfires.
• UHERO Forecasts Economic forecasts for the State of Hawaii, including scenario analysis for policy planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 980+ survey participants tracked for wildfire recovery monitoring
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Maui Medic Healers HuicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organization partner in the MauiWES study, collaborating on grassroots health monitoring and community outreach for wildfire health impact assessment.
• Roots Reborn LahainacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in the MauiWES study, working with University of Hawaii researchers to monitor health and social impacts of the wildfires.
• Council for Native Hawaiian AdvancementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for community outreach and initial project planning for the Maui Recovery Survey. Provides assistance and resources via its Kākoʻo Maui initiative for fire-affected community members.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RTI International: Independent research institute conducting social, economic, and health research with a focus on data analytics and survey methodology. Comparable to UHERO's research approach combining surveys, longitudinal studies, and policy analysis.
• Rand Corporation: Multidisciplinary research institution producing policy research across economics, health, housing, and society. Comparable to UHERO's multi-disciplinary research approach (health, housing, energy, economy) but at vastly larger scale.
• Urban Institute: Economic and social policy research organization focused on domestic issues including housing affordability and community wellbeing. Comparable to UHERO's focus on housing affordability research and community-based data collection.
• Milken Institute: Nonprofit economic think tank producing research and analysis on capital markets, health, and policy. Comparable to UHERO's blend of economic research and health/policy analytics at a broader geographic scale.
• Brookings Institution: Large established think tank producing economic and policy research across multiple domains. Comparable to UHERO's research output model (briefs, reports, forecasts) but operates at national scale across many policy areas.

Direct peers

• Pew Research Center: Nonprofit research organization conducting surveys and producing public opinion/policy data via dashboards and reports. Comparable to UHERO's survey methodology (Maui Recovery Survey, Rapid Survey) and publicly accessible data products.
• National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER): U.S.-based nonprofit economic research organization producing working papers, forecasts, and policy analysis. Directly comparable to UHERO as a university-affiliated economic research entity producing similar research outputs (forecasts, briefs, working papers).
• Zillow Research: Data and research division of Zillow producing housing market analytics, dashboards, and downloadable data. Comparable to UHERO's Hawaii Housing Dashboard and Factsheet Builder as a housing data analytics platform.

Regional players

• Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (Honolulu Branch): Regional Fed branch producing economic research and analysis for Hawaii and the Pacific. Direct overlap with UHERO's economic forecasting and Hawaii-specific economic analysis role.
• Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT): State government agency producing official economic statistics, forecasts, and reports for Hawaii. Overlaps with UHERO's economic data and forecasting mandate for the same state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uheronews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEVqRCBKPmQmyKVzySSNx1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/UHERO.forum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-hawaii-economic-research-organization
• Instagraminstagram.com/uheronews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UHERO