For many Hawaii families, making ends meet remains one of the biggest obstacles to helping children thrive, according to the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book.

The report finds Hawaii continues to struggle with housing affordability and economic security. The state has invested in affordable housing and homeownership programs, but housing costs remain among the highest in the country.

Despite those challenges, Nicole Woo, director of research and economic policy for the Hawaii Children's Action Network, said the state's prepaid healthcare law has helped Hawaii maintain one of the nation's strongest rankings for child health coverage. Hawaii's prepaid health law requires employers to provide health insurance for any worker who works at least 20 hours a week.

The report also found Hawaii scored well in family and community well-being, helped by low rates of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods. But challenges remain in education, with Hawaii's score dropping sharply over the past five years.

The state placed 25th overall for child well-being.

Hawaii's ranking for children whose parents lack secure employment fell from 16th in the nation to 37th in 2024. Woo said more than one in four Hawaii children has parents who lack a reliable job.

“And we see disparities with this indicator as well, with more than one third of Native Hawaiian children and nearly two fifths of other Pacific Islander children,” Woo said.

For the first time, the Casey Foundation report is using a ranking system designed to provide a broader view of child well-being across all 50 states.

“A state can now see are they improving, are they implementing policies that are effective in improving child wellbeing, in addition to seeing how they rank relative to other states,” said Leslie Boissiere, vice president for external affairs for the organization.

Boissiere said years of research point to policies and programs that help children thrive, and she hopes leaders will use the data to guide future investments.

Source: Public News Service