For far too many who live here, Hawai'i is anything but paradise.

At the Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Summit in September, a panel of high school students stunned participants when they said they did not think they would live here after graduation, citing the lack of affordable housing and the high cost of living.

And just last week, the Homeless Service Utilization Report 2007 showed that by a wide margin those who are homeless are in their predicament because of money woes.

Some, of course, likely have faced a catastrophic problem that has drained their finances. But it is also true that housing in Hawai'i has become so pricey that many working folks struggle to afford a roof over their heads.

As another report issued this year noted, there are also many hidden homeless in Hawai'i, those who are doubled up with extended family or other families or are within three paychecks of being homeless.

Time is running out as Hawai'i's homeless crisis worsens.

In the 2007 Legislature, lawmakers were unsuccessful in two efforts to tackle the housing problem. They did not pass a bill proposing that $50 million in state tax credits go toward building affordable housing on the Leeward Coast. They were also unsuccessful in trying to reduce regulatory barriers that discourage affordable-housing development.

It's clear we know the scope of the problem. What is sadly not clear is that there is the political will to truly make affordable-housing solutions a priority. If Hawai'i is to have a sustainable future, housing must be available to all. That's a clear message to the 2008 Legislature.