HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0074.016 2024-2026Affordable Housing - Written Testimony
December 14, 2024
Aloha,
My name is Derek Kiernan. I lived in Captain Cook with my wife and two small children and
called Big Island home for 20 years. I moved there from Colorado at the age of 17 when my
parents decided to relocate to Captain Cook. My family and I moved to Alberta, Canada in May
of 2024. There are several reasons we decided to pack up and relocate, one of the biggest being
the unsustainable cost of living on the Big Island.
As my family and I weighed the pros and cons of Alberta and Hawaii, it was apparent that
staying in Hawaii long-term was financially unsustainable. We loved being close to my parents"
and community there; I've spent the majority of my life there and I love that place. Hawaii is
home. I am employed as a Luthier for a non-profit foundation that focuses on teaching local
youth how to build and play ukulele at no cost. We hope to carve a path out for future
entrepreneurs and musicians.
Childcare availability and costs also presented a struggle for us. We relied heavily on my parents
who are now retired, to assist with childcare so my wife and I could maintain full-time
employment. We were paying $950 for our children to attend daycare 3-days per week; relying
on family to help us out the remainder of the work week.
We paid close to $1000 per month in Health Insurance costs for our family.
We rented the downstairs unit of my parents house. That was the most cost effective option for
us. Even with two incomes, living at home with my parents was the only option that made sense
financially.
The local housing market has priced us out; and this is becoming the trend for families alike. It is
more and more common for multi -generation families to be sharing a home. And the majority of
the time, this is not a personal choice, but financially motivated.
Our move to Alberta felt like the best opportunity and future for our children. Not only is there
ample funded daycare for my children, paid healthcare; the cost of living is a fraction of what it
costs on -island. It seemed to be the only option for my family to have our own space and to be
financially stable. I certainly miss the outstanding sense of community that Hawaii offers. I also
feel saddened that my parents will miss the chance to watch their grandchildren grow up in the
place we called home. This is just the case for my family, I know we're not the only ones feeling
the burden of the unsustainable cost of living and home prices. Please prioritize affordable
housing at every opportunity to help local families stay in Hawaii.
Mahalo,
Derek Kiernan