Hawaiʻi’s two-tier tax system: How the rich use a glaring loophole to pay less
While teachers, nurses and service workers pay income tax on every dollar they earn, the wealthy can shield a large portion of their profits thanks to a special tax break on capital gains.
Can Hawaiʻi afford to cut the grocery tax?
Any proposal to reduce or remove the GET on food must be paired with a credible plan for replacing the revenue. It’s a challenge, but also an opportunity to build a fairer and more sustainable system.
Incoming federal tax cuts will heavily favor Hawaiʻi’s wealthiest residents
The State of Hawaiʻi has an obligation to shore up its revenue through tax policies that make the wealthiest among us pay their fair share.
Hawaiʻi should close tax loopholes for multinational corporations
Multinational corporations make huge profits from the business activity they conduct in Hawaiʻi, while dodging the taxes they should be paying to support our state.
Congress’ budget blueprint leaves Hawaiʻi’s working families behind
In effect, the budget blueprint aims to take food out of the mouths of hungry keiki, so that billionaires can pad their pockets even more on the way to the bank.
Tax credits are more necessary than ever in 2025
Hawaiʻi’s families need urgent help to deal with the high cost of living. This is especially true for parents, who have to balance the cost of child care, rent, and food every month.
How a second Trump presidency could impact the pocket books of Hawaiʻi’s working families
Outside of the top 5 percent richest households, families will likely see significant tax increases, while the cost of consumer items would spike under proposed tariffs.
How Hawaiʻi’s hardworking undocumented immigrants support our economy and communities
A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy lifts up the significant tax contributions that undocumented immigrants make to our federal, state and local governments through the taxes they pay each year.
Congress restores eligibility to federal benefits for COFA citizens
President Biden’s recently passed spending bill comes with long-awaited good news for citizens of COFA nations, who are now—once again, after nearly three decades—eligible for federal benefits.
Keiki poverty more than doubled last year without the expanded Child Tax Credit
Hawaiʻi lawmakers have an obvious solution at their disposal, if they are willing to act on it.
A Hawaiʻi Child Tax Credit would keep thousands of keiki out of poverty
After the expiration of the expanded federal Child Tax Credit, poverty rates spiked—it’s time for Hawaiʻi lawmakers to step up and fill the gap.
Hawaiʻi inequality is on the rise—wealth taxes can help fix the problem
Hawaiʻi is one of the most unequal states in the nation for wealth distribution, but tax policy changes can help capture more wealth at the top to invest back into communities.
Now is the right time to expand Hawaiʻi’s Earned Income Tax Credit
In 2021, 12 states and D.C. recognized the devastating effects of the pandemic recession and improved their EITCs to support their working families. Hawaiʻi should join them.
Expanding economic opportunity with the Hawaiʻi EITC
Expanding the state Earned Income Tax Credit to make it refundable would put more money back in the pockets of Hawaiʻi's working families, strengthening the local economy.
Tax reform that addresses racial injustice also boosts the economy
When it comes to increasing both racial equity and economic prosperity, smart tax system reforms can be an effective policy tool to achieve both.
Tax fairness is popular and needed for Hawaiʻi’s future
Most taxpayers agree that a fair and effective tax system is a critical part of building Hawaiʻi’s future.
Trump’s tax cuts gave Hawaiʻi’s rich a windfall; recapturing it would help our economy
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act worsened economic inequality. It’s time to ask the households that benefitted the most from that windfall to contribute more to the common good.
Hawaiʻi budget challenges: tax revenues, fixed costs, state salaries
The pandemic’s effects on the economy will make passing a balanced budget more challenging than ever.
How to plug Hawaiʻi’s budget gap while preserving critical services like education
There’s no doubt that the recession has punched a hole in Hawaiʻi’s state budget, but there are ways to plug the gap without cutting critical services.