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Hawaii ranked #1 in welfare benefits by Cato Institute

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Wayne Yoshioka

Published September 18, 2013 at 4:02 PM HST

Welfare recipients in Hawai’i receive benefits that are equal to more than four times the amount a person can earn working at minimum wage. That, according to a national study published last month, which ranks the state number one in terms of handing out the most generous public assistance packages in the nation. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka went on the road for a look at the situation.

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Wayne Yoshioka

Wayne Yoshioka is an award-winning journalist who has worked in television, print and radio in Hawaiʻi. He also has been on both sides of politics as a state departmental appointee and political/government reporter. He covered Hurricane Iwa (1982) as a TV reporter; was the State Department of Defense/Civil Defense spokesperson for Hurricane Iniki (1992); and, commanded a public affairs detachment in Afghanistan (2006). He has a master's degree in Communication from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a decorated combat veteran (Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and 22 other commendation/service medals). He resides in Honolulu.