The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by Honolulu City Council on May 14, 2025.
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May 14, 2025, 10 a.m.
Honolulu Hale
To: Honolulu City Council
Tommy Waters, Chair
Matt Weyer, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: Resolution 25-105 — PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 21, REVISED ORDINANCES OF HONOLULU 2021 (THE LAND USE ORDINANCE), RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE APARTMENT AND APARTMENT MIXED-USE DISTRICTS.
Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Weyer and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Resolution 25-105, which proposes an amendment to Honolulu’s zoning ordinance that would reduce the minimum lot size, depth and width and increase the floor-area ratio for apartment and apartment mixed-use zones.
The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism estimates that Oahu needs to build 18,737 new units between 2025 and 2035 to keep up with demand.[1] The changes proposed by this measure would make the construction of new apartment buildings more financially feasible, resulting in more affordable housing.
In particular, reducing the minimum lot size for apartments would reduce one of the biggest cost items for building in Honolulu: Land. Even small lots can easily top $1 million in value. Adding flexibility to the zoning code in this way could help homebuilders make smaller apartment projects pencil out.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] Rene Kamita, “Hawai‘i Housing Demand: 2025-2035,” Research and Economic Analysis Division, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, March 2024, p. 11.
