1. Strengthen social safety nets.

Having a safe and decent place to live, access to health care, and a safe haven when difficult times are upon us are measures of a humane and compassionate society. In creating a sustainable Hawai‘i, we must be sure that our social safety nets are in place to provide the basic necessities of living with dignity and respect. In particular, we must ensure that Hawai‘i’s poor and needy populations are taken care of, providing them with the basic necessities of a dignified life, as well as hope, opportunity and the necessary tools for gaining self-sufficiency once again. We must more effectively address major problems that put our society at risk, such as drug abuse, mental illness, crime and violence.

Increase affordable housing opportunities for households up to 140% of median income.

Ensure access to affordable health care for all residents.

Reduce crime and violence.

Provide access to elderly housing, care-giving and other long-term care services.

Invest in greater prevention and treatment of those suffering from substance abuse and mental illness.

Increase awareness of and competency in financial literacy and asset building.

Strengthen the nonprofit sector, philanthropy and volunteerism.

Ensure that persons with disabilities are afforded equal opportunity to participate and excel in all aspects of community life.

Provide after-school and extra-curricular programs to enable Hawai‘i’s youth to broaden their life experiences.

2. Improve public transportation infrastructure and alternatives.

A quality transportation system is more than getting from home to work quickly. It links people to places and provides opportunities for social interaction, recreation and community engagement. It enables the flow of commerce, ensuring that business will transport their goods and services to their destination in a timely and cost-effective way. We must alleviate traffic congestion through varied means, ranging from increasing access to varied modes of public transportations, to telecommuting, to providing alternatives to using motorized vehicles.

Increase access to public transportation.

Reduce traffic congestion.

Encourage and provide incentives for telecommuting.

Increase and improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including multi-use pathways.

3. Strengthen public education.

Our quality of life is impacted by how our educational system prepares us for the job market and for dealing with life’s complexities in general. Quality education is especially important in a rapidly evolving world that has become increasingly technology-based and globally competitive. The educational process begins before preschool in the preparation of our young children for an environment of lifelong learning. This includes making sure that our schools are clean, cool, comfortable and safe; providing teachers with adequate salaries and opportunities for professional development; and ensuring that educational support services are provided to all children of Hawai‘i public schools. We must, once and for all, fix our public education system.

Support parenting, educational and financial literacy initiatives that span early childhood through lifelong learning.

Increase high school graduation rates.

Strengthen career pathways for technical and trade schools that enhance Hawai‘i’s workforce.

Support post-secondary and distance learning programs that broaden personal and professional learning opportunities.

4. Provide access to diverse recreational facilities and opportunities.

Parks, recreational and leisure activities enhance our quality of life by providing facilities, services and programs that meet the emotional, social and physical needs of communities. This is especially critical given the inclinations that many young people have towards computers, handheld devices and video games. In a sustainable Hawai‘i, our young people will continue to play sports, surf, paddle, dance hula, hike, and sing, and not become a culture singularly obsessed with iPods and the latest gadgets. Providing access to recreational facilities and activities to meet the varied needs of differing communities (e.g., rural, urban, large and small communities) are important aspects of a healthy quality of life.

print this page | download this section (PDF)download full plan (PDF)

Page 17 of 23 pages « First < 15 16 17 18 19 > Last »