While there is no denying that Hawaii is the greatest state in the country, the Aloha State faces certain problems as unique as the islands. Even though the weather’s great, the people are lovely, and the views incredible, Hawaii is not without its issues. From homelessness and an extravagant cost of living to garbage and traffic, here are nine problems in Hawaii you probably didn’t want to know.
- For starters, the cost of living in Hawaii is astronomical.
Alex Avriette/Flickr Most of Hawaii’s food is imported from the mainland translating to overwhelming grocery bills; Hawaii residents pay almost double the national average for a gallon of milk. Don’t even get us started with the outrageous cost of housing here. These issues make it hard to pull out ahead in the Hawaiian economy.
- When the cost of living is coupled with the fact that Hawaii salaries are no higher than many places on the mainland, you’ve got a big problem.
Edmund Garman/Flickr For example, the average computer programmer living in Hawaii had an annual salary of $63,570 in 2013, less than California, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, where individuals with similar careers made between $82,750 and $111,320 annually. Same goes for teachers, police officers, and pediatricians. These wide income disparities reflect some of the most common social issues in Hawaii.
- Oh, and did we mention that Hawaii residents pay more than two times more than mainland residents for electricity?
Abhinaba Basu/Flickr Because we totally do, and it is quite the shock when receiving your first island electric bill. In 2010, Hawaii had the highest electricity costs in the nation, perhaps due to the fact that petroleum fuels approximately 76 percent of the islands’ electrical generators. Hawaii social issues come at you from all sides.
- Oahu is home to the worst traffic in the country – second only to Los Angeles.
Karendesuyo/Flickr With streets crumbling with potholes and seemingly endless road closures, the average Honolulu resident sits in more traffic than anyone on the mainland – except for L.A. residents. The state is also ranked dead last in highway conditions and cost-effectiveness. This is one problem in Hawaii we could definitely do without.
- And Hawaii has a major homeless population.
Surfing The Nations/Flickr Hawaii has the third largest homeless population per capita in the country; an estimated 487 out of every 100,000 residents are homeless, according to Movoto. Since the year 2000, the homeless population in Hawaii has increased by 61 percent, and while many once lived on the beaches 24/7, these individuals have since been driven into local neighborhoods, especially on Oahu. This is a pressing social issue in Hawaii, as it affects many residents in the high population areas.
- Hawaii is running out of places to put all of our garbage.
Kate Gardiner/Flickr Hawaii landfills are nearly full, and that means the government has to figure out where to put all of our garbage – many are debating whether we should create a new landfill on Oahu’s leeward coast, or ship the waste to the mainland. While Oahu is home to a waste-to-energy plant, it can’t possibly take care of all the islands’ garbage. This Hawaii problem needs a solution sooner rather than later.
- There is also a fair amount of property crime in Hawaii.
Corey Balazowich/Flickr The Hawaiian Islands have violent crime rates that are lower than the national averages, but property crime is still a very real problem Hawaii residents must face. According to Sperling’s Best Places, Hawaii’s average is 45 out of 100, and the national average is 43.5; these crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. While we’d far prefer property crime over violent crime, we’d rather not have any crime at all.
- Hawaii is home to a major drug problem as well.
Michael Caroe Andersen/Flickr While the islands have lower than average rates of violent crimes, more than half of all convictions in Hawaii are drug-related, compared to just 41 percent nationwide. I’m not sure if that means Hawaii just has less other crime, or there is a serious drug problem taking over the islands. Besides marijuana, methamphetamine is the most commonly used illegal drug in Hawaii. This Hawaii social issue needs help.
- Many of Hawaii’s native species face extinction.
Jared Wong/Flickr As the most isolated population center on the planet, Hawaii has one of the highest rates of endinism – species that exist nowhere else – in the world. And because we have so many unique species of plants and animals, Hawaii is often considered the “endangered species capital of the world.” This Hawaii social issue is a devastating one, because there is no coming back from extinction.
We obviously still love Hawaii, but it definitely isn’t without its faults. Which of these problems in Hawaii is most surprising to you? Do you know that they all existed? Let us know in the comments below!
Alex Avriette/Flickr
Most of Hawaii’s food is imported from the mainland translating to overwhelming grocery bills; Hawaii residents pay almost double the national average for a gallon of milk. Don’t even get us started with the outrageous cost of housing here. These issues make it hard to pull out ahead in the Hawaiian economy.
Edmund Garman/Flickr
For example, the average computer programmer living in Hawaii had an annual salary of $63,570 in 2013, less than California, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, where individuals with similar careers made between $82,750 and $111,320 annually. Same goes for teachers, police officers, and pediatricians. These wide income disparities reflect some of the most common social issues in Hawaii.
Abhinaba Basu/Flickr
Because we totally do, and it is quite the shock when receiving your first island electric bill. In 2010, Hawaii had the highest electricity costs in the nation, perhaps due to the fact that petroleum fuels approximately 76 percent of the islands’ electrical generators. Hawaii social issues come at you from all sides.
Karendesuyo/Flickr
With streets crumbling with potholes and seemingly endless road closures, the average Honolulu resident sits in more traffic than anyone on the mainland – except for L.A. residents. The state is also ranked dead last in highway conditions and cost-effectiveness. This is one problem in Hawaii we could definitely do without.
Surfing The Nations/Flickr
Hawaii has the third largest homeless population per capita in the country; an estimated 487 out of every 100,000 residents are homeless, according to Movoto. Since the year 2000, the homeless population in Hawaii has increased by 61 percent, and while many once lived on the beaches 24/7, these individuals have since been driven into local neighborhoods, especially on Oahu. This is a pressing social issue in Hawaii, as it affects many residents in the high population areas.
Kate Gardiner/Flickr
Hawaii landfills are nearly full, and that means the government has to figure out where to put all of our garbage – many are debating whether we should create a new landfill on Oahu’s leeward coast, or ship the waste to the mainland. While Oahu is home to a waste-to-energy plant, it can’t possibly take care of all the islands’ garbage. This Hawaii problem needs a solution sooner rather than later.
Corey Balazowich/Flickr
The Hawaiian Islands have violent crime rates that are lower than the national averages, but property crime is still a very real problem Hawaii residents must face. According to Sperling’s Best Places, Hawaii’s average is 45 out of 100, and the national average is 43.5; these crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. While we’d far prefer property crime over violent crime, we’d rather not have any crime at all.
Michael Caroe Andersen/Flickr
While the islands have lower than average rates of violent crimes, more than half of all convictions in Hawaii are drug-related, compared to just 41 percent nationwide. I’m not sure if that means Hawaii just has less other crime, or there is a serious drug problem taking over the islands. Besides marijuana, methamphetamine is the most commonly used illegal drug in Hawaii. This Hawaii social issue needs help.
Jared Wong/Flickr
As the most isolated population center on the planet, Hawaii has one of the highest rates of endinism – species that exist nowhere else – in the world. And because we have so many unique species of plants and animals, Hawaii is often considered the “endangered species capital of the world.” This Hawaii social issue is a devastating one, because there is no coming back from extinction.
Wondering about other problems Hawaii may face? Here are The 9 Most Likely Ways Hawaii Will Be Wiped Off The Map.
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Address: Hawaii, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Problems In Hawaii August 26, 2022 Megan McDonald What kind of problems face Hawaii in the future? Hawaii faces a number of pressing problems in the near future, including a rapidly changing climate, corrupt government reputation, poor business climate, along with homelessness, drug use, and poverty. When polling residents, they said the worst issues the Big Island faced were homelessness, drugs and traffic. Maui residents who were polled said their top issues were affordable housing, too much traffic, and better public education. For Kauai residents, traffic was the first problem they were worried about, followed by environmental concerns like climate change and also crime and public safety. How long before Hawaii’s coastline disappears? New reports state that as soon as 2030, Hawaii will lose 3.2 feet of coastline to the rising seas. This federal report states that coastline will rise in the next thirty years, the same amount it has risen over the past 100 years!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Problems In Hawaii
August 26, 2022
Megan McDonald
What kind of problems face Hawaii in the future? Hawaii faces a number of pressing problems in the near future, including a rapidly changing climate, corrupt government reputation, poor business climate, along with homelessness, drug use, and poverty. When polling residents, they said the worst issues the Big Island faced were homelessness, drugs and traffic. Maui residents who were polled said their top issues were affordable housing, too much traffic, and better public education. For Kauai residents, traffic was the first problem they were worried about, followed by environmental concerns like climate change and also crime and public safety. How long before Hawaii’s coastline disappears? New reports state that as soon as 2030, Hawaii will lose 3.2 feet of coastline to the rising seas. This federal report states that coastline will rise in the next thirty years, the same amount it has risen over the past 100 years!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hawaii faces a number of pressing problems in the near future, including a rapidly changing climate, corrupt government reputation, poor business climate, along with homelessness, drug use, and poverty.
When polling residents, they said the worst issues the Big Island faced were homelessness, drugs and traffic. Maui residents who were polled said their top issues were affordable housing, too much traffic, and better public education. For Kauai residents, traffic was the first problem they were worried about, followed by environmental concerns like climate change and also crime and public safety.
How long before Hawaii’s coastline disappears?
New reports state that as soon as 2030, Hawaii will lose 3.2 feet of coastline to the rising seas. This federal report states that coastline will rise in the next thirty years, the same amount it has risen over the past 100 years!
