Many individuals and families who have a job—even two or three—are doing everything they can to make ends meet yet struggle to get by each month. ALICE represents the growing number of households who are above the Federal Poverty Line, do not qualify for many government assistance programs, and who are working yet cannot afford basic necessities to remain stable and self-sufficient.
ASSET LIMITED
ALICE has no safety net for emergencies
INCOME CONSTRAINED
ALICE's income falls short of basic necessities
EMPLOYED
ALICE is working, but can't afford the cost of living
Meet the Faces of ALICE
The experiences of 30 random individuals from all walks of life illustrate the wide-reaching impacts of financial hardship in Hawai‛i:
Nearly half of Hawai‛i's residents are struggling, with 33% identified as ALICE and 9% living in poverty (2020 Alice in Hawaii Report).
Every day, on every island, and represented among every ethnicity, local households are faced with tough financial decisions and challenges. ALICE households are our neighbors, ohana, work colleages, and friends. With high inflation, the rising cost of living, and stagnant wage growth—further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—unprecedented strain has been placed on Hawai‛i's households.
Little support is in place to prevent ALICE from slipping into poverty or for advancing. It takes just one crisis—such as loss of employment for a short period of time, an unexpected health emergency or car repair, an increase in monthly rent—to put these individuals and families at even greater risk of long-term problems like chronic health issues and loss of housing.
Our Role
Aloha United Way leads the ALICE Initiative in Hawai‛i–a comprehensive strategy for generating awareness and understanding around what ALICE households face and driving long-term, systemic change that results in greater financial stability.
Representing Hawai‛i in the national United for ALICE movement, Aloha United Way:
- Provides the organization, funding, and infrastructure to provide Hawai‛i with statewide ALICE data in the form of ALICE Reports and ALICE Dashboards.
- Established the AUW ALICE Fund. Provides grant funding for non-profit organizations that positively impact ALICE households by devising innovative programs and services.
- Convenes community stakeholders around ALICE. From policymakers and business leaders to non-profit organizations and media outlets, AUW brings people together to create maximum social and economic impact.
“Aloha United Way is a leader in the ALICE movement–boldly inspiring an era of change in Hawai‛i. Across the state community members, foundations, legislators and businesses are working together, building out a wide range of solutions to help its ALICE workers and families become financially stable.”
Stephanie Hoopes, PhD | National Director of United For ALICE
The AUW ALICE® Fund
Established in 2018, the AUW ALICE Fund is a dedicated funding source specifically designed to foster creative solutions, pilot programs, and non-profit innovation. The fund is supported by corporate sponsors, foundations, and individual donations.
The AUW ALICE Fund fuels change, innovation and collective action around core issues that no agency or government entity can address alone. It is not a grant–it is a movement that calls for shared goals, metrics, tools, and an unprecedented amount of coordination.
2022-2024 ALICE Cohort
Aloha United Way has partnered with Hawaii Community Foundation to fund the 2022-2024 ALICE Cohort. Over a three-year cycle, cohort members are collectively working to develop and implement impactful and scalable programs that help O‛ahu’s ALICE households. This is the second grant cycle that’s been funded–followed by the inaugural 2019-2021 ALICE Cohort.
The cohort works in two specific areas:
● Increasing access to safe and affordable housing
● Facilitating greater financial stability and increasing savings
Not a cohort member? You can still participate in ALICE work! Community members, business leaders, policymakers, and even ALICE households themselves are encouraged to join the movement. Contact us to learn how you can get involved.
ALICE Reports
ALICE in Hawaiʻi: 2024 Update
The 2024 update of the ALICE report sheds light on the most up-to-date challenges for ALICE families in Hawaiʻi and provides critical insights into the financial stability of local working families. By exploring updated survival budgets, the impacts of tax credits, and the unique struggles of specific communities like Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, this report calls for targeted actions to ensure economic stability and growth for all.
For a summary of our biggest takeaways from this 2024 ALICE update, read: Financial Stability in Hawai‘i: Understanding the 2024 ALICE Data Update
ALICE in Hawai‛i: 2022 Facts and Figures
ALICE data shapes the narrative of financial hardship in Hawai‛i, helping us advocate for policy changes that uplift ALICE households. Non-profits, community organizations, and policymakers are encouraged to explore the reports and utilize the data in their own work and initiatives.
- 2022 ALICE in the Crosscurrents Report
- 2022 ALICE Facts & Figures Report
- Review FAQ's for this report here.
County-Specific ALICE Data
- Hawai‛i County: 2022 Facts and Figures
- Honolulu County: 2022 Facts and Figures
- Kaua‛i County: 2022 Facts and Figures
- Maui County: 2022 Facts and Figures
For additional island-specific questions and resources, please contact Hawai‛i Island United Way, Kaua‛i United Way, and Maui United Way.
December 15, 2022 Webinar
Understand and take a deeper dive into the data from the ALICE in Hawai‛i: 2022 Facts and Figures report. Download the slide deck from this presentation.
December 6, 2022 Press Conference
Research from our Partners
Survey questions for the ALICE in Hawai‛i: 2022 Facts and Figures report were guided by the Hawaii Financial Health Pulse: 2019 Survey Results – a 2019 study that assessed respondents’ financial health and wellbeing.
Previous Reports
- ALICE in Focus: Veterans (2022)
- ALICE in Focus: People with Disabilities (2022)
- ALICE in Focus: Children Research Brief (2022)
- The Pandemic Divide: An ALICE Analysis of National COVID Surveys (2021)
- ALICE in Hawaii: A Financial Hardship Study (2020)
- ALICE: A Study of Financial Hardship in Hawaii Full Report (2017)
Our Impact
From 2019-2021, hundreds of individuals received job training, financial literacy training, and are achieving financial stability thanks to ALICE Initiative work and AUW’s partner agencies.
Programs developed by the Cohort provided:
- Loan capital for small businesses
- Pathways to affordable home ownership
- Education for increasing earning potential
- Legal support and employment for kūpuna
In addition, ALICE Policy Hui mobilized nearly 8,000 actions (testimony, letters, etc.) on ALICE priority issues resulting in landmark legislative victories including raising the minimum wage and establishing a permanent and refundable earned income tax credit in 2022.
Current (2023) advocacy work supports increasing earned income tax credit impact and eligibility. The recently passed package of credits, which pulled from two bills proposed by Governor Green as well as the House Majority Bill provide an update to the refundable food/excise tax credit, expand the state’s refundable Earned Income Tax Credit to 40% of the federal credit, expand rental assistance for kūpuna and expand accredited daycare options that will allow more parents to return to work.
Interactive Tools and Resources
Hawaiʻi State ALICE Overview - Learn more about the ALICE population in Hawaiʻi.
Economic Viability Dashboard - Explore data on work, housing, and community resources for households below the ALICE Threshold by location and race/ethnicity.
Legislative District Tool - An interactive tool that helps policymakers and community stakeholders better understand how many ALICE households are actually struggling in their district.
ALICE Wage Tool: Explore how wage levels impact an ALICE household's ability to afford basic expenses.
ALICE in Focus: Children Data Dashboard: Explore data on children in financial hardship by category, including age, race/ethnicity, nativity, disability status, living arrangements, and other parameters.
ALICE in Focus: People with Disabilities Data Dashboard: Explore data on people with disabilities in financial hardship by category, including age, race/ethnicity, nativity, disability status, living arrangements, and other parameters.
ALICE in Focus: Veterans Data Dashboard: Explore housing status, medical coverage, disability status, age, and ethnic data by state.
CLIFF Dashboard: Create a customized career path for overcoming "benefits cliffs”—low-income barriers that prevent households from advancing economic well-being.
211 Statewide Resource Helpline: Find resources and programs across the state by connecting with a 211 helpline specialist or searching the online database.