Staring down poverty

As more in Hawaii fall near the poverty line, tax help such as a state Earned Income Tax Credit is being pushed

By Lee Catterall

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 24, 2013

~~<p>The recession has hit many hard, throwing more Hawaii families and individuals on the edge of poverty, if not completely onto the streets.</p>
<p>Official Census Bureau data from 2009-11 shows Hawaii with a 12 percent poverty rate — but in November, a new federal formula factoring in Hawaii's high cost of living showed the true poverty rate to be about 17 percent. Almost 1 in 5. In lives, that's some 229,000 Hawaii residents who fall below the poverty line.</p>
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The recession has hit many hard, throwing more Hawaii families and individuals on the edge of poverty, if not completely onto the streets.

Official Census Bureau data from 2009-11 shows Hawaii with a 12 percent poverty rate — but in November, a new federal formula factoring in Hawaii's high cost of living showed the true poverty rate to be about 17 percent. Almost 1 in 5. In lives, that's some 229,000 Hawaii residents who fall below the poverty line. Login for more...