The Star-Advertiser editorial board writes, "people here are suffering severe pain right now, and can do nothing but hope that help is right around the corner, soon to emerge from the state Capitol."

In a blueprint released last week, “CARES Act Spending Priorities for Working Families,” the Hawaiʻi Working Families Coalition points out just how catastrophic the pandemic has been for Hawaii. …

The coalition cited the U.S. Census Bureau’s new Household Pulse Survey, which found that 59.2% of adults in Hawaiʻi are “in households where someone had a loss in employment income since March 13,” the largest proportion in any state.

“Here in Hawaiʻi, our working families are struggling with some of the highest rates of unemployment, income loss and housing insecurity in the nation due to the pandemic,” the coalition has concluded. “Regardless of how the funding is distributed … it is crucial that these funds move quickly to those who need it the most.”

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