Locals say we’re “lucky we live Hawaii,” but at what cost? Join Annalisa Burgos as she breaks down the numbers behind Hawaii’s affordability crisis in candid conversations with financial experts, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. From skyrocketing housing prices to the country’s highest tax burden, Annalisa is covering the cost of aloha in America’s most expensive state and offering practical strategies, policy insights, and honest talk about what it really takes to call Hawaii home.
Honolulu police chief on overtime costs, staffing shifts
Public safety at a cost we can afford. On this episode of Covering the Cost with Annalisa Burgos, Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar breaks down the numbers behind policing Oʻahu:
The Budget Breakdown: Where HPD's $400M annual budget goes, with 85% driving personnel costs.
Overtime & Reassignments: Why the chief moved 100 officers back to patrol to curb ballooning overtime expenses.
Community Pushback: Balancing patrol needs with vital community policing and youth programs like PAL and JPO.
Recruitment Drive: Inside the push to fill station vacancies following a 12-year high recruit class.
Lazar says he's looking beyond taxpayer money for resources, such as private foundations and grants, and wants to hire an expert to keep the budget balanced.
29 Oct 2026
The cost of hurricanes and investing in disaster resilience
Annalisa Burgos talks with retired educator and community activist Kioni Dudley and state Rep. Della Au Bellati, chair of the House Public Safety Committee, about the cost of hurricanes and investing in resiliency.
8 Oct 2026
The cost of health insurance plans and Medicare
Annalisa Burgos talks with health insurance and Medicare expert Martha Khlopin, about what you need to know when enrolling in a health plan and shifting from employer-paid insurance to Medicare.
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