In Hawaii, although our personal income is about average, our expenses are the highest in the nation and we live longer than residents of any other state.

CNBC ranked Hawaii No. 1 in the nation as the most expensive state to live in, followed by California, Massachusetts and New York.

In terms of per-capita personal income, Hawaii was ranked No. 19 in the country, which is about the average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. California was at No. 6, Massachusetts No. 3, New York No. 5.

In terms of longevity, Hawaii ranks No. 1 in the country, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The fact that our financial literacy scores an “F” (“Dollars & sense,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, Nov. 25), makes this is a formula for disaster. Our residents are left to depend on strangers or family and friends who are just as uninformed as they are for advice on money matters.

We should make basic financial literacy a requirement from grades K-12 as well as in our colleges.

Bert Oshiro

Hawaii Kai

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