Amid Hawai‘i's scenic landscapes, a significant concern has emerged: the shortage of affordable housing. In response, the Green administration has introduced a three-pronged approach to address the issue and work toward alleviating the state's housing challenges.

The plan centers on developing new housing units on state and county lands, streamlining processes by reducing bureaucratic delays and impact fees, and investing in infrastructure to support additional housing. According to a press release from the Governor's office, over 46,000 affordable housing units are expected to be completed in the next decade, with more than 10,000 anticipated to be ready for occupancy by 2026.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser recently reported on the successful application of the Emergency Proclamation (EP) Relating to Affordable Housing, which has allowed affordable housing projects to save approximately $10 million in school impact fees. This savings comes at a time when the state is facing rising construction costs and higher interest rates.

Building on this progress, the governor's housing team has introduced an Affordable Housing Pipeline Dashboard, providing real-time updates on housing developments. Currently, over 62,000 units are part of the pipeline, spread across 257 projects. It is anticipated that 10,000 of these units will move from planning to construction by the end of the upcoming year.

The administration's financial commitment to addressing the housing issue is clear, with a proposed $56 million allocated for the redevelopment of Mayor Wright Homes. According to the Governor's office, this renovation will increase the number of low-income housing units from 364 to 2,814. Additionally, nearly $300 million has been designated to the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation to lead further affordable housing initiatives.