
OHA seeks housing strategy consultant to advance Mana i Mauli Ola goals
These efforts come at a time when small policy wins at the state level are offering renewed hope but require coordinated implementation to benefit Native Hawaiian communities equitably.

Food insecurity forum focuses on current and future needs in Hawaiʻi
Keeping struggling individuals properly fed is already considered a growing challenge, locally, even as the threat of federal funding cuts leave an uncertain future for SNAP and, consequently, food banks as well.

Oʻahu wants to crack down on homeless bus riders
While part of the bill addresses homelessness in public transit—a feature of urban life almost everywhere—it lacks the coordination found in some other cities.

Economic prosperity rises from the bottom up
The Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice looks at the recent legislative session's hits and misses in this Community Voice column for Aloha State Daily.

Proposed cuts to food stamps program could be ‘horrific’ in Hawaiʻi
Under current proposals, Hawaiʻi could face more than $100 million in new costs to maintain the food stamp program.

Honolulu can fine Airbnb, Vrbo for illegal vacation rentals. It never has
Like other tourist destinations, Honolulu passed a law to hold booking platforms accountable for illegal listings. But the city hasn’t cited any company, even as illegal rentals flourish.

Hawaiʻi Appleseed has a new executive director
Will White aims to build from the organization’s solid foundation to advance its mission of advocating for economic justice for Hawaiʻi's people.

Housing: Lawmakers fund more housing, not special treatment for locals
Housing advocates unsuccessfully pushed for bills that would have given cash incentives for deed restrictions that require a property owner to be a resident working in the state.

Progress report: Hawaiʻi’s working families need more support
Advocates for working families are concerned that bad things are coming with federal cuts and hoped the legislature would do more to increase the state’s safety net.

State passes a bill to expand free school meal access
The bill, SB1300, will go into effect with the upcoming 2025-26 school year and will cover students whose family income is not more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Bill offering displaced tenants protections dies at legislature
The bill’s supporters said one state Senator was responsible for the outcome

State fund eyed for workforce housing subsidies
House Bill 432 would allow part of the state’s rental housing revolving fund to go toward financing development of apartments for households earning between 60–140 percent of a county’s annual median income.

The Sunshine Blog: Look who’s taking big city council pay raises after all
The budget process during conference committee is confusing. These resources can help.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers plan special sessions to address federal funding cuts
State lawmakers are blocking off three dates in the coming months for a special legislative session to address federal funding cuts.

Expand free school meals, because all keiki deserve to eat
SB 1300 would be an enormous step in the right direction, putting Hawaiʻi on a secure pathway toward ensuring all our keiki can achieve and thrive during the school day and throughout their lifetimes.

Tax bills win preliminary approval from Hawaiʻi lawmakers
The House and Senate are also considering allowing legalized gambling for the first time in state history.

Trump's actions prompt surge in public forums as worries about cutbacks climb
Hawaiʻi’s elected leaders are using town halls to help people understand what’s happening and what they are doing about it.

On the move: Hawaiʻi Appleseed
Hawaiʻi Appleseed has named Will White its new executive director.

Should jaywalking be allowed? State lawmakers are considering a pilot program
Hawaiʻi issues thousands of jaywalking tickets per year, but pedestrian fatalities are still on the rise, highlighting the need for better safety measures.

Registration tax could increase for Hawaiʻi vehicles over 4,000 pounds
State lawmakers are considering increasing the tax on registering large vehicles to fund the Safe Routes to School Program.