In Hawaiʻi, how you earn your money can determine how much tax you pay. This system is rigged in favor of the wealthiest among us. While teachers, nurses and service workers pay income tax on every dollar they earn, the
Every young person in Hawaiʻi deserves the freedom to move—to get to school, sports, after-school programs, jobs, and time with friends—without having to worry about the cost of a bus pass. That’s the vision driving advocates to work toward fare-free
Recent local headlines show the volatility and turmoil that both landlords and tenants can experience within the pressure of Hawaiʻi’s tight rental housing market.On one side, landlords have shared cases of costly and prolonged battles to remove tenants who refuse
Last month, the Census Bureau released its annual data for 2024. This data includes indicators like income and poverty rates, all of which influence important decisions on government policy. Since our first research brief, Hawaiʻi Appleseed has relied on census
Hawaiʻi’s kūpuna already face some of the highest food costs in the nation, stretching fixed incomes across housing, medical bills and groceries. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps more than 33,000 Hawaiʻi seniors afford nutritious foods—supporting overall health and
Over the past several decades, housing that is affordable to the average Hawaiʻi resident has become increasingly out of reach for many. This housing affordability crisis is a direct result of decades-old policy choices that remain fiercely defended today.
Every year in Hawaiʻi, two parallel storylines unfold at the state capitol. One is a story of ambitious policy goals. Community needs are identified, solutions are proposed and hard-fought legislative victories are won. The other is a story of fiscal
