Hawai‘i County leading state in tackling housing shortage

According to data from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO), Hawaiʻi County leads the state in issuing building permits for new single-family residential homes.

In the period from January to April 2023, the county granted 930 permits for new single-family homes, surpassing Honolulu with 330, Maui with 235, and Kauaʻi with 185 permits during the same timeframe. From 2019 to April 2023, Hawaiʻi County issued a total of 3,884 permits for single-family homes, outpacing Honolulu (3,181), Maui (1,969), and Kauaʻi (873) over the 5-year period.

“We believe wholeheartedly that every local family deserves a place to call home here on Hawaiʻi Island,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Our top priority is simplifying the homebuilding process for residents to meet the growing housing demand. We have diligently worked on enhancing our permitting process, addressing issues with our EPIC system, and amending County ordinances to streamline procedures and reduce government oversight safely. Although we haven’t reached our goal yet, the data reflects significant progress.”

Prior to the Roth Administration, the County issued 619 building permits for single-family homes in 2019 and 654 in 2020. 

In 2021, after the launch of the County’s Electronic Processing and Permitting System (EPIC), the County issued 838 permits, followed by 857 in 2022. 

This year, the County of Hawaiʻi has issued 1,059 new single-family residential permits and counting. 

While the number of single-family building permits is just one aspect of addressing the State’s housing shortage, it serves as an important indicator of potential housing inventory that plays a crucial role in accommodating residents amid population growth.