HAWAI‘I

DURING
COVID-19
A COMMUNITY
IMPACT SURVEY

Colin Moore, PhD

Director, University of
Hawai‘i Public Policy Center

Sherilyn Hayashida, PhD

Assistant Specialist, University
of Hawai‘i Public Policy Center
PUBLIC POLICY
CENTER
Research Assistance by:
Robert Lanfranchi

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi i

In late July, Hawai‘i began to experience a dramatic rise in cases of COVID-19. By August, the state
was reporting a weekly average of more than 200 new cases each day.1 The University of Hawai‘i
Public Policy Center (PPC) developed this statewide survey in partnership with Ward Research to
better understand how Hawai‘i residents have faced the challenges presented by the coronavirus.

We find that Hawai‘i residents are quite critical of the government’s response to COVID-19, with
nearly half giving the State a low rating between one and four on a 1 – 10 scale. On a more positive
note, residents report high rates of compliance with public health guidelines in public spaces. Nearly
all respondents (99%) wear a mask all or most of the time when visiting a store/business, and 84%
report wearing masks outside all or most of the time. While most agree (87%) that people should
avoid large gatherings of five or more people, fewer respondents reported wearing a mask when
visiting friends or family members (39% and 51% do not wear masks all or most of the time,
respectively). Half of Hawai‘i’s residents are somewhat unsatisfied with how other members of the
community are following state and local coronavirus guidelines.

Residents believe that the coronavirus could have long-term impacts on their health (85%), although
only (51%) plan to get the vaccination when it is available. Others are unsure (32%) or do not plan to
get the vaccine (15%). When this survey was conducted in late August during the “No Social
Gathering” order and the “Second Stay at Home/Work from Home” order on O‘ahu,2 a majority of
residents (61%) expected the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic to become worse.

Many members of the community believe that the virus will lead to long-term changes in their lives
and society at large. Over the next year, a large majority (78%) feel that their lives will not or will
only somewhat go back to the they were before the virus, and 80% believe that society will not
return completely to normal by next year.

The vast majority of community members agree or strongly agree (82%) that they do not want
tourists coming to visit their communities right now. At the same time, residents are understandably
concerned about their financial well-being and their children. On a 1 – 10 scale, 54% noted a high
level of concern about personal finances, assigning a rating between seven and ten. Of those
respondents with children, 62% report that child care responsibilities during the pandemic have been
very or somewhat difficult.

Research Methodology
The University of Hawai‘i Public Policy Center developed the survey instrument, which Ward Research
reviewed, programmed and administered. The statewide survey was administered between August 21 to
August 31, 2020. The mean number of minutes for survey completion was 6 minutes. Quotas were set by
county, for a total of 634 respondents statewide. Data were weighted by age, gender, and ethnicity to reflect
the statewide adult (18+) population demographic composition. The final sample has a maximum margin of
error of +/-3.8% at a 95% confidence level. For a full description of the survey methodology and access to
the complete questionnaire and data, please visit our website: https://publicpolicycenter.manoa.hawaii.edu.

¹ New York Times, “Hawai‘i Covid Map and Case Count.”

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/hawaii-coronavirus-cases.html
² The “No Social Gathering” order for the City and County of Honolulu went into effect on August 20, 2020 and was superseded by a
second stay at home/work from home order effective August 27, 2020 through September 9, 2020.
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 1

RESULTS
RATING THE RESPONSE OF STATE GOVERNMENT
The first question was: Overall, how would you rate the response of Hawai‘i State government to COVID-19
in keeping us safe, being open and transparent to the public, informing residents about issues facing the
community, and the overall response? Please use a 10-point scale, where 10=excellent and 1=terrible.

Overall, as Figure 1 shows, residents were relatively critical of the State government’s response to the
pandemic. On a 1 – 10 scale, respondents gave especially low marks to the State for not being open
and transparent to the public, with nearly 60% rating the government between one and four.
Hawaiians, those making less than $35,000 per year, and those who responded that they would not
take the vaccine when available, were the most critical of the State’s response.

FIGURE 1. OVERALL VIEWS OF HAWAI‘I STATE GOVERNMENT’S

RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(TERRIBLE) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (EXCELLENT)

RESPONDING TO CORONAVIRUS

15% 9% 11% 14% 19% 8% 10% 7% 4%1%

INFORMING RESIDENTS ABOUT ISSUES FACING THE COMMUNITY

13% 8% 11% 12% 18% 10% 11% 9% 5% 3%

BEING OPEN AND TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC

18% 8% 12% 14% 14% 11% 11% 5% 3% 3%

KEEPING US SAFE

15% 6% 12% 9% 20% 10% 14% 10% 3% 1%

For all charts in this report, unless

otherwise stated, n = 634.
Percentages may not add exactly to
100% due to rounding error.
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 2

FREQUENCY OF WEARING MASKS

Masks help to slow the spread of COVID-19. To determine how often and where residents wear
masks we asked: In the past month, how often, if ever, have you worn a mask or face covering when engaging
in the following activities?

The vast majority of Hawai‘i residents almost always wear masks in public. The data presented in
Figure 2 show that 84% wear face masks all or most of the time while outside in a public space and
99% wear them when visiting a store or other business. Yet in settings with one’s peers, family, and
friends, respondents were less likely wear masks. While visiting friends, 39% do not wear a mask all
or most of the time. Most concerning, a majority (51%) do not wear one all or most of the time when
visiting family members.

FIGURE 2. FREQUENCY OF MASK WEARING BY ACTIVITY

ALL OR MOST OF THE TIME HARDLY EVER HAVE NOT DONE THIS ACTIVITY
SOME OF THE TIME NEVER DON’T KNOW/ PREFER NOT TO ANSWER

WHILE VISITING FAMILY MEMBERS

20% 0.5% 8% 14% 29% 29%

WHILE VISITING FRIENDS

21% 0.6% 3% 8% 28% 39%

WHILE AT WORK

27% 2% 2% 1% 16% 53%

WHILE VISITING A STORE OR OTHER BUSINESS

0.5% 99%
0.3%
0.5%
WHILE OUTSIDE IN A PUBLIC SPACE

1% 3% 12% 84%
0.7%
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 3

Although respondents were the least likely to wear masks while visiting family members, Hawai‘i’s
poorest households, defined as those making less than $35,000, are much more likely to do so than
wealthier households. Age is a factor, too. Younger residents (between 18-29 years old) and older
residents (65 years and older)—are more likely to not wear masks (20% hardly ever) when visiting
family compared to other age groups.

VIEWS ON GATHERING RESTRICTIONS AND

COMMUNITY ADHERENCE TO STATE AND
LOCAL GUIDELINES

With large gatherings identified as a major cause of virus transmission, different restrictions and
guidelines have been set in place by state and local governments. On Oahu, where the largest
outbreaks are, these restrictions include avoiding gatherings with those outside of one’s ‘ohana as
well as limiting gatherings to less than five people. We asked: How much do you agree with the following
statement? “It is important to avoid large gatherings (five people or more).”

Residents understand the importance of not socializing in large groups. As Figure 3 shows, the vast
majority (87%) agree that it is important to avoid gatherings of five or more people.

FIGURE 3. AGREEMENT WITH LARGE GATHERING RESTRICTIONS

(DEFINED AS FIVE PEOPLE OR MORE)
STRONGLY AGREE DISAGREE DON’T KNOW/ PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
AGREE STRONGLY DISAGREE

4% 3% 6% 2O% 67%

To understand residents’ opinions on how well different communities have been following the rules
in place, we asked: Overall, how satisfied are you with how people in your community are following state and
local coronavirus guidelines?

The results from Figure 4 show that there is about an even split between residents who are satisfied
(52%) and those who are unsatisfied (48%) with how people in the community are complying with
COVID-19 restrictions.
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 4

FIGURE 4. SATISFACTION LEVEL WITH COMMUNITY ADHERENCE TO

STATE AND LOCAL CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES
VERY SATISFIED SATISFIED UNSATISFIED VERY UNSATISFIED

15% 34% 42% 10%

SEVERITY OF COVID-19

To determine people’s perception of the severity of COVID-19 we asked: How serious do you think
COVID-19 is in terms of the long-term health impacts?

Figure 5 shows that the majority (85%) feel that the long term health impacts of COVID-19 will be
either very serious or serious, while only 7% felt the impacts would not be serious, and 2% felt that
the impacts will not be serious at all. Despite the high levels of concern around health impacts,
people tend to let their guard down and are less likely to wear masks in settings with peers, family,
and friends.

Respondents from the poorest households were far more likely (75%) to agree that the virus’s
long-term health impacts were very serious as compared to wealthier households. Of those who
believe the long-term effects to be serious or very serious, 92% of respondents are planning to take
the vaccine when it becomes available (see Figure 7).

FIGURE 5. SEVERITY OF COVID-19 ON LONG TERM HEALTH IMPACTS

NOT SERIOUS AT ALL SERIOUS DON’T KNOW/ PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
NOT SO SERIOUS VERY SERIOUS

6% 59% 26% 7% 2%

To understand whether the public thinks the pandemic will become more or less serious, we asked:
In the next month, how (if at all) do you expect the severity of the coronavirus situation in Hawai‘i to change?

As Figure 6 shows, only 27% of people feel that things will improve. Indeed, the majority (61%) feel
that the severity of the situation in Hawai‘i will become worse (with 16% stating much worse).
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 5

FIGURE 6: CHANGE IN THE SEVERITY OF THE

CORONAVIRUS SITUATION IN HAWAI‘I OVER THE NEXT MONTH
MUCH BETTER WORSE DON’T KNOW/ PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
BETTER MUCH WORSE

11% 16% 45% 25% 2%

We also asked respondents: Will you get the COVID-19 vaccination when it is available?

This results shown in Figure 7 reveal that many questions still remain about the safety of a vaccine.
Although a strong majority of respondents (85%) agree that COVID-19 will have very serious or
serious impacts on their long-term health, only 51% definitely plan to receive the vaccine once it
becomes available. Men are more likely to say that they would definitely get the vaccine (61%) than
are women (40%). Japanese respondents are the most likely to say they will get the vaccine (71%),
while far fewer Caucasians (45%), Filipinos (40%), and Hawaiians (38%) plan to do so. Income is also
a strong predictor of residents’ feelings about a vaccine. Only 32% of Hawai‘i’s poorest households
plan to receive a vaccine, while 72% of households with incomes over $150,000 think they will
get one.

FIGURE 7. EXPECTED PARTICIPATION IN COVID-19 VACCINATION

WHEN AVAILABLE

2%
Yes

32% No
51%
Not Sure
Don't Know/
15% Prefer Not To Answer
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 6

SOCIETY AND LIFE IMPACTS

We asked respondents two questions about the future: In the next year, do you think your life will go back
to the way it was before? And, In the next year, do you think society will go back to the way it was before?

FIGURE 8. DEGREE TO WHICH SOCIETY AND INDIVIDUAL LIVES

WILL GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE BEFORE IN THE NEXT YEAR
COMPLETELY SOMEWHAT DON’T KNOW/ PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
MOSTLY NOT AT ALL

SOCIETY

4% 32% 46% 13% 5%

LIFE

3% 37% 43% 14% 3%

Residents responded in similar ways to both questions. As Figure 8 shows, 5% or fewer of

respondents felt that society and life will completely go back to the way they were before, while more
than 32% felt that society and life will not at all go back to the way they were before. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, young people were the most optimistic, with many agreeing that their lives (34%)
and society (29%) would completely or mostly return to normal in the next year.
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 7

WELCOMING TOURISTS

In our June survey, we asked about whether residents want tourists coming to visit their community
right now. We again asked: How much do you agree/disagree with this statement: “I do not want tourists
coming to visit my community right now.”

FIGURE 9. RESIDENTS’ ASSESSMENT OF TOURISTS VISITING THEIR

COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW
(AGREEMENT MEANS DO NOT WANT TOURISTS IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.)

STRONGLY AGREE DISAGREE DON’T KNOW/ PREFER NOT TO ANSWER

AGREE STRONGLY DISAGREE

2% 5% 11% 34% 48%

These results are almost identical to the PPC’s June survey. In both surveys, eight in ten people did
not want tourists visiting their communities right now.

HOUSEHOLD IMPACTS INCLUDING FINANCE

AND CHILDREN

The pandemic has led to high unemployment and dramatic loss of income for some Hawai‘i
residents. To better understand how COVID-19 has affected economic security, we asked: Thinking
about the current coronavirus situation, how concerned are you about the impact it may have on your
PERSONAL FINANCES? Please use a 10 point scale, where 10=extremely concerned and
1=extremely unconcerned.

As shown in Figure 10, there were strong feelings of concern (54%) about personal finances. More
than a quarter (27%) report being extremely concerned about their finances, while only 6% report
being very unconcerned. The mean response was 6.4 out of 10. Many renters (39%) report being very
concerned about money, and Hawaiians are more likely than any other ethnic group (40%) to register
extreme worry about their personal finances.
Moore, Hayashida, Lanfranchi 8

FIGURE 10. LEVEL OF PERSONAL FINANCE CONCERNS DUE TO THE

CURRENT CORONAVIRUS SITUATION
(EXTREMELY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (EXTREMELY
UNCONCERNED) CONCERNED)

RESPONDING TO CORONAVIRUS

6% 10% 8% 7% 8% 7% 11% 9% 7% 27%

Our last questions focused on childcare. We asked: Do you have children under the age of 12 living in
your household? Only those who answered “Yes” were also asked: How easy or difficult has it been for
you to handle child care responsibilities during the coronavirus outbreak?

FIGURE 11. PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH OR WITHOUT

CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS OLD AND THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
HANDLING CHILD CARE RESPONSIBILITIES.

Households With or Without Level of Difficulty Handling Child

Children Under Age 12 Care Responsibilities

11% Very Easy

1%
77% 26% Somewhat Easy
No
30% Somewhat Difficult
Yes
23% Very Difficult
32% Don't Know/
Prefer Not to Answer

N (Wtd) = 634 N (Wtd) = 145 (Households with

Children under 12)

Of the 23% of respondents who lived in a household with children under the age of 12, 62% felt that it
has been difficult to handle childcare, and nearly half of those reported that it was very difficult.
This result is dramatically higher than the findings of a national survey conducted by the Pew
Research Center in March 2020, which found that only 35% of households found child care difficult
or very difficult.3
Please visit our website to access a complete description of the survey methodology, full
questionnaire, and banner tables at https://publicpolicycenter.manoa.hawaii.edu.
³ Pew Research Center, March 30, 2020.
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/03/30/most-americans-say-coronavirus-outbreak-has-impacted-their-lives/