The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the House Committee on Housing on Feb. 4, 2026.
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Feb. 4, 2026, 9 a.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 430 and Videoconference
To: House Committee on Housing
Rep. Luke Evslin, Chair
Rep. Tyson Miyake, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HB1701 — RELATING TO PARKING
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and other members of the Committee,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports HB1701, which would prohibit counties from mandating off-street parking spaces for projects in transit-oriented development infrastructure improvement program areas.
This bill would lower construction costs for much-needed housing and encourage the construction of walkable neighborhoods in areas with access to public transit.
Research has shown that imposing parking mandates increases housing costs. Construction costs for parking garages or spaces, as well as the cost of acquiring land for parking, are passed to homebuyers and renters.[1]
Further, required parking for projects near transit undermines the entire goal of a transit system, which is to offer people alternatives to using vehicles for their daily commutes.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] “The Costs of Parking in Hawai‘i,” prepared by PBR & Associates for the Ulupono Initiative, August 2020, p. 3; C. J. Gabbe and Gregory Pierce, “Hidden Costs and Deadweight Losses: Bundled Parking and Residential Rents in the Metropolitan United States,” Housing Policy Debate, Vol. 27, Iss. 2, Aug. 8, 2016.
