Hawaii faces challenges from its growing population of the super-aged, people 75 and older. They tend to use more resources than they bring in, and the state must balance those demands with the needs of other populations in the state, like children and caregivers searching for affordable housing.
Hawaii faces challenges as its population of Elders, or kūpuna, age 75 and older surges, consuming more resources than they bring in.
This group of "super-aged" is the subject of a recent report that describes the situation and outlines what awaits the state.
One in four Hawaii residents will be over 65 in 2035, and by then the state's super-aged population will number 219,000.
The report, "Aging and Hawai'i's Generational Economy," examined how much every age group consumes in private and public resources and how much it produces through its labor. The gap shows where there are needs that must be met.
Advocates for seniors said the report's findings need to be taken seriously.
"Every policymaker and lawmaker out there should read this," said Keali'i Lopez, state director of AARP Hawaii.
A deficit of resources
When someone consumes more than they produce, it's called a lifecycle deficit.
The report's findings are stark: By the time they reach 80, people consume $52,000 a year more than they bring in. That's compared to people at 48, who the report said earn $35,000 more than they consume, which is a lifecycle surplus.
Consumption by the elderly means the use of things like health care and federal benefits such as Medicare and Social Security, as well as of private assets such as housing and pensions.
The report says the challenge of meeting the needs of the super-aged is complex. The state will have to grapple with balancing the needs of this group with another population that consumes more than it produces: children. Their consumption of services is centered on education and family resources.
Impact of the pandemic
The report is based on 2022 data, updating an earlier version that used 2012 data.
By comparison, the 2012 report was more optimistic about how the state could meet the needs of the super-aged. But the COVID-19 pandemic set Hawaii back in terms of unemployment, a recession and cuts in public resources. The standard of living for this population did not improve much, and in some cases declined. For example, the elderly were able to save less. Inflation worsened, and children suffered educational setbacks that might affect their future earning potential.
Caregivers need housing
The other issue is that caregivers, who are not well paid or are unpaid family members, need housing.
If Hawaii fails to address the cost of housing, Elders will feel it, said Lopez of the AARP.
"With Hawaii's growing senior population and the fact that so many of our younger, working residents are leaving the state, it's very clear that there will be fewer resources, meaning taxpayers, people who are working and paying taxes," she said, "while at the same time there's going to be an increase of older adults here who are going to need to be cared for."
Creating more affordable housing is the most critical piece of the puzzle, Lopez said.
"That is the biggest issue: the ability for families to be able to remain here in Hawai'i," she said. "So affordable housing, whether it's for low-income, workforce housing, housing for kūpuna, supportive housing-just affordable housing in general."
Policy changes such as paid family leave legislation, giving people the space and time to care for older family members, are also imperative, she said.
An AARP study found there are about 150,000 family caregivers in Hawaii who put in a combined 144 million hours a year in caring for loved ones.
Hawaii has considered legislation that would have required the state to set up a family and medical leave insurance program and to give unpaid caregivers a tax credit.
"It's all around, from our perspective, how to help family caregivers so they can continue their labor of love, so to speak, in caring for their loved ones," Lopez said.
The challenge, she said, has special significance in Hawaii.
"One of the things that's wonderful about Hawaii is many of us who live here come from cultures where caring for your elders is very much the fabric of our culture," she said. "So being able to have family here who recognize that's a privilege is an important part of the social network to make sure that kūpuna can age in their homes where they want to."
This story was summarized from Honolulu Civil Beat, a nonprofit newsroom. https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/03/super-aged-pose-major-challenges-hawaii/
