ProGov21 Policy Library

Hawaii has not only the highest cost of living in the country, but also the ninth highest rate of poverty, the second highest rate of homelessness, and the fourth heaviest tax burden on the poor. However, two major federal antipoverty programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...

The state of Hawaii is in need of a comprehensive approach to helping Hawai'i families and supporting Hawai'i farmers during the time of COVID-19. This report proposes that through the CARES Act funding, Hawaii should spend $40 million on immediate needs between now and the end of...

Building a stronger Hawaii for businesses and residents means creating more opportunities for working families to climb the economic ladder. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a proven tool for fostering economic prosperity. The federal EITC is a tax credit that reduces or eliminates...

Currently in Hawaii, thousands of seniors struggle just to put food on their table. The issue of senior hunger is complex, and is often a symptom of deeper flaws in the structure of the economy, society, and food systems themselves. This report presents an overview of the tools- many...

Hawaii's lower-income families are faced with almost insurmountable structural challenges to escaping poverty. They face the highest cost of living and highest cost of shelter in the nation. At the same time, Hawaii's wages are the lowest in the nation when adjusted for the cost of...

This annual report brings together the most recent available data to provide a snapshot of how low-income residents in Hawaii have fared after the economic recovery. The report highlights the topics of poverty, tax burden, housing, hunger, and education. In addition to this, the authors...

The vacation rental industry has exponentially expanded with the growth of online home-sharing platforms such as Airbnb, Flipkey, and Homeaway. The number of Vacation Rental Units (VRUs) across Hawaii increased by 35 percent between 2015 and 2017, and VRU growth shows no signs of...

Accessory dwelling units (ADU) are an important tool in expanding affordable housing stock, especially in areas with limited room for growth and high housing costs. This policy brief describes ADUs and their benefits and provides examples of successful ADU policies from around the...