Green Releases 'The Hawai‘i We Deserve' policy report
Hana Joins 'Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area'
HHFDC Selects Insiders to Develop Kapolei Parcel
Hawaii has lowest number of young homeowners, according to study
KITV: … A new study shows Hawaii ranks number one when it comes to the state with the fewest number of young homeowners. According to the report, less than 2% of the population under 34 own a home….
The average price of a single family home in the state is just over $1.1 million while the national average is about $409,000….
Hawaii has seen its population decrease eight straight years. In 2023, 12,000 families moved out of the islands ….
read … Hawaii has lowest number of young homeowners, according to study
Still Waiting to Rebuild in Lahaina: 20% of Houselots cleared, 92% of Sewer lines OKd
SA: … Since Aug. 8, Bissen said: “29 weeks have passed since the Maui wildfires. … We know that the vast majority of Lahaina survivors desire to remain in West Maui in interim housing while we rebuild Lahaina. … Housing remains at the forefront of our efforts, and we cannot look away from the glaring reality that losing even one more family is one too many.
“To date, the county has invested $8 million to support interim and permanent housing programs,” Bissen said. “On March 25 I will deliver the fiscal year 2025 budget to the Council, requesting $75 million to provide housing and other prioritized needs for wildfire survivors.”
Short-term rental units, Bissen said, “will be undergoing a policy and legal review from my corporation counsel as we seek more options through our island’s existing inventory of housing.”
“Rental increases, especially for people renting on a month- to-month basis, have risen extremely and dramatically,” Bissen said. “This, in turn, has caused many local families to leave the island. The situation has grown even more dire since the August wildfires.”
Bissen plans to submit legislation to the County Council “to implement rent stabilization procedures that will address escalating rent costs in Maui County. My proposal is intended to bring relief to thousands of our residents who face growing insecurity of having a roof over their head for themselves and their families, and to help bring stability to our community’s great need for housing while fairly balancing the needs of rental property owners.”
He’s also directed his administration to work on accessory dwelling units “and to urgently prepare for both interim and long-term housing development.”
Earlier Friday, the Maui County Office of Recovery announced that 306 properties have been cleared of debris, representing almost 20% of all properties.
The Environmental Protection Agency has used camera drones to inspect 97,749 linear feet of sewer line — and 8,178 feet need “critical repairs and restoration.”
The EPA, state Department of Health and Maui Department of Water Supply are also sampling areas with water pressure to determine whether any water or lateral lines were contaminated during the fire, according to the county…..
read … Maui’s mayor pledges to return residents home
Residents shocked as rent at Hilo apartment complex soars to $1,800+
KITV: … "Personally, for me, that's a $700 increase in less and 39 days that I have to come up with," said a Halai Terrace resident who asked not to be identified in fear of being evicted.
She told Island News that many in the building are feeling the pain.
"We have people living here 10-plus years -- even 20-plus years -- so there's people here that are on fixed income," she said. "We feel kind of driven out. The letter felt like an ultimatum." …
read … Residents shocked as rent at Hilo apartment complex soars to $1,800+
In historic milestone, heirs of DHHL waitlist claimants begin receiving $97M in settlements
HNN: … On Friday, the first heirs of those who died after filing claims over things like lost applications, mismanagement and corrupt use of homelands finally won approval of their portion of the $328 million settlement in the case “Kalima, et al. vs. State of Hawaii.”
The settlement administrators have paid out $187 million to 1,303 living waitlist plaintiffs.
The process of paying the families of those who died is more complex and requires approval of the probate court for each deceased claimant….
Probate Judge Jeanette Castagnetti will oversee distribution of at least 1,220 settlements, worth up to $97 million. The judge addressed a handful of family members who came to her courtroom….
The judge heard the first 22 settlement recommendations Friday, with the main response in court primarily gratitude….
read … In historic milestone, heirs of DHHL waitlist claimants begin receiving $97M in settlements
Wahiawa General Hospital to temporarily close emergency room for ‘several weeks’
KHON: … Emergency officials said this closure is likely to cause impacts as emergency rooms on the island are already crowded.
Starting Monday, the ER at the Wahiawa General Hospital will be closed indefinitely, once again facing issues with its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
The Wahiawa General Hospital CEO Brian Cunningham said the facility has dealt with similar issues in the past, recently temporarily closing the ICU for four days.
“We have about 40 walk-in patients a day about eight to ten ambulance patients a day,” said Cunningham. “We admit two or three of those patients per day, so this is going to have a significant impact on the community of central Oahu.”
Cunningham said they do not have a timeline for when the current needed repairs may be completed.
Cunningham said, “But it’s not going to be a day, it’s going to be more than that. I get the sense it’s going to be several weeks.” …
SN: Wahiawa General Hospital ER will close from March 18
read … Wahiawa General Hospital to temporarily close emergency room
5 more eminent domains needed along Honolulu’s rail line
SA: … Via the resolutions, HART’s board requests that the Honolulu City Council consider formal approval of condemnations to grant easement rights to Hawaiian Electric Co. so the utility can clear the path for rail and relocate its above- and below- ground transmission lines, electrical transformers and related equipment along the route.
None of that affected equipment, according to Hawaiian Electric, is meant for use by the rail project, Skyline.
In particular, Hawaiian Electric’s potential easement access will underground a 138-kilovolt transmission line and place accompanying equipment atop a landscaped but undeveloped 5,000-square-foot parcel currently owned by Marukai Hawaii Co. Ltd.
The property in question adjoins Marukai Wholesale Mart at 2310 Kamehameha Highway, a spot not far from the city’s Kalihi Transit Center at 611 Middle St. where a segment of the rail project will connect.
Besides Marukai’s site, other parcels will mainly house Hawaiian Electric electrical transformers. Those sites include:
>> A 100-square-foot property at 2124 Kamehameha Highway, owned by Riza I. Villa and April H. Villa, trustees, and Roma Noel Analalani Villa Rapoza.
>> A 1,100-square-foot property at 1701 Dillingham Blvd., owned by the Jerry Juichi Fujii trust.
>> A 92-square-foot property at 1808 Dillingham Blvd., owned by FMK Properties LLC.
>> A 113-square-foot property at 98-254-A Aiea Kai Place, Aiea, owned by Ernesto Rumbaoa Coloma, which is deemed “sway” easement needed to accommodate a 138-kilovolt transmission line.
According to Lunzer, HART, in past months, sent written offers of compensation to each of these property owners to allow easement access.
read … 5 more eminent domains needed along Honolulu’s rail line
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