Youth Ride Free: Building a more connected Hawaiʻi
By removing financial barriers to public transit, Hawaiʻi can empower young people to participate fully in their communities, while easing family costs and supporting climate goals.
Proposal to raise transit fares will hurt Oʻahu riders
Increasing transit fares while household budgets are already stretched thin risks pushing out the very riders who rely on TheBus the most while decreasing ridership and revenue.
Powered by the people: How Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s community-first focus can create change—with your help
When we put people first, it means our policy proposals come from the community—which is essential to turning those proposals into law.
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.
Federal transportation cuts threaten Hawaiʻi’s health and climate goals
With $131 million in transportation funds at risk, Hawaiʻi faces the possibility of lasting harm to our island infrastructure, and inhibited mobility for residents who rely on walking, biking and public transit.
For a healthier, happier Hawaiʻi, transportation spending must prioritize bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
Investing in the Safe Routes to School fund is a critical step in transforming our transportation system to meet the needs of all residents—pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.
Hawaiʻi’s 2025 legislature focused on raising tax revenue to prepare for federal cuts
Assessing a proper tax rate on corporations and the wealthy will be necessary to produce a budget that can fund critical safety net programs and investments in our future.
Building a better path to success for Hawaiʻiʻs Keiki
Hawaiʻi’s 2025 legislature boosts safe routes to school and student transportation.
Reducing the burden of pedestrian fines and fees with Freedom to Walk legislation
At a societal level, we seek to shift public resources away from penalizing pedestrians and toward addressing the root causes of traffic violence.
Expand the state’s e-bike rebate program to improve mobility options
Now is the time for the state to expand the electric bike and moped rebate program to lower household transportation costs, reduce vehicle costs, and increase resident’s physical activity.
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.
Lawmakers still need to equitably raise revenue to meet Hawaiʻi’s needs
On tax policy, state legislators made progress in 2023 with tax relief, but left smart, revenue-raising policy initiatives on the table for next session.
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.
Opportunities for Hawaiʻi to maximize its budget investments
Maintaining government spending on public programs, Hawaiʻi’s workforce, and contractors for the state keeps money circulating throughout the economy as people pay for housing, food and other services.
How Hawaiʻi is funding its $24 billion FY23 budget
The legislature not only decides where money is spent, but also makes many of the decisions about who pays how much to support the budget.
Hawaiʻi got rid of harmful driver’s license stoppers—this bill would bring them back
A bill that would reinstate license suspension for unpaid fees related to abandoned vehicles by transferring authority to the counties is a serious policy backslide. The governor should veto it.
Honolulu council should take time, consider whether Bill 45 is a good investment
While the stated purpose of Bill 45 is to promote economic growth, there is no way to show that providing the additional incentives in Bill 45 would be a cost-effective use of the city’s funds.
2022 legislative session: A big win for working families; but more must be done
Legislators adopted two priority economic justice policies to deliver a significant household income boost to hundreds of thousands of Hawaiʻi workers.
A pandemic recession update in charts
Unprecedented job loss, a rise in housing costs, and inflation in food, fuel and consumer goods has made the pandemic recession especially devastating to Hawaiʻi’s working families.