What progress has been made to bring down the cost of living in Hawaiʻi?
Helping residents cope with the high cost of living is a perennial issue at the Hawaiʻi Legislature. In the 2025 session, legislators prioritized programs that help provide health care and food assistance to Hawaiʻi’s poorest residents. Those programs have become targets for federal cuts under the Trump administration, including reductions in the SNAP program for needy families. The Legislature set aside several hundred million dollars that may be tapped as lawmakers in 2026 continue to grapple with the uncertainties in federal funding.
Lawmakers will need to decide in 2026 whether income tax cuts for Hawaiʻi residents, scheduled to phase in over the next few years, will still be possible the reductions by the federal government.
Quick Facts
- Expensive: Hawaiʻi is often ranked as having the highest cost of living in the country, ahead of California, Massachusetts, Alaska, New York and the District of Columbia.
- Poverty: An estimated 45% of households in Hawaiʻi are categorized as “asset limited, income constrained, employed,” meaning they have income above the federal poverty level but not enough to afford basic expenses.
- Minimum wage is $14 an hour, making it the one of the highest in the U.S. It is set to increase to $18 per hour in 2028.
- Shipping costs: Hawaiʻi imports around 85% to 90% of its food supply.
Cost Of Living Bills
In Focus
Here are all of the bills considered in the current session involving cost of living, including some key tax measures. Highlighted bills are identified by Civil Beat as among the most significant this year. “In progress” includes bills that may have been deferred but are technically still alive until the end of the two-year Legislature.
SB 1043 In Progress
Reduces the general excise tax rate imposed on nonprescription drugs by one half. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
HB 755 In Progress
By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
HB 432 In Progress
Establishes the Mixed-Income Subaccount within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to prioritize development of workforce rental and for-sale housing projects for qualified residents. Requires the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation to adopt administrative rules. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
SB 534
RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
In Progress Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Water and Land
RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Water and Land
HB 982
RELATING TO WILDFIRES.
In Progress Committee: House Standing Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection
RELATING TO WILDFIRES.Committee: House Standing Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection
RELATING TO REMEDIES.Committee: House Standing Committee on Housing
RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.Committee: House Standing Committee on Labor
RELATING TO HOUSING.Committee: House Standing Committee on Housing
Key Players
Legislative Leaders
These are the leaders in the Legislature for cost of living issues as identified by Civil Beat.
Della Au Belatti
District 26, Oʻahu
Jarrett Keohokalole
District 24, Oʻahu
Scot Matayoshi
District 49, Oʻahu
Jackson Sayama
District 21, Oʻahu
Lisa Marten
District 51, Oʻahu
Lynn DeCoite
District 7, Maui
Non-Legislative Leaders
Other than legislators, these people and organizations are the most active on cost of living issues, including poverty, workplace and labor and the economy.
