A Survey of 3,200 Local Workers:

Happy with their jobs, long-time Hawai‘i residents consider moving to a less expensive state

Happy with their jobs, long-time Hawai‘i residents consider moving to a less expensive state

Residents Surveyed

About the 3,200
Residents Surveyed

Last year’s Holomua Collective Affordability Survey found that many Hawaiʻi residents were struggling to stay in the place they call home, even those earning middle to upper-middle incomes. In 2025, the survey captured a broader swath of the local workforce, with more than double the number of survey respondents. The findings paint a stark picture of a worsening cost-of-living crisis in the state, with more respondents living paycheck to paycheck and spending unsustainable portions of their household income on essentials like housing and transportation.

Many of the residents we surveyed are:

  • Lifetime residents deeply rooted in their communities
  • Earning middle to upper-middle incomes
  • Satisfied with their jobs
  • Engaged citizens, with most registered to vote
  • Raising children in Hawai’i
  • All respondents are employed locally, contributing to the islands’ economy

Years of Residency

More than half (63%) of respondents are lifetime residents of Hawaiʻi, similar to 2024 survey respondents (61%).

Understanding the experiences of locally employed residents

We surveyed 3,241 employees from 25 local for-profit, non-profit, and public sector employers. Our goal? To understand their situations and share their stories. By shedding light on their experiences, we can clarify the changes needed to keep these community members here in Hawai‘i.

Household Income and Size

More than half (61%) of respondents come from households earning at least $100,000. The prevalence of upper-middle-income respondents is consistent with the 2024 survey findings (64%). As in 2024, the median household size was 3, with households commonly having two household members employed full-time.

SURVEY DASHBOARD
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To Leave or Stay?

Hawai‘i’s Middle-Income Workers Weigh Leaving

As economic pressures mount, a staggering 75% of respondents say they will – or are unsure if they will – relocate in the coming years, an increase from 70% of respondents in 2024.

The likelihood that a household will have to leave the state is significantly tied to their income. Households earning more than $150,000 annually are less likely to say they plan to relocate, while households below this income threshold are more likely to move away. In 2024, the decrease in the likelihood that a household will relocate began at the $100,000 mark, suggesting that, in the year since, Hawaiʻi’s cost-of-living pressures have further encroached on higher income brackets.

“…As of now, I’m basically just trying to save enough money to afford the move off of Hawaii. Zero change in over a decade when it comes to the housing crisis and wage disparity.”

“It tears me up that I have to leave again…”

Timeline to Move

Of respondents who say they will have to leave Hawaiʻi, nearly half (44%) are not sure when they will be moving away. A third (33%) plan to move within five years, 16% within two years, and 8% within a year.

One thing you could change to make it possible for you to stay in Hawaiʻi

In an open-ended question, respondents who indicated they will have to move to a less expensive state or are unsure if they will have to move to a less expensive state were asked what they would change to make it possible for them to stay in Hawaiʻi. The top issues respondents would change are wages to match Hawaiʻi’s cost of living (26%), followed by basic needs and economic stability (24%), and housing affordability (24%). Fourteen percent (14%) of respondents cited the need for political and legislative actions, such as lowering taxes. Six percent (6%) of respondents specifically indicated that the ability to own rather than rent a home would make it possible for them to stay in Hawaiʻi.

The ranking of these issues is similar to the 2024 responses, with wage/cost of living discrepancies, basic needs and economic stability, and housing problems comprising the majority of responses. However, political and legislative actions was a notably more common response in 2025 (14%) than in 2024 (4%).

If you could change one thing to make it possible for you to stay in Hawaiʻi, what would it be?

To have enough income to keep up with all of the rising costs of housing, food and insurance. I’m being priced out of my own home with real property taxes and insurance requirements.

Stop relying on tourism. We’ll always have that in some form, but we cannot put all our eggs into that basket. Open up the state to other industries, such as movie/television production, I mean, that’s here, but make it more friendly. And make the state small business friendly. Technology. Science. With the guidance of indigenous people, come to an agreement as to the use of the mountains on Hawai`i Islands for telescope use.

Minimizing opportunities for foreign or mainland buyers to purchase Hawaii property as second homes. This would allow housing market to be only bought/sold to hawaii residents.

To buy property large enough so my children and their families can return from the mainland to live with me in Hawaii

Opportunities to do fulfilling work while being able to not only survive, but thrive. I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work, but cannot work in the field without causing my family to face homelessness.

The DOE needs to get more support so that teachers becomes a highly desired occupation. I believe in the ripple effect of starting the change from the source. Let’s educate the future leaders and successors.

We are a middle-income family stuck in a cramped one-bedroom, unable to afford a larger space to raise children. Housing prices are far beyond our reach, and even with stable income, loan options are too limited and costly. We urgently need lower housing prices and more affordable loan programs so families like ours can have a chance at a safe, decent home. Until then, we remain trapped and will be forced to leave when we’ve saved enough to escape this impossible situation.

Reduce NIMBYism to allow for higher density projects in low density, safe neighborhoods. This allows for attendance at good public schools.

Wage increase. Housing priority to Hawai’i residents (not just Hawaiian Homeland Homesteads). Message is sent that Hawai’i is for sale. You got the money, you can buy it. Loosing the Hawai’i we all grew up in & making it just like the mainland. Concrete jungle & nothing is country. Everything is being occupied.

My family currently has decent combined household income, our mortgage is approximately 10 years away to be paid off; we chose for our child to attend public school vs private so we only had to pay for childcare during preschool years; & we sacrifice having a few luxuries today, so that we can save for a comfortable future. Even with somewhat good planning, we are worried about our ability to retire in Hawaii and constantly considering & researching other states or countires that have lower cost of living so we can stretch our savings. I’ve spent a lifetime learning to budget & save; I would like to learn more on how to begin the retirement stage & find peace of mind that it is possible to retire in Hawaii like my parents, grandparents, & great grandparent were able to do.

Significantly more affordable housing available to be bought by residents only.

Massive Taxes on Property held by non-residents.

We need to be self sustaining. Grow our own food, raise our own beef, chicken, pork.

The energy costs, because it affects everything due to our location. Everything that has to be shipped here is affected and the costs are passed down to us. If we could lower this, then everything else would fall in line as a trickle down effect.

More affordable (and quality housing) for residents with fewer delays (i.e. permitting) on construction/renovation to make things happen

Reduce the cost of doing business in the state. Improve business regulations (not necessarily reduce them but improve them to make business less costly. For example, other states have medical malpractice regulations that significantly reduce the risk for drs. and reduce the cost of medical malpractice insurance).

Stop investors from buying up all the properties

More housing options for different stages of life. I live in condo in an area that I would not have picked. Eventually I’d like to upgrade my living situation, and right now, I don’t see where I could go to do this on Maui.

I want to raise my family here forever but based off how prices are being driven up, I’m just not sure if I will be able to stay for much longer. If I am able to purchase a property/home that I can pass down to my family, that would be a major contributor in me staying in Hawaii

Reduce the cost of care for seniors, including long term care for the elderly

Raise wages up or decrease the housing cost

Reform the tax system, including property tax.

That there was availability of housing for ownership for middle income families that is not in the form of a condominium that comes with HOA fees.

Make housing more affordable; and also produce more goods on island so we don’t have to depend on goods coming from the mainland.

Better wages. If housing remains higher than it should be, if I could at least still afford something or know that working for years on end could actually end up with me owning a house instead of a small almost unhabitable space, then at least I could feel like my efforts would equate to something. As of now, I’m basically just trying to save enough money to afford the move off of Hawaii. Zero change in over a decade when it comes to the housing crisis and wage disparity.

Tax vacant properties to lower housing costs

Open our Politicians eyes and ears to see and hear the struggle of its people and how its affecting the place we all grew up in. The culture of Hawaii is changing, its people aren’t equipped to fight against the rising tide of political parties. Politicians need to do what’s right, based on the values their generations before them passed to them. We all may not agree with the decision, but if its right for Hawaii to remain Hawaii of old…. People can get behind it. Preservation of the Aloha spirit is always the right thing to do

Reduce prices for taxes, gas, electric, groceries, health insurance, business taxes and rules and regulations for a better and clearer idea of the business rules for the local business and future business owners.

Reduce cost – that’s one thing with many facets (a target rich environment). Cut taxes, fees, charges, in conjunction with that make government more effective and efficient at being citizen and business friendly with its programs and services, encourage business to support comparable wages to similar continental locations, repeal the Jones Act, etc. There really is no one thing, but a multitute of things that could be, and should be, considered and acted upon. We are running out of time……

More effort to increase food security

The cost of living; prices for housing and food. Housing prices would be the #1 that needs to change and have lower prices. That’s one of the reasons why locals leave

Reduce cost of food; reduce the cost of housing; reduce the cost to own, operate, and vehicle (it makes no sense that auto registration and insurance are so high); make public schools better so that parents won’t be forced to get private school educations; better colleges.

Rebalance tax structure to better support those who actually need it: higher property taxes on non-primary residence homes (especially if primary residence is in another state) and hotel properties, and low-to-NO taxes for people who are barely scraping by, especially if they’re in multi-generational households. Create sustainable development plans for homeless communities where people can work-to-earn their home: community lodging & meals for those working on building small homes, then as they are completed they can be occupied by the builders; repeat. That way people get both their immediate needs (shelter & nutrition) and longer-term needs (workforce training) met in a way that helps them create their own community, literally and metaphorically.

Bring the housing rates down. Housing rates to include cost of rentals, cost to purchase a home, cost of mortgage payments, cost of land tax to long term residents of Hawaii. Food prices to come down to something more affordable for the working class. People like me may live paycheck to paycheck and we can barely afford food and yet do not qualify for any sort of state assistance. It would be great to live here and not just survive here.

The ability to afford a home or condo as a single person who makes $100k per year.

The cost to own a home, or the availability of rental properties. It’s a very real thing that if we lose our current home, we may not be able to stay. At some point my landlord will pass on and his kids will inherit the house and I at that point, we don’t know what will happen. There is always this fear of what will we do if that happens. Our rent is affordable, and fair. But if we have to move, to get even close to what we have now would mean at least doubling our rent.

More remote job opportunities.

While there are many things that would need to change in order for me to realistically stay in Hawai’i, it ultimately comes down to housing. The market has become almost impossible for the average local resident to break into – with run-down, dated homes starting at $800,000 or more and often requiring extensive repairs. Rent for a modest studio apartment averages around $1,800 a month, not including utilities or extra parking fees, which quickly drives the real monthly cost even higher. Even at what many would consider a solid wage of $25 an hour, the math simply doesn’t work. Residents are forced to take on multiple jobs, move in with several roommates, or continue living with family if they have the opportunity to do so. For those without these safety nets, the choices are limited – live in substandard conditions, leave the islands altogether, or face the growing risk of homelessness. Without meaningful changes to make housing attainable and affordable for local people, it will be nearly impossible for many of us to envision a stable and sustainable life here in Hawai’i. And realistically, nothing will change soon enough to convince me or many other locals to stay.

Require companies to pay their employees a living wage that reflects Hawaii’s cost of living.

Prioritize housing & work career opportunities for local families

Unsure. minds already made up to relocate

More affordable/accessible kupuna cost of living programs – adult day care, daily meal program (like we have for the keiki ).

Repeat the nearly 100-year-old, outdated Jones Act to allow international shipments to Hawaii. Invest in diversifying local agriculture and aquaculture.

The housing market would need to change. Homes are way to expensive and very small. Local families are large and we want to stay. Why would I keep my family in a shoe box when I could go to Las Vegas where many local families already live and create a life there with more opportunity.

Reduce costs and taxes for the people who actually make a living in this state. Those people who are living here are struggling and aren’t able to make ends meet which makes them unhappy and less Aloha. I think that if you solve the economic issues in Hawaii we would return to the Aloha state.

Pay less taxes, huge chunk comes out of our pay checks making it hard to survive. I owned my own business and unless you are honest in paying what you owe on taxes, there is no way for a small business to survive in Hawaii. Majority of residents work for the State or City or Federal government. Pay them more so they can put it back into the economy which in turn supports retailers, restaurants and other private businesses.

Significantly Increasing the Supply of Affordable, Quality Housing for Local Residents

Restructure the assistance programs to better qualify the working class especially with the high rental rate and high child care cost.

Stop selling property, homes, condos, to people that don’t live here. Raise taxes on individuals that own more than one home. A corporation should never own any property in Hawaii.

Programs to help the people in the income gap of 80% – 120% AMI. Right now this group does not get any help because they are expected to be able to afford living here, but it is completely slanted. If having 2 incomes was enough to afford a home it would be easier for most people to stay.

More affordable housing and daycares and places for children to play after school

To be able to afford housing for my kids, they won’t be able to purchase any house here so I will have to follow them to help raise my grandkids.

Rental prices and home prices need to come down. mortgage payments in the the $4-6k per month range is insane.

More affordable, and healthy food. We spend nearly 25% of our monthly budget on food for two adults. We are lucky to own our home because we’d starve if we had to pay rent too.

Million-dollar “normal” homes → The median single-family home price on Oʻahu has been hovering around $1.1–$1.2 million. That’s not luxury anymore — that’s “average.” Wages don’t match → Even good local jobs can’t keep pace with that kind of housing cost. The gap forces more people into renting, which drives rental demand (and rent prices) up. Lack of competition → When there aren’t enough houses for sale or apartments for rent, landlords and sellers can charge more because people don’t have many choices. Out-of-state and investment buying → Properties get bought as second homes, vacation rentals, or investments. That takes units off the local housing market, lowering supply for residents. New builds don’t keep up → We’re not building enough housing fast enough to match population and demand. And what does get built is often luxury condos or high-end developments instead of affordable housing.

Supply of truly affordable housing. The only way to bring prices down is to build enough to saturate the market and bring overall prices down. These bandaid solutions will not address the problem

Tax outside investor higher rates unless they follow certain ethical practices that either help local residence achieve housing or keeps so much of the money within the state to be used for social program funding

Reduce housing cost: rents and cost of buying a house. The term affordable house is constantly used by newscasters, politicians and others. They put a numeric amount to it. In Hawaii the median house is approximately $750,000 An affordable house in Pahoa, on the Big Island, has the most affordable median home value in the state at $289,462 There is a wide disparity between Hawaii’s median and affordable housing cost. Reducing this disparity in housing cost will keep the younger adult population in Hawaii.

Provide food programs to support the local agricultural industry and provide healthy foods at an affordable price (maybe expand Da Bux program to more than SNAP-EBT cardholders).

Supporting mothers (paid maternity leave, cheaper childcare)

If I could change one thing to make it possible for not just me, but any local resident to stay in Hawaii, it would be to: Address the housing affordability crisis by significantly reducing the cost of housing through policies that prioritize affordable homes for residents over outside investors or vacation rentals. Housing is the primary reason many local residents are being forced to leave. The median home price in places like Oʻahu or Maui has soared well above what most working families can afford, while wages have remained relatively stagnant. Much of this is driven by: 1. Investment from non-residents (who don’t live full-time in the homes they buy) 2. Short-term vacation rentals reducing long-term housing supply 3. Limited land availability due to geography and zoning While this is just one policy change, it could include: 1. Restrictions or higher taxes on non-resident purchases 2. Stricter limits on short-term rentals 3. Expanding community land trusts to keep housing permanently affordable 4. Zoning reform to allow more multi-family or ʻohana units 5. Incentives for local ownership and rental stabilization Introducing policies that give local residents first dibs on housing opportunities – through tax credits, down payment assistance programs, or “local preference” in housing lotteries – could level the playing field. A rent-to-own model could also help families transition from renters to homeowners.

Restrict foreign-owned, out-of-state, and non-full time resident property ownership.

Stabilizing HOA fees

Provide long term (100 yr lease), affordable, high density-rise housing units, to working residence and elderly (not to for rental investment or house flipping financial gain), through a government agency (not partnership with delvelopers with limited afforable housing units).

Subsidies for longtime residents and native Hawaiians to purchase homes in Hawaii.

Reduce cost of living. Middle class seems to be getting squeezed – can’t qualify for free/reduced housing, food, phones – but can’t afford to really enjoy life either.

Stable housing! At the current rate my children won’t even be able to inherit my house because hoa and insurance rates will make it impossible to cover the expenses with social security disappearing

Making renting more affordable. I’m lucky to be able to currently live with my mom but things will be changing soon and looking at places to rent – it almost feels like I have to pick between feeling safe and being able to eat or have enough to enjoy life.

More online job opportunities and more affordable housing and pay that matches the high cost of living.

SURVEY DASHBOARD
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Cost of Living

Housing is far and away the biggest expense for local families, and respondents are sacrificing to stay in Hawai‘i.

Housing remains the biggest expense for local families, and more respondents in 2025 are burdened by their housing costs than in 2024. To better understand respondents’ financial situations, we asked them about their paycheck allocation across different categories, their difficulty in saving from their paychecks, the likelihood of skipping bills to cover other expenses, and their methods to stretch their dollars. The data illustrates the immense pressures that Hawai’i’s rising cost of living is exerting on local households.

Top Factors Affecting Cost of Living

Consistent with the 2024 survey findings, respondents said housing has the biggest impact on cost of living in Hawaiʻi. Over half (55%) of 2025 respondents ranked housing as the number one factor impacting cost of living in Hawaiʻi, while 88% of residents ranked housing as one of the top 3 factors impacting cost of living.

Wages were the second-ranked factor in both years, but taxes replaced the cost of food as the third most significant factor in the most recent 2025 survey.

Affordability Survey 2025

Expenses

In 2025, more respondents are spending higher portions of their income across all categories of essential living expenses—housing, transportation, healthcare, and education/childcare. This suggests that, over the last year, respondents’ incomes have not increased enough to keep pace with Hawaiʻi’s rapidly climbing cost of living.

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Ability to Save Money from Paycheck

Given the increased cost of living, more respondents are living paycheck to paycheck. In 2025, 42% of respondents said that it is “very difficult” to save money from their paychecks, compared to 34% of respondents in 2024.

Affordability Survey 2025
Affordability Survey 2025

Likelihood to Skip or Reduce Paying Bills to Pay Another

Fourteen percent (14%) of respondents in 2025 said they are very likely to skip or reduce paying one or more bills to pay other bills they consider more important – a slight increase from 11% in 2024.

Worry About Not Being Able to Pay Monthly Bills

More than one-third (37%) of respondents said they worry “frequently” or “almost all the time” about not being able to pay their monthly bills – up from 28% in 2024.

Affordability Survey 2025

What methods do you use to stretch your paycheck?

Very strict budget, weekly and monthly budget/spending spreadsheets, cooking/meal prep, no needless shopping, thrifting for work clothes, second job doing food delivery after full-time job/on weekends

using credit cards, coupons, sales, buying wholesale to stretch the dollar, doing more purchases on Amazon because of competitive prices (as opposed to buying local because that is more expensive sometimes)

We are both over 70 but must work full-time to make ends meet. Homeowner insurance vendor cancelled insurance so we are looking but the quotes keeps going up. Food prices and restaurant dining are also going up. We are looking to replace our car and computers but the prices are high along with internet and cable costs. We buy 2nd hand, on sale/ discounted when possible to keep costs down. We travel less.

We cook simple, cheap meals. Or, if we go out to eat, we make sure each plate lunch or dinner plate can stretch to three meals per person. Always looking for a good deal that can allow us to have leftovers.

We have flexible rent payments that allow us to make 2 split payments

Very difficult to save for anything when the cost of rent, utilities, bills, and food costs are more than 75% of take home pay.

We don’t go out to eat or to movies, try to keep expenses down. We even downsized our home to something cheaper but way more inconvenient to commute to/from.

We hardly eat out and cook meals at home regularly. Hang our clothes and don’t use the dryer. Also, paying for things in cash rather than using our credit card helps us stay on budget.

Live miserably

Share 1 vehicle to save on gas, (morning traffic is an issue when school is in session); eat at home but now the price of groceries are rising; sacrificing activities, gatherings and classes to save money; habits to minimize utility usage; delaying having children due to the cost of an extra mouth/body in household and cost of childcare; refraining from healthcare visits to avoid premiums, co-pays and bills.

We do a lot of services that we could hire for by ourselves. We also grow vegetables and raise chickens and ducks for eggs.

We hardly ever eat out, we do our own yardwork, we don’t buy clothes, cars, electronics until we really need them. We hang on to our cars for 20+ years before buying a new one. Our health insurance is from the retired military service.

Work side jobs, sell things that i can, take ANY overtime offered, cut spending, use credit cards to fill the void

Try to get leftover food from work.

We are careful budgeters. We also don’t yet have kids and that helps a lot with financials.

I have to spearfish and fish to keep grocery costs down. very limited eating out to save my paycheck as much as possible.

we have lovely family and neighbors that help with childcare so we can provide for our family. If not childcare at its cheapest is $1500/month average is $1900/montW

Making sure my partner (who works part time) picks up enough shifts – and works extra when we need to. He also is the primary childcare so juggling that schedule is difficult. We also try to cut back on going out to eat and traveling only when we can afford it.

My husband lives out of state to pay the mortgage.

Put money into savings, 401K, etc. I would not be able to do this if I were single. I don’t think I could afford rent, either. My husband inherited the house we live in. He was always the bread winner. Both our children moved to the mainland for better opportunities.

Hunt fish grow food. Put off medical trips that require off island travel.

The primary way we save money is living in an ‘Ohana unit with family because rent is a waste of money, but we can’t save enough for a down payment on a home in Hawaii. Even if I did have enough, I’m not sure I would want to pour every dollar I had into a down payment. Homes are also riddled with home owner association fees or maintenance dues that can add up to a lot of money and restrict money saving activities like line-drying clothing or parking on the grass or street. My wife and I drive older vehicles. We line-dry clothing to save on electricity. We garden to supplement our food. We have no subscription services other than phones and internet.

No eating out, no poke, no seafood, no poi, no vacations, no steak, holes in my socks, no driving, no beach, no movies, no subscriptions (except the gym). Old phones. No car payments.

Use credit cards to pay for bills and pay credit cards with following check. I also use instacart/shipt to supplement my income. Also have borrowed money from family/friends to make up deficit in bill payments. I moved home because housing was too expensive.

We rent two rooms in our home.

We rarely eat out, plan meals, bulk shop, and do free activities

Work remote half time. Do all errands at one time to save gas. Do not do unnecessary driving. Do not waste food, home utilities, water etc.

We almost never eat out. We shop at Costco/Sam’s and buy things in bulk when on sale. Cook meals with cheaper ingredients (lower protein and limited fresh veg). Buy clothes for adults and kids from Goodwill instead of new. We only have 1 car, the spouse takes the bus to work to avoid 2nd car payment and parking downtown. “Staycations” instead of traveling vacations for last few years. Very selective on which activities and sports our kids participate in because we can’t afford more than 1 per kid at a time. Live a minimalist lifestyle: no shopping outside of holiday gifts except essential replacements for worn-out clothes and kitchen equipment. Save remainder for rainy-day fund such as new tires or broken household appliances.

Keeping a tight grocery budget – keeping accounting of all monthly expenses – not having dependents or pets – trying to stay healthy to avoid medical bills

We don’t eat out. Meals are prepared and eaten at home. For work, we bring home lunch. When grocery shopping, we focus on sale items and needs, not wants.

Put money aside for bills and with the left over, I buy food to last the family until the next pay check.

We don’t eat some nights so that our daughter can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. We only partake in free activities. Limit spending – no entertainment subscriptions, buy health/hygiene products on sale and in bulk and use public transportation as much as possible to save on gas.

Utilizing public transportation (the Bus & Rail) in lieu of paying parking fees and spending money on fuel; sticking to a grocery budget; making most meals at home; meal prep or leftovers for lunch at work; limiting take out food and coffee; haircuts only twice a year for myself; buying 2nd hand items through FB marketplace instead of paying full price for new items; limiting our household to only 1 streaming platform; opting for time at the beach, botanical gardens, and hiking rather than paying for activities.

We have a garden, we have chickens, we try not to spend too much money, we have no dryer – we hang our clothes out – we have 1 truck to take us to work and school drop off- we try to walk more.

Take advantage of FSA programs for dependents and medical expenses, cook at home as much as possible, send children to public schools, shop at places like Ross, TJ Maxx, Costco, Walmart, Sams Club, only buy things if it is on sale.

Took my son out of daycare and don’t apply to private schools for my 6yo like I really want to. We go to church food drives from time to time, but not frequently. We shop at Costco to stretch food, cook all meals at home. Also had to take my 6yo out of extra curricular activities.

Since food costs more, things like purposely using less rice in a spam musubi. I’m fairly careful about spending to begin with though since I added my children to my insurance this past year & looking into educational costs its been more difficult, not impossible though definitely difficult.

Use of debt which is not healthy, but also created a business to gain extra income, but that is also taxed to high heaven and it doesn’t make much

1. Every Tuesday, I check Safeway and Times to see what sales they have for the week, and plan my groceries and meals around that. 2. I cut out unnecessary spending: I don’t do extra driving or eating out, and I quit Netflix, cable TV, Hulu, other subscriptions. 3. I am doing some work for the owner of my gym, so I don’t have to pay for that anymore. 4. I unplug things at my house instead of having them draw on my electricity when I am not using them. 5. I have been budgeting and squeezing everything that I can out of each paycheck ever since I returned to Hawaii!!

Needing to borrow money from family members but struggling to pay them back or I use money that is supposed to be for my monthly bills to make ends meet and pay my bills late. Making sure my children have food, clothing and shelter is my main priority and unfortunately, because of low wages and high cost of living, that means the adults go without to be sure the children have what they need.

thank goodness for parents help.

Shopping Specials and clearance foods, spending $0 on entertainment, Going too long between haircuts and pedicures. Do not buy delivery restaurant food or fast food. Deny myself fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthier choices.

A second job and the most inexpensive ingredients for food. No meals out, typically only one meal a day.

We’ve gotten rid of unnecessary cars, got rid of a storage unit, changed insurance providers, installed PV, meal plan, plan our weekly shopping based on the weekly menu, pack home lunches and don’t eat out more than once a week, if at all. Shopping usually based on planned purchases, if something is on sale.

Starve and nothing fancy, maybe a spam musubi or starbuck once a month

I have full-time employment as well as part-time employment 16-20 hours a week.

We try to be frugal with our household goods and food and have to budget our funds thoroughly in order to live within our means. It’s very difficult to live within our means because sometimes it means cutting out some borderline necessities.

We have chosen to live in a tiny home off grid to reduce our biggest expense which is housing. We have a house, but can’t afford to live in it because the rental income helps us live.

We live within our means and have our money invested after our monthly expenses are taken care of.

We are trying to eat less/buy less food. We never eat out. We drive an EV to save money on gas. We shop primarily at Costco but Costco prices recently went up. We spent $371 on groceries that didn’t fill the cart this weekend and we still couldn’t make a full dinner with the purchases when we got home.

There is no stretching, I don’t have enough money to take care of bills and groceries so I rely heavily on credit cards to pay for groceries and other essential supplies and my credit card debt is high.

Cook cheap food (higher fat content, lower quality meat). Cook in large batches. – Buy food at Costco and freeze. – Eat leftovers. – Find free or cheap activities to take my child to do. -Buy as much clothing secondhand as possible, only buy other clothing on sale – Buy and resell in various marketplaces online and in person

Working 3 jobs and my wife working 2 jobs just gets us by. no room for stretch whatsoever!

Timing, splitting up monthly payments to two times a month so it coincides with my paycheck

Timeline. Saimin. Just drink water to fill me up. Stay home when can. No trips or travel.

We have big and small methods to stretch paycheck. Biggest thing: We could not afford to have children due to the cost of multiple IVF rounds. Small things: We eat a lot of left overs. When refilling hand or dish soap, we dilute it so that it lasts longer. We mow our own lawn. We keep utility bills low by not watering the lawn, having air conditioning and sweating it out in the house. We defer maintenance on the house and do one big project a year such a replace roof, replace gutters, replace fence, replace windows, paint, etc.

Work more side jobs if its possible. But with all the new laws that have been coming into Hawaii since the late 90s. I would say ever since 1999 and so on, every new law has restricted earning money entrepreneurship and taxes keep getting higher. Those on minimum wage still struggle and those of the middle working class an right below middle class is struggling.

Skip meals, eat canned food, no doctors, drive less, grow food, no new clothes, don’t eat out, don’t move into a nicer house, DIY repairs.

We refrain from using A/C, buy food in bulk at Costco to freeze, and we try to use free public chargers for our 6 year old electric vehicle to avoid bumps in our electric bill.

We only eat out for special occasions. I buy groceries in bulk from the warehouse stores. We purchase little to no snack foods. We prepare a lot of canned or frozen goods. We do not do activities that cost money except for special occasions, such as the movies, water park or other paid venues. We carpool when possible to save gas, Purchase our gas from big boxed stores where it is cheaper. Clothing and household goods come from thrift shops or discount stores.

use interest earned on savings to help bridge the gaps when any unexpected expenses. Lately however with increases on Condo maintenance and reserve fees my compensation will not cover my monthly housing costs

Walk to and from work. Skip lunch.

Look for subscriptions to cancel. Change up how we’re paying our mortgage or HELOC. Change up 401K allocations. Eat out less.

We start by budgeting, we limit extra spending on entertainment, avoid impulse purchases, we cook at home for most meals and meal plan to minimize wasted food, we take advantage of sales on necessities, we hang laundry when the weather allows, have a timer on our water heater, I fix and maintain our cars, we drive our cars for as long as financially makes sense.

Used to have SNAP but apparently gross income disqualifies me. I go to a Foodbank when I am able to. I don’t always eat

Withdrawal from my 401k to make ends meet.

Sacrifice from paying some bills. Use credit cards to purchase groceries & necessities. Digging myself & my husband into deeper debts. More than we can afford to pay. Its depressing.

No children or marriage. Still driving old beater car. Still living with parents. Not purchasing personal items or travel.

We only buy what we need and if that on sale items. We reuse and recycle or up-cycle and find use for things instead of just throwing them away. We prep our meals for the week to a month. Try to make things last. Grow some veggies where we can. Try to make the best of everything.

SURVEY DASHBOARD
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SURVEY DASHBOARD
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Hope for Homeownership in Hawaiʻi

Hope for Homeownership in Hawaiʻi

Non-homeowners were asked how hopeful they are that they will be able to own a home in Hawaiʻi in the next five years. More than two-thirds of respondents (67%) are unhopeful they will be able to own a home in Hawaiʻi, with 50% feeling very unhopeful. Notably, households that say they will have to relocate to a less expensive state are more likely to be unhopeful about their homeownership prospects compared with households that say they will not have to move away.

Affordability Survey 2025

At the same time, support for solutions is near-unanimous. 90% of residents agree Hawaiʻi must build housing for local people, with the strongest agreement among younger adults and households at risk of moving.

“The housing market would need to change. Homes are way  to expensive and very small. Local families are large and we want to stay. Why would I keep my family in a shoe box when I could go to Las Vegas where many local families already live and create a life there with more opportunity. “

“Access to a more controlled housing market that benefits locals and is not subject to normal investment/market fluctuations. I think if certain government workers (teachers, some civil service) had dedicated housing, it would make it easier for folks to stay and save up for a potential home of their own.”

“While there are many things that would need to change in order for me to realistically stay in Hawai’i, it ultimately comes down to housing. The market has become almost impossible for the average local resident to break into – with run-down, dated homes starting at $800,000 or more and often requiring extensive repairs. Rent for a modest studio apartment averages around $1,800 a month, not including utilities or extra parking fees, which quickly drives the real monthly cost even higher.  Even at what many would consider a solid wage of $25 an hour, the math simply doesn’t work. Residents are forced to take on multiple jobs, move in with several roommates, or continue living with family if they have the opportunity to do so. For those without these safety nets, the choices are limited – live in substandard conditions, leave the islands altogether, or face the growing risk of homelessness.  Without meaningful changes to make housing attainable and affordable for local people, it will be nearly impossible for many of us to envision a stable and sustainable life here in Hawai’i. And realistically, nothing will change soon enough to convince me or many other locals to stay.”

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What Do Residents Want?

Consistent with 2024 survey findings, respondents remain in agreement that Hawaiʻi needs to do more to recruit and retain critical workforce members, build housing dedicated for local residents, and increase access to childcare and education for children ages 0-5.

Over 80% of the respondents agree that Hawai‘i needs to…

91%

Do more to recruit and retain critical workforce members (educators & healthcare workers)

90%

Build housing dedicated for local residents

81%

Increase access to childcare and education for children ages 0-5

Local Businesses and Jobs: Limited Pathways

The employees who keep Hawaiʻi’s economy running — across the nonprofit, for-profit, government, and labor sectors — are raising serious concerns about opportunity and the future.

Only 19% believe Hawaiʻi is a good place to do business. And while wages are the second biggest driver of cost of living after housing, just 36% say there are enough pathways to living-wage jobs. Awareness of workforce development programs is especially low among younger adults — the very people who should be building careers here.

Affordability Survey 2025
Affordability Survey 2025
Affordability Survey 2025

Families are also looking ahead with unease. Many doubt their children will be able to remain in Hawaiʻi, and those planning to move within a year are twice as likely to say career pathways don’t exist.

Taken together, this paints a troubling picture: a workforce that employers and communities rely on every day, but that may not be here much longer unless bold changes are made.

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Confidence in Local Institutions

In the 2025 survey, respondents were asked to describe their confidence in local institutions – including government, labor unions, the business community, non-profits, and the public school system – to do right by Hawaiʻi’s working families.

Respondents expressed the highest level of confidence in local non-profits (54%), followed by the local business community (39%), while only 20% said they have a fair amount or great deal of confidence in state and local government to do right by Hawaiʻi’s working families.

Respondents’ perceptions of the local business community are impacted by the number of jobs they work, as well as their job satisfaction. Respondents who work multiple jobs expressed lower confidence in the local business community to do right by local working families, while respondents who are satisfied with their primary job and would recommend their employer to others are more confident.

With confidence spread thin across all sectors, progress will depend on collaboration. No single institution stands out on its own — but working together, nonprofits, businesses, government, schools, and unions have the ability to create solutions that support working families.

Looking Ahead

The results of this year’s survey sends a clear message: Hawai‘i’s working families are strained, and the pressures that once pushed only the most vulnerable are touching households across income levels, job types, and islands. Our working families need hope they can stay.

This data shows us where change is most needed, and where solutions can make the greatest difference.

The voices of Hawai’i’s working families are what guide Holomua’s focus for 2025–2026.

  • Providing hope that families can stay in Hawai‘i by establishing a sustainable housing market dedicated to local working families.
  • Providing hope that local people and local businesses can thrive by clearing barriers that have slowed us down and designing sustainable systems to:
    1. Grow career pathways and pay.
    2. Create a healthier environment for local businesses.
    3. Connect Hawai‘i’s talent to opportunity.

About the Survey

Demographic Insights: Profiling Hawai‘i’s Workforce Across Diverse Sectors

AE Consulting surveyed employees of 25 local for-profit, non-profit, and public sector organizations. The organizations ranged in size from less than 10 to over 16,000 employees. The organizations involved cover a wide range of areas, including energy, building, retail, finance, government, and more.

The majority of respondents are middle-aged (35 to 54 years old) and predominantly women (52%). Most respondents have a college degree or post-graduate degree (63%). Households commonly have two full-time employed individuals (49%). Income levels vary, with 61% earning $100,000 or more, indicating a high representation of middle to upper-middle income earners.

A large portion of respondents are long-term residents, with most being lifetime residents (63%). Eighty-nine percent of respondents are registered voters, and 91% voted in the last election. High voter registration and participation rates indicate strong civic engagement among the respondents.