Maui Now Staff 5/24/22 Maui Now Staff 5/24/22

Report: Hawaiʻi missed out on $200 million in federal funding to feed children since 2000

This discrepancy stems from a federal analysis that hasn’t been updated since 1979, according to the report.

Sabrina Bodon 4/29/22 Sabrina Bodon 4/29/22

Bill to raise Hawaiʻi's minimum wage to $18 by 2028 passes out of conference committee

With last-minute amendments, a measure seeking to raise the state’s minimum wage passed out of conference committee on Friday.

Blaze Lovell 4/29/22 Blaze Lovell 4/29/22

Hawaiʻi lawmakers finally agree on raising the minimum wage

House Bill 2510 also makes a state earned income tax credit refundable. Meanwhile, many taxpayers could soon get a $300 tax rebate.

Guthrie Scrimgeour 4/19/22 Guthrie Scrimgeour 4/19/22

Working class tax credit still alive

After taking a long, winding path through the Legislature, a bill making the Earned Income Tax Credit permanent and refundable has made it through both the House and the Senate, though disagreements over amendments mean that the bill will now go before a conference committee.

Annalisa Burgos 4/12/22 Annalisa Burgos 4/12/22

Inflation is forcing some Hawaiʻi families to change the way they shop for groceries

Economists agree this rising trend won’t go away anytime soon—that’s concerning for food banks and nonprofit organizations that help low-income and working class families.

Guthrie Scrimgeour 3/23/22 Guthrie Scrimgeour 3/23/22

Senate, House clash over Hawaiʻi minimum wage bills

The vast majority of those who testified at Monday’s LCA meeting favored the 2026 date for the increase, with 113 testifying in support of the 2026 date and 11 individuals testifying in support of the 2028 date.

Andrew Gomes 3/23/22 Andrew Gomes 3/23/22

Hawaiʻi lawmakers tussle over one minimum wage bill

A clash of wills and philosophies among state lawmakers over how to raise Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage now appears centered on one bill at the legislature instead of two.

Brittany Lyte 12/19/21 Brittany Lyte 12/19/21

Hawaiʻi schools are buying less local food during the pandemic

Despite new legislation requiring public schools to serve student meals with more local ingredients, advocates say they are frustrated by a regression in local food initiatives.

Sophie Cocke 10/14/21 Sophie Cocke 10/14/21

Pandemic fuels spike in childhood obesity in Hawaiʻi

Nearly one in six children between the ages of 10 and 17 are obese in Hawaiʻi, marking a significant increase from four years ago and fueling concerns about the impact that COVID-19 restrictions and school closures have had on the health of the state’s youth.

Casey Harlow 8/27/21 Casey Harlow 8/27/21

Fundraising campaign kicks off next week to help fight child hunger

An annual fundraising campaign kicks off next week to help fight child hunger and expand participation in free breakfast programs at public schools.

Anita Hofschneider 7/26/21 Anita Hofschneider 7/26/21

Why are more people than ever receiving food stamps in Hawaiʻi?

A historically high enrollment in the food stamp program is part of a broader increase in the need for public services during the pandemic.

Gavin Thornton, Heather Lusk and Deborah Zysman 4/22/21 Gavin Thornton, Heather Lusk and Deborah Zysman 4/22/21

Lawmakers should pass tax bills to fix our upside-down tax system

Minimum wage earners should not be paying a higher percentage in taxes than those at the top.

Jeanné Kapela and Amy Perruso 4/19/21 Jeanné Kapela and Amy Perruso 4/19/21

Economic recovery should focus on working families

And Hawaiʻi’s lawmakers should pass legislation that supports workers’ well-being.

Eleni Avendaño 4/15/21 Eleni Avendaño 4/15/21

Hawaiʻi sees ‘startling’ increase in number of children facing hunger

Even as benefits programs expand and school meal programs shift, food insecurity is expected to continue to grow in the islands.

HNN Staff 4/6/21 HNN Staff 4/6/21

Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center stresses importance of city’s rent relief program

After just four hours, the city's new rent relief program was suspended because so many people applied. The $114 million in federal money is for back and future rent and utilities.

John Burnett 3/16/21 John Burnett 3/16/21

Bill would expand DA BUX food program

The measure is intended to provide low-income people easier access to healthier food choices and to help local farmers and ranchers.

Casey Harlow 2/23/21 Casey Harlow 2/23/21

Legislature considers increasing minimum wage amid pandemic

Advocates argue that raising the minimum wage will not only help workers make ends meet, but also stimulate the local economy.

Sophie Cocke 2/23/21 Sophie Cocke 2/23/21

$12 minimum wage hike clears key Senate committees

In recent years there’s been increasing support from the state’s leading lawmakers and Democratic Party to pay workers a living wage, but the gap between that figure and what lawmakers have been willing to pass remains wide.

Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 2/22/21 Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 2/22/21

Minimum wage hike up to timing

Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living, makes a minimum wage increase vital for low-income workers, including many who have been on the pandemic’s front lines.

Jason Ubay & HPR News Staff 2/16/21 Jason Ubay & HPR News Staff 2/16/21

DOE improves free school breakfast program during pandemic

Hawaiʻi Appleseed has monitored the ranking for years, and has been working with the DOE to improve those numbers.