Steven Bond-Smith

Commentary

Is Hawaiʻi being left behind?

Hawaiʻi's economy has grown slowly for decades. After adjusting for the cost of living, Hawaiʻi looks a lot like left-behind places, near the bottom of state rankings in economic outcomes.

Publications on this theme are listed below. Shorter writing for a general audience is on the commentary page.

  1. Are people leaving Hawaiʻi because of high prices, or low incomes?

    Bond-Smith, S. and Schwartz, E.

    UHERO Insights, 2026

    Published version

    In the pressHawaiʻi Free Press, KHON2 News, University of Hawaiʻi News, National Today

  2. The lost decade never ended in Hawaiʻi

    Bond-Smith, S. and Schwartz, E.

    UHERO Insights, 2026

    Published version

    In the pressHawaiʻi Free Press, El-Balad, University of Hawaiʻi News

  3. Is Hawaiʻi being left behind?

    Bond-Smith, S. and Schwartz, E.

    UHERO Insights, 2026

    Published version

    In the pressHawaii News Now, University of Hawaiʻi News, Big Island Now

  4. UHERO Focus (YouTube) cover

    Beyond the price of paradise: Is Hawaiʻi being left behind?

    Bond-Smith, S.

    UHERO Focus (YouTube), 2026

    Published version

  5. The cost of excess inflation in Hawaiʻi

    Bond-Smith, D., Bond-Smith, S., and Bonham, C.S.

    UHERO Insights, 2022

    Published version