A path to more affordable housing: Rethinking county rules
County governments control what gets built through zoning, and through lengthy discretionary approvals. Both levers have historically been used to restrict supply.
We need to talk about inclusionary zoning
Inclusionary Zoning is a band-aid solution to a crisis that demands major surgery. It’s time to confront why this policy hasn’t worked—and what we should do instead.
How looming Federal cuts could impact housing in Hawaiʻi
If enacted, these cuts would gut rental assistance, eliminate key affordable housing development programs and slash funding for homelessness services.
Transformative housing bills went nowhere this legislative session, but small wins keep hope alive
With federal cuts looming and home prices still climbing, the stakes have never been higher. One thing is clear: Hawaiʻi’s families can’t afford another session of half-measures.
How to fix Honolulu’s Empty Homes Tax proposal
A newly released report commissioned by the county council demonstrates the need to align Honolulu’s policy proposal with demonstrated best practices.
Marginal conveyance tax rates would advantage the majority of Hawaiʻi’s local homeowners
Hawaiʻi has some of the highest home prices in the nation, yet our current, flat conveyance tax structure fails to ensure that real estate market activity meaningfully contributes to affordable housing, infrastructure, and community investment.
What’s in store for 2025: Hawaiʻi Appleseed transportation equity projects on the horizon
In 2025, we’ll take a greater look at more equitable approaches to traffic enforcement, the impacts of parking mandates on affordable housing, and addressing the unique mobility challenges that women and their families face.
Housing for all: The role of ADUs in strengthening Hawaiʻi’s communities
By creating accessible ADU financing options and streamlining regulatory processes, Hawaiʻi can empower homeowners to contribute to the housing supply while ensuring these new units remain affordable and benefit local residents.
A mix of progress and missed opportunities: affordable housing efforts at the 2024 legislature
As Hawaiʻi continues to grapple with the complex dynamics of housing affordability and availability, it is clear that a more balanced approach that incorporates both supply- and demand-side measures, is essential.
Leverage Hawaiʻi’s conveyance tax to equitably fund affordable housing, land conservation and infrastructure needs
The legislature has the opportunity this session to raise revenue to pay for much needed affordable housing—as well as land conservation and infrastructure—by increasing conveyance tax rates on investment properties.
Focusing in on people-first policy for the 2024 legislative session
Hawaiʻi Appleseed announces its legislative priorities for the 2024 session.
Legislature makes historic investments in housing for Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable
This sessions’ successes must be only the first of many steps toward a Hawaiʻi in which housing is affordable and available to all.
Affordable housing—Hawaiʻi’s biggest challenge—requires comprehensive solutions
A new housing coalition is working to shape the start of a comprehensive and inclusive housing policy plan to finally address Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing crisis.
Solving Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis means building smart, not just more
An analysis of Maui’s housing stock demonstrates that, although Hawaiʻi is building more housing, we’re not building it at the prices that meet demand from local residents.
Fix the conveyance tax reform bill; don’t veto it
Increased economic activity and federal relief funds will only go so far; policymakers need to think about longterm needs for our communities and how we’ll get the resources to pay for them.
Making Hawaiʻi's housing market work for local residents
Investors are buying up more of Hawaiʻi’s homes than ever before because our current system encourages them to do so—that’s bad for our economy in the long run.
How to make housing affordable to local buyers: Lessons from ALOHA Homes
Highlights from the interim ALOHA Homes study, commissioned by the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC).
Keeping Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing units affordable
Not only are we not building enough affordable homes to begin with, but we are also failing to maintain the affordability of many of the for-sale homes which were created.
Continuing research into poverty and housing with Hawaiʻi Community Foundation grant
The grant continues generous support from Hawaiʻi Community Foundation for fact-based research into budget, tax and housing policy issues that affect the wellbeing of Hawaiʻi’s people.
What the Kawainui project tells us about Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing problems
Affordable housing needs to be integrated with market-priced housing, and we must maintain the supply of affordable housing even in owner-occupied units.