SB 1 is one of four bills proposed in the Hawai`i Legislature this year that would make it easier to develop, buy, and sell affordable homes in the state.

Maui Now shares news from the Hawai`i State Legislature, where State Senator Stanley Chung has introduced a package of four bills that significantly alter the housing development equation in the state.
SB 1 would establish the ALOHA Homes program, which would "help develop low-cost homes on state-owned and county-owned land in urban redevelopment sites to be sold in leasehold by the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation to qualified residents."
SB 5 would create a payroll deduction program for state employees to create a housing savings account.
SB 733 "would designate all state-owned lands located within one mile of any rail mass transit station as important state lands to promote the development of homes priced below market rates for Hawaiʻi residents who are owner-occupants and own no other real property."
Finally, "SB740 would create the Department of Housing; and place the Hawai`i Community Development Authority, Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation, the State Office of Planning, and Hawaii Public Housing Authority under the Department of Housing for administrative purposes.
The Hawai'I Legislature already commissioned a feasibility study of the ALOHA Homes program in 2019, completed recently by the Hawai`i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC).
State Senator Chung has been tweeting in support of housing reform in the state, addressing the state's high number of residential rental units, for example, and its slow rate of housing production relative to population growth.
FULL STORY: Bills Aim to Address Hawaiʻi’s Housing Crisis

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie