Can Hawaiʻi afford to cut the grocery tax?
Any proposal to reduce or remove the GET on food must be paired with a credible plan for replacing the revenue. It’s a challenge, but also an opportunity to build a fairer and more sustainable system.
Incoming federal tax cuts will heavily favor Hawaiʻi’s wealthiest residents
The State of Hawaiʻi has an obligation to shore up its revenue through tax policies that make the wealthiest among us pay their fair share.
Hawaiʻi’s 2025 legislature focused on raising tax revenue to prepare for federal cuts
Assessing a proper tax rate on corporations and the wealthy will be necessary to produce a budget that can fund critical safety net programs and investments in our future.
Expand the state’s e-bike rebate program to improve mobility options
Now is the time for the state to expand the electric bike and moped rebate program to lower household transportation costs, reduce vehicle costs, and increase resident’s physical activity.
How a second Trump presidency could impact the pocket books of Hawaiʻi’s working families
Outside of the top 5 percent richest households, families will likely see significant tax increases, while the cost of consumer items would spike under proposed tariffs.
Census poverty data for 2023 highlights the importance of government assistance
Promising trends for families across the nation, but many continue to feel the lasting effects of widespread unemployment during the pandemic, a rising cost of living, and inadequate government assistance.
How Hawaiʻi’s hardworking undocumented immigrants support our economy and communities
A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy lifts up the significant tax contributions that undocumented immigrants make to our federal, state and local governments through the taxes they pay each year.
Hawaiʻi’s elected leaders buy-in to costly “trickle-down” myth
Passing an “historic” tax cut that mostly benefits the wealthiest Hawaiʻi residents is not the path to a healthy economy that works for working people.
Hawaiʻi’s capital gains loophole floats the rich as working families struggle to stay above water
In the interest of tax fairness, the State of Hawaiʻi should tax capital gains—income from selling assets such as stocks, bonds, art and real estate—at the same rates as income made from wages, salaries and other compensation for work.
Trickle-down estate tax break bills are bad policy for Hawaiʻi
After decades of evidence, we know “trickle-down” economics is a smokescreen to aid the wealthy in creating preferential tax policies.
Hawaiʻi is even less affordable after the pandemic
How have jobs, wages and costs changed from before the COVID pandemic compared to after? These charts show changes from 2019 to 2022 that have affected livability for Hawaiʻi residents.
Congress considers making the federal Child Tax Credit refundable; Hawaiʻi considers Keiki Credit
H.R. 7024 is a reminder that the Child Tax Credit is a widely popular program with proven anti-poverty benefits.
Keiki poverty more than doubled last year without the expanded Child Tax Credit
Hawaiʻi lawmakers have an obvious solution at their disposal, if they are willing to act on it.
Lawmakers still need to equitably raise revenue to meet Hawaiʻi’s needs
On tax policy, state legislators made progress in 2023 with tax relief, but left smart, revenue-raising policy initiatives on the table for next session.
Legislative agenda 2023: tax reforms to boost incomes and fund investments in our future
Top of the list of immediate challenges for Hawaiʻi is to find a way to prevent our people from being overwhelmed by the high and rising cost of living in the islands.
What made the 2022 Hawaiʻi legislative session a win for working families?
After multiple years with little progress on policy to help working families survive Hawaiʻi’s highest-in-the-nation cost of living, several factors came together to deliver a banner year in 2022.
Honolulu County’s eviction mediation program was a resounding success
Act 57’s pre-litigation eviction mediation program shows a promising pathway forward to greater housing security by preventing evictions and keeping families housed.
A Hawaiʻi Child Tax Credit would keep thousands of keiki out of poverty
After the expiration of the expanded federal Child Tax Credit, poverty rates spiked—it’s time for Hawaiʻi lawmakers to step up and fill the gap.
Opportunities for Hawaiʻi to maximize its budget investments
Maintaining government spending on public programs, Hawaiʻi’s workforce, and contractors for the state keeps money circulating throughout the economy as people pay for housing, food and other services.
How the state plans to spend its $24 billion FY23 budget
The budget determines how our collective resources will be distributed to pay for programs and investments that support public needs. The funding decisions made in the budget demonstrate where our collective values lie.