Oct. 13, 2026, 9 a.m.
Lihue Civic Center
To: Kaua'i County Planning Commission
Gerald Ako, Chair
Helen Cox, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Jonathan Helton, Senior Policy Analyst
RE: ZA-2027-1 — RELATING TO APIARIES AND BEEKEEPING
Aloha Chair Ako, Vice Chair Cox and other members of the Committee,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports ZA-2027-1, which would reinstate previous development standards for additional rental units. This language sunsetted on March 19, 2023, and applicants have been unable to build additional rental units since.
Under the bill, an additional rental unit of up to 800 square feet of living area would be allowed as an accessory use to a dwelling unit in residential districts. Applicants must include one off-street parking space for each ARU and use them for only long-term residential purposes. As with the previous rules, ARUs would be allowed only on lots where they would have adequate access to water, wastewater and fire protection.
As the Kauai Planning Department notes, it has processed 145 applications for ARUs since 2019, 80 of which have been built or are in the construction process.
Because ARUs are relatively small, their rental rates will be more affordable. So these rules give Kauai homeowners one more tool to help reduce the island’s chronic housing crisis.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Senior Policy Analyst
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
1050 Bishop St. #508 | Honolulu, HI 96813 | 808-864-1776 | info@grassrootinstitute.org
