The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Hawai‘i County Council on Aug. 21, 2024.
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August 21, 2024, 11 a.m.
Hawai‘i County Building
To: Hawai‘i County Council
Heather Kimball, Chair
Holeka Goro Inaba, Vice-Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Jonathan Helton, Policy Researcher
RE: Bill 123 — RELATING TO OHANA DWELLING UNITS
Aloha Chair Kimball, Vice-Chair Inaba and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 123, Draft 4, which would abolish the “ohana dwelling” permit, redefine ohana dwellings as “accessory dwelling units,” make changes to where and how such units are allowed to be built, and allow guest houses and ADUs to be built on the same lots.
Importantly, Bill 123 would abolish the existing duplicative approval process that requires someone interested in building an ADU to get a specific ADU permit before applying for their building permit — even if the ADU would be allowed by the zoning and would have adequate water and wastewater access.
The current draft would permit a maximum of three ADUs on each lot in the single-family residential, double-family residential, residential and agricultural, family agricultural and agricultural zoning districts — except for lots that allow more than one primary residence, where one ADU per primary residence would be allowed.
It would also limit each ADU to 1,250 square feet of living area, not counting garages, lanais or carports.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Researcher
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
