Housing in Hawaii local government
What Hawaii city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about housing — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
158 Hawaii meetings since 2024 covered housing. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Hawaii with the most housing activity
- Maui County, HI (103)
- Hawaii County, HI (55)
Latest matching meetings
Council to vote on doubling open space fund to 0.5% of property tax revenue
The Hawaii County Council will hold a second reading of a charter amendment to increase the annual allocation for the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation fund from 0.25% to 0.5% of real property tax revenue (Bill 165). Other major actions include first readings of bills to establish a formal…
Committee reviews multiple affordable‑housing and audit reports
The Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee will receive and discuss four reports. These include a quarterly affordable‑housing report for Jan 1 – Mar 31 2026, a follow‑up audit of affordable‑housing credits, a compliance review of WAIWAI nonprofit grants for fiscal year 2024‑2025, and a review of the…
Committee considers rezoning apartment properties to hotel districts for vacation rentals
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider recommending adoption of two resolutions that would refer proposed bills to the Maui Planning Commission to amend the Kihei-Makena and West Maui Community Plans and rezone numerous properties from Apartment to Hotel districts. The changes would allow continued transient…
Committee considers rezoning dozens of apartment properties to hotel districts
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider two resolutions referring proposed bills to the Maui Planning Commission to rezone specific properties from A-1/A-2 Apartment districts to H-3/H-4 Hotel districts and amend the Kihei-Makena and West Maui Community Plans. Resolution 26-110 targets timeshare, leasehold…
Committee to receive update on parking lot habitation pilot project
The Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee will receive a status update on a pilot project using designated County parking lots for human habitation. Representatives from the Department of Human Concerns and the Office of the Mayor may provide a presentation. No legislative action will be taken during…
Council considers EPA extensions for wastewater and cesspool projects
The Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee will review agreements with the EPA to extend deadlines for several water infrastructure projects. The committee will also consider a nomination to the Fire Commission and a bill regarding the Housing Administrator position.
Committee to consider using Affordable Housing Fund for houseless residents
The Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee will discuss Bill 77 (2026). This bill proposes requiring a portion of the Affordable Housing Fund be used to provide living environments for the county's houseless population.
Committee to consider allowing two accessory dwellings per residential lot
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider three bills on first reading. Bill 78 would allow at least two accessory dwelling units on residentially zoned lots. Bill 84 would cap bed-and-breakfast homes on Molokai at five. Bill 37 would create a real property tax exemption for workforce housing developments for…
Panel considers raising home and long-term rental property tax exemptions
The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee will consider Bill 181, which would increase the Home Exemption from $300,000 to $400,000 and the Long-Term Rental Exemption from $200,000 to $300,000. A proposed amendment (CD1) would delay the effective date to July 1, 2027 and add a wildfire-displacement…
Committee considers $500,000 grant for Kona Low business recovery
The Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee will review nominations for the Liquor Commission and Board of Appeals. The body is also discussing a grant for storm-damaged businesses and changes to funding for public access and natural resources.
Bill 88 would create H-3 and H-4 hotel districts allowing TVRs in former apartment zones
The Housing and Land Use Committee is considering Bill 88 (2026), which would amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance to establish H-3 and H-4 Hotel Districts. These districts would be reserved for units or structures previously in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Districts where Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) were…
Council to set property tax rates and adopt $976M operating budget
The Council will vote on Res. 574-26, which sets real property tax rates for FY 2026-2027, including lowering the Affordable Rental Housing and Homeowner rate to $5.75 per $1,000, increasing Residential Tier Two to $14.50, and adding new tiers. It will also consider the final operating budget (Bill 135, Draft 2) with…
Maui committee to decide on 163-acre Ho'onani Village mixed-use development
The committee is considering three bills to amend the Maui Island Plan's Directed Growth Map, community plan designation, and zoning for 166.511 acres (corrected to 163.443 acres in proposed CD1) in Kahului for the Ho'onani Village Mixed Use Development. The project includes multi-family residential, retail…
Committee to discuss zoning and housing ordinances
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider resolutions to refer zoning and community plan amendments to the Maui Planning Commission, and a bill to allow accessory dwelling units on residential lots.
Council considers $25.3 million contract for Hawaii Fire Fighters Association
The Hawaii County Council is meeting to vote on several resolutions involving public funding, land acquisition, and internal rule changes. Key items include a multi-year firefighters' contract and various community grants.
Council to hold public hearing on FY 2026-27 operating and capital budgets
The Hawaii County Council will hold a public hearing to consider the proposed Operating Budget (Bill 135) and Capital Budget (Bill 136) for fiscal year 2026-27. The operating budget proposes $975.9 million in net appropriations, with major spending in public safety, highways, and sanitation. The capital budget…
Council will consider new real property tax rates for FY 2026‑2027
The Hawaii County Council will hold a public hearing on May 19, 2026 to consider real property tax rates for all property classes for the fiscal year July 1 2026 to June 30 2027. The council will review proposed rate changes for residential, commercial, agricultural and other classes, including new classifications for…
Council considers land acquisition of 1,967.96 acres in Puna
The Hawaii County Council is meeting to decide on land acquisitions, budget appropriations for housing and infrastructure, and board nominations. The body will also consider the designation of a new park in Waimea.
Finance Committee to vote on $25.3M fire fighters union contract
The Finance Committee will consider several resolutions and a bill. A four-year contract with the Hawaiʻi Fire Fighters Association totaling $25,292,860 is up for approval. Other items include a multi-year housing assistance contract for Kinoʻole Senior Residences, stewardship grants, and a pesticide subsidy for…
Council considers housing, fire, and grant funding
The Hawaii County Council will consider resolutions authorizing funding for permanent housing, fire department leases, and disaster recovery grants, along with nominations to various county commissions.
Council to consider $2.97M in federal grants for 2026 Annual Action Plan
The Hawaii County Council will review several grant agreements, including federal funds for housing and disaster recovery. The body is also considering multiple board nominations and various real property leases and acquisitions.
Committee weighs $501K Kīlauea recovery grants and housing leases
The Finance Committee will consider several resolutions and bills, including a $501,100 grant program for recovery from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, a proposal to lease six properties for permanent housing at $10 per year, and a salary ordinance for county employees. The committee also will discuss a fire department…
Committee to consider nominations and housing agreements
The Government Operations and External Affairs Committee will review nominations for various county commissions and authorize agreements to receive housing and community development grants. The committee will also consider a request to rename a park.
Committee to consider adopting General Plan 2045 and new vacation rental rules
The committee will discuss and may vote on Bill 66, which adopts the County of Hawai‘i General Plan 2045 and repeals the prior plan, and Bill 147, which establishes operational standards for transient vacation rentals including bed and breakfasts and short-term vacation rentals. A motion to recommend passage of Bill…
Committee will consider increasing home and rental tax exemptions (Bill 181)
The Special Committee on Real Property Tax Reform will discuss several pending bills that amend Maui County Code sections related to real property tax. Items include dedicated ʻĀina Kūpuna, golf course assessments, nontaxable property assessments, vacant residential classification, wildfire tax relief, vacant land…
Committee to discuss Community Facilities District for Waikapū Country Town
The Housing and Land Use Committee will hold three informational discussions with no legislative action. They will receive status updates from the Departments of Planning and Housing on operations and FY2026 budget implementation. They will also discuss a potential Community Facilities District to finance…
Committee to review quarterly affordable housing report and Queen's Health presentation
The Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee will receive and discuss several annual and quarterly reports, including a quarterly affordable housing report, the 2025 annual report of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission, and a fair share annual report…
Committee to consider leasing six properties for permanent housing for underserved populations
The Finance Committee will decide on a resolution authorizing the negotiation of six one-year leases (with four renewal options) at $10 annually each for residential properties to be used as permanent housing for underserved populations. They will also consider a three-year software licensing agreement with NEOGOV for…
Committee to consider tying parking requirements to bedroom count
The committee may recommend passage of Bill 47 (2026) on first reading, which would change off-street parking requirements for housing from square footage to number of bedrooms, or file the bill. They will also discuss Bill 21, CD 1 (2023) regarding conditional zoning for emergency airstrip operations at Kapalua…
Council to consider new property tax tier for homes over $4M
The Council will vote on Bill 128, which would add a new 'Residential Tier Three' real property tax classification for properties with a net taxable value over $4 million. On final reading are Bills 122 and 123, which would reclassify 6.063 acres in Waimea from agricultural to rural/residential to allow subdivision…
Committee to consider $3.5M budget amendment for Waikapū wastewater plant
The committee will consider recommending passage of Bill 30, which amends the FY2026 budget to transfer $3.5M in carryover savings to the General Excise Tax Fund and appropriate it for the Central Maui Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Waikapū. It will also discuss (no action) Bill 34 regarding a $234,050…
Committee will consider recommending Bill 142 to amend home and long‑term rental tax exemptions
The Special Committee on Real Property Tax Reform will hear a presentation on software to calculate proposed tax rates. It will discuss Bill 142, which seeks to change filing deadlines and qualifications for the Home Exemption and Long‑Term Rental Exemption. The committee will also consider Bill 37, which proposes a…
Council to consider leasing eight properties for permanent housing for underserved
The Finance Committee will consider a resolution authorizing eight one-year leases at $10/year for residential properties to be used as long-term permanent housing for underserved populations. It will also take up a resolution and budget bill to accept a $2,678,274.60 FEMA grant for 12 firefighter positions, and a…
CU Hawaii seeks commercial zoning for new credit union branches in South Hilo
The Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee will consider two zoning amendment bills that would reclassify parcels at 533 Manono Street and 494 Hīnano Street from single‑family residential to neighborhood commercial, enabling new credit union facilities. The Windward Planning Commission has forwarded…
Finance Committee to authorize $6.5M in Kīlauea recovery grants
The Finance Committee will consider authorizing $6,478,873 in grant funds for the Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program and authorize multi-year agreements for legal space and construction management services for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Committee to consider workforce housing ownership selection priority changes
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider Bill 14 (2026), which amends Maui County Code subsection 2.96.090(D) to adjust the selection priority for residential workforce housing ownership units. The bill clarifies priority for county residents over nonresidents on the waitlist and reinserts inadvertently…
Committee to consider Bill 27 (2026) amending accessory dwelling size limits
The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee will review Bill 27 (2026), which proposes an ordinance amendment to Chapter 19.35 of the Maui County Code concerning the allowable size of accessory dwellings and related structures on lots under one‑half acre. The committee may recommend passage on…
Committee to consider FBI joint terrorism task force agreement and affordable housing lease exemptions
The committee may recommend passage of Bill 92, CD1 (2025) to authorize the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the FBI for a Joint Terrorism Task Force. It may also recommend passage of Bill 116 (2024) to exempt below-market leases for affordable housing from certain bidding and grant requirements…
Council will approve a $1.6 million intergovernmental grant for workforce programs
The Hawaii County Council will consider several fund transfers and grant approvals, including a $1.6 million intergovernmental grant for workforce development. Members will also vote on nominations to the Fire and Police Commissions and on a zoning amendment that would allow residential dwellings in the…
Committee to consider allowing subdivision construction plans before water availability verification
The committee will consider two bills: Bill 176 (2025) authorizes the mayor to enter a 10-year agreement with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources for maintenance of Pi'iholo, Olinda, and Ala Luana roads; Bill 1 (2026) would allow subdividers to submit construction plans before written verification of…