Affordable housing and the cost of living are among the top worries for Hawai‘i residents, while other concerns are growing.
That's according to the Winter 2024 edition of "Hawai‘i Perspectives," a survey of more than 900 residents across the Islands. The survey is an initiative of Pacific Resource Partnership, a nonprofit organization that represents the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters, the largest construction union in the state, and 250 contractors across the state.
Here's what the survey found:
— Two-thirds of residents on all islands say they feel somewhat or very connected to their neighbors and communities, although 53% of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 said they feel somewhat or very disconnected.
— Of the residents surveyed, 28% feel Hawai‘i is on the "right track," and 53% say the state is on the "wrong track," although those terms aren't specifically defined in the report. In 2019, 41% of residents felt the state was on the right track and 45% said the state was on the wrong track.
"This year, all four Hawai‘i counties are unanimous in this negative perception, with no statistically significant difference," the report states.
Residents who were born and raised here were more likely than transplants to say the state is on the wrong track — 55% compared to 48%. There's also a partisan dimension to that perception — 39% of Democrats feel the state is on the wrong track compared to 72% of Republicans.
— The cost of living continues to be a top concern.
The survey found that 88% of the respondents say the price they pay for goods in general has gotten worse while 81% say the availability of affordable housing has worsened, too. And 63% of those surveyed said they feel that policies enacted in the last year that aim to help people afford to stay in the Islands have not been effective. That's a sentiment shared across the the four counties.
— Of the residents who rent, 72% say they anticipate being in the market for a house, condominium or townhome in the future. But rising home prices and mortgage rates, and a short supply of homes that are "affordable," are barriers to doing so.
Some 54%, however, already own a home and 13% of this group anticipate acquiring or investing in a second.
In terms of homeowners insurance, 88% of respondents consider it a necessary expense, although 62% say premiums are too expensive. Some 76% of homeowners said their policy rates have increased.
— In the 2023 edition of "Hawai‘i Perspectives," crime finished last on a list of seven issues the state government should address, the report noted. But in the current edition, crime and violence is fourth on the list of issues important to residents. According to the survey, 8% identify it as a top priority behind affordable housing, the high cost of living and homelessness.
When asked directly, 63% said violent crime is an urgent issue. That urgency is even higher on O‘ahu at 73%, compared to Neighbor Islands at 41%.
Sixty-three percent of the residents surveyed also believe that violent crime has worsened over the last year, with that perception higher on O‘ahu, at 69%, than Neighbor Islands, at 50%.
Additionally, the report noted that 62% of residents were in support of a "stand your ground law," which allows for the use of deadly force in self-defense without having to retreat.
The full report, which covers more topics, including sentiments on mental health, connectivity and the Skyline rail system, can be downloaded from the PRP website.
"The findings validate much of what Hawai‘i residents have been experiencing over the past year, notably a lack of housing that people can afford, the high cost of living and inflation, and growing concerns over crime and violence," Andrew Pereira, PRP's director of public affairs, told Aloha State Daily in an email. "However, the majority of Hawai‘i residents feel connected to their neighbors and communities, and that could help propel positive change on some of our most pressing issues. We hope the average resident sees the issue of connectivity as 'fuel' for taking action with like-minded people, groups and organizations."
Pereira said this is the fourth publication of "Hawai‘i Perspectives" since 2019, but the first time that crime and violence have been noted as a top concern behind housing, cost of living and homelessness.
"It was also surprising to see how many residents support a 'stand your ground law,' which could be related to some of the high-profile criminal cases the media has covered over the past year," he said.
When asked why the survey and report was something PRP wanted to undertake, Pereira said the organization believes that "good information can bring about positive change, so that was the concept behind 'Hawai‘i Perspectives.'"
The survey — conducted by Honolulu-based market research firm Anthology Research between Nov. 8 and Dec. 14, 2024 — polled 914 full-time residents in the state's four counties: 444 in the City and County of Honolulu, 208 in Hawai‘i County, 158 in Maui County and 104 in Kaua‘i County.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
