Hawaii

Locals Concerned About Growth In Small Town Kauai

On the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, small towns are grappling with plans to develop more than 4,500 housing units. Of the most concern to residents is the increased traffic and strain on roads, so they have proposed a circulation plan.

June 2, 2007 - Honolulu Star Bulletin

Hawaii's Building Boom Unearthing Graves

Several projects on the Hawaiian Islands have run into unmarked grave sites, causing delays and creating controversy over moving sacred remains.

May 24, 2007 - Yahoo! News

Scraping Sky In Honolulu

Officials in Honolulu is considering increasing the height limitations that dictate how tall buildings can rise in the beachside city. The mayor and city council hope that an increase in density will bring sustainable growth to the city.

January 28, 2007 - Honolulu Star Bulletin

Maui's Planning Director Profiled

The Planning Director for Maui, Hawaii, Jeff Hunt, prepares to take on a new general plan process. He was formerly the director of community development in the Rocky Mountain resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado.

January 19, 2007 - The Maui News

Homelessness On The Rise In Hawaii

Hawaii's housing boom and other factors like high rents and a shortage of developable land mean that housing is often out of reach for the state's working poor. As a result, Hawaii has one of the nation's largest homeless populations.

January 12, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

Honolulu Transit Routes Debated

In Oahu, lawmakers are having trouble agreeing on the best path for a proposed light rail line. The Honolulu mayor wants a different path than that approved by the city council. But it is not even certain if the proposed line will be rail or bus.

December 22, 2006 - Honolulu Star Bulletin

Stress In Hawaii Over Affordable Housing Shortage

The homeless population increases in Oahu, and the entire state of Hawaii struggles with a shortage of affordable housing. To deal with the problem, state officials have said that 30,000 housing units will be needed in the next two years.

November 22, 2006 - The Chicago Tribune

Parking Versus Pedestrians

An amendment to make Honolulu a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city is threatened because of a proposed decrease in on-street parking spaces.

November 7, 2006 - Hawaii Reporter

Honolulu Picks Light Rail

The city's council chooses to proceed with plans for a new light rail system -- with a possible price tag of over $5 billion dollars.

November 4, 2006 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Project In Hawaiian Flood Zone Is Denied

A proposed commercial development on the Hawaiian Island of Kaua'i has been denied by a county planning commission. The site is located in a flood zone and construction would require the removal of many exotic trees. The developer plans to sue.

October 1, 2006 - The Garden Island

Bush To Establish Largest Protected Ocean Area

President George Bush plans to establish the world's largest protected ocean site, an act which will preserve a sensitive coral reef ecosystem on islands and atolls near Hawaii.

June 18, 2006 - Herald Sun

From Bombing Practice to Sustainable Practice

A review of a commission director's efforts to turn a Hawaiian island, devastated by years of bombing, into a model of environmental sustainability and cultural healing.

December 8, 2005 - The Maui News

When The Biggest Tourist Attraction Is The Biggest Polluter

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano is the state's most popular tourist attractions, but also by far the state's worst source of air pollution.

May 18, 2005 - Environmental News Network

Understanding Honolulu's Transit Data

Honolulu doesn't regularly analyze its traffic accident data for transit planning purposes, instead relying on complaints.

April 19, 2005 - Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaii's Housing Boom Results In Dangerous Housing Choices

Where in the U.S. can you get an acre of land with ocean views, beach, palm trees and full-year sun for only $15,000 an acre?

March 8, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Eight Myths About Rail Transit In Honolulu

Rail critics identify eight "myths" about Honolulu's proposed $2.6 billion rail system.

March 8, 2005 - Harvard Design Magazine

Traffic And Mass Transit In Paradise?

O'ahu residents support a new mass transit system -- and are willing to increase taxes to get it.

December 10, 2004 - Honolulu Advertiser

Promoting Mixed Use In Hawaii

Can the Hawaiian island of Kauai avoid the planning mistakes made by Honolulu by adopting smart growth strategies?

October 19, 2004 - The Garden Island

Hawaii Cultivates Agricultural Tourism

Hawaii has ample outlets for agricultural tourism, from pig farms to coffee plantations.

April 23, 2004 - The Christian Science Monitor

Rapid Transit is the Only Way

Hawaii leads the nation in carpooling, though its own rates are experiencing decline.

March 10, 2004 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.