Mark Ladao 3/29/23 Mark Ladao 3/29/23

Bills to transform Hawaiʻi’s school meals die in Senate

A handful of well- supported bills to transform student meals in Hawaiʻi’s public schools appears to be dead for this legislative session.

Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 2/23/23 Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 2/23/23

Move ahead with care on tax relief

Legislators must ensure that the relief package makes the most of state resources, finding the right balance of lower taxes and the services that Hawaiʻi’s people need most.

Casey Harlow 2/22/23 Casey Harlow 2/22/23

While a tax hike to fund homeless services may not pass, housing advocates have a plan

When it comes to Hawaiʻi's conveyance tax rates, advocates say the state is low compared to other high-cost areas in the U.S.

Mark Ladao 2/19/23 Mark Ladao 2/19/23

USDA raises meal reimbursement rate for Hawaiʻi’s kids

While the new rate is still less than half of what advocates wanted, it’s been met with praise in Hawaiʻi.

Casey Harlow 2/15/23 Casey Harlow 2/15/23

Proposed tax increase to fund homeless services not likely to advance in legislature

SB678 received nearly 100 pages of written testimony, with only two testifiers opposing it.

Guthrie Scrimgeour 2/14/23 Guthrie Scrimgeour 2/14/23

Property sale tax could create $2.1 million for Kauaʻi homeless

Based on 2018 data, Hawaiʻi Appleseed estimated the tax would generate $174 million for affordable housing and $34.8 million for homeless services statewide, including $2.1 million for Kauaʻi.

Cassie Ordonio 1/30/23 Cassie Ordonio 1/30/23

Inside the push to make school meals free in Hawaiʻi

A growing number of states are looking for ways to make free meals a permanent part of public education.

Marina Starleaf Riker 11/3/22 Marina Starleaf Riker 11/3/22

Maui looks to crack down on companies selling shares of second homes

A County Council measure would expand the definition of timeshare to include stays of up to 180 days to try to limit multiple owners from buying into vacation homes.

Michael Brestovansky 10/31/22 Michael Brestovansky 10/31/22

Report: State law successfully limited evictions during COVID-19 pandemic

A state-mandated free mediation program was a resounding success in preventing evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report.

Jason Ubay 10/19/22 Jason Ubay 10/19/22

Report: Mandatory mediation saved hundreds of tenants from eviction

While the Act 57 program ended in August 2022, Hawaiʻi Appleseed will be advocating for a permanent rental relief program that includes mediation to stabilize affordable housing.

Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 10/19/22 Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 10/19/22

Off the News: Keeping renters in their homes

Act 57 diverted as many as 1,201 eviction cases in 2021, benefiting tenants and landlords, according to a Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice study.

Dan Nakaso 10/18/22 Dan Nakaso 10/18/22

Planning averts spike in COVID-era homelessness in Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi Appleseed last week released the results of a study showing “a pre-litigation mediation program” known as Act 57 helped renters and landlords and reduced both court costs and a strain on the Judicial system.

KITV4 Web Staff 10/14/22 KITV4 Web Staff 10/14/22

Eviction mediation study: KITV4 talks with Kenna StormoGipson with Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice

Local nonprofit Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice just released the results of its study that look at whether Hawaiʻi’s Act 57 mediation program worked.

Marina Starleaf Riker 10/14/22 Marina Starleaf Riker 10/14/22

This is how the candidates for Maui mayor want to tackle the housing crisis

Both say the lack of housing for residents is the county’s top problem, but they’re proposing very different solutions.

Stewart Yerton 9/28/22 Stewart Yerton 9/28/22

Rising prices, increasing poverty, slowing job growth: Hawaiʻi’s economy faces grim times

Among those facing higher costs are Oʻahu utility customers whose October bills could show more cost increases on top of a dramatic rise over the past year.