Cost of Living

... WalletHub compared the relative attractiveness of the 50 states across 20 key metrics ....

... Even the bill’s supporters don’t pretend rents will come down ....

... Hawaii Residents Spend the Highest Percentage of Income on Housing ....

... The price of locally produced organic eggs increased sharply by 18.8%, to $12.07 per dozen ....

... Hawaii ranks as the least affordable state, with a median home price of $840,256 and a relatively high cost of living ....

... you need a gross salary of roughly $145,000 in order to actually take home $100,000 in Hawaii.  This is the third-worst in USA ....

... Hawaii has the highest annual costs associated with raising a small child, at $36,472 ....

... Young Brothers filed an application requesting Commission approval of a total revenue increase of $26,368,923 (27.06%) ....

... at $796,947, homeowners purchasing a home at this price point will need to work 17 days each month just to cover the payment of $5,222 ....

... Hawai‘i still pays significantly higher prices than the rest of the U.S., which averages at $4.90 per dozen ....

... Hawaii has the highest average commercial rent at $36 per square foot (#51) and the second-highest monthly electricity cost at $1,514.20 (#50) ....

... Hawaii’s road usage charge will become mandatory starting July 1, 2028, at which point the $50 flat fee will be discontinued ....

... The U.S. is considering trade sanctions against Chinese shipping that would negatively impact Hawaii ....

... Hawaii ranks dead last for medical environment ....

... Hawaii's 204 blacklisted condo projects make us 4th-worst in USA.  Since the other top states are much larger, Hawaii probably has the most blacklisted condo units per capita ....

... Let’s steer clear of tax hikes, instead focus on lowering costs ....

... some properties may now be classified within high-risk zones, known as Special Flood Hazard Areas, for the first time ....

... litigation is becoming an increasingly significant source of uncertainty and risk in Hawai‘i’s housing market ....

... Hawaii ranked dead last for the amount of square footage $300,000 can buy -- 443 square feet ....

... a leftover Unity House scheme could be costing Hawaiian Electric as much as $476M per year ....

“More Native Hawaiians flock to mainland cities and leave Hawaiʻi, citing high costs.”

“...Hawaii doesn’t have a scarcity of land. We build housing and urban development on only 5% of the land mass....”

... assisted living cost up 21% since 2023 ....

... March 11, 13, 20 ....

... multiplying the result by 150% ....

... "lawyers and activists" are now eligible to participate in the DEP program ....

... Residents who spend a high percentage of their income on housing — even if they are well above the poverty line — are also more likely to experience mental health issues ....

... former Hawaii residents are finding it easier to buy homes—especially in Washington, where a whopping 56% of movers from Hawaii achieve homeownership shortly after relocating ....

... Honolulu, Hawaii: essential expenses consume 87% of residents’ income ....

... the Trump administration is reintroducing a 10% tariff on all imports from China ....

Tuesday, Feb. 18: Mānoa Valley District Park, 5:30–7 p.m., Old Gym

Thursday, Feb. 20: Ewa Mahiko District Park, 5:30–7 p.m., DP Multi-Purpose Room 1

... it’s being pushed very hard as a sweet deal, but it has the potential to really stomp our economy ....

... measures related to housing, healthcare, taxes and government accountability ....

... The rental requirement will be in effect for the remainder of FEMA’s housing assistance program, which has been extended through Feb. 10, 2026 ....  

... Honolulu inflation is up 1% in just the last two months ....

... GE Tax: Audit Shows Tourists Pay 14.1%--not 30% ....

... Feb 10, 11 and 13 ...

... government price controls come with negative consequences ....

... your bank account will be overwhelmed by the cost ....

... between 2021 and 2024, the price for a dozen locally produced eggs rose by 28.4% from $6.91 to $8.87 while the price of imported mainland eggs increased by 51.8% from $5.50 to $8.35 ....

... crowded housing, dependency, low levels of education, per capita income, poverty and unemployment ....

... the governor’s state income tax cut — approved unanimously last year by the Legislature — will reduce our taxes by as much as 71% for some families ....

... gas prices, rush-hour traffic, road quality ....

“...HR380 will ensure that no shipping company, including the United States Postal Service, can impose discriminatory rates or exclude non-contiguous areas from receiving shipments. It will also require that shipping rates for non-contiguous areas reflect the actual cost of service, rather than arbitrary price increases....”

... “it’s much easier to spend money than it is to deal with regulations, and that’s what’s going on here.” ...

... Since DoD personnel occupy almost no rentals on the Sister Isles, DoD impact may be inferred by comparing Sister Isle rental rates to Oahu rental rates ....

... 34,181 healthcare positions in the state and a 14% vacancy rate, a significant decrease from the 17% vacancy rate reported in 2022 ....

... 27% of households statewide fear being forced to move within a year—a figure that jumps to 41% among ALICE households ....

"...our focus remains on tackling the cost of living and improving the quality of life...."

... a modest but workable list of policy resolutions for 2025 ....