Reports
Public Views on Sea Level Rise in Hawaiʻi: Results from a Statewide Survey
By Ketty Loeb, Colin D. Moore, Zena Grecni, and Victoria Keener This statewide survey of Hawaiʻi residents is the first systematic effort to measure public beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy preferences related to sea level rise across all four counties. Conducted from July to August 2025 with a representative sample of 1,314 adults, the survey […]
Read MoreAssessing the Risks of Sea Level Rise: Knowledge and Policy Preferences Among Hawaiʻi’s Civil Servants
By Ketty Loeb, Colin D. Moore and Sandeep Kandikuppa This survey captures the views of Hawaiʻi’s civil servants on the risks associated with SLR and their preferred strategies for adaptation. Conducted between June and August 2024, the survey targeted employees from State and County agencies across Hawaiʻi’s four counties (Hawai‘i County, Honolulu County, Kaua‘i County, […]
Read MoreBeyond the price of paradise: Is Hawai‘i being left behind?
By Steven Bond-Smith and Erich Schwartz Hawaiʻi is one of the most desirable—and most expensive—places to live in the world. But for 23 of the past 25 years, more residents have moved to other states than new arrivals have come to the islands. Rhetoric about being “priced out” is usually tied to expensive places where […]
Read MoreRecovery Through a Disability Lens: Impacts of the 2023 Maui Wildfires on Disability Equity and Shared Prosperity
By Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, and Alika Maunakea The August 2023 Maui wildfires devastated homes, disrupted livelihoods, and reshaped entire communities. For many Maui residents with disabilities, life after the fires has been an uphill climb. This report draws on two large-scale surveys conducted between 2024 and 2025 to document how the disaster and its […]
Read MoreEconomic Impact of the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services on the State of Hawai‘i in Fiscal Year 2024
By Paul Bernstein, Christopher Wada, and Kimberly Burnett The Department of Environmental Services (ENV) provides essential wastewater and solid waste services for the City and County of Honolulu, and its operations and capital investments contribute significantly to the local economy. This analysis estimates the economic impact of ENV’s fiscal year 2024 expenditures using the Hawai‘i […]
Read MoreEnduring Impacts of the November 2021 Red Hill Fuel Spill: Health, Social, Economic, and Trust Implications
This report presents findings from a follow-up survey conducted in July 2023—about 20 months after the Red Hill water contamination—with 174 people who had participated in earlier CDC/ATSDR studies. The study examines how the disaster affected participants’ health, daily life, finances, and trust in government agencies. Results indicate ongoing challenges, including physical and mental health […]
Read MoreSupporting thriving water futures through education and career pathways: perspectives from the Hawai‘i water sector
In this report, we share insights from representatives from the freshwater sector on how the University of Hawai‘i can best support a thriving water future for Hawai‘i through strengthening educational and career pathways. This research is a multi-department collaboration including the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization, the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, University of […]
Read MoreEconomic Benefits and Costs of Biological Control: Coffee Berry Borer, Erythrina Gall Wasp, and Fireweed in Hawai‘i
This report evaluates the economic costs and benefits associated with biological control efforts targeting three invasive species in Hawai‘i: coffee berry borer (CBB, Hypothenemus hampei), erythrina gall wasp (EGW, Quadrastichus erythrinae), and fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis). Utilizing historical data, expert interviews, and cost-benefit analyses, the study quantifies potential economic impacts and returns on investment (ROI) for […]
Read MoreTourism in Hawai‘i: Industry Views and Stakeholder Comparisons
Tourism in Hawai‘i shapes the state’s economy, communities, and environment in ways that affect nearly every resident. While resident and visitor views are regularly measured through long-running Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) surveys, the perspectives of those who operate and invest in the industry are less visible, with the exception of a few regularly cited consultants […]
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