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.
Housing
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.
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.
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.