New federal relief bill will help Hawaiʻi. But it’s still not enough for a full recovery

Beth Giesting, director of the Hawaiʻi Budget & Policy Center, said she’s optimistic about having billions more in federal aid coming to the islands.

She does worry, however, about what will happen when those funds run out.

Home prices, which were already out of reach for many, have only increased during the pandemic as out-of-staters snatch up properties, sometimes sight unseen, so that they can work remotely from paradise.

The influx of cash for state and county governments, Giesting said, could also hurt the prospects of Hawaiʻi lawmakers passing progressive legislation that would tax the state’s highest earners.

“I want to look on the bright side of things,” Giesting said. “The federal relief isn’t going to take care of all of our problems, but it will buy us some time to figure out the next step.”