Hawaii has the third largest housing shortage in the nation, and the highest housing costs of any state. This housing shortage has created conditions that incentivize the construction of housing outside of regulations to meet the basic needs of the local population, including a significant number of “monster homes,” which have cropped up in our community over the past few years.
As a community, we must create a plan to close the more than 150,000-unit housing shortage in a responsible, sensible and ethical way. We all know that more affordable housing needs to be built; but how? Where? And by whom? Ending exclusionary zoning laws and allowing for more dense construction could be the most equitable, fair and economically efficient way to bring an end to the housing shortage.
The Palolo Neighborhood Board (No. 6) is hosting a panel on the future of housing in Hawaii at its next board meeting (following the usual reports).