While scrolling through my Facebook feed, I stumbled on a Civil Beat article that discussed how many teachers are struggling to earn a living in Hawaii. The article hit home since I have numerous friends who are in the education field. At one point in my life, I aspired to be a teacher.
As I read the article, I could only shake my head in frustration. Teaching is a noble profession. However, for whatever the reasons, teachers across the nation are underpaid, overworked, and at times, not appreciated for the things they do.
There’s no question that it costs a pretty penny to live in Hawaii. For the past few years, our real estate market has been booming. Many people have prospered in this cycle, but many people are slowly getting priced out of the market too. Although some argue that we have reached the peak of the market, Pacific Business News recently announced that three new condos are slated to be built in Honolulu:
671 Keaaumoku Street – 400 unit mixed use condominium high rise tower.
710 Sheridan Street – 407 unit condominium-hotel high rise tower that will have 207 condo units and 200 hotel units.
1338 and 1356 Kapiolani Blvd – 690 unit mixed use condominium high rise tower.
In total, there will be 1,497 new units added to the market.
Much of the public’s concern is there are too many luxury condos and not enough affordable condos. However, depending on who you ask, some say the [ultra] luxury market is cooling down. Knowing that, maybe developers are focusing their attention on projects like 801 South Street, Ke Kilohana, and Kapiolani Residence.
What if our elected officials, city planners, and developers, found a way to create “Teacher Housing” for our educators (and other professions alike)? It's hard to be passionate about teaching (or any job) if you are in debt and struggling to survive.
-RO