Sample Projects

The State of Food Insecurity in Hawai‘i, 2024-2025

Food insecurity isn’t just hunger—it’s a public health crisis tied to affordability, equity, and the high cost of living in paradise. From worrying about the next meal to going whole days without eating, thousands of kama‘āina are affected. Our latest research uncovers the true scope, the hardest-hit communities, and the collaborative solutions that can work.

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2024 Hawai‘i Housing Planning Study

Explore the 2024 Hawaii Housing Planning Study (HHPS), a collaborative effort by Ward Research, FSR Consulting LLC, and SMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc. for the Hawaii Housing Finance Development Corporation (HHFDC). The study projects a need for 50,156 units by 2025, increasing to 64,490 by 2027, with insights into supply constraints, cost factors, and post-Maui fire impacts on health, workforce, and community stability. It analyzes housing needs through 2027, exploring supply, affordability, demand, public transportation, special financing, and housing for Native Hawaiians and vulnerable groups to guide effective policy decisions. Access interactive tools, key data, and downloadable reports to inform strategic housing solutions.

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2024 Hawai‘i Early Childhood Comprehensive Needs Assessment

The 2024 Hawai‘i Early Childhood Needs Assessment, conducted with the University of Hawai‘i Center on the Family, reveals high childcare costs, widespread childcare deserts, and a critical shortage of infant-toddler care—alongside bright spots like innovative programs and strong national accreditation rates. The report provides baseline data on children birth to age five, maps childcare availability, analyzes cost and quality across programs, and shares providers’ insights on staffing and future needs. Funded by the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation.

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2024 Community Health Needs Assessment

2024 Hawaiʻi Statewide CHNA: Complete! HAH partnered with Ward Research, Inc. to gather and analyze input from 970 residents, 42 leaders, 8 community groups, and thousands of data points. The top 5 priorities from 2021 are still our biggest challenges today. Public release: March 2025. This is our shared roadmap forward.

Access the 2024 CNHA Report

2024 KFF Health Care Experiences of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Adults

2024 County of Kauaʻi Planning Department SSFM International EXCCP 2020-2050 Update

2024 Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Visitor Industry Needs Assessment

2023 Hawaiʻi State Public Library System (HSPLS) Strategic Framework & Focus Areas

2021 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

2020 State of Hawaiʻi Workforce Development Council Department of Labor and Industrial Relations American Job Center Customer Satisfaction Study

Hawai‘i Policy Research & Data

Gender-Affirming Care

New research shows strong local support for gender-affirming healthcare across all islands.

Vacant Property Tax Reform

New research reveals strong O'ahu voter support for taxing vacant properties to increase local housing availability, while also exploring resident preferences for managing County budget surpluses.