A statewide survey conducted by the Health Policy Initiative at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa shows residents are more satisfied with their lives and are healthier than in 2024, yet more are thinking about leaving the islands.
At a press conference Monday, Oct. 12, researchers from the Social Science Research Institute’s Health Policy Initiative announced the findings of the 2026 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being survey of 10,000 residents.
They also launched a new interactive dashboard (www.health-study.com) to explore and compare survey results across communities, demographics, occupations and years.
An initial survey was conducted in 2024 in partnership with the Office of Wellness and Resilience in the Office of the Governor.
“Overall, well-being is improving and that is very encouraging,” said Governor Josh Green in a press release. “But there are still gaps between households that are doing well and those that are struggling. Too many residents, especially our younger adults and families, are questioning whether they can build a future here.”
The governor has pledged the state will do more to make sure young people can afford to make a life on the islands.
“While younger adults continue to report significant mental health and affordability concerns, the data also point to stronger family, friend and community support,” Jack Barile, director of the Social Science Research Institute in the UH Manoa College of Social Sciences, said in the release. “Building on these sources of resilience can help create the conditions for younger residents to remain.”
Key survey findings:
- Life satisfaction and overall health and well-being are up: Nearly 90% of residents say they are very or somewhat satisfied with their lives, up from 82% in 2024.
- Younger people face added strain: Residents ages 18–24 and 25–34 report more than 8 mentally unhealthy days per month, compared with 5 or less among people 65 and older.
- More residents are considering leaving: More than 45% said they considered moving out of state in the past year, up from 40% in 2024. The cost of living was cited as a contributing factor by more than half of respondents with household earnings of $25,000 to $49,000.
- Gaps by income are widening: While food insecurity fell to 8.5% overall, it remains high (27%) among households earning less than $25,000.
- Preparedness and workplace safety improved: Nearly one-quarter of residents feel well or very well prepared for a disaster, nearly twice as many as in 2024. Workers reporting violence on the job fell from 34% to 24%.
- Healthcare access varies by county: More than 20% of residents said the lack of nearby doctors, specialists or facilities is a major problem, ranging from 14% in Honolulu County to 39% in Hawaiʻi County.
Dashboard data highlight several areas for action:
- Addressing the high cost of living through affordable housing, wage increases and employment benefits to help residents, especially younger adults, remain in Hawaiʻi.
- Directing programs and resources to lower-income households.
- Sustaining progress in disaster preparedness through outreach, planning and resilient infrastructure, as many residents still do not feel ready for a major emergency.
- Encouraging Hawaiʻi employers to adopt trauma-informed, family-friendly practices.
“When nearly half of our residents are considering leaving Hawai‘i, that is a clear signal that we must continue diversifying our economy and expanding economic opportunity,” Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz said in the release. “That means investing in workforce development, creating pathways to good-paying careers and reversing the brain drain so our residents can build their futures here at home.”
For more information and to explore the dashboard, visit www.health-study.com.
