When honest work can't build a stable life, the economy is not serving the common good. We will fight for an economy that rewards hard work, lowers costs, and creates real opportunity for every family in Hawai'i.
Families across Hawai'i are being squeezed. Young adults are working harder than ever but falling further behind — burdened by debt, wage stagnation, and a cost of living that feels stacked against them.
Hawai'i has the highest cost of living in the nation. The average home in Honolulu costs over $748,000. Groceries, utilities, and transportation all cost significantly more than the national average.
Meanwhile, the economy remains dangerously dependent on tourism and military spending. When you graduate high school in Hawai'i, your options are limited: work in hospitality, join the military, or leave.
That is not good enough. Our young people deserve an economy that offers real careers, livable wages, and a path to homeownership — right here at home.
Hawai'i families pay more for everything — groceries, gas, utilities, and housing. We will cut unnecessary taxes and fees, streamline regulations that drive up costs, and incentivize local production to reduce dependence on expensive imports.
Hawai'i's economy is too dependent on tourism and military spending. We need to diversify — creating high-quality jobs in technology, agriculture, construction, and trades that give young people a reason to stay.
With a mean home price of $748,245 in Honolulu — and closer to a million in town — homeownership is a distant dream for most young families. We will take bold action to increase housing supply and reduce costs.
Young people are graduating with crushing student debt into an economy that doesn't pay enough to cover it. We will address both sides of this equation — reducing the cost of education and increasing earning potential.