(The Center Square) – Hawaii officials hope a $6.6 million grant received this week will alleviate a problem decades in the making.
The grant was spearheaded in Congress by one of Hawaii’s own, U.S. Rep. Brian Schatz, the sponsor of the “Yes In My Backyard Legislation.” The Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing allows the state to create a State Infrastructure Bank, which will go towards easing the state’s regulatory burdens.
“Solving our state’s housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges of this generation,” Schatz said. “It will take our collective efforts – federal, state, and county – to solve it.”
Affordable housing is one of Gov. Josh Green’s top priorities, he said.
“By creating a State Infrastructure Bank and addressing regulatory barriers, we can overcome some of the biggest hurdles in housing production and work towards a future where every family in Hawai‘i has a place to call home,” Green said.
Green signed six bills into law in May he said he hoped would address the barriers.
Senate Bill 3202 requires counties to allow at least two accessory dwelling units on all residentially zoned lots. Counties must adopt or amend ordinances by Dec. 31, 2026 to adjust for this, according to the bill.
House Bill 2090 will increase housing inventory by repurposing underutilized commercial spaces and office buildings, according to the governor’s office. The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation can issue housing project infrastructure bonds through Senate Bill 2133.
The median price for a home in Hawaii is $875,000, according to the Hawaii Housing Factbook 2024. The average cost of a condominium is $600,000.
Twenty-eight percent of Hawaii residents spend more than 50% of their income on rent, and only 1-in-5 households can afford a median-priced home mortgage, according to the report released in May by the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii.
