Our tax system increases inequity
Our tax system plays a big role in the widening gap between those who are wealthy and those who are struggling to get by—a gap that is exponentially greater in Black, brown and indigenous communities.
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.
Appleseed agenda 2021: stop cuts, boost working families and the economy
Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s work during the 2021 legislative session focuses on the areas most critical to preserving the strength and stability of Hawaiʻi people, families and communities.
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.
Data sovereignty and disaggregation research to be featured at State Capitol
Data disaggregation and data ensure that state spending is adequate and appropriately allocated, and that revenues are assessed and collected fairly.
How COVID-19 shaped Appleseed’s work in 2020
The year 2020 was a turbulent one, but it proved the power of Hawaiʻi’s greatest strength—its people.
What’s included in the new federal coronavirus aid and what was left out?
The $900 billion COVID relief agreement provides urgently-needed relief to Hawaiʻi’s families, but the short timeline is worrisome and several important items were left out of the final deal.
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.
Cutting state contracts would hurt the private sector economy
Cutting contracts with nonprofit organizations that provide essential services would be as devastating to the economy as cutting state worker hours.
Now is the time to talk about Pōhakuloa Training Area
The Mauna Kea protests show the growing desire to conserve and protect Hawaiʻi’s natural environment and culture from exploitation and abuse.
Continuing research into poverty and housing with Hawaiʻi Community Foundation grant
The grant continues generous support from Hawaiʻi Community Foundation for fact-based research into budget, tax and housing policy issues that affect the wellbeing of Hawaiʻi’s people.
Honolulu minimum wage is lowest among 15 most expensive U.S. cities
While residents of metropolitan areas with high prices also tend to have higher incomes, that’s not the case in Honolulu—and especially not true for minimum wage workers.
We need a visitor recreation fee to benefit Hawaiʻi
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our dependency on tourism, and the need to create a more sustainable and less exploitative version of the industry.
Counties may need to fill gaps left in state coronavirus response
Some 35,000 additional households could fall into poverty or financial insecurity by the end of the year unless these gaps in state funding are addressed.
Setting the stage for a crucial June special session
CARES Act funds must be spent by the end of December, and careful decisions need to be made to address critical needs in our community.
Disaggregating data helps replace racist policies with anti-racist ones
One often overlooked way in which racism manifests itself in our policies is through our use of data. Disaggregating data can help end racist policies.
Hawaiʻi’s household income loss is the highest in the nation
6 in 10 Hawaiʻi adults now live in a household in which at least one person has lost income
Here’s how the CARES Act funding will be spent in Hawaiʻi
Most of the $1.8 billion in grants are awarded to the state, but some goes to the counties, nonprofit organizations, and individual healthcare providers as well.
Eight progressive options to close Hawaiʻi’s billion dollar budget gap
Hawaiʻi lawmakers should use all available progressive options to close the state’s budget deficit without slashing critical government spending.
Who are Hawaiʻi’s frontline workers?
The pandemic has shown us how crucial frontline industry workers are to Hawaiʻi’s economy. Sadly, many of these workers are underpaid and under-protected.