How We Covered One Aspect of Hawai‘i's Rental Crisis
We sought out renter and landlord voices from across the state to better understand the ways that Hawai‘i’s hot housing market is impacting rentals.
Housing
Why Rent Relief in Hawai‘i Became a National Model
The government program helped over 13,000 households. One reason it succeeded may have been that people who had experienced housing instability had a seat at the decision-making table.
ADUs Seemed Like a Simple Solution to Hawai‘i’s Housing Crisis
But the reality of building accessory dwelling units was far more complicated, leading to just a trickle of affordable units. Could regulatory changes boost the numbers?
Affordable Walk-up Apartments Are Coming Back, Thanks to Honolulu’s Bill 7
Small landowners and developers can use exemptions and waivers to build new multistory rentals on small residential lots – and help ease the housing squeeze.
Here's How Affordable Housing Policies Have Impacted Hawai‘i's Housing Supply
This report on affordable housing policies by county governments and state agencies provides different perspectives on what works and what doesn’t – and what might work better.
A Condominium Can Last Hundreds of Years, But Not Its Components
A 40-year-old Honolulu condominium can show its age in many ways: brittle, leaking pipes; cracks in its concrete walls and decks; rusted rebar; and corroded railings and window frames.
Factory-Built Housing Made in Hawai‘i
As the fifth-generation leader of a local company, Jason Fujimoto has seen the lack of affordable housing impact his own Hawai‘i Island community, including people he knows and works with. “We’re now in the second year of population decline in…
Some Ideas on How To Create More Homes For Local People
It’s long been common to hear stories of family and friends leaving the Islands for cities on the Mainland that have lower costs of living and more affordable housing. But in the past two years, so many people left the…
Fixing the Backlog of Native Hawaiians Waiting for Homesteads
28,000 Native Hawaiians are on the home lands waiting list. Getting more of them into homes or farms will take partnerships, collaborations and a willingness to try different things. Here are some ideas. bout 28,500 adults who are at least…
Rent Control: Step Right Up!
Move into this 917-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in a lovely, remodeled historical building. Washer/dryer, balcony, air conditioning all included for $875 a month. Just one problem, Island dwellers. It’s in Cleveland. For a similar cozy vibe in Honolulu, you’ll pay at…
Yes, We Can Solve Hawaii's Housing Crisis
To solve homelessness, we need to build lots more affordable housing, but Hawaii has failed to do that for decades. Three men with very different visions are trying to fix that. It’s an improbable place to build affordable housing:…
Kakaako's Affordable Housing Rarely Is
After all the hullabaloo, the hearings, legislation, planning, permits and protests, the concept of an urban, gentrified Kakaako is now an urban reality in progress. Cranes fill the skyline from one end of Kakaako to the other, with at least…
Yes, you can become an Affordable Housing Developer
Some people think that a partial solution to Hawaii’s critical shortage of affordable housing is right in our own homes. These advocates want to boost the supply of affordable rentals by relaxing restrictions on ohana units – known officially as…
The High Cost of Affordable Housing
“Building affordable housing is complicated,” says Makani Maeva. She should know. As Hawaii director for the VitusGroup, an affordable-housing developer, she recently completed the Lokahi Apartments, 307 rentals in Kona. Between January 2007, when another developer laid the project in…
Banks Work Together for Affordable Housing
For two decades, the Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corp. has partnered with local banks to help build more than 3,100 affordable housing units. The nonprofit, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, provides financing and technical assistance to developers, investors and…