Who Are Hawai‘i’s Working Poor? | Insights on PBS Hawai'i

According to a recent Aloha United Way report, nearly 50 percent of Hawai‘i households are unable to make ends meet. Around 11 percent are living below the poverty level, and about a third could be considered Hawai‘i’s “Working Poor,” or “ALICE,” an acronym coined by United Way that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

These households have income above the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford basic necessities including housing, child care, food, transportation and health care. How does this affect our community’s economic outlook, if nearly half of our population struggles to make ends meet?

#hawaii #poverty #living

[Skidkid]

I am Hawaii’s working poor. What I’ve learned here is to not give up, to remain grateful and if things keep moving in the direction they have been it won’t be long till I’m making up some ground.

[susan]

This was a very important detailed discussion about poverty in the workforce, yet the video barely gets over 10, 000 views in 3.5 years? I bet the government is pleased that the You-Tube algorithms are doing their job. It's almost 2022, so has the quality of life for the working poor improved? Please update what is going on with these issues now.

[alohastateofmind]

Should be mandatory viewing for someone considering a move to Hawaii.

[rching]

We need a Update on this show since covid 19 happened

[karensparks]

I’ve been seeing where Hawaiians are leaving. I lived there in the 70’s. The aloha spirit is one thing I remember. It was like stepping into a different zone I’d never experienced. I loved it there. I would hate to think true Hawaiians leave their beloved Hawaii for the Mainland. No matter what you do always keep your solutions to keep them there. Not only will you allow them to lose their land, you will lose the people themselves. Please do what ever it takes for this not to happen.

[alanwilson]

I like the tiny homes idea. That would be an excellent start to getting ahead in these islands.

[eugenegauggel]

My father taught music at Kam school as well as at Punahou. My uncle Robert Clopton was head of the Education Dept. at UH Manoa in 1954. He got me into University high school where
I grad in 1960. He was also instrumental in getting my father a position in the Music Dept., the very reason my family re-located from East Texas.

[ryohn]

Banks. Commerce, Tourism, Development, Racism, Statehood, Militarization, US government have a lot to do with the economy and cost of living there.

[casper-zrklsgl]

It's the same situation all over the world, outside of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway.

[cbhaessig]

This is sad and it’s sad the criminals in Government get richer while everyone is ending up in the streets

[viethuynh]

I lived in Waikiki from 2009-2019. I ride the bus 8 to kuhio to Ala Moana. I worked at times supermarket and kalani high school. I love Hawaii and now I live in Turlock, California. I made less than $20, 000/yr.

[eugenegauggel]

I grew up in Honolulu from 1954 to 1972. I grad U o H Manoa with a BFA in Art in 1972. I left for the mainland. I cried a river of tears, in search of who I am. I landed in SAn Fran, Calif. where I found myself. I favor the idea of houselessness for those Kama'ainas who can live on the aina, be it beach parks, or tents in the woods up Aiea Heights or Halawa Heights, etc. We lived in folks played viola in the Honolulu Symphony orchestra for 35 years.

[eugenegauggel]

I suggest every resident, Malihinis and Kama'ainas alike, doing Ho'oponopono to get harmony with each other and the land and government. [Ben Caetano was governor back then]. Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona was a kahuna lapa' au since childhood. She was 90 plus percent Hawaiian.
I met her when she ran the health spa downstairs in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel ...the grand pink hotel, one of the first two dating back to the 1920's. She found a way to adapt the traditional amends-making systems practice so that any individual could practice it. It was originally a systems phenomenon, involving an enitire extended family in old Hawai'i nei.

[patriciayomes]

Governor Ige should release Hawaiian money/land to help the Hawaiians who are homeless. Helping the poor n homeless is a gift of kindness—-dealing with violence n other dangerous issue is the Law responsibility.
Doing the graph of individuals income on TV. How does that help those who is in need for immediate resources?

[howellwong]

I'm 1/4 Hawaiian and left Hawaii in 1953 to get an electrical engineering degree on the mainland. I never returned except for visits.

[commonmandenver]

Whoever came up with the acronym "Alice" to describe the working poor in Honolulu shows just how Un-serious they are with this reality.! WTF.

[dustinauclaire]

Question how many in government policies are from California and Washington? Just seem Hawaii is going the same direction and nothing is really being done about it.

[dustinauclaire]

Need to keep families together, strength in numbers. Cut the cost of living in about half by marriage alone. Also talking about education in jobs remember it only takes a signature to eliminate thousands of jobs without having jobs available to fill. Instant poverty. Raising taxes only tips the scales long term.

[davidtobita]

Aloha everyone the lord is kind in these hard times l love living in a van close to my love the shorelines of Lahaina surf dive fishing I love to share food to help people give from the heart God will provide for our needs not wants yea just sharing a meal talking story with others really helps compassion the love of Jesus over comes evil be filled with Gods love and evil will have no room in your heart Kokua help with out being told with in your means a little is better then none love all of you we can make it our home hawaii❤❤❤😊

[RunTheComps]

when actual hawaiians...cant live in hawaii...we have a problem...