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.
Bills propose more housing on smaller lots
Single-family neighborhoods in Hawaiʻi could become much more dense under two heavily debated bills pending at the state Legislature.
With cloudy state finances, Hawaiʻi’s ‘rainy day’ fund held for future rainy day
“You have a rainy day fund, and it’s supposed to be used for emergencies,” said Tom Yamachika, president of the nonprofit Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi. “You’ve got an emergency.”
Hawaiʻi affordable housing demand is sky high, but not at one tower
Several factors may have made the affordable condos—mostly studios and some one- and two-bedroom units—unattractive to prospective buyers meeting requirements under city rules that include not earning much above the median income on Oʻahu.
State-backed leasehold condo pilot pending
Senate Bill 865 would establish a pilot program to develop one condo project for sale on state land under a 99-year land lease in an effort to demonstrate whether the concept is a viable solution to increase the long-term supply of affordable housing.
‘Audacious’ tax relief plan advances at Hawaiʻi Legislature
The biggest proposed savings are in a bill from Gov. Josh Green that would boost all Hawaiʻi income tax bracket thresholds and increase the standard deduction along with the personal exemption.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers tussle over one minimum wage bill
A clash of wills and philosophies among state lawmakers over how to raise Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage now appears centered on one bill at the legislature instead of two.
Hawaiʻi minimum wage bill advances despite criticisms
Worker advocates called for a faster increase to $18 an hour consistent with a bill passed in January by the full Senate in a 24–1 vote.
Proposal for Hawaiʻi to build and sell leasehold condos judged unfeasible
Analysis concluded that a key element in the plan—selling condos with 99-year land leases—isn’t workable despite some parts of the plan holding promise.
‘Bold’ plan to develop leasehold condos on state land renewed
The biggest drawback identified in the analysis is that using public land for leasehold housing is controversial.
Oʻahu affordable housing could include $1M homes under state guidelines; critics say that’s ‘out of whack’
Three factors—household income, family size and interest rates—are mainly used to compile annual housing affordability tables.
Appleseed Center urges tough vacation rental rules
Hawaiʻi Appleseed released a report Monday as the city council prepares again to debate a bill addressing the issue after years of public frustration.
New Kakaʻako affordable housing rules set
The rules include a 10-year wait period for buyback, while affordable housing advocates had wanted at least 30 years.
New tax benefits likely overstated for Hawaiʻi’s poorest
A report from Hawaiʻi Appleseed's new Budget & Policy Center says low-income families in Hawaii are largely left behind by the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act.
Cries over ‘poor door’ ignore worse segregation in affordable housing
The reality is that affordable housing produced by developers under city and state requirements is governed by loose standards that often result in separate and unequal residences for those with low or moderate incomes.
Affordable-home sizes getting squeezed
Affordable housing: Like all Hawaiʻi real estate, it’s gotten more expensive. It’s also getting incredibly smaller.
Plan for tower’s ‘poor door’ scrapped
Designs for a residential tower near urban Honolulu’s Walmart store no longer feature a front door for market-priced condominium buyers and a side door for moderate-income renters.
Revitalizing Mayor Wright Homes could cost $1 billion
The construction timetable and cost estimate are in a draft environmental impact statement published earlier this month by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.