Hitting the road to stem summer hunger
On the Waiʻanae coast, the state DOE deploys a food truck to distribute free, freshly packaged meals to kids in need.
Hawaiʻi has highest gap between wages, rent required for a 2-bedroom
Hawaiʻi is not only the most expensive state for renters to live in, but also has the greatest gap between average earnings and average fair-market rent.
Critics fear Trump’s plan to redefine poverty could mean bad news for Hawaiʻi
The federal poverty line already doesn’t take into account the state’s high cost of living.
No one knows how many homes are sitting empty despite housing shortage
There’s a big discrepancy between city and federal estimates of vacancy rates.
Double Up Food Bucks pays dividends beyond feeding needy
Advocates are backing a bill to provide state money to bolster the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program when its funds are spent on local produce.
A living wage will help keep families here
Hawaiʻi trails 11 other states where the minimum wage is higher than ours.
Top 10 cities where vacation rentals rake in the most cash
The short-term rental business has experienced 97% growth in America’s 100 largest cities over the past three years, totaling more than 360,000 active rentals.
Short-term rental regulation advances at Honolulu Hale
On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council held a public hearing on the latest proposals to rein in Oʻahu’s vacation accommodations, like those rented on Airbnb.
Business Report: New figures on Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage
The report finds that low-wage workers spend most of their increased income back into the local economy, supporting businesses and boosting economic activity.
Minimum wage increase could help over 200,000 workers, report says
The Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice analyzed the demographics of workers who could be impacted by an increase.
Let’s Talk Food: School lunches in Hawaiʻi
The DOE is increasing local food in student meals as well as connecting our keiki with the ʻāina using local products from the agricultural community.
State must lead on housing crisis
The failure to deal with the housing shortage in any meaningful way has led to Hawaiʻi’s highest per-capita homelessness rate in the nation.
The call for a living wage
Lawmakers are looking to raise the minimum wage to $12.50 in 2024 for those who get healthcare from their employers; an increase of about $0.50 an hour each year, and simply not enough.
Right moves on vacation rentals
It’s encouraging that the Honolulu City Council Planning Committee put forward a bill that aims to rein in the vacation rental industry’s presence here.
Short-term vacation rentals on Oʻahu could soon be regulated
A 2018 report from Hawaiʻi Appleseed stated more than 80 percent of short term vacation rentals in Hawaiʻi are not owner-occupied.
Advocates urge larger minimum wage hike
The Senate Committee on Labor will hold a public hearing today regarding a bill that would increase minimum wage rates throughout the state.
Hawaiʻi ranks last in participation rate for school breakfast programs
Hawaiʻi's high poverty rate means ensuring more students have access to healthy meals is imperative.
More kids need school breakfast
Fewer than 4 in 10 low-income students who eat school lunch are also eating school breakfast in our state.
Raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour
In a state that has one of the highest costs of living and lowest unemployment rates, it’s time for lawmakers to put things back in balance for workers.
Half of Hawaiʻi barely gets by
Two or three jobs are not enough to provide financial stability for many local families. How can we create CHANGE?