Senate bill advances to strip county council approval of state-funded housing projects
A bill to exempt state-financed housing developments from county council approval has passed second reading on the Hawaiʻi Senate floor and advanced to the Ways and Means Committee.
Hawaiʻi’s plan to develop leasehold homes advances
An unconventional state initiative to build more homes for Hawaii residents with moderate incomes is approaching a critical test to see whether homebuyers want high-rise condominiums with 99-year land leases.
House committee recommends passage of Kamaʻaina Homes Program
Modeled after the Vail InDEED program in tourist-Mecca Vail, Colo., the program would provide funding to the counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or homebuyers.
Is Hawaiʻi’s historic investment in affordable housing paying off?
Two years ago, the state made a record investment in affordable rental housing. Results so far are both encouraging and sobering.
Hunting for a new place in renters purgatory
How four O‘ahu residents navigate fees, scams, unanswered calls, intrusive rules and housing options that run from “crappy and crappier.”
UHERO offers ‘uncertainties’ over Council’s proposed empty-homes tax
The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization offered more insights over the potential ramifications of an implemented empty homes tax on Oʻahu.
Honolulu City Council bill aimed at taxing empty homes advances
The Honolulu City Council Budget committee narrowly advanced a measure that would tax properties left vacant by up to 3 percent.
Honolulu City Council’s empty-homes tax measure advances
The Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee voted 3–2 to advance Bill 46, which could tax a vacant real property by as much as 3 percent.
The empty homes tax: A promising step on affordable housing—if we get it right
The Honolulu City Council is considering legislation with the potential to bring much-needed assistance to a market out of reach for many.
Short term rentals, long term issues for Hawaiʻi County
According to an analysis by the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, one in 24 homes on Hawaiʻi Island are short term rentals – 52% of which are owned by non-Hawaiʻi residents.
Climate disasters are an affordable housing problem
U.S. policymakers need to think about affordable housing as part of their resiliency strategies. The next Lahaina could be a hurricane in the Gulf Coast, a storm in the Northeast or a massive wildfire in California. Having a healthy stock of protected and affordable housing should be part of our cities’ climate emergency plans.
Caring for the community
Kaiser Permanente has a hand in helping Hawaiʻi in many different ways, from responding to the needs of Maui residents to helping nonprofits care for the land.
An Oʻahu teacher’s futile apartment hunt shows how bad the rental market is
Housing policy advocates say Helen Lau's story is all too common amid Honolulu's housing crisis.
The gap between median home prices and household income in Hawaiʻi? It’s ‘scary’
Based on Honolulu’s median home price of $1,085,800 and median family income of $120,100, the index said a mortgage requires 73 percent of the median paycheck.
Lawmakers give final approval to a ‘historic’ income tax cut in long day of voting
The tax bill along with nearly 200 other measures now go to Gov. Josh Green for his consideration.
Leeward Planning panel to consider three STVR bills
The Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday will take up three highly controversial bills initiated by the Hawaiʻi County Council related to short-term vacation rentals.
Rethinking Hawaiʻi’s conveyance tax
Hawaiʻi stands at the critical decision point in investing in our housing needs: The enactment of HB2364 holds the promise of a brighter, more inclusive future for all residents.
Property values soar, depleting lower-cost options
Clearly, there’s a gap in what the housing market alone will provide. And time is running out for government to build bridges.
Advocates weigh whether property tax increase could help house homeless
Instead of an across-the-board tax hike to address homelessness, Appleseed suggests raising fees for non-residents with second homes in the islands.