Blogs
Roots Reborn: “Our Financial Future” – Insights into the Challenges and Opportunities Facing Maui’s Immigrant Community
By Ruben Juarez, Veronica Mendoza Jachowski, Lily Solano, and the Roots Reborn Team Background and PurposeIn February and March 2025, Roots Reborn launched Our Financial Future, a community-driven initiative to support immigrant wildfire survivors through direct financial aid, banking access, and financial education. Drawing on nearly 300 participants, the initiative employed two comprehensive, culturally attuned […]
Read MoreWho Is Moving In and Out? Understanding Migration Trends in Hawai‘i
By JoonYup Park Migration is one of the most important forces shaping Hawai‘i’s population and economy. Yet, our understanding of who is moving in and out of the state is often limited or based on anecdote. A common narrative suggests that Hawai‘i is losing lifelong residents at an increasing pace—particularly younger generations who form the […]
Read MoreThe Economic Effects of Tariffs
James Roumasset* “Give me a one-handed economist. All my economists say, ‘on the one hand… on the other.’” President Harry Truman Updated 04/03/2025 Addendum on Reciprocal Tariffs Reciprocal tariffs may be a good idea, but they have been badly implemented. The case for reciprocal tariffs goes as follows. First, optimal tariff theory suggests that a […]
Read MoreWatershed Protection Provides Strong Return on Investment on Kaua‘i
By Conrad Newfield, Nathan DeMaagd, Christopher Wada, Kimberly Burnett, and Leah Bremer Read the full report. Kaua‘i’s native forests play a vital role in sustaining the island’s freshwater resources. These biodiverse ecosystems capture rainfall and fog, allowing water to seep into underground aquifers, which serve as the primary source of drinking water. However, the expansion […]
Read MoreMaui’s Recovery 1½ Years After the Wildfires
By Daniela Bond-Smith, Trey Gordner, Caleb Wood Eighteen months after the August 2023 wildfires, Maui’s fire-impacted households continue to face significant economic and housing instability. While some indicators suggest limited progress, the latest findings from the Maui Recovery Survey: Housing & Jobs show that many challenges remain. The survey, launched by the University of Hawai‘i […]
Read MoreImmigration Economics
By Byron Gangnes Immigrants have always been an important part of America’s population. But for just as long there have been concerns about the impact of immigration on US society and the economy. The recent “surge” in unauthorized immigration at the Southern border and the candidacy of Donald Trump animated an already growing backlash against […]
Read MoreMigration Effects of the Maui Wildfires: Early Indicators from State Tax Filings
By Dylan Moore and Baybars Karacaovali (Office of Tax Research and Planning, Hawai’i Department of Taxation)* Executive Summary: An analysis of state income tax filing addresses indicates that the 2023 Maui wildfires reduced Maui’s population by at least 1,000 residents, due to both increased out-migration and reduced in-migration. At least 430–510 Maui residents have moved […]
Read MoreMaui Wildfire Exposure Study and Registry Workshop
By Ruben Juarez and Alika Maunakea Enhancing Resilience: Building Sustainable Health Registries for Disaster-Affected CommunitiesDecember 4-7, 2024, Lahaina, MauiWorkshop Summary, Lessons Learned, and Steps Forward Executive Summary The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Registry (MauiWES) represents the most comprehensive community-based initiative to date for examining both immediate and long-term health outcomes following the Maui Wildfire. […]
Read MoreA Honolulu Empty Homes Tax: Impacts on Housing Supply and County Revenue
By Justin Tyndall Honolulu faces an acute housing shortage, yet tens of thousands of homes sit empty. Bill 46 would create a new property tax that applies to empty homes. The policy aims to achieve two key objectives: (1) expand the supply of housing for local residents, and (2) generate revenue for the county. Using […]
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