A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows a concerning rise in child poverty in Hawaii, and forecasts it potentially could double without the support of public policies and programs.

The report, which was released in partnership with state nonprofits such as the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, found that the rate of keiki poverty in Hawaii increased to 12% in 2022-24 from 9% in 2019-21.

This increase followed the expiration of pandemic-era economic policies, and was exacerbated by rising prices that have strained family budgets.

But without programs such as tax credits, food assistance and housing subsidies — many of which are currently under threat of being cut — that rate would more than double to 28%.

“If we didn’t have these types of policies and programs in place, th

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