As I was driving in this morning to work, I was listening to the radio and heard that Hawaii was ranked number 26th nationally in average weekly wages. Hawaii workers typically earn on average $704 per week, which equates to $36,608 per year. This is about 11% less than the national average.
Now how can this be? I’ve been ranting about high housing costs, Hawaii being the most expensive state to rent, the increase in electricity rates, and the increase of gas prices for quite some time already. If everything is going UP, why do we get paid so LITTLE? Yes, we have the luxury of beaches, clean air, beautiful water, moutains galore, etc. But how can we enjoy all this if the state just gets more and more expensive to live in, while our wages are still below the national average?
We all know it. Even lawyers are underpaid in Hawaii. I don’t understand how the state is raising costs on things we need, such as gas, housing, and electricity, while keeping our wages low. How do we plan to live in such conditions? We might rejoice over a raise, and it might be enough to cover the increase in electricity, but how about rent? How about gas? What if we wanted to buy a house? Even our taxes went up for goodness sake!
Let’s just hope the gap does not grow wider. I can see why many of my friends moved to the mainland for college and decided to stay there to work. They end up earning more with lower living costs. Something Hawaii hasn’t figured out how to do yet, but hopefully will…soon.
- Hawaii’s Jobless Rate at 2%
- Hawaii Ranked the Most Expensive State for Renters
- Update: Million Dollar Homes Rented for FREE
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Honolulu
83°
January 12th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
It’s a sad realization… this thing about low pay and rising costs. Somehow, I refuse to accept that it’s the price we pay for “living in paradise.” And sometimes I wonder why I moved back here.
Unfortunately, the gap will grow wider over a period of time. It’s just the way it is as far as island economies are concerned.
January 16th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I know what you mean Dale. I moved back because my family lives here. It is too bad that there is such a large gap between what we get paid and how much it costs to live here.
I don’t want to move to the mainland, but if it gets worse, there might not be any other option. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:56 am
I’m pretty much giving myself about 3 to 5 years. After that, I’m pretty much going to move somewhere.