Hawaiʻi Appleseed releases 2025–26 state budget primer and legislative recap
Together, these documents tell the story of how Hawaiʻi invests in its communities, analyzing the most recent legislative session and the budget that emerged from it.
“Beyond the Ticket” report imagines traffic enforcement reforms to reduce harm
Hawaiʻi comes down hard on minor traffic violations that pose little to no threat to the public; this punitive approach does little to advance public safety, harming struggling communities instead.
Hawaiʻi’s low wages relative to its cost of living put a serious strain on society, local economy
In a new report, Hawaiʻi Appleseed researchers demonstrate how chronically low wages have prevented Hawaiʻi’s working families from thriving, and outline the significant cost that poverty exacts from these families, from future generations, and from all of us.
Hawaiʻi drops to 44th in the nation in children’s summer meal participation
Fewer than 1 in 11 keiki in free or reduced-price school lunch were reached by summer meals.
Free grab-and-go meals for children and youth available through August 14
Community organizations respond to delayed start of public school year by keeping keiki feeding sites open.
Community partnership serves free meals to keiki during school closure
During this unplanned school closure, three SFSP sponsors—YMCA Honolulu, Parents and Children Together, and Palama Settlement—are opening food sites in low-income areas on Oʻahu for keiki.
Trump’s Public Charge rule could cost Hawaiʻi dearly
With the new Trump Administration Public Charge rule given the green light today by the U.S. Supreme Court, both Hawaiʻi’s economy and its hardworking immigrant families will suffer.
Hawaiʻi Appleseed and PHOCUSED join forces
The merger of these social justice organizations is meant to forge a stronger connection between data-driven policy and impacted communities.
Official poverty data obscures reality faced by Hawaiʻi residents
The more accurate Supplemental Poverty Measure ranks Hawaiʻi at 13th highest for poverty in the nation.
Andy Fisher, food justice author, to speak at UH Manoa
Fisher will discuss why wealthy countries like the U.S. continue to struggle with food insecurity.
Donations at Safeway in September will help end hunger
All throughout this month, when you make a donation to the Hunger Is campaign at Safeway stores throughout Hawaiʻi, your money will help us expand school breakfast participation in our schools.
Hawaiʻi Appleseed announces Victor Geminiani’s retirement
The 50-year advocate for the low-income community and founder of Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice will retire on August 31, 2019.
Honolulu passes most progressive vacation rental regulation in the U.S.
After three decades of proliferation of illegal short-term rentals on Oʻahu, county administrators finally have—in Bill 89—the comprehensive tool kit needed to balance the needs of the tourism industry with the needs of the community.
Hawaiʻi working women, parents are chief beneficiaries of proposed minimum wage increase
New analysis sheds light on demographics of affected workers and effects on local economy.
Charting a path toward balance between tourism and the needs of residents
A new report provides solutions for lawmakers to solve Hawaiʻi’s vacation rental problem.
Hawaiʻi’s ‘housing wage’ is highest in the nation
Renters need to work a total of 143 hours a week at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom apartment.
Report documents the impacts of vacation rentals on Hawaiʻi’s housing supply and economy
Vacation rentals offer the possibility of extra income for some residents and additional tax revenue for the state, but many of the benefits go to nonresident investors.
Report examines the state of poverty in Hawaiʻi since the Great Recession
The state’s high cost of living and low wages has made recovery slow and painful for many families.
Half of Hawaiʻi’s residents are living paycheck-to-paycheck
An Appleseed-commissioned poll highlights the extent to which working families are now struggling to get by in Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing crisis is getting worse
Recommendations for policymakers on how to address our highest-in-the-nation housing costs and associated socioeconomic problems.