In fast-growing West O‘ahu, there are strong demands for quality education, a dynamic workforce and health care services. Meet some of the people and companies who are rising to address the area’s needs with passion, commitment and vision.
A program that limits access at Kaua‘i’s Hā‘ena State Park and raises local dollars is considered a model for places inundated by visitors.
Since its founding 50 years ago, the organization says it has protected over 77,000 acres. Among its current projects is returning land to Native Hawaiian control.
In America’s most costly state, 44% of people can’t afford basic expenses and many more barely stay afloat. But there’s help for the wide spectrum of ALICE residents, including highly educated yet underpaid professionals.
The Hawaiian culture-based nonprofit offers everything from preschool centers to lomilomi lessons to programs on growing food.
Two of those names are made up, while nicknames like Diamond Head have supplanted older names. Hawaiian leaders want traditional names to come first.
The transformation of the Davies Pacific Center will create mostly one-bed apartments, while leaving a few floors of offices.
The nonprofit has added classes in graphic design, filmmaking, animation, coding and Lego robotics.
Digital payment systems, inflation and pandemic challenges can make tips more crucial for Hawai‘i workers – and more confusing for customers.
The CEO of Ho‘okele Home Care, one of the honorees, explains how they serve 300 seniors on O‘ahu and Maui.
Locals use web-based services like Turo to rent their cars to strangers for extra income. One host couple say they now offer 75 cars owned by themselves and others.
The county’s mass transit system, which includes its buses, ride-share taxi program, bike-share services and paratransit services, is going through a major revamp.
Some buses have passed the million-mile mark. Now the fleet is getting an overhaul, including new EV and clean-diesel models.
Opportunity Youth Action Hawai‘i works to replace prison time with Hawaiian-based restorative justice.
The nonprofit erects 15 to 20 homes a year in batches, largely using the labor of volunteers and the eventual homeowners.
The Hawaii Island Humane Society opened a community center. A full-service animal hospital is next.
Nontraditional workers such as former veterans and caregivers often outperform traditional employees.
President and CEO Amy Miller Marvin says, “We’ve completely changed our sourcing. It allows us to be more thoughtful about nutrition.”
The Blackstone Group and other firms have been buying rental properties in West O‘ahu. Tenants say the result can be escalating rents and unexpected fees.
The goal was to create imagery that reflects the lived experiences of renters.
HUGS provides services and support to every member of the family.
Some underlying deceptions are eroding economic mobility, democracy and efforts to address climate change.
To see if people are better off than their grandparents, we compared wages after inflation, debt loads, where people spent their money and more.
All 21 regions have higher median prices this year for single-family homes, with the two priciest markets seeing the smallest percentage increases, and two rural regions the largest.