March 2026 Newsletter Message
I need your help in fighting two alarming State bills that are currently making their way through the Legislature that would permanently alter the character of our neighborhoods on Oʻahu, effectively override community-specific plans built through decades of public engagement, and further weaken our ability to respond to outside speculation in our local housing market.
Senate Bill 2423, which was introduced by Senator Stanley Chang, prohibits all counties, including Honolulu, from imposing certain lot requirements on lots zoned for housing within the urban district. Believe it or not, this means lots could be subdivided even further than current ordinance allows, removing the counties’ ability to prevent overdevelopment and overcrowding (for example, a half-acre lot could be divided into 8 lots, with 3 units each for a total of 24 units on one property!). This measure imposes a one-size-fits-all mandate on all counties which are already actively addressing the affordable housing shortage through thoughtful, community-driven planning. The measure also has a House companion, HB1734, which raises the same concerns on the House side.
I am also deeply concerned that the immediate lot-size mandate contemplated in this bill would dramatically increase underlying land values overnight, making properties even more attractive to out-of-state investors and speculative buyers. It’s no doubt that Hawaiʻi is already one of the most desirable real estate markets in the world. Without guardrails, this measure risks further pricing local families out of competition for our already-limited local housing supply.
Here are my main reasons for concern:
The bills will exacerbate out-of-state investors and speculative pressures.
The use of the term “Urban” is misleading and will affect many residential areas on Oʻahu, including Hawai‘i Kai, ʻĀina Haina, Kāhala, Pacific Palisades, Makakilo, Salt Lake, Hālawa, Lā‘ie, Pūpūkea, Wahiawā, Kāneʻohe, and Kailua, among others.
The measures disregard long-standing community plans developed over decades with extensive public input.
Ultimately, it hinders the community’s ability to combat overdevelopment in our neighborhoods.
To be clear, I agree that we must increase housing supply if we are to address Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis. However, increased housing production is already contemplated within our existing General, Development, and Sustainable Community Plans. If we follow those plans, while also prioritizing the rehabilitation of vacant and uninhabitable properties, improving access to financing for local families, and strategically investing in infrastructure, we can meet our housing needs without sacrificing the character and stability of our communities.
SB2423 and HB1734 as currently drafted threaten to cause lasting and potentially irreparable impacts across our state.
Together, let’s chart a better, more sensible path forward for the sake of our communities, families and keiki.
