Hawaiʻi Appleseed releases 2024 report exploring an Empty Homes Tax to address Honolulu’s housing crisis
Honolulu's severe housing crisis is being exacerbated by a growing trend of vacant homes purchased as investments by non-residents. To reverse this trend, Hawaiʻi Appleseed recommends a flat tax of 3–5 percent on empty homes.
Hawaiʻi’s conveyance tax can be an effective tool to address our housing crisis
Hawaiʻi lawmakers have an opportunity to tailor the sales tax on real property so that it reinvests nonresident wealth into our island communities through affordable housing development.
New report calls upon the state to join a growing national movement and provide free meals to all Hawaiʻi public school students
Extending free meals to all public school students would cost about $25 million per year—about 1 percent of the DOE’s operating budget.
Hawaiʻi’s tax system makes inequality worse, national study finds
Hawaiʻi lawmakers can improve the economic health of our communities by re-balancing the state’s upside-down tax code.
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 households to suffer deep cuts to SNAP benefits; anti-hunger advocates urge lawmakers to address hunger cliff
The cliff is a result of Congress’ decision to end the federal emergency allotments that were implemented to reduce food insecurity and stimulate the economy for the duration of the pandemic.
Hawaiʻi's tenant-landlord mediation program kept hundreds housed amid pandemic fallout
Study aims to ascertain whether or not there are ways to increase housing stability by examining the temporary measures Hawaiʻi put into place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report: Hawaiʻi is short tens of millions in annual federal funds to support feeding children
The “Feed our Keiki” report finds that the USDA is providing far less funding to Hawaiʻi than it should, resulting in a financial crisis for Hawaiʻi’s child nutrition programs.
Hawaiʻi continues to fall behind on school breakfast
Only 4 in 10 low-income students is getting the benefits of school breakfast.
Donations at Safeway keep critical grab-and-go meal program going strong
During the month of September, donations at Hawaiʻi Safeway will help families struggling more than ever with hunger during the pandemic.
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 nearly doubles capacity to 20 keiki feeding sites
On May 5, Kamaʻāina Kids will open 9 new sites, including one on Maui.
Community partnership expands to 11 sites serving free meals to 1,700 keiki on Oʻahu
Suppers being served in Kalihi and new sites in ʻAiea and Honolulu.
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.
Hawaiʻi drops to 51st in the nation for school breakfast participation
Even fewer low-income children in Hawaiʻi are starting their day with a healthy school breakfast.
Report explores the multifaceted issue of senior hunger in Hawaiʻi
To effectively address senior hunger, policymakers need to adopt a holistic framework that understands the interplay between public health, economic justice and social capital.
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.
Hawaiʻi ranks last at serving after-school suppers to low-income keiki
The state is foregoing more than $600,000 per year in federal meal reimbursements as a result.
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.