Three Years. A Consistent Message.
For the third year, Holomua Collective asked Hawaiʻi residents what it takes to build a life and a future here.
In 2026, 5,167 employees shared their experiences—our largest response yet—with participation spanning government, healthcare, higher education, energy, finance, building, nonprofit/philanthropy, communications and technology, and other industries.
The Same Pressures, Year After Year
Across three years of surveying, the central affordability challenges have remained consistent.
The affordability challenge is well established. This year, we wanted to look beyond what things cost and better understand a bigger question:
Can I Get Ahead?
Do people believe they can get ahead and build a future in Hawaiʻi?
Most respondents are working—and many like their jobs. But having a good job isn’t necessarily the same as seeing a path forward.
Affordability Is Changing How We Live
For the first time, we asked respondents not only who they live with, but whether that living arrangement is by choice or necessity.
Among those living with parents, in-laws, grandparents or extended family, that rises to 71%.
36% say their current living situation is by necessity
The most common reason is straightforward: housing affordability and financial constraints. Multigenerational living can be a source of family and cultural strength. The distinction is whether people are living together because they want to—or because they have to.
People Want to Stay, but are uncertain about a future
The strongest reasons people want to remain in Hawaiʻi are personal. But one finding stands out:
Only 3% said economic opportunity is a reason they want to stay.
People feel connected to Hawaiʻi. Fewer see it as a place where they can get ahead. But only 37% are hopeful about Hawaiʻi’s future, while 39% are discouraged. And the people experiencing the greatest economic pressure are consistently less hopeful: renters, people working multiple jobs, people living with others by necessity, and people who believe they may have to leave.
Respondents’ answers point toward the same challenges we see throughout the survey
These were the three factors respondents said would most increase their hope in Hawaiʻi’s future.
Three years of results point to a clear challenge:
Hawaiʻi needs to become more affordable—but affordability alone isn’t enough.
People also need pathways to higher wages, career advancement, homeownership and economic opportunity. And they need confidence that progress is possible.
That’s where Holomua is focused: bringing people together across sectors to identify and advance solutions that make it possible for local working families to afford to stay, get ahead and build a future in Hawaiʻi.
Want to dig deeper?
Explore the full 2026 results, compare findings across years and interact with the data.
