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.

The merger of these social justice organizations is meant to forge a stronger connection between data-driven policy and impacted communities.

The more accurate Supplemental Poverty Measure ranks Hawaiʻi at 13th highest for poverty in the nation.

Now is the time for Hawaiʻi to invest in its residents and businesses by creating a state refundable EITC that puts dollars back into workers’ pockets and into the cash registers of local business.