Former House Speaker Scott Saiki has returned to state government service following his 2024 election defeat — this time to help consumers obtain and afford homeowner’s insurance.

Those rising costs bar entry to thousands of people who want to live here, and the mortgages already paid by local residents put a ceiling on any real savings for those already living here. The figures add up to a punishing economic reality for living in Hawaii.

The first week of President Donald Trump’s second administration has sparked concerns among Hawaii’s four congressional delegates, who worry that his promised efforts to reshape the U.S. government could have far-reaching implications for the state.