New Publication Demonstrates Excel’s Role in Solving Optimal Groundwater Management

August 16, 2023

A recent publication titled “Solving Optimal Groundwater Problems with Excel” introduces an accessible solution approach using Excel Solver to address complex coastal groundwater management challenges. The study emphasizes the inadequacy of conventional sustainable yield approaches and instead proposes a comprehensive method for achieving welfare-maximizing groundwater management. Applied to the Pearl Harbor Aquifer in Hawaii, the […]

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Solving Optimal Groundwater Problems with Excel

Abstract: Welfare maximizing management of coastal groundwater requires a sequence of pumping targets, typically terminating with a constant withdrawal rate in the long run. In contrast, managing according to sustainable yield at best identifies the constant rate of pumping in the long run. We illustrate an accessible solution method, using Excel Solver to find the […]

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New Study Unveils Complex Impacts of Policy Change on Healthcare Access and Inequality in Hawaii

A recent research paper titled “Replacing Medicaid with an Imperfect Substitute: Implications for Health Inequality” sheds light on the complex consequences of a 2015 policy change affecting Pacific Islander immigrants in Hawaii. The policy, which replaced Medicaid with subsidized private health insurance, triggered varying effects on healthcare utilization among different risk groups. Using a comprehensive […]

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Replacing Medicaid with an Imperfect Substitute: Implications for Health Inequality

Abstract: A 2015 policy change substantially increased the administrative burden involved in accessing health insurance for Pacific Islander immigrants in Hawaii. We examine the heterogeneous health-care use effects of this policy, which revoked Medicaid eligibility for these migrants and replaced it with access to subsidized private health insurance. Using data on the universe of hospitalizations […]

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What Does It Mean for HTA to be Administratively Attached to DBEDT?

August 8, 2023

By Paul Brewbaker, Frank Haas, and James Mak Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) was established by Act 156 in 1998 and is administratively attached to the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). HTA’s mission is “To strategically manage Hawaii tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the economic goals, cultural values, preservation of […]

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Managing retreat for sandy beach areas under sea level rise

July 24, 2023

Abstract: Sea level rise (SLR) is projected to impact approximately one billion people by 2100. For many coastal communities, retreat is the most viable long-term option due to exposure risk under SLR and increased coastal hazards. Our research analyzes the costs of retreating coastal development at an iconic beach in Hawaiʻi that is experiencing severe […]

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New Study Explores Effects of Environmental Change on Hawaiian Macroalgae

July 19, 2023

In their recent publication in Water Resources Research, Kimberly Burnett, Christopher Wada, and Leah Bremer and their team shed light on the dynamics of Hawai’i’s nearshore groundwater ecosystems, revealing the profound implications of environmental change on native and invasive macroalgae. Titled “Effects of Multiple Drivers of Environmental Change on Native and Invasive Macroalgae in Nearshore […]

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New Study Reveals Harsh Labor Market Penalties for the Obese During Economic Downturns

July 17, 2023

The alarming rise in obesity rates has not only been a health concern but also an economic issue affecting the US labor market. Rachel Inafuku’s newest publication in Heatlh Economics, titled “Only the fit survive recessions: Estimating labor market penalties for the obese over the business cycle,” sheds light on the impact of obesity on […]

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Only the fit survive recessions: Estimating labor market penalties for the obese over the business cycle

Abstract: The obesity epidemic is a growing concern in the United States. Aside from the detrimental health effects of obesity, previous work has also documented a negative relationship between obesity and various labor market outcomes. Given that the American adult obesity rate is roughly 40%, obesity affects a large portion of the US labor market. […]

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