Hawaiʻi’s applied learning institute for public impact.

Researchers have long known that income-based poverty measures miss critical dimensions of hardship. People need more than a minimum income; they need affordable housing, access to nutritious food, health care, education, and reliable transportation. When families lack these basics simultaneously, the impact compounds in ways that a simple income threshold can't capture.

Most people reasonably assume that once the Legislature funds a program, the work simply begins. But Hawaiʻi’s budget data tells a more conplicated story.

The start of a new year often brings renewed energy and optimism. For families with high school students, however, it also brings anxiety. As the school year moves quickly toward its end, many parents and students face an urgent and complex decision: what comes after graduation?