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Hawaii is fourth most affected state by partial government shutdown, WalletHub says

Nina Wu
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ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2017

People gather ahead of the sunrise on the summit of Haleakala volcano in Haleakala National Park on Maui.

WalletHub, a personal finances website, released a report today saying Hawaii is the 4th most affected state in the U.S. impacted by the partial federal government shutdown.

The District of Columbia ranked the top most affected state (No. 1), followed by New Mexico (No. 2), and Maryland (No. 3). Alaska came behind Hawaii at No. 5., and Minnesota was at the bottom (No. 51).

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics, ranging from each state’s share of federal jobs to federal contract dollars per capita to the share of families receiving food stamps.

Hawaii tied the District of Columbia for having the highest share of federal jobs. But Hawaii also got its rank due to its share of federal contract dollars per capita, along with the highest real estate as a percentage of gross state product.

With a pledge for $126,000 from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the USS Arizona Memorial visitor center has been operating normally with hundreds of visitors flocking to the popular attraction despite the shutdown. Tourists also continue to visit Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, although the Chain of Craters Road is closed, along with Halaekala National Park despite the visitor centers there being closed.

WalletHub said this is the 21st time since 1976 that the U.S. government closed for business, this time with a partial shutdown. As of today, the shutdown has lasted 13 days.

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