Hawaii families are increasingly unsure whether they are saving enough to retire, and free local education workshops are being pitched as the starting point — useful for savers, though the sessions come from a firm that also sells advice.

• The two questions coming up most often are "am I saving enough" and "when can I retire."
• Many people already have an advisor but leave meetings confused about what was said.
• Hawaii's high cost of living and storm risk make planning harder here than on the mainland.
• Retirement planning now covers Social Security timing, Medicare, and Roth conversions — not just investments.
• There is no minimum amount of savings needed to start getting help, and starting earlier gives money more time to grow.

Outlook: Expect more local workshops on Social Security and Medicare as people near retirement try to cut through conflicting information.