2024 Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard highlights economic strain, health disparities, more

A new interactive online resource is more than a collection of data about the quality of life and well-being of Hawaiʻi’s residents — a researcher and University of Hawaiʻi educator says it’s a call to action to tackle the state’s most pressing challenges.

The College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Office of Wellness and Resilience, recently launched the 2024 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard.

Surveying more than 8,000 residents statewide, the dashboard provides an in-depth look at pressing social, economic and health issues affecting Hawaiʻi’s residents.

“The release of this dashboard comes at a pivotal moment,” said Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green. “More than a year after the devastating Maui wildfires, the recovery efforts are a stark reminder of the potential for even more weather-related disasters. This underscores the urgency of disaster preparedness, a theme echoed in the dashboard, where only 12% of respondents felt well-prepared for a community-level disaster. Building resilience in Hawaiʻi’s communities is no longer optional in our climate crisis — it is essential.”

The Office of Wellness and Resilience falls under the Office of the Governor and was created by in 2022 by a measure approved by the Hawaiʻi Legislature and signed by then-Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige.

It is the first statewide legislated Office of Wellness and Resilience in the United States.

“The dashboard reveals the resilience of Hawaiʻi’s communities in the face of serious challenges, including rising costs of living, health disparities and a shifting workplace landscape,” said Jack Barile, lead researcher, who is also an associate dean for research and director of the Social Science Research Institute at the UH-Mānoa College of Social Sciences. “It also highlights the unique needs and strengths of different communities, from households with lower income to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents, providing valuable insights to guide policymakers, community leaders and employers toward targeted actions that can improve well-being across the state.”

Here are key findings from the dashboard.

Economic strain and stress:

• The economy (73%), personal finances (73%) and housing costs (64%) rank as the most significant stressors for residents, particularly for households with incomes of less than $50,000.
• Among those surveyed, 40% considered moving out of the state in the past year because of high living costs, a rate even higher among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities (47%).

Health disparities:

• Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents experience notably higher levels of stress and unhealthy days compared to white and Asian residents.
• These disparities are compounded by challenges in accessing affordable health care, with 19% of all surveyed residents reporting medical debt of more than $500.

Community strength and workplace support:

• Despite hardships, 67% of residents feel safe in their neighborhoods. A similar percentage report neighbors are willing to help each other.
• Workplaces are also viewed positively, with 83% of employees feeling respected by their employers and 78% feeling their contributions are valued.

Workplace priorities:

• The dashboard data reveals a shift in workplace expectations.
• Employees looking to change jobs prioritize flexible work schedules, paid family leave and telework options, while those planning to stay with their current employer value traditional benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions.

The survey findings underscore the need for strategic policy initiatives that address Hawaiʻi’s unique challenges.

Green recently signed an executive order declaring Hawaiʻi a trauma-informed state, an initiative that aligns closely with the survey and dashboard.

Data from the dashboard highlight several potential areas for action for policymakers, grantmakers and advocates.

• Health equity: Expanding access to affordable health care through programmatic improvements and community health clinics, focusing on culturally sensitive care for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
• Economic stability: Addressing economic stress through affordable housing, wage increases and essential benefits to reduce household financial pressures.
• Disaster preparedness: Strengthening disaster response plans and resilient infrastructure to ensure communities are prepared for emergencies.
• Workplace innovation: Encouraging Hawaiʻi employers to adopt flexible, family-friendly workplace practices that support well-being and align with employee priorities.

“The state has taken meaningful strides to make Hawaiʻi a trauma-informed state, and I am proud to have continued these efforts by advocating for legislation that resulted in the largest statewide survey on health in Hawaiʻi ever, as well as the largest dataset using [the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s] National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Worker Well-Being Questionnaire,” said Hawaiʻi state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz of Oʻahu.

The lawmaker said the data in the dashboard shows the state must continue to increase economic opportunities for residents so they can remain in Hawaiʻi.

“Diversifying our economy in the areas of creative industries, agriculture and technology must be paired with investments in workforce development so our residents can fill the good-paying jobs here in Hawaiʻi,” said Dela Cruz.

The interactive dashboard allows residents to explore data specific to their communities.

“This dashboard highlights our Health Policy Initiative,” added Denise Eby Konan, dean of the UH-Mānoa College of Social Sciences. “I’m especially excited that our faculty responded to the call of the governor and legislature to design an applicable dashboard that can change policy and people’s lives through evidence-based research.”

The tool aims to foster transparency and community engagement, providing individuals, community leaders and policymakers with the information they need to drive meaningful change.

“The 2024 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard is more than a collection of statistics — it’s a call to action,” said Barile. “By making this information publicly available, we hope to inspire collaborative efforts to tackle the challenges facing our state.”

For more details and to explore the interactive dashboard, click here.