INSIGHTS kicks off Election 2016 coverage with an overview discussion on key local races and the issues driving these races – including the messy Presidential contest, local elections for Mayor and your district’s state representative. Leaders from Hawai‘i’s Democratic and Republican parties, along with political analysts, take a look at what’s at stake.

In Hawai‘i, a drug conviction can lead to jail time, especially when the drug is crystal methamphetamine, the state’s top drug threat.

We see the tents lining the streets of Kaka‘ako and the encampments on the beaches, but what about what we don’t see? There are people in Hawai‘i who have worked their way out of homelessness, giving themselves and their family members an opportunity for a fresh start.

Children usually rely on parents and guardians to provide homes where they can count on hot meals, warm showers, clean clothes and safe, secure shelter. But in Hawai‘i, many children are living with their families in homeless shelters, transitional housing or on the streets.

For many of the nearly 800 families living in homelessness in Hawai‘i, raising children requires extra effort, sacrifice, and resourcefulness. Without permanent shelter, homeless parents must find creative ways to meet the basic needs of their children.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has made numerous improvements since a 2014 audit showed Hawai‘i had the longest delays in the nation for veterans trying to see their doctors for the first time. But veterans say more needs to be done to ease the transition back into civilian life.

July marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. The legislation prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities and transportation.

More visitors are arriving in Hawai‘i, but according to recent numbers from Hospitality Advisors, hotel occupancy has not seen a corresponding rise. The growing Hawai‘i timeshare market, along with legal and illegal bed and breakfasts give visitors more options.

People who suffer from mental illness in Hawai‘i often have difficulty being diagnosed and finding and accepting treatment. Some end up on the streets, exacerbating an already booming homeless population. And Hawai‘i’s only state mental hospital is overcrowded, with some employees saying it’s unsafe for patients and staff.

An estimated 12,000 people have come to Hawai‘i in search of a better life, primarily from the Marshall Islands and Chuuk, which were affected by U.S. nuclear tests. Many find themselves on government aid or living in homeless encampments on Oahu. How can people displaced by U.S.