Cost of Living

...What if we could help farmers, ease the housing crisis and improve Hawaii’s economy all at the same time?....

...Allow more small homes to be built on agricultural lands....

... Hawaii, at nearly $4.41 a gallon, still has the highest gasoline prices in USA ....

... REALITY: Carpenters Union Wages War Against Affordable Modular Housing ....

... 29% now expect they will relocate to a less expensive state, up from 26% last year ....

... parents of young children who both work need to earn at least $119,226 together to pay for child care ....

... and Lihue comes in 7th ....

... the More Homes on the Market Act would double exclusions for home sales and adjust them annually for inflation going forward ....

... Honolulu 16th-highest cost of living ....

... This marks the third step in a series of scheduled increases, culminating in a final rate of $18.00 per hour on January 1, 2028 ....

...The final vote to approve Bill 9 was 5-3 with Gabe Johnson, Shane Sinenci, Keani-Rawlins-Fernandez, Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins and Tamara Paltin voting yes. Yuki Lei Sugimura, Tom Cook and Chair Alice Lee voted no....

... In Honolulu, health care costs 8.69% of median monthly income, 15th highest in USA.  And most of the top 15 cities have substantially lower median incomes ....

... information to purge allegedly fraudulent recipients ....

... some properties were re-classified within high-risk zones — known as Special Flood Hazard Areas — for the first time ....

... We identify prior addresses and follow vacancy chains across multiple rounds of moves ....

... The current use of deed restrictions traps residents, preventing them from downsizing or upsizing as their needs change without facing a financial penalty ....

... Grassroot will never hold back from trying to make Hawaii more free and prosperous for all ....

... key drivers for the increase being rising medical and pharmacy costs and growing utilization, especially in high-cost therapies such as specialty drugs ....

... the USDA guidance, which would exclude noncitizens who are permanent residents from eligibility for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The USDA manages SNAP ....

... better watch out because there are changes coming ....

... housing is at the center of every crisis we face ....

... free “Condorama XV” event via webinar, on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ....

... survey of over 3,200 local workers from across industries shows the cost-of-living crisis affects families across the economic spectrum ....

... and increasing ...

... Green became the first governor in the nation to declare their state’s housing crisis a statewide public emergency in summer 2023 ....

... Speaking to an audience of more than 70, including state and county lawmakers and department executives, the four presenters touched on myriad possible reforms, including those related to land-use laws, inclusionary zoning, density regulations, parking and amenities requirements, and farm-worker housing ....

... parking mandates are adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of construction of new homes on Oʻahu ....

... Our housing crisis is the result of past choices. The solution requires the courage to make new ones going forward ....

... know how to win ....

... Legislative action in all four of Hawaii’s counties could soon help ease the state’s acute housing shortage ....

... Lawsuit Settlement will Impose ‘Big Expense’ on Your ‘fuel, groceries, and airfare’  ....

... However, DTRIC will continue to administer all active policies, manage claims and meet its contractual and statutory obligations, over the next several years ....

... The Oct. 15 event will focus on research and practical reforms aimed at addressing Hawaii's acute need for more housing ....

... All of these gains came from outside the collective bargaining system.  Why do teachers need the HSTA? ....

... City unveils new online tool to help residents save on upcoming sewer rate increases ....

... at the upper end, the Census data also shows households reporting costs of $4,000 or more, making Hawaii one of the few states in that category ....

... a single-person household will see about an $11 reduction, while a family of four will see about a $34 reduction ....

... the average student owes $38,929 in Hawaii .... 

... Value-to-income ratios below 4 are affordable ....

• 50th – Avg. Starting Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
• 51st – Avg. Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

... This year, the state Legislature actually did something ....

"...going after scapegoats such as empty homes and short-term rentals is not a viable way to increase the housing supply...."

... the dream of owning a home began with quiet sacrifices – late nights balancing budgets and teaching their children the value of patience ....

... Desal is an energy hog and Hawaii has the most expensive electricity in the USA ....

“...For the second time in this case, a federal court has held that the President’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs are unlawful....”

“If you haven’t already, please take a moment to review this important plan and share your feedback,” said Representative Darius K. Kila, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation.

... Mainland Lawyers, Local Leaders, and the People Left Behind ....

... Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the USA ....

... WalletHub compared the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 23 key metrics ....

... Hawaii: Recent college grad earnings gap -$11,840 ....