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Enforcement of vacation rental regulations would restore balance

The Honolulu City Council is set to take up the short term rentals (STRs) issue again tomorrow with new drafts of Bills 85 and 89. Whichever bill ends up being prefered, it is imperative that the council include strong enforcement mechanism in any city ordinance it chooses to pass. This post covers what those regulations should look like, and why they're so critical.

How high is too high? We actually know a lot about minimum wage increases

If the wage rose to $17 by 2024, Hawai‘i's minimum and near-minimum wage workers would receive a total pay increase of over $1.3 billion to spend at local businesses.

Hawaii: not as good for women as it seems

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday, let’s remember that there’s a lot more to be done to improve the status of women, not only across the world but also at home in Hawai‘i.

Appleseed announces 2019 policy agenda

Each legislative session, Hawaiʻi Appleseed creates a policy agenda of actionable solutions to some of our state's most prevalent and entrenched social and economic problems. Based on the months of research we spend each year examining these critical issues, this agenda prioritizes efforts for maximum benefit to the community at-large.

February SNAP benefits will be distributed early due to government shutdown

The early distribution could result in major disruptions to household food budgets in the event that benefits run out before the next scheduled distribution in March. SNAP users are being cautioned to budget accordingly.

Farm bill protects SNAP, other critical nutrition programs

In a bipartisan agreement announced today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed (in a 369–47 vote) a farm bill agreement that supports the food security of nearly 170,000 Hawai‘i residents through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill passed both houses of Congress overwhelmingly and is now on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

The bipartisan bill also includes provisions that invest in our island’s…

Public charge rule change would hurt Hawaii’s economy

If federal benefits on this scale are withdrawn from Hawaiʻi’s economy, there would be predictable ripple effects to local businesses and workers. Withdrawal of SNAP funding means a reduction in spending in grocery stores and supermarkets. When families lose health insurance, hospitals and doctors lose income. And spending would be reduced in other areas as families struggle to pay food and health costs. FPI’s mid-level estimate shows a potential loss of $127 million in Hawaiʻi due to the ripple effects of this lost spending. 

After school supper is a big missed opportunity in Hawaii

For many children, the breakfast and lunch they get at school is the only healthy food they eat all day. School meals are critical to student health and well-being, especially for low-income students. These meals ensure that students have the nutrition they need throughout the day to learn. Research shows that school meal programs reduce food insecurity, obesity rates and poor health, and improve learning outcomes for participating students. In addition, school meal nutrition standards are having a positive impact…

Incomes in Hawaii are not as high as you’ve heard: Here’s why

Over the years, the media has often reported that Hawai‘i incomes are among the highest in the nation. If that doesn’t sound quite right to you, trust your gut.

In the past, the U.S. Census Bureau has publicly released information about household and family incomes, but not individual incomes. So while the media is correct to report that we have, for example, the 4th highest median household income in the nation in 2017, they’re not reporting that we have…

Honolulu’s proposal to regulate short-term rentals needs serious help

Addressing the rampant proliferation of short-term vacation rentals in Hawaiʻi is critical to solving our housing crisis, but it’s imperative that we do it the right way: here’s how.

 

Hawai‘i has a serious problem: not enough roofs to shelter all our people. And the problem is only getting worse. Between 2011-2014, our state increased its housing stock by 8,458 but, at this pace, we will not be able to generate the additional 24,551 units we need by the…