Development

... projects stall out because of inflexible rules ....

... counties, to issue resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds to finance public works projects and other housing and community development expenses ....

... UHERO Hawaiʻi Housing Factbook 2026, fourth edition -- offering detailed analysis of the state’s housing market ....

... Cities that require the highest income to afford a home ....

...they do little for housing other than to siphon off a share of affordable housing funds for themselves....

“there has not been a single commercial rebuild permit approved in almost two and a half years since the fires.”

...Only in Hawaii: $20M / 47 single-wide mobile homes = $425,532 per unit with no land cost....

... another tax-hike bill still alive that has been quietly making its way through the legislative process: SB3028 ....

... Three men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to pay bribes to a public official at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development ....

... For Hawaii homeowners, the cost of housing as a share of median monthly household income is 50.02%.  For Hawaii renters, it is 62.52%.  Both figures are the highest in the USA ....

...Hawaii has the most expensive average home price in the country, the smallest average home size of any state, and yard space that costs over 200% more than the national average....

... several of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s priority measures are still in play ....

... Of those, 78% say housing costs or availability played a moderate or significant role in that decision .... 

... If we want to end the housing crisis, we need to build more homes ....

Bill 2987 would reduce the risk of farmers and ranchers paying more in property taxes than they should for having certain commercial structures on their lands, including food processing facilities or slaughterhouses.... 

"...After the Storm: Keli'i Akina & Lance Luke discuss The Hidden Threat to Hawaii's Homes...."

... Schatz received at least $131,500 from organizations that oppose the bill ....

... A single new condominium tower in Honolulu may have opened up hundreds of additional housing opportunities across Oʻahu ....

...For 23 of the past 25 years, more residents have left Hawaiʻi for the continent than have arrived....

...The buildout of 3,500 new homes at Koa Ridge in Central O‘ahu continued in 2025 for homebuilder Castle & Cooke....

...Maui Cultural Resources Commission could need to sign off on more than 100 rebuilding plans for properties in the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District or one of the county’s historic zoning districts, yet it has approved only six since the fires....

...Two important housing reform measures were unexpectedly killed this week as the state House and Senate prepared for “crossover” at the Legislature....

“How is it that very profitable development went from under $100/SF in rural towns to over $600/SF in big cities in less than two decades?”

... The legislation focuses on increasing housing production, reducing regulatory barriers, and supporting the infrastructure necessary to sustain growth ....

... state and county testimonies submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii in the latter half of February 2026 ....

... there are bills still alive this session that propose much-needed reforms .... 

... When it comes to supporting agricultural production in Hawaii, there seems to be a big difference between rhetoric and reality ....

...Grassroot’s priorities this session include defending the state’s income tax cuts passed in 2024, opposing all other tax hikes and fees, supporting occupational licensing reform and advocating housing policies that could boost homebuilding....

...Grassroot’s new “Hawaii housing policy playbook” outlines 10 policies that research has shown could encourage more homebuilding, which would make housing in our state more abundant and affordable.... 

... The “housing policy playbook” is intended to help state and county lawmakers remove or reform the many regulatory barriers that stifle Hawaii homebuilding ....

... it could be another year for big, positive changes ....

... Kristi Noem has approved Hawaiʻi’s request to extend FEMA Temporary Housing Assistance for Maui wildfire survivors until February 2027 ....

... three important recommendations that would enable farmers and ranchers to build more housing on their land ....

... the installation is managing a sustained strain on barracks capacity that will continue for several years as the Army modernizes its infrastructure in Hawaii ....

...What if we could help farmers, ease the housing crisis and improve Hawaii’s economy all at the same time?....

...Allow more small homes to be built on agricultural lands....

... REALITY: Carpenters Union Wages War Against Affordable Modular Housing ....

... height limits have emerged as a barrier to rebuilding historic structures, apartments and businesses ....

... Bill 9 will cause job losses for Maui residents, impede entrepreneurship, reduce county tax revenues and result in expensive litigation against the county ....

... The ink of Bissen’s signature is barely dry and, precisely as predicted, the litigation is already beginning ....

... Proposal 064: Streamline housing approvals via reform of zoning variance hearing and notice rules ....

... Civil Service often results in rigid and time-consuming recruitment processes that make it difficult for the City to attract and retain qualified professionals ....

... The County of Hawaiʻi will be distributing $11.8 million in Affordable Housing Production (AHP) Program funds to six projects across Hawaiʻi Island ....

... a joint venture formed by MW Group and funds affiliated with Blackstone Real Estate and DivcoWest will acquire all outstanding A&B common shares for $21.20 per share in an all-cash transaction  ....

... We identify prior addresses and follow vacancy chains across multiple rounds of moves ....

... Grassroot, Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters, and city Managing Director Mike Formby all submitted proposals regarding fiscal notes ....

... More than 60 parking-reduction waivers have been approved since the year 2000 ....

... fires in Hilo claimed the lives of two people, displaced nearly three dozen other residents and razed at least five buildings ....

..."recent rains have helped" ....

... The current use of deed restrictions traps residents, preventing them from downsizing or upsizing as their needs change without facing a financial penalty ....