A Report on Hawai‘i’s Data & Evidence Landscape

The COVID crisis has raised awareness of the importance of timely accessible data, while revealing troubling limitations in our ability to collect new data, and mobilize existing data, in service of timely decision making. Even with a shared urgency to address data short falls, there are clear systemic roadblocks that cannot be addressed overnight.

As we look forward with optimism that the COVID pandemic will soon be in the past, we must recognize the challenges we face in the months and years ahead to ensure that Hawai‘i's households and communities are not left behind. Recovering from this crisis will take years, requiring unprecedented collaboration across government, private sector, non-profit organizations, and communities. We believe that shared access to robust, timely data will be fundamental to the success of these collaborations.

We need more timely data. We need data that allows us to identify residents, families, and communities in need and target services effectively. We need data that helps us assess and prioritize programs and services in a dynamic environment that is changing daily. We must empower all stakeholders with the data and tools they need, while working to promote a thriving data culture that ensures we will be able to confront the challenges that lie ahead.

We are excited to share a report that summarizes what the Hawai‘i Data Collaborative has learned directly, and indirectly through interviews with key stakeholders, about the the data landscape in Hawai‘i, offering a guide to moving forward. Our sincere hope is that this report catalyzes the collective and collaborative effort needed to foster a thriving data culture, ready to confront the challenges of 2021 and beyond.