08/31/25 op-Ed feature in the HNL Star-Advertiser

🌺 Building a Future Where Hawai‘i’s Workers Can Thrive

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser recently featured an op-ed co-authored by Hawai‘iKidsCAN and the Hawai‘i Workforce Funders Collaborative, highlighting our shared commitment to building a stronger future for Hawai‘i’s workers.

While Hawai‘i is often ranked among the most “equal” states due to its income distribution, a closer look reveals deep cracks in the foundation of our economy. The high cost of living, low wages, and youth outmigration are eroding opportunities for future generations.

Over the next decade, 170,000 young people will enter Hawai‘i’s workforce, but projections show only about 120,000 jobs paying a living wage ($56,000+) will be available. Many college graduates face underemployment and wages that don’t keep pace with the real cost of living, forcing too many families to consider leaving the islands.

True equity requires more than what traditional statistics suggest. Hawai‘i needs new ways to measure success—metrics that reflect real opportunities, family-sustaining wages, and pathways to keep local talent here at home. Encouraging steps, like the passage of Senate Bill 742 to improve statewide data sharing, point toward progress.

Just as Hawai‘i united around its clean energy goals, now is the time for leaders, educators, employers, and communities to align on bold, generational workforce goals. Together, we can ensure that every young person has the chance to stay, contribute, and thrive in Hawai‘i.