Hawai‘i’s Housing Crisis Was Decades in the Making
A look at the policy decisions, external crises and social changes that gave Hawai‘i the most expensive housing in the nation.
Housing
Hui Kapili Accelerator Feeds the Local Pipeline of Contractors
The first cohort of 16 leaders from small and medium companies learned to scale up their contracting businesses.
Making the Case for Increased Urban Density
Building up can be a lot cheaper than constructing single-family homes in new developments.
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.”
Verbal Agreements with Realtors Are Out, Signed Contracts Are In
After a landmark NAR settlement, prospective homebuyers need contracts that spell out how much their agent will be paid and what services provided.
Hawai‘i’s Condo Insurance Crisis Is Now Hurting Sales
Sales fell 48% in Waikīkī and 38% in Makiki-Mō‘ili‘ili in June. Both neighborhoods have lots of underinsured, older condo buildings.
What Maui Can Learn from Kaua‘i’s Recovery After Hurricane Iniki
Rebuilding after the 1992 disaster led to a construction boom and expedited permitting.
On Kaua‘i, the Biggest Home Developer Is the County
The county’s Housing Agency and its private partners are now working on 509 affordable homes, with another 860 expected to break ground in about 2025.
Six Steps for Making Your Home More Wildfire-Resistant
Wildfires are on the rise in Hawai‘i. Here are ways to protect homes and neighborhoods.
Insurance Crisis Worsens in Hawai‘i’s “Condoland”
About 400 condominiums carry less than 100% insurance coverage. The shortfall means that many potential buyers can’t get mortgages.
An Affordable Complex to Open in Wahiawā, with Eight More Projects Underway
After a slow start, Honolulu’s Bill 7 – designed to get more low-rise rental units built on unused land – is seeing results.
The Heat Is Rising in Honolulu. More Trees Will Help Cool It Off.
Hawai‘i organizations were awarded $42.6 million in federal funds to expand the urban tree canopy. Some neighborhoods need it more than others.
Opinion: Five Ways to Build More Housing in Hawai‘i
The executive director of Housing Hawai‘i’s Future explains how to break down barriers and develop denser, more affordable housing.
New Housing Is Rising Along the Rail Line
Transit-oriented development brings homes, stores, jobs and transit service together. Here is what’s happening and what’s planned along Skyline’s path.
Hawai‘i Could Fix Its Housing Crisis
Experts have lots of good ideas, including more land for housing, more density and more Tokyo-style “by-right” development.
Kalihi-Pālama and Waiawa: O‘ahu’s Next Boomtowns?
Kamehameha Schools is planning 15,500 new homes in the areas, but it could take decades to become a reality.
In Hawai‘i’s Housing Crunch, Tenants Are Vulnerable to Rent Hikes and Evictions. Here’s What They Need to Know.
This overview of renter protections explains what their rights are, where to get help and how Hawai‘i’s laws stack up against other states.
Private Equity Helps Build Needed Housing in Hawai‘i
Affordable and workforce housing is costly and complicated to build. Developers depend on private investments to bring thousands of units to market.
Kaua‘i’s Habitat for Humanity Outbuilds Other Habitats in Hawai‘i. Here’s How They Do It.
The nonprofit erects 15 to 20 homes a year in batches, largely using the labor of volunteers and the eventual homeowners.
Hawaiʻi Realtors Legislative Agenda: Affordable Housing and Cesspools
The statewide association supports a bill that would allow the counties to reclassify up to 100 acres of nonessential agricultural land if at least half of it is for affordable housing.
What Happens When Private Equity Is Your Landlord in Hawai‘i
The Blackstone Group and other firms have been buying rental properties in West O‘ahu. Tenants say the result can be escalating rents and unexpected fees.
Behind the Design of Our Cover Story on Private Equity Landlords
The goal was to create imagery that reflects the lived experiences of renters.
Rents up 8% on O‘ahu This Year, Study Says
The report from Ricky Cassiday covers rents for condominiums, townhouses and apartments.
“Home for Sale” Sometimes Means Renters are Displaced
About 40% of Hawai‘i households are renters. Their relationships with their landlords can be friendly and supportive. But this two-part report examines when the wants and needs of tenants and landlords conflict, with perspectives from both sides.