"Lucky You Live Hawai‘i".
It's a phrase locals have invoked for so very long and rings true with so many.
Here's a more specific assessment derived from an AI overview:
"'Lucky You Live Hawai‘i' is a popular phrase expressing deep gratitude and local pride for the unique lifestyle, natural beauty, and culture of the islands. It embodies a 'seize the day' mentality, focusing on enjoying moments like surfing, hiking, and family time over material wealth. The phrase reminds residents to appreciate their blessings despite challenges."
I've maintained in over 35 years in media that "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i" is an effective psychological tool in justifying or rationalizing the challenges we face at home every day. I lost my job due to cutbacks, taxes are so high, I cannot make the rent, took me two hours to get home, my car got broken into: Eh, dat's ok cuz "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i." It may be a temporary salve for the moment but it shouldn't be the standard of acceptance.
While we at it, the other distractive phrase is, "The ‘Ohana Style of Living".
For generations it has been difficult to own your own home. This difficulty for so many has become an impossibility. In order to assuage that profound sense of loss, the concept of generations living under one roof is advanced as a more beneficial and even preferable alternative to individuals owning their own home.
The implication is that your disagreement would be construed as you not having the respect for family being together and it's more important that you get what you want instead of what's best for tutus and aunties. When this concept is perpetuated amongst generations, then this becomes the definition of success. No. This becomes a redefinition of the American dream — to own your home.
When determining quality of life there are two camps that really don't converge for most local folk.
There is the material and the spiritual.
The material is the hard costs of living; housing, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare, clothing and more.
The spiritual is how we feel; pride, peace, fulfillment, being one with nature and more.
As I stated earlier life is full of rationalizations designed to make us feel better when most are struggling with every day life.
Now is the time to state the one phrase that some say matters most.
"The Price of Paradise".
Sigh.
This is the troika of brand marketing in making it acceptable that your inability to live the life of your own choosing is not only probable but there is a certain nobility in simply surviving rather than thriving.
Let's take a look at the spiritual and emotional side of life.
I turn to state rankings to give us an idea of how we compare to others in other states.
I gleaned information from various sources including local and national news sites, foundations and think tanks.
Hawai‘i is ranked as the happiest state in the U.S., finds WalletHub, followed by Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Connecticut. These rankings are based on emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community quality, with Hawai‘i leading in life satisfaction, low depression rates, and high productivity.
Hawaii is ranked #2 as the Healthiest State and according to a June 25, 2025 report we are No. 1 in health care.
I submit Hawai‘i's mandate for companies to provide mandatory health insurance for those who work more than 20 hours per week is a factor. However, the percentage of hard cost for this mandate has a great impact on the providing businesses and rarely do you hear what the financials are for said businesses.
Well, here you go:
Providing health insurance in Hawai‘i involves high hard costs, averaging roughly $6,300 annually for single coverage and exceeding $20,400 for family coverage per employee. Small businesses (1 to 10 employees) may pay $350 to $1,500+ monthly per employee, with costs heavily influenced by the Prepaid Health Care Act. (Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
Of course this is a great benefit for the employee but it's a substantial liability especially for small businesses and is contributory to our overall burdensome cost of living.
Hawai‘i is ranked No. 5 Most Independent State.
Really?
Even the report seems conflicted.
According to a June 2025 WalletHub report, Hawai‘i was ranked as the 5th most independent state in the U.S. due to low reliance on outside support, high self-reliance in consumer finances, and low international trade dependency. However, this ranking contrasts with Hawai‘i's extreme geographical dependence on imports. Other reports, such as from the Fraser Institute, have historically ranked Hawai‘i low in economic freedom.
Hawai‘i ranks 8th in the U.S. for student quality of life according to a 2025 SmileHub study driven by high scores in social atmosphere, natural surroundings, and community, despite ranking lower (44th) in overall state rankings due to high economic pressures and cost of living. Key factors include high numbers of young adults, nightlife, and outdoor access.
Parents, is this the reality for your children?
Notice that the most beneficial experiences for our students are in social atmosphere, natural surroundings and community. Least beneficial are cost of living and economic pressures. Still, we are in the Top 10 in the nation for student quality of life. That's the important entry since that reinforces the spiritual and emotional side.
A brief look at the material side of life.
The following is self-explanatory, so I am only going to list category and rank. Hawai‘i is ranked:
49th in business.
46th in State economic performance.
50th in cost of living (cost of living being 20.32% higher than a living wage).
50th in opening a small business.
50th in housing cost.
10th in nobody wants to move to Hawai‘i.
2nd in people not wanting outsiders.
I had to include the last one listed and here's more:
Hawai‘i is often ranked among the least welcoming states for newcomers, frequently appearing high on lists of places that do not want outsiders moving there. Locals often feel overwhelmed by high tourist volumes, increasing costs, and the displacement of native residents, with one LinkedIn report ranking it No. 2 for this sentiment.
We began with "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i", "‘Ohana Style of Living" and "The Price of Paradise" and how I believe these phrases have become justifications for why so many will not live the lives they desire.
And I do understand the idyllic pursuit of happiness is going to differ with individuals, but I maintain elements of the American Dream still exists even if culturally and politically we try to lower expectations to where survival is the goal and the standard. Hence, the animus against those who do work, earn, and sacrifice to elevate themselves, their families and create jobs and opportunities for others.
The 11th Commandment should be, "Thou shalt not punish those who excel and succeed".
I'm not holding my breath.
I also believe we derive an enviable amount of positivity and fulfillment because of what our Islands and her people provide. We claim that we're unique because of the Aloha Spirit. I do understand, embrace and appreciate. But we are not alone. There are communities around this country where people love and care for one another in best and worst times. Instead of laying exclusive claim to this sentiment we may want to refocus on not just saying it but in living it.
One of the most important qualities I shared with my children growing up was achieving balance. Unfortunately we are lacking just that in our material and spiritual sides of life in Hawai‘i.
I hope we'll find that balance together.
