Hawaii’s high cost of living is stuck on an upwards trajectory.  One reason is due to the states inverted income to debt ration.   Because the State of Hawaii, under its present leadership, has committed to pay out more than it takes in revenue every tax payer is on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars of unfunded liabilities.  This ultimately means the state government in pursuit of increased excise tax income has a negative incentive to lower the cost on anything!


HI-2015 State of the State