The Hawaii Department of Education, the state's largest department with 258 schools, 37 charter schools, and over 25,000 employees, faced significant challenges in the 2022-2023 school year, with over 835 teachers resigning, including 374 who left Hawaii. Legislators attribute this to low educator salaries and the high cost of living, which contribute to the shortage of licensed educators. To address these issues, they have identified financial incentives and affordable teacher housing as key strategies. Under Act 172, SLH 2023, the Hawaii School Facilities Authority is tasked with implementing affordable housing to help attract and retain educators.