Hawaii's Affordable Housing Problem (and how we fix it)

Hawaii has an housing problem. Some call it an affordable housing crisis. I don't know what to call it, but the State needs to someone finds ways to get the housing prices to levels where locals can afford.

There was an article in the newspaper where the Chief Housing Coordinator for the State of Hawaii seemed to offer an open invitation to anyone with ideas to solve Hawaii's affordable housing problem. She said that they could talk to the Governor of the State of Hawaii for five minutes to share ideas. I'm not sure if she was serious, but here is my five minute pitch on how to start fixing Hawaii's affordable housing problem.

Intro - 0:00
The Big Plan - 0:44
Yes, it's rentals - 1:04
Here is where to start building - 1:51
Build before the luxury developers start building - 2:26
Sorry, no amenities - 3:20
Parking and the Rail - 3:44
How much should the rent be? - 4:24
How do we incentivize developers to build? - 6:00
Using long-term deals as an incentize - 6:55
Why isn't there a plan already? - 7:55
Closing - 8:27

Filmed using the Canon Vixia G60.

#hellofromhawaii
#hawaii
#hawaiihousing

[skymakai]

We need to limit purchases of properties by conglomerates and companies, foreign and domestic. This isn't a wild concept. Some countries with limited resources limit outside purchase of the most valuable assets like properties and homes so that only residents can purchase them.

[godonholiday]

Lots of new homes out west, mixed purpose town houses, single homes and apartments. Housing lotto also seems to be working. Agree more can be built, one plus is that there is no 'beauty' view to block, so you are right you could build quite a few stories up.. Every train stations should have a affordable condos built next to or on (Japanese style), totally agree with that approach.

There are still stations past the airport, closer to town that could also benefit from new large buildings, especially the old warehouses that seem to be run down and falling apart. These would be just 2 or 3 stops from town and great for work.

I think there needs to be a better approach to more carparks ( obviously each station should have one lol).. The land is waisted on single use and cars are expensive (for those looking for affordable homes), and then just having them sit at a lot all day, there could be better solutions there (better public transit direct to stations. Bike/Ebike lockups).

There needs to be more benefits for those in work, reward those locals living here with rent discounts and free transit etc.. and there is still a lot more to be done on charging tourists more for visiting, we are nowhere near the entry tax that would reduce the tourist numbers by anything significant, in my opinion.

Everyone is talking 'crisis' but no one seems to be acting with the pace a crisis needs.

[Greenliight]

Tiny home communities would be sweet and fit the lifestyle

[stellamarina]

NZ recently made a law that if a non-citizen is wanting to have a house in NZ, they have to build a new one. They cannot buy an existing house. Also....have a look at what Singapore does....lots of high rises but people have a home. I also like the tiny house community idea too. It would work great for single people and older retirees.

[ken.a.]

My understanding as to why there's not enough parking at the rail stations is they expect people to catch the bus to the station. That's a funny thing about many locals -- we hate catching the bus. Not all locals, but a pretty good chunk of us would rather complain about traffic and parking than catch the bus. Why is that? I used to be like that too. I used to live near you in Kaneohe, worked downtown, and dealt with that traffic and parking every day. My car was in the shop one day, so I tried the 88 Express. It was awesome! Bought a bus pass after that and rode it daily. I wouldn't catch the bus to go shopping or to go out, but for work, it's perfect! Maybe you should try TheBus and do a video about it.

[craigpdyer]

I moved to Hawaii for 1 year 2014 and they were talking about the rail being finished later that year. The place I currently live finished their longer rail in 6 months.

[stevenrich]

Two major issues; Building cost efficiently and financing creatively. I have solutions for both. Maybe I’ll give Josh a call and prove to him that affordable single family dwellings are possible with some “outside the Island”thinking.

[desultorilypanacea]

How about using old cruise ships as rental property?

[shosmyth]

What a moving video! I hope that you’re acknowledged for Affordable Housing.

[haleohanamalama]

What comes in to my mind is.... Wages.
Isn't it ridiculous that the one of the most expensive state to live has one of the lowest wage system in the U.S.?
It doesn't make sense to me and looks nothing to do with driving prices up at all.

[FIRED]

One huge problem I am guessing with alot of these types of problems. Too many special interests got their dirty, greasy, greedy hands on politician's pockets. Get rid of that aspect and ensure you get people who are truly there to do good, you can move mountains. But until then, good luck and enjoy many more years of expensive studies that go nowhere.

[mochicrunchy]

This is a really good idea and I hope you get your 5 mins with the Gov.

[annn]

I got a job on kauai but honestly I'm on the fence about taking it because of the lack of housing. Affordable would be nice but even something with functional kitchens would be a start. Its pretty bleak looking there

[miyakegaijin]

Sorry I know this is unrealistic China prices BUT my sister-in-laws 2 bedroom apartment in China cost $30, 000 new but barebones-meaning you tile your own floor, put in your own appliances, paint your own interior and set up your own kitchen. I think its good to give the buyer the option of putting in their own things as they can afford it rather than pay that extra $30k-$70k in having a full home. I think some fresh out of college kids would opt sleeping in the barebones and after their loans are paid up and career is more stable they could then pimp their crib.

When I worked in Japan, the government offered teacher apartments for $100 a month rent only for teachers. This was an incentive for them to stay on the remote island. Most eventually opted to pay expensive Tokyo apartment rates rather than live in the country BUT its nice to know the government did do something to give people incentives to live in the country side as teachers. The equivalent to Hawaii would be if you could rent a nice 1 bedroom apartment in molokai for $100 a month as long as you are a full time DOE teacher in molokai.

[ChrisClark_]

Don’t allow rental property to be purchased by anyone who does not actually live on island. Tax the rentals so much that it doesn’t make sense to buy one for out of state buyers.
(Im an out of state buyer that would be directly affected if this happens)

[billygraham]

I want to retire and I am poor. I hear Hawaii had/has low cost land in places. And I want to build myself, and so what is the cheapest way to build? With lumber? With concrete blocks? And can I build off grid? Anyone know anything?

[minc]

I live in Silicon Valley so I will not be able to say anything financially. Oahu is cheaper than where I live. But I want to preserve Hawaii. I visit 1~2 times a year and love it. For housing, increase tax on luxury homes incrementally. Tax vacation homes heavily. Bigger homes also. To help young local and natives, we need to create good jobs. Initiate entrepreneurship programs to create good paying jobs. Next the state and the city government need to be represented by younger generations. Another possibility is not to own houses but provide affordable long term rental units with buy options for young families.

[SunnyIlha]

These new suggested bedroom-condominiums and studio flats, (rented), should indeed be $1000.00 monthly for 1-bedroom a d $600.00 a studio.
2-bedroom 1100.00, 3 bedroom 1200.00.
This would be inexpensive low cost residential housing.
For *Locals* !!

There should be parking space per each household for scooters, and cycles, and 2 subcompact cars. A real space for these. This designated space can double as storage.

[RodSwansmad]

Hi Chris, I’m a bit of the subject here, but I’m interested in your Thumbnail for the video. What did you use to get the silhouette of you on the thumbnail ? And by the way, great subject 🤙

[OkiPwer]

The only problem I see with that is that it makes too much sense. But I really do think if we "steal" some ideas out of Japan & Singapore's playbook it would really give a good 80% solution to Hawaii's housing affordability problem.

The other solution I can think of is reduce the housing demand. 😁