Help for Gap Families

I had a conversation with a friend about him and his family moving back to the mainland. He moved back home to Oʻahu sometime last year and has been working here on the island to support his wife and their 4 children. I was under the impression that they made the move so that his children could grow up around his family and so that they were raised in the "island lifestyle" instead of the hustle and bustle of the mainland. I asked him why he was moving back to the mainland, and his answer was because itʻs too expensive to live here and that they are struggling.

Only he works full time with lots of overtime, while his wife stays home to care for their young children, with the youngest only being about a month old. I asked him if they applied for welfare and he said that they kept getting denied because of the amount of overtime that he works. So here is a gap family who does not qualify for state assistance, yet barely makes enough to be able to pay for necessities and obligations.

This is the case for many of our families here in Hawaiʻi, especially on the Waiʻanae Coast. Why should families seek "cheaper" places to live instead of being able to raise their children at home where they want to? This is exactly why I am passionate about financial literacy and education. I want to be able to assist our families and give them the knowledge and teach them the skills that are needed to survive in Hawaiiʻs economy. Itʻs not easy to afford rent, transportation, food, necessities, etc nowadays, however with the right guidance, families can see what small behavioral changes they can make to be able to rest a little easier at night, to not fight and argue about finances, and to have peace of mind that their financial future is one to look forward to, and not one to be afraid or uncertain of.

In addition to holding future workshops, I plan on providing one-on-one consultation and guidance to those who are ready to make positive changes with their finances. I am willing to help you, all you have to do is ask.