Introduction

The wellbeing and vibrancy of Hawaiʻi tomorrow depends on the collective investment in our children today. This investment is also the key to a more equitable future. Unless we ensure economic security, decent housing, and good education for all, we relegate some children—usually those whose families face income and discrimination barriers—to a future of poverty, dependence, and poor mental and physical health. 

Compared to the rest of the United States, Hawaiʻi does well on health measures, and earns an average grade on family and community indicators, but does poorly on both economic wellbeing and public education. This is especially troubling because the nation as a whole already performs poorly in these areas. 

A better point of reference may be the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international group devoted to shaping policies that result in prosperity, equality, opportunity and wellbeing for all. Its most recent report shows that the U.S. is in the bottom third among OECD countries on child poverty, infant mortality and low-weight births, as well as children going without breakfast or dinner. Furthermore, adolescents in the U.S. compare poorly in having space and materials at home to study, in performance in math by age 15, and in being either in school or the workforce.

Hawaiʻi policymakers need a fundamental change in approach and investment in children to help them realize their potential and be able to contribute to our communities for generations to come. These include:

• Rapidly expanding resources to provide high-quality universal Pre-Kindergarten and child care for younger children.

• Addressing economic security for children and their families, with access to affordable workforce housing as a priority. Maximize state and federal programs that subsidize the cost of food, utilities, childcare and other household essentials.

• Reauthorize an improved state Earned Income Tax Credit that is refundable to help the lowest-income families.

• Invest more in strategies and programs that help at-risk youth and those who are neither working or in school fulfill their potential.