Hawai‘i Appleseed

What Pushes Locals Out Of Hawaiʻi? Low Wages The Honolulu Charter Commission has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to address the county’s crisis.

Voters in the City & County of Honolulu may have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to make their voices heard on whether the county should pursue a #LivingWage policy.

#Hawaii #MinimumWage #EconomicJustice #WorkingFamilies #HonoluluCharter #PeopleFirst

www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/what...

One step forward, a few meals short — Hawaiʻi Appleseed While the passage of Act 139 was a meaningful step toward free school meals, it was just that—a step. The work is not finished.

While the passing of Act 139 (2025) was a meaningful step toward free school meals, it was just that—a step. The advocates, educators and community members who showed up and fought for universal meals know the work is not finished.

#FoodSecurity #SchoolMeals #Hawaii

hiappleseed.org/blog/one-ste...

When young people can move freely, they gain confidence, independence, and access to the full range of opportunities the islands offer.

Transit connects keiki to after-school programs, internships, health care, recreation and friends, while also building lifelong habits that favor walking, biking and public transportation over driving alone.

Public transit is more than a way to get from place to place—it’s a tool for growth, opportunity and community connection. Transit is particularly important for young people, the largest demographic of residents who do not drive.

Keiki Ride Free — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Adopting a statewide fare-free transit model.

Our new report makes the case for a statewide “Keiki Ride Free” transit program, which would improve access, equity, and opportunity for Hawaiʻi’s youth.

#KeikiRideFree #YouthRideFree #PublicTransit #TransportationEquity #Mobility #CostOfLiving #ClimateAction

hiappleseed.org/publications...

Giving pedestrians a head start in 2026 — Hawaiʻi Appleseed As pedestrian fatalities and injuries are on the rise in Hawaii, the state must invest in improvements to make it easier and safer for people to walk.

As pedestrian fatalities and injuries are on the rise in Hawaiʻi, the state must invest in improvements to make it easier and safer for people to walk.

#hawaii #transportationequity #pedestriansafety #trafficsafety #accessibility #mobility #peoplefirst

hiappleseed.org/blog/giving-...

The great Skyline adventure: Hawaii Appleseed tests the walkability of areas around rail stops — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Success will require partnership across state and county lines, but the goal is shared: turning rail and high capacity bus routes into places where people can live, work and meet daily needs without t...

Success will require partnership across state and county lines, but the goal is shared: turning the areas around rail lines and high capacity bus routes into places where people can live, work and meet daily needs without the necessity of getting back into a car.

hiappleseed.org/blog/skyline...

Our ultimate goal is everyone should be free 💯

Honolulu Council votes to increase transit fares; Hawaii Appleseed urges support for Keiki Ride Free at the State Legislature — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Hawaii Appleseed supports a simple, pass-free boarding system for keiki, funded through a state-level reimbursement mechanism.

Our statement on the Honolulu City Council vote to increase transit fares, and our vision for an alternative transit system that supports working families, community, and economic prosperity.

That vision begins with #KeikiRideFree, zero-fare transit for youth.

hiappleseed.org/press-releas...

A Fairer Tax Code for a Thriving Hawaii — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Progressive Revenue Options to Protect and Invest in Our Future.

The second is our newly released policy brief focused on #TaxFairness and equitable ways to raise enough revenue to not just fill the gaps left by federal cuts, but to actually invest adequately in the future of our communities.

hiappleseed.org/publications...

The first is our #EconomicJustice Data Dashboard. Unlike single-issue tools, this dashboard integrates key indicators across food security, housing, transportation, and economic security to show how these issues are related.

hiappleseed.org/data-dashboard

The #Hawaii State Legislative session has begun, and we’ve developed two new resources for lawmakers, advocates and the public to help develop data-driven #publicpolicy that puts working families first and adequately funds solutions to our biggest challenges. ⬇️

How City Council could improve food security for Oʻahu residents Hawaiʻi Appleseed recommended that the Honolulu City Council work on four areas to improve food security on Oʻahu: disaster planning, summer feeding programs for children, kūpuna programs, and direct ...

The Honolulu City Council should work on disaster planning, summer feeding programs for children, kūpuna programs, and direct funding for food banks.

#FoodSecurity #EmergencyManagement

www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2...

New Report: More Hawaiʻi Residents Going Hungry The report was produced at a time when food security was bad in Hawaiʻi. But now, advocates say, it's even worse.

Schools in low-income areas can automatically provide all students with free school meals under a federal program. Some 46,000 Hawaii students attend schools that may stop participating in that program, according to an analysis from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social

www.civilbeat.org/2025/11/more...

Hawaii’s two-tier tax system: How the rich use a glaring loophole to pay less — Hawaiʻi Appleseed While teachers, nurses and service workers pay income tax on every dollar they earn, the wealthy can shield a large portion of their profits thanks to a special tax break on capital gains.

While teachers, nurses and service workers pay income tax on every dollar they earn, the wealthy can shield a large portion of their profits thanks to a special tax break on capital gains.

#fundourfuture #taxtherich #taxfairness #taxreform #workingfamilies #hawaii

hiappleseed.org/blog/hawaii-...

Families are making impossible trade-offs 51% of respondents have already skipped meals 40% say they have had to buy cheaper or lower-quality food Nearly 40% are delaying bills to put food on the table, while 42% are relying on help from family and friends 80% say they have not been able to prepare for the possibility of another delayed deposit 49% expect to visit a food pantry next week – up seven percentage points from those who planned to visit in the first days of November

SNAP surveys SNAP users. Already half of them are saying they are skipping meals.

Youth Ride Free: Building a more connected Hawaii — Hawaiʻi Appleseed By removing financial barriers to public transit, Hawaii can empower young people to participate fully in their communities, while easing family costs and supporting climate goals.

By removing financial barriers to public transit, Hawaiʻi can empower young people to participate fully in their communities, while easing family costs and supporting climate goals.

#YouthRideFree #Mobility #PublicTransit #PublicHealth #ClimateJustice #Hawaii

hiappleseed.org/blog/youth-r...

Mom-and-pop stores losing EBT customers struggle to survive The partial government shutdown is not just affecting people trying to put food on the table, but food retailers that could lose $60 million in monthly revenue.

Small businesses in low-income, high-poverty neighborhoods often get 50% or more of their monthly revenue from #SNAP. Staff are now at risk of losing their jobs. Stores are unable to restock. In worst case scenarios, they risk closing their doors forever.

#GovShutdown

www.kitv.com/news/busines...

Hawaii Appleseed selected for national Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) program — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Hawaii Appleseed’s selected project will improve pedestrian safety and transit lighting for women and families in Waipahu and Ewa.

Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s selected project will improve pedestrian safety and transit lighting for women and families in Waipahu and ʻEwa.

#transportation #transit #mobility #publicsafety #infrastructure #publictransit #community #hawaii #oahu

hiappleseed.org/press-releas...

Trump Administration Is Legally Required to Provide SNAP in Shutdown, Contrary to Its Claims Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency r...

Instead, it appears to be choosing not to use them in an effort to gain political advantage, leaving millions of families across the country to suffer as a result. www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

As CBPP President @sharonparrott.bsky.social said yesterday, the Administration could have, and should have, taken steps weeks ago to be ready to use these funds, as they are legally required to do.

That’s right, USDA’s shutdown plan dated September 30, 2025, seems to be gone from their website. But, you can find that excerpt on page 15 of the plan, here: web.archive.org/web/20251001....

Punchbowl reports “White House officials determined they do not have the authority” to use contingency reserves —billions of $ that Congress provided for use when SNAP funding is inadequate— to fund Nov. SNAP benefits. But, that’s not what USDA’s now-deleted shutdown plan says:

New report shows significant increase in keiki poverty in Hawaii The increase amounts to about 8,000 more children now living in poverty.

“A new national report is raising the alarm about a sharp rise in Hawai‘i children living in poverty. The report by the @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social shows child poverty has risen by one-third since the pandemic.”

#poverty #childtaxcredit #costofliving

www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/10/22/n...

Outdated parking mandates inflate Hawaiʻi housing costs — Hawaiʻi Appleseed A new research report reveals that parking mandates are adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of construction of new homes on Oahu.

A new research report from Hawaiʻi Appleseed reveals that parking mandates are adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of construction of new homes on Oʻahu.

#ParkingMandates #Parking #Affordability #HousingCosts #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #Honolulu

hiappleseed.org/press-releas...

Why Understanding Hawaiʻi's Budget Is An Important Civic Duty An engaged and informed public is the most powerful tool for change we have.

“A budget is the single most honest expression of a government’s priorities. It shows us, in black and white, whether we are investing in our keiki’s futures or in maintaining a status quo that benefits only the privileged few.”

Essay from our executive director.

www.civilbeat.org/2025/10/why-...

Our Census Bureau is understaffed and underfunded—the quality of its data is suffering — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Already facing resource shortages, new federal budget cuts call into question the very future of the Census Bureau itself.

Already facing resource shortages, new federal budget cuts call into question the very future of the Census Bureau itself.

#Census #Government #FederalCuts #FederalBudget #Budget #RacialEquity #SocialJustice #EconomicJustice #Data #DataDriven #FundOurFuture

hiappleseed.org/blog/census-...

Kupuna at risk: How federal changes to SNAP impact older adults in Hawaii — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Even within these new constraints, Hawaii can innovate by combining or re-imagining existing programs to expand access and strengthen support for our seniors.

Even within these new constraints, Hawaiʻi can innovate by combining or re-imagining existing programs to expand access and strengthen support for our seniors.

#FoodSecurity #FoodEquity #Hunger #SeniorHunger #SNAP #HR1cuts #Hawaii #LocalSolutions

hiappleseed.org/blog/how-fed...

Why Understanding Hawaiʻi's Budget Is An Important Civic Duty An engaged and informed public is the most powerful tool for change we have.

“A budget is the single most honest expression of a government’s priorities. It shows us, in black and white, whether we are investing in our keiki’s futures or in maintaining a status quo that benefits only the privileged few.”

Essay from our executive director.

www.civilbeat.org/2025/10/why-...