YP Cost-of-Living Action Briefing

At the YP Cost of Living Summit in October 2025, we asked the big question: How do we make Hawaii more affordable? Now, it’s time to turn ideas into action.

Join us for a brown bag presentation focused on cost-of-living legislation currently moving through the Hawaii State Legislature. This interactive session will be facilitated by leaders from Holomua Collaborative, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, organizations actively shaping policy solutions across housing, workforce, and economic development.

You’ll gain a behind-the-scenes look at what’s actually being worked on this legislative session, what it means for young professionals, and how you can make your voice heard. Attendees will also learn how to submit effective testimony and engage meaningfully in the policymaking process.

This is your chance to move from conversation to impact! 

Bring your lunch. Bring your questions. Bring your voice. 🌺

Featured Speakers:

Please note: Speaker availability may change due to legislative session obligations. Updates will be shared within 48 hours of the event.​


Josh Wisch
Executive Director
Holomua Collaborative

Josh Wisch has spent his career fighting for the underdog. As Executive Director of Holomua, he leads efforts to raise the standard of living for working families across Hawaii. “The mission is something I believe in,” Wisch says. “It’s too difficult for working families to make a living here.”

Raised in St. Clairsville, Ohio, Wisch learned the value of hard work early on. His father worked three jobs simultaneously—philosophy professor, paralegal, and hospital orderly—so his mother could be a full-time parent. That experience shaped Wisch’s understanding of what it takes for families to sustain the lives they want. He sees that same work ethic in Hawaii today, yet many families continue to struggle to make ends meet.

After graduating from Georgetown Law in 2002, Wisch and his wife, Malia, returned to Hawaii. He began his career as a litigator at two private law firms before moving into roles in government, politics, and the nonprofit sector. This cross-sector experience gives him a unique perspective on how policy, business, and community intersect.

Wisch is deeply committed to preserving what makes Hawaii special—its strong sense of community and responsibility to one another. He believes the state’s small-town dynamic, where reputations matter and people look out for each other, is a powerful foundation for collaboration and progress.

At Holomua, Wisch focuses on building relationships across sectors to drive innovative solutions to Hawaii’s cost-of-living challenges. “New solutions require new approaches,” he says. “There are incredible people working toward Hawaii’s future, and I believe real progress starts with relationship-building.”

While acknowledging there are easier places to make a living, Wisch and his family believe returning to Hawaii was worth it. Grateful for the opportunities he’s had, he is driven to pay that forward by working toward a more affordable, sustainable future for all Hawaii residents.


Matt Prellberg
Policy and Communications Director
Holomua Collaborative

Matthew Prellberg joined Holomua Collective because of its focus on supporting the middle class. Coming from a working family, he is driven to use his skills to advocate for others and help create systems that work for everyday people.

An attorney by training, Prellberg has spent most of his career in public service. He has worked extensively at Hawaii’s State Capitol, most recently serving as Director of Communications for the State Senate, after holding a series of roles beginning in 2008. In addition to his professional work, he has volunteered with organizations including the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Commission Citizen Advisory Committee, the 2020 Victory Campaign National Voter Assistance Hotline, and the McCully–Moiliili Neighborhood Board.

Prellberg’s commitment to advocacy is deeply personal. Raised in a working-class household, he saw firsthand the challenges families face to make ends meet. His parents eventually opened a small business in Colorado Springs, where Prellberg took his first job as a dishwasher at age 14. When the family lost their home during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, he worked multiple jobs to pay his way through college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

After law school in San Diego, Prellberg returned to Hawaii in 2014 with his partner. Experiencing the rising cost of housing and limited affordability firsthand has reinforced his belief that meaningful change requires collaboration across sectors.

At Holomua Collective, Prellberg is focused on bringing people together for honest conversations that lead to practical, sustainable solutions — ensuring Hawaii remains a place where local families can continue to live and thrive.


Lee Wang
Executive Director
Housing Hawaii's Future

Lee Wang is a real estate broker on Oahu with Landed. Originally from Colorado and Kansas, he moved to Hawaii in January 2000 and graduated from Kaiser High School, bringing a unique blend of mainland and local perspectives. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and later obtained an Executive MBA from the Shidler College of Business.

During his time at UH, Lee was actively involved in various student organizations, including the Speech Communication Society, and was a founding member of the UH debate team. After graduation, he worked in education as an Education Assistant and Substitute Teacher at Mokapu Elementary, Manoa Elementary, and Moanalua High School.

In 2008, Lee transitioned into real estate, obtaining his license and beginning his career at Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. In 2011, he joined Prudential Locations LLC and later earned his Real Estate Broker license in 2014. Over the past 15 years, he has built expertise in both residential and commercial real estate, specializing in affordable housing.

Beyond real estate, Lee has been a dedicated educator, teaching for the Honolulu Board of Realtors for seven years, covering pre-licensing, broker training, and continuing education. He also advises and consults with local businesses and startups while coaching real estate agents.

Currently, Lee serves as the executive director of Housing Hawaii’s Future, the state’s leading organization advocating for affordable housing.


Perry Arrasmith
Director of Policy
Housing Hawaii's Future

Perry Arrasmith is the Director of Policy at Housing Hawaii’s Future, a local non-profit fighting for affordable housing for Hawaii’s residents. Perry’s experience in state government includes his time with the administration of Governor Josh Green, where he facilitated the establishment of the Governor’s Marine Affairs Committee and served as the Governor’s Representative to the State Judiciary’s Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education (PACE). He was previously appointed by Governor David Ige to serve a term on the State Commission for National and Community Service.

Raised on Oahu, Arrasmith attended ‘Aiea High School before earning a B.A. in History from Harvard University. As a Graduate Degree Fellows at the East-West Center, he earned a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While in graduate school, Perry was a Special Historical Research Assistant with the University of Hawaii Public Policy Center, which afforded him the opportunity to research the post-statehood history of Hawaii. With history as a source of perspective, he is committed to a healthy, vibrant civic future for Hawaii’s people.