How short-term rentals impact home inventory
The proliferation of short-term rentals in Hawaii is impacting both the traditional rental market and the availability of affordable housing units.
New Honolulu housing bill seeks the middle ground
The City Council passed a measure Wednesday that includes concessions to both housing advocates and developers.
Affordable-housing bill poised for final Council vote today
Developers would no longer be able to pay “in-lieu” fees under a new affordable-housing policy that’s scheduled for a final Honolulu City Council vote today.
Honolulu affordable housing bill advances without "in lieu of construction fee"
The latest proposal to increase affordable housing on Oʻahu advanced today at the Honolulu City Council.
Waikiki condo seeks to ban short-term rentals
A battle is brewing at Waikiki Lanais over whether the condo board can ban short-term vacation rentals; the practice has been going on there for decades.
Report claims Hawaiʻi vacation rental units have increased 35 percent in past two years
Hawaiʻi’s inventory of vacation rental units increased 35 percent to 23,000 from 2015 to 2017, according to a report by the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice.
New tax benefits likely overstated for Hawaiʻi’s poorest
The Appleseed affiliate’s analysis concluded that the actual average savings for taxpayers in the same income range would be a “token” amount.
Law allowing more B&B permits and stiffer regulations on the way
One out of every 24 housing units in Hawaiʻi is now being used as a vacation rental, and at least 52 percent of vacation rentals are owned by nonresidents.
Report: Number of Hawaiʻi vacation rental homes is rising
About one in 24 homes in Hawaiʻi is a vacation rental, which is contributing to the state’s shortage of affordable housing, according to Hawaiʻi Appleseed.
State-facilitated retirement savings plan bill moves through Hawaiʻi legislature
Hawaiʻi would save $32.7 million on public assistance programs between 2018 and 2032 if lower-income retirees save enough to increase their retirement income by $1,000 more per year.
Report: one in 24 homes in Hawaiʻi is now a vacation rental
The number of short-term vacation rental units in Hawaiʻi rose 35 percent over the last two years—from 17,000 units in 2015 to 23,000 in 2017.
Report: out-of-state buyers, vacation rentals squeeze local housing market
A new report by Hawaiʻi Appleseed estimates a quarter of homes sold in Hawaiʻi during recent years were bought by non-residents.
Lawmakers want to preserve Obamacare—at least in Hawaiʻi
Several bills in the Legislature would protect or resurrect aspects of the federal Affordable Care Act.
This Honolulu architect designs low-cost housing, often for free
Russell Wozniak has become a leader of Oʻahu’s efforts to develop innovative solutions to the low-income housing shortage.
When it comes to school breakfast, we can do better
Research shows that when students eat school breakfast they have lower rates of obesity and improved attendance, behavior and grades.
This time Hawaiʻi lawmakers must deliver on all-mail elections
Similar measures died in the legislature the past three sessions. Let’s get it right in 2018.
Senate Ways & Means chair blocks a bill to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour
A proposed bill would bump the minimum wage to $12.25 in 2019, then to $15 in 2020, but a committee chair says he won't hear the bill without more research.
Airbnb says no to collecting taxes on rentals
State officials are worried they could end up with no new revenue if Airbnb backpedals on the collection process.
Hawaiʻi may switch to all-mail elections in 2020
A bill requiring the conversion in hopes of increasing voter turnout is headed to the House floor.
New bill works towards equal pay in the workplace
A bill at the State Capitol is gaining momentum in the movement to help women in the workplace earn just as much as their male counterparts.