Victoria Budiono 1/24/26 Victoria Budiono 1/24/26

Hawaiʻi coalition calls for tax fairness for local needs

As Hawaiʻi struggles to meet growing needs in housing, education, health care and climate resilience, a broad coalition of community groups, labor unions and nonprofit advocates is pushing lawmakers to confront a long-standing question: how to pay for it.

Annalisa Burgos 1/21/26 Annalisa Burgos 1/21/26

New online tool shows disparities between communities on basic needs

Annalisa Burgos asks Hawaiʻi Appleseed how its Economic Justice Data Dashboard can help focus government spending.

Maui Now Staff 12/23/25 Maui Now Staff 12/23/25

Hawaiʻi to restrict soda purchases under SNAP in 2026; local groups oppose

Instead, increasing incentives for fruits and vegetables does a better job of promoting healthy eating and reducing purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages among SNAP participants.

Victoria Budiono 12/22/25 Victoria Budiono 12/22/25

Counties urged to boost role protecting residents from hunger

A new policy brief from Hawaiʻi Appleseed argues that counties are increasingly positioned to act as front-line responders as federal resources recede and local needs grow.

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros 12/19/25 Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros 12/19/25

5 ways Hawaiʻi counties can help address food insecurity

A new nonprofit policy brief recommends areas of focus for leaders at the county level to make the most impact on local food systems in coordination with state and federal resources.

Maui Now Staff 12/17/25 Maui Now Staff 12/17/25

Policy brief calls for expanded county role in addressing food security in Hawaiʻi

A new policy brief from the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice urges leaders on the county level to address food insecurity as federal nutrition programs face significant funding cuts.

Jeremy Hay 12/15/25 Jeremy Hay 12/15/25

With hunger growing on Oʻahu, a push to put food security to a vote

The Charter Commission is holding a first hearing today of a proposal to create a food security fund using property tax revenue.

Kevin Dayton 12/8/25 Kevin Dayton 12/8/25

Green suggests Hawaiʻi might scale back on income tax cuts

The governor also says he will likely tap into the state’s “rainy day” reserve to draw down hundreds of millions of dollars to balance the state budget.

Perry Arrasmith 11/28/25 Perry Arrasmith 11/28/25

Why does Hawaiʻi have a GET?

The General Excise Tax. We all know it, we all complain about it, especially the way it stacks up in transaction after transaction, raising prices. But there was a time when it didn't exist at all. Here's a look at who created it, when, and, most importantly, why.

Thomas Heaton, Megan Tagami and Caitlin Thompson 11/18/25 Thomas Heaton, Megan Tagami and Caitlin Thompson 11/18/25

More Hawaiʻi residents are going hungry, new statewide report shows

The report was produced at a time when food security was bad in Hawaiʻi. But now, advocates say, it’s even worse.

Jeremy Hay 10/29/25 Jeremy Hay 10/29/25

New federal rules ramp up the pressure on people who count on food stamps

Thousands of people in Hawaiʻi will be cut from the program entirely or face additional hurdles, including added work requirements.

Kristen Consillio 10/28/25 Kristen Consillio 10/28/25

Mom-and-pop stores losing EBT customers struggle to survive

It’s not only making it harder for families to put food on their tables. It’s also affecting people’s livelihoods.

Victoria Budiono 9/6/25 Victoria Budiono 9/6/25

Four Hawaiʻi nonprofits receive investments as SNAP cuts loom

More than 13,000 people in Hawaiʻi could lose some or all of their benefits each month once expanded work requirements are implemented.

Denise Obrero 8/21/25 Denise Obrero 8/21/25

Honolulu’s early eviction mediation and rental assistance program’s success

The next step is for more opportunities to uplift the statewide efforts advancing housing stability through early intervention and cross-sector collaboration.

Abbey Seitz, Arjuna Heim and Lee Wang 8/12/25 Abbey Seitz, Arjuna Heim and Lee Wang 8/12/25

Bill 53 would increase Oʻahu housing costs

Reinstating parking mandates for developers in Honolulu means choosing cars over people and asphalt over affordability.

Elena Farden 7/1/25 Elena Farden 7/1/25

OHA seeks housing strategy consultant to advance Mana i Mauli Ola goals

These efforts come at a time when small policy wins at the state level are offering renewed hope but require coordinated implementation to benefit Native Hawaiian communities equitably.

Eric Naktin 6/26/25 Eric Naktin 6/26/25

Food insecurity forum focuses on current and future needs in Hawaiʻi

Keeping struggling individuals properly fed is already considered a growing challenge, locally, even as the threat of federal funding cuts leave an uncertain future for SNAP and, consequently, food banks as well.