Anita Hofschneider 10/21/21 Anita Hofschneider 10/21/21

Biden’s spending bill could be a ‘game changer’ for housing in Hawaiʻi

The Build Back Better bill that the U.S. Senate is debating has the potential to make a huge dent in Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing needs, according to advocates.

Rick Daysog 10/13/21 Rick Daysog 10/13/21

Amid inflation fears, Hawaiʻi business owners and consumers brace for rising prices

Consumer prices nationwide reached their highest levels in a decade last month, potentially impacting local businesses and consumers.

Kenna StormoGipson 9/3/21 Kenna StormoGipson 9/3/21

Here’s an affordable housing plan that’s already working

Portland, San Francisco and LA have all upped property taxes to build housing. Hawaiʻi—which has the lowest property taxes in the country—should do the same with its investment properties, starting in Maui.

Nicole Pasia 8/24/21 Nicole Pasia 8/24/21

Hawaiʻi Budget and Policy Center director Beth Giesting’s economic update

The pandemic’s effect on the state economy: Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis, and its role as a social determinant of health; and key takeaways from the state budget.

Kenna StormoGipson 7/28/21 Kenna StormoGipson 7/28/21

Biden’s infrastructure deal doesn’t invest in housing for Hawaiʻi

Funding only roads and bridges will not make Hawaiʻi more affordable or keep residents from leaving.

Sarah Kleiner, Taylor Johnston, Michael Casey 6/29/21 Sarah Kleiner, Taylor Johnston, Michael Casey 6/29/21

Rental assistance fell victim to politics, bureaucracy

Nationwide, state leaders set aside $2.6 billion to prop up struggling renters, but a year later more than 16 percent hasn’t made it to tenants or landlords.

Kevin Dayton and Blaze Lovell 6/21/21 Kevin Dayton and Blaze Lovell 6/21/21

Hawaiʻi gov intends to veto dozens of bills, likely triggering a special session

Ige signaled he may scrap the legislature’s last tax fairness proposal, which would raise taxes on the sale of luxury property valued over $4 million.

Noelle Fujii-Oride 6/7/21 Noelle Fujii-Oride 6/7/21

3 factors shift Hawaiʻi’s real estate into overdrive

The pandemic has shifted Hawaiʻi's already expensive house prices into high gear.

Christina Jedra 5/6/21 Christina Jedra 5/6/21

Blangiardi offering $10 million in incentives to affordable housing developers

The Honolulu mayor hopes the incentives spur private development of affordable homes.

Ashley Mizuo 4/26/21 Ashley Mizuo 4/26/21

City Council considers measure that would create a progressive residential property tax

The shift to a more progressive property tax was suggested by the Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency in 2019.

PBS Hawaiʻi 4/8/21 PBS Hawaiʻi 4/8/21

Should I stay or should I go? The lack of affordable housing in Hawaiʻi

The cost of living in Hawaiʻi continues to rise, most notably due to the lack of affordable housing. How do we find a feasible solution?

HNN Staff 4/6/21 HNN Staff 4/6/21

Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center stresses importance of city’s rent relief program

After just four hours, the city's new rent relief program was suspended because so many people applied. The $114 million in federal money is for back and future rent and utilities.

Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 3/17/21 Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 3/17/21

Practical goals for cash-poor city

Housing initiatives that receive taxpayer subsidies should limit rent prices to below-market rates for the location and preserve affordability for the long-term—preferably in perpetuity.

Anita Hofschneider 2/26/21 Anita Hofschneider 2/26/21

Hawaiʻi lawmakers mull mediation to prevent mass evictions after moratorium lifted

A bill would require landlords to enter mediation upon a tenant’s request, but some advocates say the measure doesn’t do enough to protect renters at risk of eviction.

Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 2/24/21 Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 2/24/21

Pursue ALOHA housing strategy

Bold moves are needed to tackle Hawaiʻi’s entrenched affordable housing problem.

Andrew Gomes 2/22/21 Andrew Gomes 2/22/21

‘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.

Andrew Gomes 2/21/21 Andrew Gomes 2/21/21

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.

Samie Solina 2/15/21 Samie Solina 2/15/21

With no signs of housing prices cooling off, advocates push for government aid

Housing advocates want to change how we view housing. Instead of an investment, it should be seen as a necessity.

Anita Hofschneider 1/11/21 Anita Hofschneider 1/11/21

Gaps in Hawaiʻi eviction moratorium leave some renters scrambling for housing

The state eviction moratorium doesn’t protect every renter. And being kicked out when you’re unemployed makes finding housing much harder.

Tom Yamachika 12/21/20 Tom Yamachika 12/21/20

Don’t give me back rent, I want to continue hiding from tax

Some landlords are refusing federal relief money, which makes one wonder about what is going to happen to the tenant once the state’s moratorium on evictions expires at the end of the year.