01/08/2026Midtown Eats, a new food hall with 12 locally owned restaurants, is now soft-opening at The Park on Keeaumoku and will officially celebrate its grand opening on Jan. 17, offering indoor and outdoor dining along with family activities. (Source: Aloha State Daily)
01/08/2026
DFS Group will exit Hawaii after 63 years, closing its Waikiki Galleria store on Jan. 28 and airport duty-free locations later in 2026, after selling its Waikiki properties to BlackSand Capital for $90 million. (Source: PBN)
01/07/2026
Oahu’s housing market ended 2025 in a largely stable state, with total resale activity up a modest 0.6%, a record-high single-family home median price of $1,139,000 (+3.5%), softer condo prices (-1.5%), higher inventory, longer market times, and late-year sales momentum supported by easing mortgage rates. (Source: Honolulu Board of Realtors)
01/05/2026
In 2026, new dining options coming to Hawaii include Alan Wong opening a restaurant at the Kahala Hotel, NYC yakitori favorite Torishin debuting in Ward Village, Paris Baguette opening at the Pagoda Hotel near Ala Moana, Liliha Bakery opening at Waikiki Beach Walk above ABC Stores, and Shake Shack slated to open on Oahu in 2027. (Source: PBN)
12/31/2025
11 major Hawaii construction projects broke ground in 2025, including The Launiu Ward Village, Ward Village’s 11th tower, a 40-story luxury project that began construction in October with completion targeted for 2028. (Source: PBN)
12/31/2025
Starting Jan. 1, 13 new Hawaii laws take effect, including a higher “Green Fee” that raises hotel and vacation rental taxes from 9.25% to 10% and a property insurance law requiring insurers to give homeowners and condo owners 20 days’ notice before policy cancellations, up from 10 days. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
12/30/2025
Hawaii condo insurance premiums have dropped 30%–70% - saving millions statewide - as new state-run insurance programs introduced competition that forced private insurers to sharply cut rates and expand coverage availability. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
12/23/2025
State Sen. Stanley Chang says his Aloha Homes affordable housing project in Kakaako is still moving forward, but the Hawaii Community Development Authority says rising costs, market conditions and restrictive requirements have effectively put the project on pause. (Source: Civil Beat)
12/23/2025
Honolulu’s rail agency Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation agreed to pay $41.3 million to settle a years-long condemnation dispute with Howard Hughes Corp. over easements in Ward Village, clearing the way for a potential future rail station and extension toward Ala Moana. (Source: Star Advertiser)
12/19/2025Ward Village, developed by Howard Hughes Communities, marked the opening of the 697-home Ulana Ward Village reserved-housing tower by donating $120,000 to six Hawaii nonprofits supporting youth, education, and community programs. (Source: PBN)
12/19/2025
A new HCDA policy gives its executive director unilateral authority to lease Kakaako state-owned properties for up to five years at below-market rates without bids, board approval, or public notice - praised as a way to protect small businesses amid gentrification but criticized for lacking transparency and oversight. (Source: Civil Beat)
12/16/2025Jinya Ramen Bar will permanently close its Ward Village location in Waiea on Feb. 9, laying off 86 employees, amid rising food costs, lower visitor arrivals, and broader economic pressures on Hawaii’s restaurant industry. (Source: PBN)
12/14/2025
Honolulu’s housing crisis persists not because of a lack of plans or intent, but because poorly executed regulations and weak administrative records repeatedly trigger legal challenges that delay or undo well-meaning housing reforms. (Source: Civil Beat)
12/13/2025
The Hawaiian Council is developing a multimillion-dollar amphitheater and preserving an 18-acre cultural sanctuary at Ko Olina Resort to create a culture-focused tourism model centered on Native Hawaiian practices, performances, and education. (Source: PBN)
12/10/2025
The Fed cut interest rates by a quarter point to 3.5%–3.75% in a rare split vote, highlighting deep uncertainty as officials juggle rising inflation, higher unemployment, limited economic data, and political pressure from the White House. (Source: The Guardian)
12/10/2025
Ritz-Carlton will launch a unified 2026 marketing campaign to promote its three Hawaii properties - Maui, Waikiki, and Turtle Bay - highlighting recent major renovations and offering cross-property experiences to strengthen its luxury market presence. (Source: PBN)
12/09/2025
Kona-based Hala Tree Café will open a second location in early 2026 on the ground floor of Lilia Waikiki, serving 100% Kona coffee and meals sourced from its Captain Cook farm, with $350K in renovations underway for the new space. (Source: PBN)
12/09/2025Alexander & Baldwin, Hawaii’s largest owner of grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers, will go private in a landmark $2.3B deal - the biggest commercial real estate portfolio sale in state history - transferring control of 4M sq. ft. of assets to a joint venture led by MW Group, Blackstone, and DivcoWest while ending A&B’s era as the last publicly traded member of Hawaii’s historic Big Five. (Source: Star Advertiser)
12/08/2025
Oahu’s November market saw single-family home sales jump nearly 19% while condo sales and prices softened. Luxury activity also strengthened, with sales of single-family homes priced $2M+ more than doubling from November 2024 (16 sales) to November 2025 (34 sales). (Source: Honolulu Board of Realtors)
12/4/2025
Honolulu rail officials agreed to pay $41 million for key Kakaako easements needed for the Ala Moana extension, even though HART still lacks the $1.6 billion required to actually build that segment. (Source: Civil Beat)
11/29/2025
Visitor spending rose 6.7% to $1.70B in October 2025 compared to October 2024, as higher daily spending offset a 2.9% drop in total arrivals, with Japanese visitation up 16% and their total spending rising 15.5% year-over-year. (Source: DBEDT)
11/28/2025
A newly built seven-bedroom oceanfront estate at 73-2190 Ala Kohanaiki sold today for $23M, setting a new all-time record for the exclusive Kohanaiki community on the Kona Coast.
11/25/2025Kohanaiki, in Kona, has launched sales for 24 new five-bedroom luxury townhomes starting at $4.9M, with completion expected in spring 2026 and a second phase bringing the total to 42 residences. (Source: PBN)
11/20/2025
A newly built hillside home in Lanikai, at 380 Lama Place, sold today for $10.4 million.
11/19/2025
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is exploring a partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to develop housing on its Lot I parcel in Kakaako Makai. Because DHHL projects are exempt from most state and county zoning regulations, this could allow residential construction in an area normally restricted from such use. (Source: Star-Advertiser)
11/18/2025
Beachfront 221 Portlock Rd sold on Nov. 14, 2025 for $8.2M, closing $700K below its $8.9M list price.
11/18/2025
Two recent Victoria Place closings - units 2102 and 2500 - suggest that prices in the building are trending upward.
11/17/2025
Ala Moana’s proposed 1588 Ala Moana project - featuring a new condo tower with affordable rentals, a 291-room hotel, and 26,000 sq. ft. of commercial space on four acres of mall parking - has entered the early entitlement and approval process, with city reviews expected to take up to a year. (Source: KHON2). A project presentation for the development has been submitted to the City & County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting; this is the project loosely referred to as Park Lane 2.
11/17/2025
Major U.S. travel companies are urging Gov. Josh Green to significantly boost Hawaii’s long-term tourism marketing budget as visitor arrivals fell 2.5% in September 2025 compared to September 2024, warning that Hawaii’s brand is being outspent by global competitors. (Source: Star Advertiser)
11/17/2025
Oahu luxury home sales rose 15% in October 2025 to 45 transactions compared to 39 in October 2024, with the most activity in Kakaako, Kahala, and Lanikai and an $8M Kailua Beachside home topping the month. (Source: KITV)
11/17/2025
Maui County Council will hold a special meeting on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. for the first reading of Bill 9, which would phase out transient vacation rentals in apartment zoning districts, with Chair Alice Lee aiming to move it to second reading as soon as possible in December if it passes. (Source: Maui Now)
11/16/2025OHA and DHHL have entered an exclusive negotiation period to explore potential residential development on OHA’s 3-acre Kakaako Makai “Lot I,” as part of a broader effort to revitalize OHA’s 29 acres in the area and provide housing opportunities for Native Hawaiians. (Source: Maui Now)
11/16/2025
Japan’s richest man, Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai - who also owns a home in Kapalua - is scrambling to secure irrigation water for his Kapalua golf courses to save the PGA Sentry tournament, pursuing wells, desalination, wastewater reuse, and litigation as he pushes for a long-term solution. (Source: Star Advertiser)
11/15/2025
Scammers nationwide are hijacking real apartment listings and impersonating real agents on social media to trick renters into paying fake application fees, a fast-growing scheme the FBI warns has already cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars this year. (NBC News)
11/15/2025The Courtyards at Waipouli on Kauai is launching Hawaiian Home Lands’ first rent-to-own affordable rental program, offering 82 renovated units to qualified beneficiaries who can rent at affordable rates, build credit, and have the option to purchase after about 11 years. (Source: Kauai Now)
11/14/2025
James Campbell Co. has begun construction on Naliko, a $170M mixed-income Kapolei apartment project delivering 300 units in 2027 - its first-ever vertically developed residential community. (Source: PBN)
11/14/2025
A 92-year-old Honolulu architect was convicted of bribery for attempting to slip a permit worker a $20 “gratitude” payment, with the judge ruling it was an improper effort to influence his stalled permit despite the defendant’s claim it was a cultural gesture. (Source: Civil Beat)
11/14/2025Arrived, a Bezos- and Benioff-backed startup that lets investors buy fractional shares of rental homes, has launched a platform allowing those shares to be traded among investors. (Source: CNBC)
11/14/2025
U.S. foreclosures rose for the eighth straight month in October - with new starts up 20% year over year and completed foreclosures up 32%. (Source: CNBC)
11/13/2025
The Trump administration is exploring “portable mortgages” that would let homeowners carry their low existing mortgage rates to a new property to boost housing supply, but experts warn the idea could be legally complex, disrupt mortgage-backed securities, and potentially raise overall mortgage rates. (Source: CNN)
11/13/2025
Home insurance costs are surging and coverage is shrinking across the U.S., pushing homeowners out of high-risk areas and threatening housing markets as climate-driven disasters intensify. (Source: NPR)
11/11/2025
The White House is facing backlash after FHFA director Bill Pulte convinced President Trump to float a 50-year mortgage idea, which critics say would worsen housing affordability and slow equity growth, leading officials and conservative allies to condemn the proposal as poorly vetted and politically damaging. (Source: Politico)
11/11/2025
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs received a $2 million EPA grant to begin environmental assessments as the first step toward revitalizing and developing its 29 acres of Kakaako Makai into a culturally rooted, mixed-use community space. (Source: KHON2)
11/11/2025
Howard Hughes’ Ward Village has set a record with $1.4B in pre-sales across its newest towers, driven heavily by high-end penthouse demand - including an Ilima penthouse under contract for $40M, potentially the highest-priced condo sale in Hawaii history. (Source: PBN)
11/10/2025
Kamehameha Schools sold the leased-fee land beneath The Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki to Japan-based Daisho Co. for $510 million, while Kyo-ya Hotels will continue operating the property under its long-term ground lease. (Source: PBN)
11/10/2025HCDA plans to build a five- to six-story senior housing project with about 50 units at 568 South St. in Kakaako for seniors earning up to 140% of AMI and is now seeking a developer to begin the project, with selection targeted by mid-2026. (Source: PBN)
11/10/2025
Maui firefighters and wildfire experts are urging residents living where open land meets development to stay prepared by creating defensible space around homes and working together as a community, as limited fire resources may require firefighters to prioritize saving only homes that are protectable during fast-moving wildfires. (Source: Maui Now)
11/07/2025
Investor purchases of single-family homes are rising across the US, especially in more affordable markets, as sidelined buyers and motivated sellers create openings that allow investors to buy more properties - often at higher prices - further squeezing out regular home buyers. (Source: MarketWatch)
11/07/2025
Beachfront Kahala Beach Apartments, once worth up to $2M, are now selling for as little as $22,000 because the ground lease expires in July 2027 and owners are expected to lose their units, effectively making purchases short-term rentals with high carrying costs. (Source: PBN)
11/07/2025
Oahu’s housing market was steady in October, with condo sales rising 9% and single-family home sales holding flat compared to last year, while median prices for both segments increased and properties took longer to sell amid slightly higher inventory. (Source: Star Advertiser)
11/06/2025
A Maui County Council committee advanced a zoning amendment to help the long-delayed 304-acre Pulelehua project move forward with 240 affordable homes, despite persistent West Maui water shortages and concerns that no confirmed water source is yet available. (Source: Maui Now)
11/06/2025
Queen Emma Land Co. is suing Title Guaranty to force the company to demolish its former downtown Honolulu headquarters per the lease terms, while Title Guaranty argues the historic building should be preserved and repurposed instead. (Source: Civil Beat)
11/05/2025Atlas Insurance launched a new bimonthly podcast, Risky Business, to educate AOAO board members on condominium and association insurance, risk management, and changing Hawaii insurance market conditions. (Source: PBN)
11/04/2025
US housing turnover has fallen to the lowest level in at least 30 years as both buyers and sellers hesitate, with many homeowners unwilling to give up low mortgage rates and buyers squeezed by affordability. (Source: Business Insider)
11/04/2025
The Maui County Council adopted a dual-track process to fill the late Tasha Kama’s Kahului seat while internal divisions flared over Council Chair Alice Lee’s delay of Bill 9, the proposed phase-out of short-term rentals in apartment zones. (Source: Maui Now)
11/04/2025HART is considering extending its life beyond its 2031 sunset and potentially becoming a permanent agency with authority to build additional rail extensions and even non-rail infrastructure, while continuing design work to push Skyline from Kakaako to Ala Moana. (Source: Star Advertiser)
11/3/2025
Maui County Council will schedule the first reading of Bill 9, which would phase out transient vacation rentals in Apartment Districts, after filling the council vacancy left by the passing of Council Member Tasha Kama, likely in December. (Source: Maui Now)
11/03/2025
The City & County of Honolulu selected Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation and Lanakila Pacific to negotiate the development of affordable housing at 130 South Beretania Street. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
11/03/2025
Honolulu and Shonai, Japan will sign a Friendship City Agreement on Monday to expand cultural and educational exchanges and strengthen ties between the two communities. (Source: KITV)
11/03/2025
West Oahu is set for major growth with roughly 2,500 new homes planned at Laulima in Kapolei (including 750 affordable rentals by 2027), continued Gentry Homes projects adding around 500+ units across Kalaeloa and Ewa, and D.R. Horton’s long-term Hoopili buildout targeting 11,750 homes plus schools and commercial space over the next two decades. (Source: PBN)
11/03/2025
Honolulu fired a building plans examiner for allegedly giving certain permit applicants faster processing, which the city called unfair preferential treatment, while she and supporters say she was simply helping ease severe backlogs without receiving any benefits. (Source: Civil Beat)
11/02/2025
Maui County is pursuing new wells, treatment plant upgrades, and possible system connections to boost Upcountry’s water supply amid chronic drought and growing demand, but the projects are costly, long-term, and raise concerns over wildfire risk, aquifer limits, and watershed health. (Source: Maui Now)
11/02/2025
Formerly condemned hillside lots in Kuliouou - where homes were demolished decades ago due to ongoing ground instability - have since been resold and even redeveloped despite unresolved infrastructure and land-movement issues, prompting new debate over responsibility for costly, long-deferred road and utility repairs. (Source: Star Advertiser)
10/31/2025Airbnb is ending its split-fee model and moving to a 15.5% host-only fee, and hosts can maintain their payouts if they increase their rates by about 14.8% to offset the higher fee. (Source: Rental Scale-Up)
10/31/2025
The Maui council’s Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee will meet Nov. 5 to review zoning changes for the 310-acre Pulelehua mixed-use project in Kahana and to consider land-use legislation for the 166.5-acre Hoonani Village project in Puunene, which proposes 1,600 apartment units with half designated as workforce housing. (Source: Maui Now)
10/31/2025
The city is moving forward with repairing the historic Boettcher estate’s failing roof - a crucial first step to stabilizing and preserving the Kailua landmark for continued community use. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/30/2025
Honolulu County Residential A will be taxed under three value tiers - up to $1.3M, $1.3M to $3.5M, and over $3.5M - and Transient Vacation Units will likewise have three tiers - up to $900K, $900K to $2M, and over $2M - with specific tax rates to be set later, effective July 1, 2027, as established by Ordinance 25-44.
10/30/2025Kahuina market owner occupant units are now selling.
10/29/2025
Kauai is temporarily closing and cleaning up its Section 8 waitlist, which has become overcrowded with nonresidents, in order to allocate limited vouchers to local families amid tight housing supply and potential federal funding cuts. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/29/2025
The Fed cut rates by 25 bps to 3.75–4.00% and will stop balance sheet runoff in December, signaling a shift toward easing despite mixed committee views and still-elevated inflation. (Source: XTB)
10/28/2025
U.S. home prices rose just 1.5% in August - below 3% inflation - meaning homeowners are losing real equity as high mortgage rates cool demand and previously overheated markets see price corrections. (Source: CNBC)
10/28/2025
Applications are open through Nov. 17 for the Na Hale Makoa rental project in Waikoloa Village, which will offer 139 units serving households up to 140% AMI (including 30 project-based voucher units), with placement determined by a post-application lottery and completion expected in February 2026. (Source: Big Island Now)
10/28/2025
Andrew Tepper, who has faced community pushback and fines for his Burning Man-style “Falls on Fire” festival in Papaikou, purchased the 800-acre Kupaianaha Ranch for $10.59 million from the estate of John Rhodes Davis. (Source: PBN)
10/28/2025Chrome Hearts purchased its Waikiki flagship store property from Japan-based Shoei Global for $40 million - up from $30 million in 2018 - marking one of the highest price-per-square-foot deals in Waikiki, while Japanese investor interest in Hawaii real estate remains strong despite the weak yen. (Source: PBN)
10/26/2025
Lower mortgage rates boosted U.S. home sales in September to a seven-month high, but limited inventory kept prices elevated, with the median home price up 2.1% year over year to $415,200 despite a 14% rise in listings. (Source: CNBC)
10/26/2025
The City & County of Honolulu, together with state partners, is launching a $214M first phase to replace 60 aging Kuhio Park Terrace public housing units in Kalihi with 302 new mixed-income affordable rentals, with completion expected by mid-2028. (Source: PBN)
10/26/2025
Condo development in the Ala Moana-Kapiolani corridor has largely stalled due to high interest rates, rising construction costs, slower demand (especially from Japan), and financing challenges, with the notable exception of JL Capital, which is moving forward with its Muse Honolulu. (Source: Star Advertiser)
10/25/2025
HART approved $53 million in design work to plan extending the Honolulu rail from Kakaako to Ala Moana - even though funding to actually build the $1.6 billion extension is not secured - raising concerns about potential new tax burdens and repeating past cost overruns on the already delayed, over-budget project. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/25/2025
Hawaii County plans the Ainako Subdivision Housing Project on ~61 acres near Hilo Benioff Medical Center - up to 144 workforce units built in two phases (priced about $363k–$636k). (Source: Star Advertiser)
10/24/2025
A Maui County committee is moving toward creating new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning districts that would allow about 4,500 currently apartment-zoned vacation rentals to continue operating, rather than phasing out all 7,000 units as originally proposed under Bill 9 (Source: Maui Now)
10/23/2025
High home prices and elevated mortgage rates in the U.S. led to the weakest spring home-selling season in over a decade, with both buyers and sellers holding back. (Source: Bloomberg)
10/23/2025
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee paused deliberations on Bill 9, which seeks to phase out short-term rentals in apartment zones, to address the creation of new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories that could let certain properties continue visitor use, amid debate over legislative timing, property rights, and the bill’s potential economic and tax impacts before discussions resume Thursday. (Source: Maui Now)
10/23/2024
Howard Hughes Holdings has broken ground on The Launiu Ward Village, with an expected completion in 2028.
10/22/2025Propy announced a $100 million expansion to digitize U.S. real estate titles by acquiring regional title companies and automating property closings with AI and blockchain, introducing its AI escrow officer “Agent Avery” and using a mix of traditional and DeFi funding from Morpho to modernize the $25 billion title industry, cut transaction times by up to 40%, and move toward a fully digital, transparent real estate market. (Source: Ventureburn)
10/22/2025
Baby boomers, who make up less than 20% of the U.S. population, own nearly 41% of all real estate - about $20 trillion - almost double millennials’ share, highlighting how decades of price growth and limited housing supply have widened generational wealth gaps. (Source: Florida Realtors)
10/22/2025
Michelin-starred New York yakitori restaurant Torishin, the only U.S. yakitori restaurant to earn a Michelin star seven consecutive years, is soon opening its first Hawaii location at Ward Village’s Aeo Shops between Rinka and Straub Medical Center, featuring an omakase-only yakitori experience with exclusive Hawaii menu items in a $200,000 buildout inspired by traditional Japanese counter-style dining. (Source: PBN)
10/22/2025
Maui Mayor Bissen urged the County Council to pass Bill 9, which would phase out short-term vacation rentals in apartment districts and rezone apartments not suitable for long-term residential use, framing the measure as essential to restoring housing for residents, correcting zoning misuse, and balancing tourism with community housing needs. (Source: Maui Now)
10/21/2025Leiwili Kapolei, a 20-acre mixed-use project that will complete the Villages of Kapolei, has secured $244 million in funding to begin construction in late 2026 on its first phase of 342 affordable rentals - part of a larger plan to deliver up to 900 mixed-income homes and 95,000 square feet of commercial space. (Source: PBN)
10/21/2025
The National Geographic magazine included Maui in its “Best of the World 2026” list. (Source: National Geographic)
10/21/2025Domodomo, a Japanese restaurant group with locations in New York and Texas, will open its first Hawaii location at 360 Ewa Beach Country Club on November 18, featuring sushi, hand rolls, and Korean-inspired dishes in a $300,000, 3,000-square-foot space designed to blend with Hawaii’s natural environment. (Source: PBN)
10/21/2025
Neighbors around the Shangri La Museum in Diamond Head are opposing the museum’s proposal to greatly expand its number and size of evening events, citing noise, traffic, and permit concerns, while museum leaders argue the changes would enhance public access and community engagement. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/16/2025
The Maui Planning Commission voted to support a bill raising Lahaina’s post-fire building height limit from 30 to 35 feet to ease reconstruction and another measure revising residential parking requirements to be based on the number of bedrooms rather than building size. (Source: Maui Now)
10/16/2025
Honolulu’s $10 billion Skyline rail system opened its 5.2-mile Segment 2 route to the public today, extending service through the airport to Middle Street and making the city eligible for $125 million in additional federal funding amid uncertainty from a federal shutdown. (Source: Star Advertiser)
10/15/2025
A Maui County investigative group has recommended major exemptions to Mayor Bissen’s Bill 9, proposing to rezone over 4,000 apartment-zoned vacation rental units - mostly in West and South Maui - to allow both short- and long-term rentals, potentially weakening the bill’s effort to expand local housing. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/14/2025
A Maui County Council task force has proposed creating new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning districts to allow certain existing short-term vacation rentals in apartment zones to keep operating, sparking debate between those prioritizing housing for residents and those warning of economic and tax revenue losses if rentals are phased out. (Source: Maui Now)
10/14/2025
Governor Green says 64,000 affordable homes are in Hawaii’s development pipeline - driven by rail-oriented projects, state land development, and an ongoing emergency housing proclamation - but major challenges remain as many projects are still in early stages and face permitting, funding, and affordability hurdles. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/13/2025
Honolulu-based developer JL Capital, known for projects including Sky Ala Moana and the upcoming Muse Honolulu, has acquired three adjoining parcels at 1322, 1338, and 1356 Kapiolani Boulevard in the Ala Moana neighborhood for $36 million and is considering a residential or mixed-use project to leverage the site’s prime location near Ala Moana Center and the future rail terminus. (Source: PBN)
10/13/2025The Pig and the Lady, led by Chef Andrew Le, opens its new flagship restaurant at 3650 Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki this Wednesday, marking a homecoming for Le and his family whose roots in the neighborhood date back to 1975. (Source: PBN)
10/09/2025
A government shutdown could cause mortgage rates to dip slightly as investors seek safer bonds, but it may also delay mortgage processing, disrupt government-backed loan programs, and create broader economic uncertainty that complicates homebuying. (Source: US News)
10/09/2025
Earls Restaurant Group has opened its first Hawaii location, Earls Waikiki, a 13,000-square-foot, $3.5 million restaurant on Kalakaua Avenue that seats over 300 guests and plans to employ nearly 400 people. (Source: PBN)
10/07/2025
Central Pacific Bank and The Kyoto Shinkin Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding in Kyoto to strengthen economic and business ties between Hawaii and Japan, enabling collaboration on future programs and giving Kyoto Shinkin customers immediate access to CPB’s Honolulu branch services. (Source: PBN)
10/07/2025
A Washington, D.C.–based group called Progress Action has been flooding Maui with ads opposing Mayor Bissen’s plan to phase out thousands of short-term rentals, raising concerns among local nonprofits about outside influence on Hawaii’s local housing policy. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/07/2025
Oahu home sales surged in September, with single-family transactions up 27% and condo sales up 12% from a year earlier - breaking this year’s slowdown trend - driven by easing mortgage rates and steady buyer confidence. (Source: Star Advertiser)
10/06/2025
The second phase of Honolulu’s Skyline rail, adding four stops including the airport and Pearl Harbor, will open Oct. 16, the third phase is expected to reach Kakaako by 2030 and the fourth phase expected to reach Ala Moana by 2033. (Source: KHON2)
10/06/2025
TY Management, owner of Kapalua Golf, has filed a second lawsuit against Maui Land & Pineapple, accusing the company and its CEO of manipulating the Kapalua Resort Association for their own interests, while MLP denies wrongdoing and claims TY Management is seeking more water than permitted amid an ongoing dispute over water shortages. (Source: PBN)
10/06/2025
Kaiaulu o Kukuia, Lahaina’s first permanent affordable housing project since the 2023 wildfires, is now fully occupied with 200 family-focused units and community spaces nearing completion, providing long-term affordable homes. (Source: PBN)
10/06/2025
The city’s new permitting software rollout in Honolulu has caused significant delays in approving building permits, and the director attributes the slowdowns to “growing pains” as the system is refined and stabilized. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/02/2025
Things to do on Big Island Oct 2nd to Oct 8th. (Source: Big Island Now)
10/02/2025
The Maui County Urban Design Review Board will review plans on Oct. 7 for the proposed Kahului Civic Center project, which combines a civic center with offices, classrooms, and a library innovation space alongside 303 affordable rental units for households earning 30–60% of area median income. (Source: Maui Now)
10/02/2025
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is exploring a partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to use DHHL’s special development powers to build housing for Native Hawaiians on its Kakaako Makai lands, potentially bypassing the longstanding residential ban but facing community, environmental, and regulatory hurdles. (Source: Civil Beat)
10/02/2025
Hawaii’s tourism downturn, driven by declining visitor arrivals, economic headwinds, and the Hawaii Convention Center closure, is prompting layoffs, reduced worker hours, and stalled job growth across the state’s visitor industry despite modest gains in overall visitor spending. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/30/2025
A U.S. government shutdown could modestly lower mortgage rates due to a flight to safe assets, but also cause delays or complications - especially for government-backed loans (FHA, VA, USDA) and related services like IRS verifications or flood insurance. (Source: US News)
09/30/2025
The County of Kauai’s Housing Agency will open applications for its 2026 Community Development Block Grants starting Friday, with a deadline of November 13, and will host both virtual and in-person meetings to guide applicants. (Source: Kauai Now)
09/28/2025
Foreign investors, including Mitsubishi, are increasingly redirecting capital away from U.S. real estate toward more stable markets like the U.K., reflecting growing concerns over policy uncertainty, regulatory risk, and a softening of U.S. foreign investment flows. (Source: Propmodo)
09/28/2025
Modular homebuilder Fading West is aiming to help restore the American Dream of affordable homeownership by producing high-quality, factory-built homes in about seven days, offering faster, more sustainable, and lower-cost alternatives to traditional construction while addressing both disaster relief and the nationwide housing shortage. (Source: CNBC)
09/27/2025Compass is set to acquire Anywhere Real Estate in a $4.2 billion all-stock deal, integrating major brokerage brands such as Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s International Realty, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Corcoran Group, and ERA Real Estate into its portfolio.
09/26/2025
Maui fire officials say the Holomua Fire likely started intentionally, originating from two separate spots and prompting a police investigation. (Source: Maui Now)
09/26/2025
Tadashi Yanai, Uniqlo’s owner, is donating $750,000 to Maui nonprofits to support the community after the PGA Tour’s cancellation of The Sentry tournament, which historically boosted the island’s economy and charitable contributions. (Source: PBN)
09/26/2025
Hawaii is seeing record interest from developers in building affordable housing, with 35 project applications in 2025 and federal funding changes expected to support the creation of up to 9,000 additional units over the next decade. Despite this progress, the state still faces a significant shortfall, needing 64,490 more housing units by 2027, while current construction rates fall far short of demand. (Source: PBN)
09/26/2025
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi defended the city's new $7 million building permit system, acknowledging initial issues since its August 4 launch but urging patience during the transition period. (Source: Civil Beat)
09/25/2025
The state-run Ka Lai Ola temporary housing complex in Lahaina, comprising 450 units built in about 18 months, is now complete and poised to house up to 1,500 wildfire survivors who are ineligible for FEMA aid. (Source: Maui Now)
09/25/2025
Billionaire Larry Ellison’s company Pulama Lanai will shut down its rock and concrete division - a part of its vacation-home development arm - eliminating 15 jobs (about 4% of its workforce) and shifting those functions to outside contractors. (Source: Civil Beat)
09/25/2025
The State of Hawaii signed two key agreements with its private partner to demolish the old Aloha Stadium and begin building a new 22,500-seat multi-use facility and surrounding 73-acre mixed-use development, slated for completion in 2029. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/24/2025
The Holomua Fire in Paia, Maui, which ignited yesterday, has burned approximately 380 acres and is now 50% contained, with no forward progress reported overnight. (Source: Maui Now)
09/24/2025
Yelp has released its 2025 list of Top 100 Coffee Shops, with six Hawaii coffee shops making the list and two making the top five. Notably, Rainbeau Jo’s on Kauai was ranked No.3. (Source: PBN)
09/24/2025
Maui Land & Pineapple Co. has countered allegations by Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai's TY Management, accusing them of using water designated for wildfire protection to irrigate golf courses during a severe drought, while asserting that its irrigation system is properly maintained. (Source: Civil Beat)
09/22/2025
The Honolulu rail project is entering a costly and uncertain phase, with lawsuits, unresolved station costs, potential contractor change orders, and fluctuating tax revenues raising new financial risks for HART despite assurances it can finish the shortened line within budget. (Source: Civil Beat)
09/22/2025
Kauai’s Real Property Division has launched an online home exemption application system, developed with TrueRoll and Tyler Technologies, allowing residents to easily apply and upload documents from any device instead of submitting paper forms in person or by mail. (Source: Kauai Now)
09/21/2025
Despite the Fed cutting its benchmark rate, investors sold longer-term bonds on inflation and policy concerns, pushing Treasury and mortgage yields higher instead of lower. (Source: CNBC)
09/17/2025Ward Village has opened Ka Lai o Kukuluaeo Park, a nearly 26,000-square-foot green space with paths, seating, a playground, and native plantings next to its Ulana Ward Village condo. (Source: KITV)
09/17/2025
Hilton Hawaiian Village will add a 36-story, 515-room Ala Moana Boulevard Tower starting construction in 2025, a project expected to run through 2029. (Source: PBN)
09/17/2025Michael Dell, through a fund tied to his family trust, bought the 491 acres of land under the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and its golf course from Kamehameha Schools for $400 million, giving him rare fee-simple ownership of the resort after nearly two decades of holding only its lease. (Source: PBN)
09/17/2025
The PGA Tour has canceled its 2025 Sentry tournament at Kapalua’s Plantation Course - owned by Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai - because Maui’s severe drought and water restrictions have left the course unable to meet PGA standards. (Source: Civil Beat)
09/15/2025
Kauai residents shared ideas at two Hawaii Tourism Authority meetings on how to better manage tourism while protecting locals’ quality of life, suggesting measures such as shuttles, extended transit hours, parking improvements, visitor education, trail rangers, QR-code information, and even a pre-arrival app, with feedback feeding into an updated Destination Management Action Plan. (Source: Kauai Now)
09/15/2025
Shohei Ohtani and his agent have asked a Hawaii court to dismiss a lawsuit accusing them of interfering in a $240 million Big Island real estate project, arguing that the plaintiffs misused Ohtani’s name and likeness without permission. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
09/15/2025Giovedì, an Italian-Asian restaurant at 10 North Hotel Street in Honolulu’s Chinatown, has been named one of Bon Appétit’s 20 Best New Restaurants of 2025 - the only Hawaii establishment on the list and the first from the state since Maui’s Lineage in 2019. (Source: PBN)
09/15/2025
Honolulu’s City Council is advancing Bill 51, which would expand and rename the Fort Street Mall Special Improvement District as the Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District to fund enhanced cleaning, safety, and revitalization efforts in the area through special assessments on nonresidential property owners. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/13/2025
Maui's condo median price fell to $650,000 from $1 million in August 2025, driven by uncertainty over short-term rental regulations. (Source: PBN)
09/13/2025
Maui County has implemented a "Stage 2" water shortage in West Maui due to low stream flow and anticipated severe drought conditions, imposing strict water use restrictions, limiting irrigation to one day per week, and requiring a 20% reduction in agricultural water use. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/12/2025
Maui County’s Department of Planning is inviting residents to attend September workshops to share ideas and feedback for the Central Maui Community Plan update, helping guide future land use, preservation, and development. (Source: Maui Now)
09/12/2025
Waikiki’s transformation from wetlands to a global tourism hub has generated generational wealth for Hawaiian trusts and entrepreneurial families that own its land, but rare recent sales - such as the Steiner family’s $215 million deal - signal a gradual shift of control toward Mainland and overseas investors. (Source: PBN)
09/12/2025
Kauai County’s new zoning code now allows historic plantation camp cottages to be restored and modestly expanded, potentially creating a model for affordable housing while preserving West Kauai’s century-old workforce communities. (Source: Civil Beat)
09/12/2025
Hawaii’s new 34-member SPEED Task Force has begun work on streamlining the state’s complex, vacancy-plagued building permit process to accelerate construction and economic development. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/11/2025
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s estate at 75-5530 Kona Bay Drive in Kona is on the market for $49 million. (Source: PBN)
09/11/2025
Honolulu’s City Council advanced Bill 60, allowing the rail agency HART to begin planning - but not building - a potential 3.2-mile Skyline extension from its current terminus in Kakaako to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/10/2025
Mortgage applications surged to a three-year high as 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell to 6.49%, driving a 12% weekly jump in refinancing and a 7% increase in home purchase applications. (Source: CNBC)
09/09/2025
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is preparing to award more than 1,100 residential project leases on Maui, with construction beginning in 2026–2027 and occupancy from 2028–2030, offering beneficiaries earlier lease access and multiple paths to homeownership as part of DHHL’s broader plan to issue over 6,000 project leases statewide within the next two years. (Source: Maui Now)
09/09/2025
Beth Fukumoto argues that Hawaii’s housing shortage is an infrastructure shortage, and solving it requires steady, predictable public investment in essentials like water, sewer, and transit — using financing tools such as tax increment financing and infrastructure banks, as other states and countries have done — so developers can build affordable homes without passing massive upfront costs to buyers and renters. (Source: Civil Beat)
09/09/2025
Hawaii homeowners are scrambling to install rooftop solar and battery systems before the 30% federal tax credit ends Dec. 31, overwhelming solar companies, straining utility and permit processing, and raising concerns about a sharp industry downturn and setback to the state’s clean energy goals. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/08/2025Oahu’s housing market slowed in August as single-family home sales rose slightly while prices dipped, condo sales fell modestly with flat pricing trends, and longer market times reflected cautious buyer demand despite easing mortgage rates. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/08/2025
Hawaii’s housing agency plans to buy unsold units at The Block 803 Waimanu in Kakaako to protect its $9.8 million loan, launching a rent-to-own program that could let local buyers purchase at discounted prices while the state seeks to recover its investment. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/07/2025
Mortgage rates saw their biggest one-day drop in over a year Friday, with the 30-year fixed falling 16 basis points to 6.29%. (Source: NBC News)
09/07/2025Ilima has a condo under contract for over $40 million, setting a new record for Hawaii’s highest-priced high-rise condo and surpassing the previous $27.5 million benchmark at Park Lane Ala Moana.
09/05/2025
Hawaii’s wealthiest ZIP codes are increasingly centered on Oahu’s luxury condominium market - particularly Ala Moana, Kakaako and Ward Village - while high-end single-family homes remain dominant on the Neighbor Islands, with median luxury prices and buyer demographics shifting across the state. (Source: PBN)
09/04/2025
A University of Hawaii at Manoa study urges standardized building elevation guidelines that account for future sea-level rise, highlighting Hawaii’s vulnerability and providing policymakers with approaches to strengthen coastal resilience against climate change. (Source: Kauai Now)
09/05/2025Ulana Ward Village is near completion and there is limited inventory available (listings do not show online). Please contact Sanni Tribler (R) for inventory details (808) 728-5612 / Sanni@HawaiiLiving.com.
09/04/2025Kahuina Update: The developer is awaiting their Public Report approval and final unit pricing, which is expected to be soon. Once that approval comes through, things will move quickly. The showroom is open for private tours.
09/03/2025
Across the US, new homes are temporarily selling for less than existing ones - a rare reversal driven by builder incentives, smaller home sizes, and excess inventory - while existing owners, locked into low-rate mortgages, hold firm on prices, a trend economists expect may last a year or two but not become the new normal. (Source: Forbes)
09/03/2025
NBC News has launched a monthly Home Buyer Index, scoring housing difficulty from 0–100 based on cost, competition, scarcity, and economic instability, with July’s national score at 81.1, reflecting persistently tough conditions despite slight easing from last year. (Source: NBC News)
09/03/2025
A 27.38-acre culturally significant beachfront parcel at Waikoloa Beach Resort has been permanently protected and returned to Native Hawaiian descendants. (Source: Big Island Now)
09/03/2025
Husband-and-wife team Taylor and Natasha Ponte opened upscale restaurant Aurum Maui at The Shops at Wailea in July, staffing nearly half of their 21 kitchen positions with University of Hawaii Maui College culinary graduates, including several of Taylor’s former classmates and mentees. (Source: Maui Now)
09/03/2025
Rocker Sammy Hagar purchased a $16.3 million beachfront home at 4077 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, downsizing from his former 10-acre Haiku estate while continuing his long-standing ties and business ventures in Hawaii. (Source: PBN)
09/02/2025The Shops at Wailea will host free September entertainment including weekly Wednesday concerts, a Henry Kapono signature show (Sept. 12), a USAF Band of the Pacific performance (Sept. 19), and complimentary Wednesday yoga classes. (Source: Maui Now)
09/02/2025
Japan arrivals to Hawaii, down 3.2% year-over-year through June 2025, are rebounding in the second half with stronger bookings, airline seat growth, and holiday boosts, giving the market a chance to finish the year flat or slightly above 2024 levels. (Source: Star Advertiser)
09/01/2025
Investor purchases of U.S. homes dipped from 32% in January to 29% in June 2025 but remain historically high, with medium-sized investors driving recent gains. (Source: The World Property Journal)
08/29/2025
A new $168 million, 25-story affordable housing project called Naulu Apartments has opened in Halawa, adding 302 units for households earning 30–60% of the area median income, with rents locked in for at least 61 years. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
08/29/2025
Hawaii saw a 4.4% drop in visitor arrivals and a 4.3% drop in spending statewide in July 2025 compared to last year, while Kauai bucked the trend with a 5.6% increase in arrivals, though spending there dipped slightly. (Source: Kauai Now)
08/29/2025
The cruise industry has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Hawaii’s new tourism tax - which includes an 11% levy on cruise passenger fares to fund climate change mitigation - arguing it is unconstitutional and would make Hawaii cruises prohibitively expensive. (Source: KHON2)
08/29/2025The Capital Grille will open its first Hawaii location on September 10 at Lilia Waikiki on Kuhio Avenue, bringing the upscale steakhouse chain’s fine dining, extensive wine list, and valet service to Waikiki. (Source: PBN)
08/28/2025
Chinese operatives have funneled over $53.7 billion through U.S. real estate using shell companies, money mules, and advanced laundering tactics, including “daigou” buyers and counterfeit documents, fueling transnational crime and evading capital controls. (Source: Ticker)
08/28/2025
Firefighters responded to a 2-alarm house fire in Aina Haina early Thursday, quickly containing the blaze in about 40 minutes, with a neighboring home damaged and a 73-year-old man treated on scene, while the cause remains under investigation. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
08/28/2025
Oahu residents overwhelmingly urged the Hawaii Tourism Authority to implement stronger tourism management, citing overcrowding, strained resources, and negative impacts on daily life, while emphasizing that past plans have been ineffective without meaningful enforcement or action. (Star Advertiser)
08/27/2025The Plantation and Bay courses at Kapalua Resort will close for 60 days starting Sept. 2 to restore dying grass caused by West Maui’s water restrictions, as part of efforts to ensure the PGA Tour’s Sentry tournament can proceed in January and preserve its $50 million economic impact and charitable contributions. (Source: Maui Now)
08/27/2025
The Maui County Council postponed a vote on the Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua affordable housing project in Waiehu to allow additional public testimony, following a split debate between members pushing for immediate approval and those seeking more transparency and review. (Source: Maui Now)
08/27/2025
A wildfire at Schofield Barracks has burned roughly 250 acres and is 30% contained, with no threat to homes, as Army firefighters and helicopters continue to combat the blaze. (Source: KITV)
08/27/2025
Construction has started on Kauhale O Namahana, an 11-home affordable housing project in Kilauea, Kauai, funded by Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Weinberg Foundation, where buyers will own the homes while a community land trust retains the land to ensure long-term affordability for local residents. (Source: PBN)
08/27/2025
A judge dismissed Hitachi Rail Honolulu’s $324 million lawsuit against HART and the City of Honolulu over alleged rail project delays, citing failure to follow required dispute resolution procedures, though Hitachi could refile after completing that process. (Source: Star Advertiser)
08/27/2025Roseanne Barr has listed her 46-acre macadamia nut farm, located at 47-4567 Honokaa Waipio Rd on the Big Island, for $1.95 million, ending nearly two decades of ownership marked by past controversies and occasional use as a retreat and TV show backdrop. (Source: Star Advertiser)
08/25/2025
Entry-level first-time homes are the best inventory now, says UBS’ John Lovallo. (Source: CNBC)
08/25/2025Empire Steak House, known for its NY roots, has recently opened at the Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki, offering upscale steakhouse dining, Friday-night fireworks views, and 30% off a bottle of wine when diners mention KHON2. (Source: KHON2)
08/25/2025
Waikiki’s new Elevated Safety Ambassador Program, launched by the Waikiki Business Improvement District to supplement Honolulu Police Department efforts, deploys trained, body-camera-equipped ambassadors to deter crime, enforce rules, and provide outreach, achieving hundreds of interventions in its first two weeks. (Source: Star Advertiser)
08/24/2025
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s signal that rate cuts may be coming could help homeowners with high-rate mortgages refinance at lower costs, since mortgage rates often follow Treasury yields that respond to Fed policy. (Source: CNBC)
08/24/2025
Maui County’s proposed Bill 9 would phase out more than 7,000 short-term rentals in apartment districts over three to five years, aiming to boost long-term housing supply after the 2023 wildfires, but many condo owners and associations are considering lawsuits if it passes. Legal experts say the bill could face constitutional challenges over property rights, though recent state law clarifying county authority and the phased timeline may strengthen its chances of withstanding court scrutiny. (Source: Maui Now)
08/24/2025
Aloha Halawa District Partners, led by Stanford Carr, is set to redevelop the 98-acre Aloha Stadium site into the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District with a $475 million, 22,500-seat multipurpose stadium surrounded by mixed-use development, including 4,500 homes, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The project, supported by renowned firms Populous and The Cordish Companies, is expected to cost $5–6 billion over 25 years, with the new stadium targeted for completion by March 2029 and designed to host year-round sports and entertainment events. (Source: Star Advertiser).
See concepts for Aloha Stadium aerial and inside Aloha Stadium - renderings courtesy of Aloha Halawa District Partners.
08/23/2025
Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai and others have sued Maui Land & Pineapple over alleged failure to maintain the Honokohau Ditch System, causing severe water shortages in West Maui and threatening closure of Kapalua’s golf courses and the PGA Tour’s The Sentry tournament. (Source: Maui Now)
08/22/2025
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted unanimously to form a Temporary Investigative Group to examine policies for vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts as it considers Bill 9, which would phase out over 7,000 units. The TIG will gather input from stakeholders and deliver recommendations by Dec. 31 to help address economic, zoning, and implementation concerns tied to the proposed phase-out. (Source: Maui Now)
08/22/2025
A recent Hawaii Supreme Court ruling extending the statute of limitations for mortgage foreclosures to 20 years has raised concerns among community groups that lenders could revive long-dormant debts, disproportionately impacting vulnerable homeowners across the state. (Source: Maui Now)
08/22/2025
Hunt Capital Partners has begun Phase II of Uahi Ridge, a 154-unit sustainable affordable housing project in Lihue aimed at addressing Kauai’s severe shortage of low-income rental homes. (Source: PBN)
08/22/2025
Kamehameha Schools has not disclosed its long-term plans for Kamilo Nui Valley, leaving Hawaiʻi Kai’s last remaining farmlands and their tenants in limbo after most 50-year leases expired in 2024 and were only renewed for one year. The lack of transparency has fueled fears of future development, echoing the school’s history of displacing farmers for housing projects despite growing calls to preserve agricultural land and support local food production. (Source: Civil Beat)
08/21/2025
Maui County’s Housing Committee unanimously advanced the 303-unit Kaiahale ʻo Kahiluhilu affordable housing project in Kahului despite criticism from West Maui Council Member Tamara Paltin, who argued it received a water availability exemption not afforded to desperately needed West Maui housing projects like Pulelehua. (Source: Maui Now)
08/21/2025
Hawaii-based Steiner family sold six land parcels under the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, which they had owned for over a century, to Texas-based Montgomery Street Partners for $215 million - the largest Waikiki real estate deal of the year. (Source: PBN)
08/20/2025
If you are a homeowner in Honolulu County and have questions about home exemptions, property dedications or real property assessment then you can join a free "Open House" arranged by the Honolulu Board of Realtors - see details here.
08/20/2025
Maui Mayor Bissen signed two bills approving the long-debated Honuaʻula project in South Maui, allowing 1,150 homes — including at least 288 workforce units — while requiring highway widening and capping annual market-unit construction. Supporters say it provides needed housing, while opponents argue it reduces affordable housing commitments compared to earlier plans and grants excessive profit to the developer. (Source: Maui Now)
08/20/2025
Maui Land & Pineapple Co. is being sued by billionaire Tadashi Yanai’s Kapalua Golf, several Kapalua homeowners’ associations, and a local farm, who allege the company has mismanaged the Honokohau Ditch water system—causing shortages, higher rates, crop losses, and increased wildfire risks. (Source: Star Advertiser)
08/13/2025
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.67% last week, the lowest since early April, spurring a 23% jump in refinancing applications but only a 1% rise in purchase applications amid still-high home prices; Bank of Hawaii’s comparable rate is currently about 6%. The drop comes as markets anticipate a possible Federal Reserve rate cut in September due to cooling labor market conditions and stable inflation, though some Fed officials remain cautious. (Source: Star Advertiser)
08/13/2025
The Maui Planning Commission approved a scaled-down reconstruction of Stanley and Dilara Deal’s Lahaina oceanfront home, reducing the size by about 10% to 3,255 square feet and imposing design, water conservation, landscaping, and shoreline certification conditions to address community and cultural concerns. The decision, made under old shoreline rules, drew opposition from some residents who argued it sets a troubling precedent for rebuilding in a coastal hazard zone vulnerable to sea-level rise and erosion. (Source: Maui Now)
08/12/2025
Honolulu’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) program, intended to boost housing supply, has fallen far short of expectations, with only about 1,320 units built since 2015—roughly half the city’s annual target—due to factors like sewer capacity limits, small lot sizes, high costs, and a slow permitting process. (Source: Civil Beat)
08/12/2025
A Hawaii developer and broker are suing Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, alleging they used celebrity leverage to have them removed from a $240 million luxury housing project on the Big Island’s Hapuna Coast that Ohtani had been brought in to endorse. The lawsuit claims Ohtani’s agent demanded increasing concessions, pressured their business partner to terminate them, and caused the plaintiffs to lose millions in anticipated profits and commissions. (Source: KHON2)
08/11/2025
Phase 3 of Honolulu’s $1.4 billion Skyline rail project has begun, adding six new stations and three miles of elevated guideway from Middle Street to Civic Center, with construction expected to impact roads in Kalihi, Iwilei, Downtown, Chinatown, and Kakaako. Work will run mainly weekdays with some Saturdays, and the full rail extension remains on track for completion by 2030. (Source: KHON2)
08/11/2025
Oahu’s housing market slowed in July, with single-family home sales down 7.4% year-over-year and median prices for both single-family homes and condos declining, while active inventory rose sharply. Homes and condos stayed on the market longer as buyers took more time to decide, aided by slightly lower mortgage rates compared to earlier this year. (Source: PBN)
08/05/2025
Honolulu has canceled a $500,000 study on implementing an empty homes tax, a move that surprised supporters of the bill who were waiting on the study's final results to guide policy decisions. While Council Chair Tommy Waters still plans to reintroduce the tax bill, the study’s cancellation raises doubts about its future, with critics suggesting the quiet termination could let the measure die without a formal rejection. (Source: Civil Beat)
08/05/2025
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting has launched HNL Build, a new permitting software designed to streamline building permit processes and reduce delays by requiring all documents to be submitted upfront and integrating features like GIS mapping. (Source: Star Advertiser)
08/05/2025
A new report from UHERO shows that nearly two years after the Maui wildfires, over half of fire-affected households have transitioned into permanent housing, and market rental rates for smaller units have begun to decline from their post-disaster peaks. However, the recovery remains uneven, with many still facing economic hardship, high unemployment among fire-affected residents, and a tourism industry that remains significantly below pre-fire levels. (Source: Star Advertiser)
08/04/2025
The City and County of Honolulu has selected nonprofit EAH Housing as its preferred partner to redevelop 436 Ena Road in Waikiki into long-term affordable rental housing under a ground lease. The project, part of a broader affordable housing initiative, will involve a full redevelopment of the currently vacant site, with a focus on quality, sustainability, and lasting community benefit. (Source: Star Advertiser)
07/28/2025
Kauai County has unveiled plans for Waimea 400, a 417-acre master-planned development featuring 380 affordable housing units, a sports complex, and various community amenities between Kekaha and Waimea. Construction is expected to begin in about two years, following environmental review and entitlement approvals, with strong community involvement anticipated throughout the process. (Source: PBN)
07/27/2025
The U.S. new home market is cooling significantly, with June 2025 data showing declining sales, rising inventory, and falling prices as high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty deter buyers. (Source: Fortune)
07/27/2025
Hundreds of Haleiwa residents have signed a petition opposing the proposed Haleiwa Backyards housing project, which would add about 150 long-term rental units—roughly half of them affordable—behind the Ace Hardware store. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
07/25/2025Kahuina - a proposed condo in Our Kakaako - is expected to start sales soon.
07/25/2025
A Maui County Council committee has passed a controversial bill in a 6-3 vote to ban short-term vacation rentals in approximately 6,100 condominium units, aiming to help restore long-term housing lost to the Lahaina wildfire. The bill, which targets condos on apartment-zoned land built before 1989, will phase in the ban starting in 2029 for West Maui and 2031 for the rest of the county, though concerns remain about legal challenges, economic fallout, and fairness to property owners. (Source: Star Advertiser)
07/24/2025
Maui County is now enforcing historic district design guidelines more consistently for Lahaina wildfire rebuilds following an April agreement with the State Historic Preservation Division, making the county the main point of contact and requiring compliance before permits are issued. Officials say updated guidelines, public input, and clearer processes aim to preserve Lahaina’s historic character during recovery. (Source: Maui Now)
07/24/2025
Maui County officials defended Bill 9, a proposal to phase out short-term vacation rentals in about 6,100 pre-1991 condo units, as a necessary step to ease the island’s housing crisis, despite mixed reactions from council members and concerns about economic and legal impacts. While some council members pushed for urgent action to stop the commodification of homes, others questioned the bill’s effectiveness, data support, and consequences for tourism, job loss, and litigation. (Source: Star Advertiser)
07/23/2025
HCDA is proposing the development of 3 condos in Kakaako on the HECO Ward Ave site, the Jack in the Box site and somewhere on Waimanu St between Kamakee St and Ward Ave.
07/23/2025
Concerns have emerged over iwi kūpuna (ancestral remains) as Mark Zuckerberg’s Kauai estate expands to over 2,000 acres, with some Native Hawaiians, like Julian Ako, saying access to family burial sites has been restricted. While the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative says it follows legal protocols and maintains the burial areas, Ako fears non-disclosure agreements with workers may hinder the proper reporting of ancestral remains. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
07/23/2025
Maui County Council is resuming deliberations on Bill 9 (2025), a proposal to phase out transient vacation rentals in apartment districts, with the Housing and Land Use Committee meeting on July 23. Council member Tasha Kama is mailing a countywide newsletter to provide residents with simplified, accurate information about the bill and direct them to additional resources online. (Source: Maui Now)
07/21/2025
In the first half of 2025, Hawaii’s housing market showed mixed results: condo sales declined statewide, while single-family home sales rose only on Kauai and the Big Island. Median condo prices fell on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island but rose on Kauai, and single-family home prices varied—with Maui remaining flat, Oahu and the Big Island increasing, and Kauai seeing a significant price drop. (Source: PBN)
07/21/2025
Nearly two years after the Maui wildfires, the privately funded ‘Ohana Hope Village—an 88-unit temporary housing project—nears completion in Kahului, delayed by infrastructure challenges, permitting issues, and a complicated water connection that pushed the budget from $14 million to $20 million. Despite setbacks, 44 units are already housing survivors, and the remaining homes are expected to be ready by September, offering much-needed shelter as federal housing aid nears expiration. (Source: Maui Now)
07/19/2025
The developer of Īlima and Melia — two proposed ultra-luxury condominiums in Ward Village — has officially commenced sales for all prospective buyers, including investors, second-home seekers, and primary residence purchasers.
07/19/2025Ward Village is seeing a wave of growth in 2024, with ten new restaurants and retailers opening or set to open across its shopping districts, including Tonkatsu Kuro, Westman Cafe, and Jules & Gem. As part of its continued development, Howard Hughes plans further commercial and residential upgrades, including the demolition of Ward Centre to make way for two new luxury condos, Ilima and Melia. (Source: PBN)
07/19/2025
The 92-room Ewa Hotel Waikiki has been listed for sale at $21 million as a leasehold property expiring in 2045, offering potential buyers the opportunity to rebrand or change management. CBRE brokers handling the sale say it's a rare Waikiki hotel listing and are targeting investors from Asia and the U.S. mainland. (Source: PBN)
07/16/2025
International buyers spent $56 billion on U.S. residential real estate between April 2024 and March 2025, a 33% increase from the previous year. Chinese buyers led the surge, with nearly half of all international purchases made in cash, reflecting confidence in the U.S. as a stable, desirable place to invest in real estate. (Source: Robb Report)
07/15/2025
A judge has ruled against Starwood Capital Group’s plan to build luxury homes on a former Princeville golf course located on a site known as an “anthrax graveyard,” siding with residents who argued the development violated Princeville’s original land-use agreements and posed public health risks. The ruling enforces a perpetual open-space restriction based on the community’s covenants, blocking the project and protecting the land from future development unless 75% of homeowners vote otherwise. (Source: Civil Beat)
07/14/2025
After a 14-year legal battle, developer Haseko agreed to pay $40 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by homeowners who were promised a marina in the ʻEwa Ocean Pointe/Hoakalei development but instead received a lagoon with no ocean access. (Source: Civil Beat)
07/12/2025
Honolulu City Council is considering Bill 51 to create the Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District (BID), expanding the existing Fort Street Mall district to enhance public safety, cleanliness, infrastructure, and economic activity through a $1.9 million annual budget funded by nonresidential property owners. (Source: Star Advertiser)
07/11/2025
The City & County of Honolulu plans to ban parking along Lanikai’s one-way loop and limit side street parking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to reduce chronic beach traffic congestion, with additional efforts including more bus service, bike racks, and redesigned drop-off zones. The full implementation, which may take up to three years, follows a decade of observation and community input aimed at restoring neighborhood access without restricting public beach use. (Source: Civil Beat)
07/09/2025
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting will launch its new online permitting system, HNL Build, on August 4, replacing the outdated POSSE and ePlans systems to improve efficiency, transparency, and user experience. Built on Salesforce and offering features like real-time tracking, online payments, and centralized permit information, the system aims to modernize Oahu’s development processes, with all in-progress applications automatically transferring over. (Source: PBN)
07/09/2025
A proposed Haleiwa development featuring up to 156 two-bedroom rental units and 30,000 square feet of commercial space is under Honolulu City Council review as it seeks a land use reclassification from agricultural to urban to move forward. While local trade unions and city planning officials support the project for addressing workforce housing needs, many North Shore residents strongly oppose it, citing traffic concerns and claims that it contradicts the rural character outlined in the North Shore Sustainable Communities Plan. (Source: Star Advertiser)
07/07/2025
In 2024, Matt Cox of Matson Inc. was the highest-paid CEO of a Hawaii-based publicly traded company, with $6.15 million in total compensation—85% of it performance-based. Bob Harrison of First Hawaiian Bank had the highest base salary at $1.04 million and ranked second in total pay at $5.4 million. Hawaiian Electric’s Scott Seu initially received $6.5 million, but returned his $1.7 million incentive pay following the Lahaina wildfire tragedy, placing him third overall. Other notable changes included large compensation jumps for Peter Ho of Bank of Hawaii and Race Randle of Maui Land & Pineapple, the latter seeing a nearly 388% increase due to stock options. (Source: PBN)
07/07/2025
Hawaii is facing a property insurance crisis driven by climate-related disasters, like the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, and surging reinsurance costs, leading to skyrocketing premiums and policy non-renewals—especially for condos. In response, the state passed Senate Bill 1044, reactivated the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, expanded the Hawaii Property Insurance Association’s role, and created a loan program for condo safety upgrades. These measures aim to stabilize the market, ensure continued insurance availability, and encourage climate resilience across Hawaii’s housing sector. (Source: KHON2)
07/06/2025
Construction progress: Alia, Kalae and Ulana.
07/06/2025The Pig and the Lady will close its Chinatown location on August 22 and reopen this fall in Kaimuki at 3650 Waialae Avenue as its new flagship restaurant. The new location will maintain its popular Vietnamese comfort food menu, with added outdoor seating, a full bar, and expanded dine-in and takeout services. (Source: KHON2)
07/05/2025
Homeowner’s insurance premiums are rising sharply across the U.S. due to more frequent and severe natural disasters, higher housing costs, and insurers facing mounting losses. As a result, insurance costs are becoming a significant factor in affordability. (Source: CNBC)
07/02/2025
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee has recessed deliberations on Bill 9, which proposes phasing out vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas of South and West Maui, until July 23 after spending over six hours in a closed session with county attorneys. (Source: Maui Now)
07/02/2025
Honolulu is not enforcing a key provision of its 2019 short-term rental law—which requires platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo to submit monthly booking reports—because of a lawsuit settlement with the Kokua Coalition, representing vacation rental owners, who claimed the law violated privacy rights. (Source: Civil Beat)
07/02/2025
More than 45,000 residents in Hawaii’s public housing will gain access to high-speed fiber internet within 60 days through a $6 million Hawaiian Telcom-funded project connecting 81 Hawaii Public Housing Authority properties across four islands. (Source: Star Advertiser)
07/01/2025
Hawaii condo associations can now apply for hurricane insurance through the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund (HHRF), offering temporary coverage relief amid soaring private market premiums. The program, reactivated under an emergency proclamation, is expected to help up to 1,020 buildings and aims to bridge the gap until the private insurance market stabilizes. The state emphasizes that HHRF is not intended to compete with private insurers but to ensure coverage availability during a market crisis. (Source: PBN)
06/30/2025
A proposed 156-unit housing and commercial project in Haleiwa has drawn strong community opposition over concerns it threatens the area's rural character and agricultural land, despite developer claims it addresses housing needs. The project requires a zoning change from agricultural to urban, which the Honolulu City Council’s Zoning Committee has advanced for further review. (Source: Star Advertiser)
06/27/2025
Maui County Council is set to deliberate on Bill 9, a controversial proposal to phase out short-term vacation rentals that has sparked heated debate over housing access, economic impacts, and property rights, with more than 300 people testifying and legal experts predicting potential constitutional challenges. Supporters say the bill is crucial to reclaim housing for local residents and address Maui’s housing crisis, while opponents warn it could devastate tourism-related jobs and businesses, urging alternative solutions like converting vacation rentals into affordable housing through public acquisition. (Source: Maui Now)
06/27/2027
Toho Co., the Japanese film studio behind the original Godzilla, is listing its 33,000-square-foot lot near Ala Moana Center in Honolulu—formerly home to Teddy’s Bigger Burgers—as a high-rise development opportunity within the city's transit-oriented development zone. Though no permits have been filed, a conceptual plan for a 39-story affordable housing tower was created, and the site, assessed at $17.6 million, is being marketed without a listed price. (Source: PBN)
06/26/2025
Honolulu ranks 26th for best places to retire in the U.S. (Source: US News)
06/26/2025Tony’s Catch on Kauai was ranked the No. 1 food truck in the U.S. by Yelp in its 2025 Top 100 list, leading Hawaii’s strong showing with 25 trucks featured—more than any other state. (Source: PBN)
06/25/2025Victoria Place has been recognized at the 2025 PCBC Gold Nugget Awards, the oldest and most prestigious residential design awards in the nation. (Source: PCBC)
06/25/2025
During a heated Maui County Council hearing on Bill 9, which proposes phasing out short-term rentals in apartment-zoned areas, Pastor Jonavan Asato introduced an alternative; using vacation rental profits through a nonprofit to fund down payments for local residents, aiming to create long-term homeownership opportunities. While the concept drew interest, most testimony focused on the broader clash between housing access for locals and economic reliance on vacation rentals, with Bill 9 supporters citing social justice and community survival, and opponents warning of financial harm and unintended consequences. (Source: Maui Now)
06/24/2025
Despite an overall slowdown in Oahu’s housing market, luxury real estate sales rose 3% in May 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, driven primarily by strong activity in the $3 million to $5.99 million range. Luxury single-family home sales increased 14%, while luxury condo sales dropped 38% for the month but remain up 31% year-to-date. The median luxury home price rose 11% to $3.07 million, with top-performing neighborhoods including Kahala, Hawaii Loa Ridge, and Kakaako, reflecting continued demand for high-end properties. (Source: PBN)
06/24/2025
A trial is underway on Kauai over a proposed luxury hotel by Starwood Capital Group on the Makai Golf Course in Princeville, raising longstanding community concerns. Residents argue the land was designated as permanent open space under the original master plan and cite possible contamination risks from a rumored 1917 anthrax cattle burial site. While no building permits have been issued and no physical evidence of anthrax has been found, opponents hope the combination of health concerns and land-use disputes will halt the development. (Source: KITV)
06/24/2025
Wood-framed homes dominate U.S. housing due to tradition, cost, and familiarity, but they are vulnerable to fire, water damage, and extreme weather. In contrast, concrete offers superior durability, energy efficiency, and resistance to hazards but is underused in U.S. residential construction due to the high labor costs and complexity of cast-in-place methods. Precast concrete homes - manufactured off-site and assembled quickly - present a promising solution for affordable, resilient housing, with prototypes like the CRETE and Compact House demonstrating their potential for mass production, long lifespan, and reduced maintenance, while leveraging existing U.S. precast infrastructure. (Source: Civil Beat)
06/24/2025
Oahu property tax assessments are drawing criticism from local Realtor Dan Madden, who claims around 60,000 homes are overvalued based on his comparison of recent sale prices with city-assessed values. While the city defends its mass appraisal method as adhering to professional standards, Madden argues the 10% threshold for successful appeals is unfair and discourages valid challenges. (Source: Star Advertiser)
06/23/2025
Compass has filed a lawsuit against Zillow, accusing it of anticompetitive behavior by enforcing a new rule that requires any publicly marketed listings to be posted on Zillow within one day or be excluded from the platform. Compass argues the policy - dubbed the "Zillow ban" - is an attempt to control online real estate listings and undercuts its phased marketing strategy, which includes private and “coming soon” listings. The lawsuit highlights a broader industry conflict over who controls listing visibility, with Zillow claiming it’s promoting transparency for consumers, while Compass insists it's defending seller choice and marketing flexibility. (Source: CNN)
06/22/2025
A new study by Leave The Key Homebuyers finds that Hawaii is the least affordable state for aspiring homeowners, with the average resident needing nearly 29 years to save for a median-priced home due to high costs and low disposable income. California ranks second, requiring over 10 years of saving, followed by Utah, Arizona, Georgia, and Oregon. (Source: Realtor.com)
06/22/2025
Owners of Maui short-term vacation rentals argue that converting 6,100 units into long-term housing under Bill 9 would make them unaffordable for residents, but a University of Hawaii study finds otherwise, showing over 27,000 households could afford them due to falling home values and tax rates. Bill 9, if passed, would take effect in West Maui by 2028 and is seen by state and county leaders as a crucial step toward addressing Maui’s housing crisis. (Source: Star Advertiser)
06/20/2025
Doug Johnstone, Hawaii region president of Howard Hughes Holdings, leads the development of Ward Village in Kakaako — a transformation from an industrial and retail area into a high-rise residential and mixed-use community. The master plan has shifted over time to focus more on neighborhood livability, smaller retail formats, and expanded green spaces. Johnstone sees Ward Village as a model for smart urban growth in Honolulu, balancing dense development near transit and jobs with preserving open space and rural areas elsewhere on Oahu. (Source: PBN)
06/20/2025
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee heard testimony from nearly 70 people regarding Bill 9, which proposes phasing out grandfathered short-term vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas over three years. Supporters cite the urgent need for long-term housing following the 2023 wildfire crisis, while opponents, including Airbnb’s attorney and condo owners, warn of constitutional violations, economic harm, and ineffective housing gains. The hearing reflected deep community tensions, with more than 230 people signed up to testify and final testimony expected to conclude on June 23. (Source: Maui Now)
06/20/2025Muse Honolulu owner-occupant lottery will be held July 9th. Contact us for details.
06/19/2025
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, predicts a significant drop in mortgage rates in 2026 as inflation eases and the Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure to cut interest rates. Despite holding rates steady amid political and economic uncertainty, the Fed may act by late 2025 if inflation continues to decline. (Source: TheStreet)
06/19/2025
Honolulu’s Bill 7, enacted in 2019 to fast-track permits for affordable housing within 90 days, has largely failed to meet its goal, with no projects approved in that timeframe and most taking over a year — some nearly two. While the law intended to simplify development and offer incentives for affordable units, it has been bogged down by permit backlogs, code disputes, understaffing, and agency inefficiencies. Despite some success with a handful of completed projects, critics say the city missed a major opportunity to address the housing crisis and are calling for clearer processes and cultural change within the permitting department. (Source: Civil Beat)
06/18/2025
Housing starts across the U.S. fell 9.8% in May 2025 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,256,000, the lowest since 2020, driven by a sharp drop in multifamily construction and a modest 0.4% rise in single-family starts, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD. (Source: Inman)
06/18/2025
The Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged in June 2025 maintains high borrowing costs, with credit card rates above 20%, auto loan rates at 7.3% for new cars and 11% for used, and 30-year mortgage rates at 6.91%, impacting affordability for consumers. Despite pressure from President Trump for a rate cut, the Fed's stance reflects economic uncertainties. (Source: CNBC)
06/16/2025
The Kahikinui brush fire in East Maui, which grew to 500 acres by 7 p.m. on June 15th, prompted evacuation orders for 30-40 homes near Mile Markers 24-25, with no containment reported and Piilani Highway reopening at Mile 27.5 by 7:51 p.m. (Source: Maui Now)
06/16/2025
A corrupt Hawaii County housing specialist, Alan Rudo, and his partners exploited the affordable housing credit system, fraudulently obtaining nearly $11 million through unbuilt projects, prompting an FBI investigation and federal convictions for Rudo and three associates. (Source: Civil Beat)
06/15/2025
Local developer Robert Kurisu is bringing South Korea’s CU convenience store chain, with 18,500 locations, to Hawaii, starting with a flagship store in Honolulu’s Executive Centre by year-end 2025, marking CU’s first U.S. location. The stores will offer Korean products like gimbap, customizable drinks, and reimagined local dishes such as poke and musubi, aiming to provide affordable, modern options in response to Hawaii’s high cost of living. (Source: Star Advertiser)
06/15/2025
Five of the world’s richest real estate tycoons include Kushal Pal Singh ($18.7B, chairman emeritus of India’s DLF), Harry Triguboff ($19.7B, Australian apartment developer with Meriton), Donald Bren ($18.9B, chairman of California’s Irvine Company), Stephen Ross ($18.4B, CEO of Related Ross and Miami Dolphins owner), and Peter Woo ($13.2B, former chairman of Hong Kong’s Wheelock & Co.). Their wealth stems from strategic investments in diverse property portfolios, including apartments, office spaces, malls, and hotels. (Source: Yahoo! Finance)
06/13/2025
Maui County’s $1.56 billion fiscal year 2026 budget allocates $47 million to advance affordable housing, including $17.2 million for the Kaiaulu O Lanai project to build hundreds of homes on Lanai and $25 million for the 175-unit Līpoa Apartments in Kihei, alongside infrastructure like the $86 million Waiale Road extension to support over 1,000 homes. The budget addresses the housing crisis worsened by the 2023 wildfires and inflation but faces challenges from a potential $75 million tax revenue shortfall if Bill 9 phases out 6,127 vacation rentals, which the budget does not account for, and concerns over county job vacancies and insufficient deed restrictions to maintain long-term affordability. (Source: Civil Beat)
06/12/2025
In April and May 2025, Maui’s single-family home sales declined by 4.2% and 26.7% respectively compared to 2024, but median prices rose slightly to $1,380,000 (+6.2%) and $1,300,000 (+0.4%), while new listings dropped by around 9%. Condominium sales fell sharply by 40.7% in April and 16.9% in May, with median prices decreasing to $727,000 (-24.5%) and $762,500 (-10.3%), though new condo listings surged by 31% and 33.9%. (Source: Maui Now)
06/12/2025Oahu’s condo market has shifted to favor buyers, with inventory reaching a 20-year high of 7.1 months in May 2025, up 61.4% from 4.4 months in May 2024, driven by a 21.8% drop in sales due to soaring hurricane insurance costs, deferred maintenance, and high interest rates. (Source: PBN)
06/11/2025
Mortgage demand, across the US, surged to its highest level in over a month, with total application volume rising 12.5% week-over-week, driven by a 16% increase in refinance applications and a 10% rise in purchase applications, fueled by a 31% increase in housing inventory compared to last year. (Source: CNBC)
06/11/2025
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is advancing a 656-acre development in Hana's Wakiu area, featuring 78 residential lots, 65 subsistence agricultural lots, four pastoral lots, 30 kupuna housing units, and community spaces like a center, park, and solar energy system, aimed at addressing East Maui’s housing shortage for Native Hawaiians. (Source: Maui Now)
06/11/2025
Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi’s administration is seeking a developer for a 15.19-acre city-owned site in Kapolei to create a mixed-use, transit-oriented development with 600 to 800 affordable housing units, leveraging a 75-year ground lease and public-private partnership. The project, adjacent to the recently completed 401-unit Parkway Village, aims to transform underutilized land into affordable homes for working families, integrated with nearby amenities and the expanding Skyline rail system. The city’s Department of Housing and Land Management has issued a request for qualifications, with submissions due by July 21, 2025, and potential city funding to be determined based on developer proposals. (Source: Star Advertiser)
06/10/2025
Maui Mayor Bissen advocated for Bill 9 to phase out approximately 6,000 short-term vacation rentals in Maui’s apartment-zoned districts, arguing it’s critical to address the severe housing crisis exacerbated by the 2023 wildfires, as new construction can’t meet demand due to limited resources like water. The proposal faces opposition from vacation rental owners citing economic losses of $900 million and 1,900 jobs, but Bissen emphasized the human cost of inaction, urging the council to prioritize residents’ needs. The bill includes a three-year grace period and zoning change options. (Source: Maui Now)
06/10/2025
Oahu’s condo market saw a significant 22% drop in sales in May 2025, with months of remaining inventory reaching 7.1, the highest in over 25 years, giving buyers more selection, time, and negotiation power due to higher borrowing costs and rising maintenance fees. Single-family home sales declined by 6%, but median prices rose 8% to $1,175,000, while condo median prices slightly increased by 1% to $500,000, reflecting a steady but cautious market. (Source: Star Advertiser)
06/09/2025
The average annual hidden costs of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S. reached $21,400 in 2025, driven primarily by home maintenance ($8,808), with Hawaii and California exceeding $30,000 annually, while West Virginia and Mississippi are under $15,000. (Source: Bankrate)
06/09/2025
Grant Cardone, CEO of Cardone Capital, criticized Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, blaming high interest rates for causing a U.S. housing crisis by deterring buyers and keeping home prices elevated due to low demand. He argued that lower interest rates would increase market activity, bring investors and buyers back, and ultimately reduce prices by increasing supply. (Source: Fox Business)
06/09/2025
The Maui County Council is preparing for a public hearing on Bill 9, a vacation rental phase-out bill, with a large turnout expected for today's session starting at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers. The hearing will be televised live at 10 a.m. on Akaku Maui Community Media (Channel 53) and streamed online via Teams at http://tinyurl.com/HLU-Committee, with call-in testimony available at 1-808-977-4067 (code 461 899 61#). In-person testimony is accepted at the start of the meeting in the eighth-floor Council Chamber at 200 South High St., Wailuku. Written testimony can be submitted via eComment at mauicounty.us/agendas, emailed to HLU.committee@mauicounty.us, or mailed to HLU Committee, Maui County Council, 200 S. High St., Wailuku 96793. (Source: Maui Now)
06/08/2025
The Maui County Council will hold a public hearing on June 9 to consider Bill 9, which proposes phasing out thousands of short-term vacation rentals operating under the Minatoya list—grandfathered exemptions in apartment-zoned areas. If passed without amendments, these STRs would no longer be allowed, though proposed changes include delaying the phase-out to 2030 and exempting timeshares. Supporters argue the move is necessary to address the island’s severe housing shortage. (Source: KHON2)
06/08/2025
The Hawaii Legislature passed 320 bills during the 2025 session, and Governor Green has announced his intent to veto 19 of them. While Green has already signed 200 bills into law and the remaining 101 are expected to become law by July 9, he cited legal, fiscal, and implementation concerns for the veto list. The bills being considered for veto span a range of issues, including budget allocations, cannabis regulation, tax policy, historic preservation, and housing development. (Source: Maui Now)
06/08/2025
Senate Bill 1044, a bill awaiting Gov. Green’s signature, aimed at stabilizing Hawaii’s condominium insurance market by reactivating the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and updating the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to offer affordable coverage for condo owners grappling with rising premiums, triggered by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires and the 2021 Surfside collapse in Florida. The bill establishes a $20 million loan program through the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to fund critical maintenance, such as water piping and fire sprinklers, for aging condos, which are often over 30 years old and face deferred maintenance issues driving insurance costs. It sets strict conditions, including a five-year participation cap and mandatory rehabilitation plans, to ensure focus on residents most in need, while a state Insurance Division study will explore long-term solutions. (Source: Civil Beat)
06/05/2025Lahaina Roads, a 42-unit apartment complex on Front Street, one of the few residential buildings to survive the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire, is set to reopen on June 16, 2025, after nearly two years of repairs. (Source: Maui Now)
06/04/2025
The NBC News Home Buyer Index, measures the difficulty of buying a home across the United States on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher values indicating greater challenges. In April, the national index was 79.2, slightly down from March and a year ago, reflecting some easing in competition but persistent high costs and economic instability. The index, which tracks data back to 2012, shows homebuying was easiest in January 2013 (27.3) and hardest in October 2022 (89.7). (Source: NBC News)
06/04/2025
Mortgage demand across the United States fell 3.9% last week, marking a third consecutive weekly decline, despite a slight drop in the national average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate from 6.98% to 6.92% for conforming loans ($806,500 or less), according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. (Source: CNBC)
06/04/2025
Princeville residents are suing Starwood Capital Group to block a luxury vacation rental development on the Makai Golf Woods Course, a designated open space, due to start in March 2026. The lawsuit cites a public health risk from anthrax-contaminated soil, where 300–400 cattle were buried shallowly after a 1917 outbreak, as documented in historical records. Anthrax spores, with a half-life of about 100 years, could persist and pose a threat if disturbed. The group also argues the development violates Princeville’s Master Plan, which mandates permanent open space, and its legally binding covenants. The lawsuit seeks to halt development, not monetary damages. A Kauai District Court hearing today will decide if the anthrax issue is admissible for a trial set for June 23–27, 2025. (Source: Kauai Now)
06/04/2025
Senate Bill 1044 in Hawaii aims to address soaring insurance premiums and coverage denials for homeowners, especially in older condos, amid rising wildfire and hurricane risks. The bill expands the Hawaii Property Insurance Association’s authority to temporarily cover high-risk, uninsurable properties, reopens the Hurricane Relief Fund, and creates a state-backed loan program for condo associations to fund repairs like fire sprinklers and plumbing. Prompted by disasters like the Lahaina fire, the bill includes a five-year cap on high-risk coverage to encourage property upgrades and market stability. If signed by Governor Josh Green, it could take effect soon and includes a study for long-term insurance market reforms. (Source: KITV)
06/04/2025
Park Hotels & Resorts is planning a $225-$250 million development of a 213-unit tower at Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island, potentially as a hotel or timeshare, on a parking lot and tennis court site near the Lagoon Tower. (Source: PBN)
06/03/2025
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has launched a $6 million Maui Emergency Marketing Campaign to boost Maui’s tourism recovery, which remains 21% below pre-pandemic levels following the 2023 wildfires. (Source: Maui Now)
06/02/2025
President Trump is considering privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-backed mortgage giants. Trump’s plan may raise mortgage rates, currently near 7%, as the government guarantee lowers investor risk, per Realtor.com economist Danielle Hale. (Source: Realtor.com)
06/02/2025
A 10-acre South Kona coffee farm, dubbed the “Garden of Eden” and ties to Princess Laieikawai, has been transformed into a retreat center, Paliuli Farm Sanctuary. The property offers a main house, suites, and community spaces for up to 13 guests, hosting solstice retreats with holistic health experts to foster deep healing and connection to nature. (Source: Big Island Now)
06/02/2025
Honolulu is set to raise sewer rates for the first time since 2016, with a City Council vote scheduled for June 4th, on a bill proposing annual increases of 6% to 9% over six years to fund $10 billion in upgrades. The proposed rate hikes, would raise median single-family home bills from $100 to $161 monthly. (Source: Civil Beat)
06/01/2025
Hawaii state lawmakers unanimously passed House Bill 800 on April 30, 2025, to swap seven state-owned Iwilei parcels, valued at $56 million, for the city’s leased fee interest in the land under Ali‘i Place, a 25-story downtown Honolulu office tower valued at $18.4 million, aiming to relocate legislators during a Capitol renovation and potentially disrupt state plans for the Liliha Civic Center’s office and housing towers. However, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi opposes the swap, citing loss of city lease revenue, rent-free prosecutor office space, and public parking, with City Council approval unlikely, while tenant leases and a recent $69 million private purchase of Ali‘i Place by HONCRE1 LLC complicate the state’s acquisition, leaving the deal’s future uncertain despite Gov. Josh Green’s pending decision. (Source: Star Advertiser)
05/31/2025
Hawaii’s construction industry is poised to drive economic growth in 2025, offsetting tourism stagnation and aiding Maui’s recovery from the 2023 wildfires, with the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) reporting a record 40,000 construction jobs statewide and $14 billion in construction spending in 2024, up 17.8% from 2023. Maui’s construction sector, with 4,800 jobs and $866 million in 2024 spending, is critical for rebuilding Lahaina, where costs may reach $7.5 billion. (Source: Maui Now)
05/31/2025
JL Capital has broken ground on Amana Lofts, a $14 million affordable housing project at 765 Amana St., converting a five-story former office building into 64 rental units (studio - 2BRs) for households earning up to 80% of the area median income ($121,600 for a family of four). Expected completion in 2026. (Source: Star Advertiser)
05/30/2025
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has issued a warning about illegal construction activities, highlighting risks to homeowners from unlicensed contractors, designers, architects, and engineers, following a $10,000 fine imposed by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) on a business owner for aiding an unlicensed contractor. (Source: Star Advertiser)
05/29/2025
First Saturday returns to the South Shore Market courtyard on June 7th! Aloha Graze Co. will be serving charcuterie beginning at 1pm, complimentary while supplies last.
05/29/2025
Fannie Mae has partnered with Palantir to leverage AI-driven technology for detecting mortgage fraud, with early tests showing fraud identification in seconds compared to two months for human investigators. (Source: CNBC)
05/29/2025
The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) broke ground for a $20 million, 47-unit rental housing project in Lahaina, led by Dowling Co., to address the educator housing shortage worsened by the 2023 wildfires, which displaced nearly a third of Maui’s HIDOE staff and prompted 20% of Lahaina educators to consider leaving due to affordability issues. (Source: Maui Now)
05/28/2025
The Maui County Council heard testimony on proposed fiscal 2026 real property tax rates, which slightly lowered rates for hotels and timeshares while retaining others, with final tax rate decisions and budget approval set for June 3. (Source: Maui Now)
05/28/2025
Hawaii’s state economists from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) have revised their 2025 economic growth forecast downward to 1.2% from 1.7%, citing tariffs, a tourism slowdown, and federal policy uncertainties, with growth expected to rise to 1.5% in 2026 and 1.8% by 2028, contrasting with a University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization prediction of a mild recession. (Source: PBN)
05/28/2025
Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 1396 into law as Act 96, implementing a climate impact fee by increasing Hawaii’s Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) by 0.75% to 11%, effective January 1, 2026, raising the overall hotel room tax to 14% to generate $90-$100 million annually for climate change mitigation and wildfire prevention. (Source: Star Advertiser)
05/27/2025
Honolulu’s streamlined short-term rental (STR) registration process, implemented in 2023, has doubled registrations from 680 to 1,380 in resort zones like Waikiki and Ko Olina, boosting property tax revenue to a projected $17.8 million next fiscal year, but many owners still evade registration to avoid the higher 0.9% tax rate. Despite increased compliance, the city’s focus on illegal STRs in residential areas and lack of enforcement in resort zones - where only about half of Kuilima Estates East’s STRs are registered - leaves an unknown number of unregistered units, with the Department of Planning and Permitting planning violation notices but prioritizing complaints over comprehensive oversight in a tourism-driven economy. (Source: Civil Beat)
05/27/2025
The foreclosure of 150 acres at Punaluu Black Sand Beach, following Black Sand Beach LLC’s default on a $3.4 million mortgage, has opened a rare opportunity for lineal descendants to protect this culturally significant Big Island site, previously targeted for a 225-unit resort development. (Source: Civil Beat)
05/26/2025Big Island Coffee Roasters, has grown from a novice coffee farm into an award-winning brand, roastery, and Hilo café, championing Kau coffee by supporting 25 local farmers and shipping 31,000 orders to 50 U.S. states and 29 countries in 2024, generating $9.6 million for farmers. (Source: Big Island Now)
05/26/2025
The Kauai County Housing Agency will host the final community workshop for the Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Master Plan on May 28, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Waimea Canyon Middle School, presenting updates and a conceptual plan for the 417-acre site, with 60 acres designated for affordable housing. The event will be livestreamed on Hōʻike TV’s YouTube channel. (Source: Kauai Now)
05/24/2025
In the year since Maui County Mayor Bissen proposed banning over 7,000 short-term rentals (STRs) in apartment zoned districts to boost local housing post-2023 wildfires, Maui’s condo market has seen a 25% median price drop from $962,500 to $727,000 and a 70% surge in listings from 536 to 910 by April 2025, driven by uncertainty over the delayed bill, now set for discussion post-budget approval. (Source: Maui Now)
05/22/2025
The U.S. House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a tax reform package securing all five top priorities of the National Association of Realtors, including permanently increasing the qualified business income deduction to 23%, quadrupling the SALT deduction cap to $40,000 for households under $500,000, making individual tax rates permanent, preserving the mortgage interest deduction, and protecting Section 1031 like-kind exchanges and business SALT deductions. (Source: NAR)
05/22/2025
Applications are open for Hale O Piikea I, the first phase of a County-supported, 223-unit affordable rental housing project in Kihei, set to open in July-August 2025 with 89 units (18 one-bedroom, 57 two-bedroom, 14 three-bedroom) for households earning 30%-60% of the Area Median Income, with rents from $757 to $2,100. Applications are accessible through the project's website. (Source: Maui Now)
05/22/2025
House Bill 420, passed by the Hawaii Legislature in April 2025 and awaiting Gov. Josh Green’s decision by July 9, aims to reform construction defect claims by reinforcing the Contractor Repair Act, requiring homeowners to report issues to contractors before suing and limiting class-action lawsuits to those proving damages, which the Building Industry Association of Hawaii supports to curb excessive litigation that raises construction costs and restricts mortgage eligibility. However, lawyers like Christopher Hikida argue the bill favors developers by shortening the lawsuit filing window from 10 to 2 years and imposing costly proof requirements, potentially burdening homeowners with repair costs and undermining their ability to seek justice for defective construction, especially in a housing market already strained by affordability issues. (Source: PBN)
05/21/2025
Zillow data shows home values dropped in 27 of 50 U.S. states from March to April 2025, signaling a broader housing market shift as rising inventory prompts sellers to cut prices. Despite high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, some experts see this as a market normalization rather than a crash. (Source: Newsweek)
05/19/2025
Senior living occupancy has surpassed other commercial real estate sectors for the first time in nearly two decades, reaching 87.4% in Q1 2025, outperforming apartments, strip malls, offices, and industrial properties in 99 major markets. (Source: Senior Housing News)
05/19/2025
The 2025 Hawaii Housing Factbook by UHERO highlights the state’s housing crisis, with 75% of households unable to afford a median $950,000 single-family home, though Big Island’s Puna and Kau offer homes under $500,000, and statewide condo prices fell 6% to $600,000 due to rising insurance and increased condo supply. (Source: Civil Beat)
05/18/2025
Sales of luxury homes priced at $10 million and above surged in early 2025, with Los Angeles up 29%, Manhattan 21%, Miami-Dade 48%, Palm Beach 50%, and Aspen 44%, driven by wealthy Americans seeking stability in real estate amid stock market volatility and economic uncertainty, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. While the broader U.S. housing market remains stagnant, with March existing home sales dropping 5.9% to a 4.02 million annual rate, high-end buyers view real estate as a safer, less volatile investment compared to stocks. (Source: Fortune)
05/15/2025
Homebuilder confidence, across the U.S., dropped to a two-year low of 34 in May 2025, with 34% of builders cutting prices by an average of 5% and 61% offering sales incentives, as high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty disrupt the spring housing market. (Source: Realtor.com)
05/15/2025
Hawaii now has the nation’s highest homelessness rate at 80.5 per 10,000 residents, an 87% increase from 2023, largely due to the 2023 Lahaina wildfire displacing 5,000 people and destroying over 2,200 structures, exacerbating Maui’s housing crisis, according to the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO). (Source: Maui Now)
05/14/2025
Statewide, the median single-family home sold for $950,000 in 2024, while the median condominium price was $600,000. Fewer than one in four households in Hawaii could afford a mortgage on the median-priced single-family home, requiring an income of about $187,000. For condominiums, a household would need an income of $126,000 to afford the median-priced unit. (Source: UHERO - pdf).
05/14/2025
Mortgage demand from homebuyers increased for the second consecutive week, with purchase applications rising 2% week-over-week and 18% year-over-year, driven by a 14% increase in national housing inventory and a 5.5% rise in new listings, despite a slight uptick in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to 6.86% from 6.84%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. (Source: CNBC)
05/13/2025
Northern Trust’s $10 million investment in Hawaii Community Lending’s (HCL) Kupaa Hale Loan program enables zero-down, low-fee mortgages with competitive rates for native Hawaiians on Hawaiian Home Lands, addressing housing affordability amid federal USDA 502 Direct funding cuts. As the first investor in HCL’s $35 million private offering to support 100 families, Northern Trust, partnered with Parker Ranch, targets communities like Waimea and Laiopua, with HCL seeking an additional $25 million to expand this initiative, building on its 2024 record of 394 grants and loans worth $15.3 million to aid 241 families. (Source: Maui Now)
05/13/2025
Despite a 2019 Honolulu law allowing fines up to $10,000 daily per unit against booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo for unregistered short-term rentals (STRs), the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting has never cited these companies, even as illegal rentals (7,900 per Inside Airbnb) vastly outnumber legal ones (2,100), with only 2% of $90 million in fines collected from 2022 to April 2025. The law requires platforms to register and submit booking reports, but none have complied. (Source: Civil Beat)
05/12/2025
Nearly two years after the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire destroyed over 2,200 structures, the burn zone is transitioning from a silent “ghost town” to a construction zone, with eight homes rebuilt, 368 building permits issued, and 301 in process, though most lots remain unbuilt, and 80% of survivors are still displaced, with 430-510 having left the state. (Source: Maui Now).
05/11/2025
In late 2024, the super-rich drove a 30% global surge in luxury real estate sales (properties over $10 million), with Dubai leading, New York and Hong Kong rebounding strongly, while Singapore and London saw declines due to new taxes and regulatory fears. Despite an initially positive outlook for 2025, recent economic changes like new tariffs have introduced uncertainty into this high-end market. (Source: Yahoo!Finance)
05/10/2025
Hawaii’s Legislature passed a bill to address soaring condo insurance premiums, driven by climate risks, aging buildings, and events like the 2017 Marco Polo fire, enabling the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to act as insurers of last resort with $30 million and $175 million, respectively, and establishing a $20 million loan program through the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for condo repairs like pipe upgrades and sprinklers to reduce risks. Aimed at stabilizing costs for the 294,000 residents in 2,000 condo associations, the measure also incentivizes federal loan programs and includes a study to explore further solutions, pending Gov. Josh Green’s signature, though immediate relief remains uncertain as premiums continue to strain budgets. (Source: Civil Beat).
05/10/2025Hale Pilina, a $150 million, 178-unit affordable rental housing complex in Kahului, broke ground on May 9, 2025, prioritizing Maui’s 2023 wildfire survivors, offering one- and two-bedroom apartments for families earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income. Set on a 4.8-acre former fairgrounds lot, the project by Catholic Charities Hawaii, designed by Design Partners Incorporated and built by Maryl Group Construction, aims for completion by mid-2027, with a 66-year affordability commitment. (Source: Maui Now).
05/10/2025
The Realtors Association of Maui opposes Mayor Richard Bissen’s Bill 9, which aims to phase out approximately 7,000 short-term rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned areas by 2026, citing a University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report projecting 1,900 job losses, a $900 million drop in visitor spending, and a $60 million reduction in property tax revenue, arguing that the units are unsuitable for family living and financially unattainable for locals. (Source: Maui Now)
05/09/2025Barbara Corcoran identifies uncertainty as the primary issue stifling the U.S. housing market, overshadowing high mortgage rates and prices, as it causes hesitation among buyers, sellers, and even builders hoarding supplies due to tariff fears. With two-thirds of homeowners locked into low 4% mortgage rates, minimal inventory exacerbates high prices, and while slowing price growth offers little relief, Corcoran emphasizes that restoring economic stability, beyond just rate cuts, is crucial to reviving market activity. (Source: Yahoo!Finance)
05/09/2025
The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) forecasts a mild recession for Hawaii in 2025-2026, driven by U.S. import tariffs, federal layoffs exceeding 270,000, and expansive fiscal policies, leading to a projected 4% decline in visitor arrivals, $1.6 billion drop in real visitor spending, and nearly 1% employment loss by 2026, particularly in tourism and public sectors. (Source: KITV)
05/09/2025
The Hawaii Legislature rejected bills like the Kamaaina Homes Program, which aimed to reserve properties for local workers through deed-restricted grants, but passed measures to boost overall housing supply, including $200 million for low-interest developer loans. While the aim is to address Oahu’s 13,000-unit housing shortage, their impact will be gradual, with critics noting weakened bills and implementation challenges. (Source: Civil Beat)
05/08/2025
Oahu’s real estate market in April 2025 favored buyers with increased inventory - 5% more single-family homes and 30% more condos compared to April 2024 - longer market times (29 days for homes, 43 for condos), and reduced buyer competition, yet sales dropped 8% for homes (241 sold) and 8.4% for condos (395 sold) year-over-year, despite a slight uptick from March. Median prices showed mixed trends, with single-family homes up 6.4% to $1.17 million and condos down 4.4% to $505,000. (Source: Star Advertiser)
05/08/2025
FEMA’s direct housing program, aiding Maui’s 2023 wildfire survivors, began charging rent March 1st for nearly 1,300 households, with 98% appealing HUD-based rates, while relocating 300 families to short-term rentals to ease housing strain, frustrating survivors amid slow rebuilding - 8 of 2,000 homes rebuilt, 355 permits issued. (Source: Civil Beat)
05/07/2025
The Federal Reserve maintained its key interest rate at 4.25%-4.5%, unchanged since December, citing heightened economic uncertainty and rising risks of both unemployment and inflation, which could lead to stagflation; an economy characterized by high inflation, stagnant economic growth, and elevated unemployment, creating a challenging environment where prices rise while the economy struggles. Despite a first-quarter GDP decline of 0.3%, solid job growth and inflation nearing the 2% target allow the Fed to remain patient, with market expectations for rate cuts shifting to July. (Source: CNBC)
05/07/2025
The Federal Reserve maintained its key interest rate at 4.25%-4.5%, unchanged since December, citing heightened economic uncertainty and rising risks of both unemployment and inflation, which could lead to stagflation; an economy characterized by high inflation, stagnant economic growth, and elevated unemployment, creating a challenging environment where prices rise while the economy struggles. Despite a first-quarter GDP decline of 0.3%, solid job growth and inflation nearing the 2% target allow the Fed to remain patient, with market expectations for rate cuts shifting to July. (Source: CNBC)
05/07/2025
Hawaii County’s Office of Housing and Community Development is soliciting proposals for its Affordable Housing Production program, funded by a minimum $5 million annually through Ordinance 22-77, targeting nonprofit and for-profit organizations, public agencies, and community land trusts to enhance affordable housing on Hawaii Island. (Source: Big Island Now)
05/07/2025
The Maui County Ohana Assistance Pilot Project, launched in June 2023 with $2.75 million to provide up to $100,000 grants for building ‘ohana units, has left dozens of applicants waiting for funds due to delays in legal document approval, forcing families to finance construction themselves despite the program’s aim to ease housing shortages post-2023 Lahaina wildfires. (Source: MauiNow).
05/06/2025Muse Honolulu Sales Gallery will be open daily, starting May 12th. Contact Us to book an appointment.
05/06/2025
The Hawaii Legislature failed to provide new funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), leaving over 29,000 Native Hawaiians, waiting for homestead leases, with no progress on bills to boost housing development or fund OHA’s proposed 2,000-unit Kakaako residential towers, despite a $600 million request to develop 6,000 lots. (Source: Civil Beat)
05/05/2025
Howard Hughes Corporation, the developer of Ward Village, has finalized a $900 million deal with Bill Ackman's Pershing Square, selling 9 million shares at $100 each, granting Pershing Square 46.9% ownership (capped at 40% voting power) to transform Howard Hughes into a diversified holding company akin to Berkshire Hathaway. The deal aims to leverage excess cash from real estate to invest in high-growth companies. (Source: PBN)
05/05/2025
The practice of private listings, exemplified by Compass’ “Private Exclusive” strategy, where homes are marketed only to Compass agents before hitting public platforms, has sparked a heated dispute in the real estate industry, with critics arguing it’s exclusionary and limits buyer access, potentially hurting sellers’ chances for higher offers. While Compass defends the approach as a seller-driven choice to test prices discreetly, claiming 94% of its private listings go public, new rules from Zillow and Redfin requiring listings to appear within 24 hours and a relaxed NAR policy allowing delayed MLS postings have intensified the debate. (Source: CNN)
05/05/2025
Chef Heidi Cramer is opening a second LunchBox Maui location in Kahului at her Maui Cookie Lab space on May 6, 2025. The new site will offer ciabatta sandwiches, quiche, salads, soups, pastries, coffee, and Cookie Lab cookies. (Source: PBN)
05/05/2025
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) to pursue its first major rate increase since 2020, potentially raising electricity bills for Oahu, Big Island, and Maui residents by late 2026. (Source: CivilBeat)
05/04/2025
Former Obama vacation retreat on Martha's Vineyard goes on sale for $39M. (Source: Fox Business)
05/03/2025
Ira Ono is selling Volcano Garden Arts, a 2.7-acre multi-use property in Volcano Village, listed for $1,495,000, after 20 years of transforming it into a cultural hub with a curated local art gallery, Café Ono, a private residence, seeking a buyer to continue its community-focused legacy. (Source: BigIslandNow)
05/01/2025Senate Bill 1296, passed by Hawaii lawmakers, aims to accelerate Lahaina’s rebuilding by exempting hundreds of the 1,390 cleared residential lots from certain permits. The bill, now awaiting Gov. Josh Green’s approval, would apply to any Hawaii area hit by natural disasters through 2028. (Source: KITV)
04/30/2025
The Hawaii State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1511, limiting vessels over 75 feet from entering Hanalei Bay on Kauai’s North Shore, except for government-operated boats, to preserve its natural beauty and ensure safety for recreational activities like fishing, swimming, and surfing. (Source: KauaiNow)
04/30/2025
The Honolulu City Council reviewed a $500,000 Ernst & Young study on Bill 46, an empty-homes tax proposing a 1% to 3% levy on vacant Oahu properties, estimating $29.1 million in annual revenue but only 1,000-2,100 taxable properties due to 16 exemptions, prompting concerns from Mayor Blangiardi’s administration about administrative burdens and limited housing impact. (Source: StarAdvertiser)
04/29/2025
Hawaii’s Legislature has approved Senate Bill 1396, increasing the hotel and vacation rental tax (TAT) from 9.25% to 10% and introducing an 11% tax on cruise ship cabins to fund climate change mitigation, expected to generate $85-100 million annually for projects like beach restoration and infrastructure hardening, with final votes set for May 7, 2025. (Source: HawaiiNewsNow)
04/29/2025
A Zillow report reveals that starter homes, defined as the lowest third of home values, now cost at least $1 million in 233 U.S. cities as of March 2025, up from 85 five years ago, with California leading at 113 cities, followed by New York (32), New Jersey (20), and Hawaii (4), driven by post-pandemic price surges. Despite a national median starter home price of $192,514, rising inventory and high mortgage rates are giving buyers more negotiating power, with 44% of sellers offering concessions, while price growth slows, with March’s median home price across the U.S. at $403,700, up just 2.7% year-over-year. (Source: KHON2)
04/29/2025
The Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee will today review a $500,000 Ernst & Young study, assessing Bill 46, an empty homes tax proposing a 1% to 3% levy on vacant Oahu properties to address a 25,000-home shortage, but exemptions could limit conversions to 1,000 - 2,000 units, far below expectations. (Source: StarAdvertiser)
04/28/2025
In Hawaii, residents spend nearly 53% of their income on housing, with homeowners allocating 53.47% and renters 52.88%, due to high housing and utility costs. Despite state efforts in 2024 to boost housing supply through flexible construction laws, affordability challenges persist. (Source: KHON2).
04/28/2025
Honolulu’s proposed empty homes tax, targeting vacant properties with a 1% to 3% annual levy, could lose nearly $150 million in revenue over a decade due to exemptions for leased unoccupied homes, inherited properties, and listed homes, potentially undermining efforts to free up housing. The aim is to raise $30-55 million yearly and return 640-2,000 properties to the market. (Source: CivilBeat).
04/26/2025
Deloitte predicts that tokenized real estate on blockchain networks could reach $4 trillion by 2035, growing from $300 billion in 2024 at a 27% annual rate. (Source: Cointelegraph).
04/26/2025
The Hawaii Legislature has approved a “green fee” bill, increasing the transient-accommodations tax by 0.75% for hotel and short-term rental stays and extending it to cruise ship passengers, projected to raise $100 million annually to fund environmental protection and climate resilience projects, with a final vote set for next week before reaching Gov. Josh Green. (Source: CivilBeat).
04/26/2025
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is nearing a settlement with Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV over a $324.1 million lawsuit alleging HART’s scheduling issues caused cost overruns. (Source: StarAdvertiser).
04/25/2025
The removal of 237 non-historical concrete pilings - 500 tons of debris - along Lahaina’s Front Street has been removed in under a month, ahead of a 90-day schedule, as a key step in wildfire recovery. (Source: MauiNow).
04/25/2025
Lawmakers are debating increased visitor and cruise ship taxes to fund climate initiatives, with unresolved details on tax rates and fund allocation, requiring final House and Senate votes before reaching Gov. Josh Green. (Source: HawaiiNewsNow).
04/25/2025
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is seeking to condemn portions of four properties - three in Kakaako (560 and 576 Halekauwila St., 609 Keawe St.) and one in Iwilei (1956 Dillingham Blvd.) - for the rail's Civic Center station. Source (StarAdvertiser)
04/24/2025
In March 2025, U.S. existing home sales dropped 5.9% from February to 4.02 million units, the slowest March pace since 2009, driven by high mortgage rates and economic concerns. (Source: CNBC)
04/24/2025
The Maui Planning Commission deferred a decision on the first post-2023 Lahaina wildfire special management area (SMA) permit for Stanley and Dilara Deal to rebuild their oceanfront home at 1045 Front Street, facing debate over its modern design clashing with Lahaina’s historic district standards. (Source: MauiNow)
04/24/2025Herschend Family Entertainment, an Atlanta-based company known for operating Dollywood, has agreed to acquire Palace Entertainment, the U.S. subsidiary of Madrid-based Parques Reunidos, which owns Sea Life Park Hawaii on Oahu. (source PBN)
04/23/2025
Luxury home sales on Oahu surged 19% in Q1 2025, with 101 homes sold for $2 million or more, including 78 single-family homes (up 8%) and 23 condos (up 77%), driven by a 10% median price increase to $2.85 million. March alone saw 42 sales, up 35% from last year, with a median price of $3.03 million (up 23%) (source: PBN).
04/20/2025
Lanai will become the first island in Hawaii to eliminate its Hawaiian Home Lands waitlist, with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) planning to award 75 leases in September 2025 to house the remaining Native Hawaiian applicants, addressing a 29,000-person statewide waitlist (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
04/20/2025
Oahu’s 52-year-old neighborhood board system, a structure with 33 micro-governmental districts, is undergoing a review to address its flaws and enhance community participation (source: CivilBeat).
04/20/2025
State lawmakers are considering a bill (HB 432) to redirect part of the state’s rental housing fund, traditionally used for low-income housing, to subsidize apartments for households earning 60% to 140% of the median income, aiming to address the housing affordability crisis for the workforce, including teachers and firefighters. While proponents argue this will help retain moderate-income workers, critics worry it may reduce funding for low-income housing (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/20/2025
The U.S. housing market is experiencing a weaker selling season with cautious buyers and slower sales, driven by high mortgage rates, job security concerns, and increased use of adjustable-rate mortgages (source: Barron's).
04/19/2025
Facing chronic water shortages in West, Upcountry, Central, and South Maui, the Maui County Department of Water Supply proposes a 25% water rate hike for hotels and high-use residential customers (over 35,000 gallons/month) and 5-15% increases for most others, alongside a new conservation bill to enforce stricter measures like irrigation schedules (source: MauiNow).
04/19/2025
A $62 million building permit signals that Honolulu’s Davies Pacific Center, purchased by Avalon Group in 2023, may be redeveloped from an office tower into a limited-service hotel, which aligns with Downtown Honolulu’s trend of office-to-hotel conversions, exemplified by the recent AC Hotel by Marriott (source: KITV).
04/18/2025
Senate Bill 934, meant to speed up funding for Honolulu’s $10 billion rail, was amended by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz to require a $330 million Pearl Highlands park-and-ride and full rail completion before funds are released, risking cash flow until 2031. The bill’s conditions, opposed by HART, may reflect a dispute, while the Senate’s rejection of $572 million in rail funding adds uncertainty before a May 2nd deadline (source: CivilBeat).
04/17/2025Nobu Grand Wailea in Maui has opened, featuring indoor and outdoor dining for 324 guests (source: PBN). Nobu was founded in 1994 in a joint venture between Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, Drew Nieporent and Meir Teper (source: Wikipedia).
04/17/2025
The Honolulu City Council approved an updated development plan from Kahala to Pearl City, the first revision since 2004, aiming to enhance rail connectivity, add housing, create retail hubs, develop walkways, parks, and open spaces in areas like Kakaako (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
04/15/20254505 Kahala Ave - owned and renovated by Los Angeles investor Fred Bernstein after his LLC purchased it for $15 million in 2023 - is now listed for $45 million. This listing follows a record-breaking $65.75 million sale of 4823 Kahala Ave in March 2025, highlighting the surging luxury market (source: PBN).
04/14/2025
The Pulelehua housing project in West Maui, poised to build 1,000 units with $33 million in county funding, is stalled due to a lack of state water permits for its wells amid record-low streamflows and a 2022 state designation requiring permits for all water use in Lahaina’s aquifers, prioritizing temporary housing and Lahaina’s rebuilding over new developments (source: MauiNow).
4/14/2025
The state’s Agribusiness Development Corp. (ADC) is eyeing a $39 million purchase of 1,040 acres of prime Kauai farmland from billionaire Steve Case’s Grove Farm to boost local food production and secure it from development, with the deal pending legislative approval by May 2025 (source: CivilBeat).
04/14/2025
Despite the Honolulu's DPP slashing code review times to nine days for residential and two months for commercial projects, overall permitting times worsened in 2024, with median waits of 288 days for residential and over 10 months for commercial permits (Source: CivilBeat).
04/14/2025
Over the past three fiscal years, Honolulu's DPP issued over $100 million in fines for illegal short-term rental violations but collected less than $2 million (about 2%), despite hiring Aargon Collection Agency in 2023, with DPP outperforming Aargon by collecting $1.04 million compared to Aargon’s $45,051 in fiscal year 2024 (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/13/2025
Two Hawaii County Council members will host a Zoom briefing on April 17th, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss proposed legislation establishing a registration process for hosted short-term vacation rentals and platforms like Airbnb on the Big Island, aiming to ensure compliance without altering operational standards or land use rules (source: BigIslandNow).
04/12/2025Hale O Hawaii, a nonprofit community land trust launched in 2022, sells homes below market value, by retaining land ownership and leasing it for 99 years to qualifying buyers earning 60%-140% of area median income. Building on the model of Na Hale O Maui, the trust has completed homes in Puna, Hilo, and Volcano (source: BigIslandNow).
04/12/2025
Honolulu's DPP is hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, April 23rd, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Honouliuli Middle School to discuss proposed land use changes for transit-oriented development (TOD) around the East Kapolei, UH West Oahu, and Honouliuli Skyline rail stations, aiming to create high-density, mixed-use communities with up to 10,600 housing units (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/11/2025
U.S. real estate value reached $48.1 trillion by late 2024, with homeowner equity at $34.7 trillion, and the luxury segment outpacing the broader market (source: Mansion Global).
04/11/20253220 S Kihei Rd on Maui, purchased for $45 million in 2021 and now listed for $65 million mirroring the recent $65.75 million record sale of a Kahala estate - exemplifies the booming ultra-high-end housing market in Hawaii. This surge in prices, fueled by wealthy Mainland buyers post-Covid, scarce oceanfront inventory, and a 400% rise in $10 million-plus sales since 2020, has constricted supply, slowed transactions amid high interest rates, and driven up values across all price points, highlighting a sharp increase in luxury real estate demand (source: PBN).
04/11/2025
Senate Bill 378, aimed at easing Maui’s housing crisis by converting commercial properties into mixed-use affordable housing, stalled in the Hawaii House missing a key legislative deadline (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/10/2025Muse Honolulu's showroom opens April 14th - reach out to schedule an appointment.
04/10/2025Kuilei Place, a $619 million, 43-story condo tower project in Moiliili, broke ground with a blessing ceremony, promising 1,005 units - 603 deemed "affordable" for 80%-140% area median income earners - despite controversy over its height, size, and the eviction of 130 lower-income tenants from the demolished Kapiolani Village Apartments. Led by Kobayashi Group and BlackSand Capital, the development aims to address Oahu’s housing shortage by late 2027, though critics argue it prioritizes wealthier buyers over truly affordable housing needs (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/09/2025
The Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, with $170 million, aims to assist condo associations with insurance shortfalls by June 1, as state officials work quickly to finalize policies and select an operator. A new study predicts a 17% rise in single-family home insurance rates (source: KHON2).
04/09/2025
Hawaii lawmakers have preliminarily approved bills to increase multiple taxes, with the most prominent being Gov. Josh Green’s 'green fee' proposal to raise the state hotel room tax (TAT) to fund climate change mitigation efforts (source: CivilBeat).
04/07/2025
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands awarded 91 turnkey homes on Saturday at the University of Hawaii Maui College as part of Puuhona Phase II, marking its first turnkey residential project on Maui in 17 years (source: MauiNow).
04/06/2026Hawaii Convention Center’s planned closure from January 2026 to November 2027 for $64 million in rooftop terrace repairs, extended due to extensive corrosion and logistical challenges, could cost Oahu at least $103 million in economic impact (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/05/2025
Maui County Council passed Bill 33 on first reading, allocating $650,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund for pre-development costs of the 120-unit Kaiaulu o Napili affordable rental housing project on 15 acres of County-owned land, targeting residents earning up to 60% of the area median income (source: MauiNow).
04/05/2025
The Hawaii state legislature has passed HB 1001, approving a $4.037 billion settlement to compensate 2,200 parties affected by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, with seven defendants -including the State of Hawaii, contributing $807.5 million over four years, and Hawaiian Electric - covering claims for property damage, personal injury, wrongful death, emotional distress, and economic loss. While the settlement aims to provide timely relief to fire survivors and support Maui's rebuilding efforts, the exact allocation of funds remains under review, pending a Hawaii Supreme Court decision on whether insurance companies can recover payments, which could impact the settlement’s final implementation (source: KITV).
04/05/2025Ka Lai Waikiki Beach, previously the Trump Tower Waikiki, will undergo a $100 million renovation starting June 2, 2025, to refresh its guest rooms, restaurants, lobby, pool, spa, and fitness center, with completion expected by mid-2026, while remaining fully operational. Led by Bryan O'Sullivan Studio, the project by Hilton’s LXR Hotels & Resorts and Irongate Group aims to blend Hawaii-inspired design with luxury, adding a new lobby bar and enhancing Waikiki’s hospitality scene (source: PBN).
04/04/2025
Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, ranked second and third on Forbes' 2025 billionaires list, lead a group of 14 ultra-wealthy individuals with ties to Hawaii, owning expansive properties like Zuckerberg’s 1,400-acre Kauai estate and Bezos’ $78 million, 14-acre Maui retreat. Other notable billionaires include Larry Ellison, who owns 98% of Lanai, Oprah Winfrey with 1,000 acres on Maui, and full-time Oahu resident Pierre Omidyar, alongside part-time residents like Michael Dell and Marc Benioff, showcasing Hawaii’s allure for the world’s richest (source: PBN).
04/04/2025
The Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund (HHRF) plans to offer affordable hurricane insurance to condo associations starting in June, using $170 million in existing funds to cover up to $10 billion in properties, while the Hawaii Property Insurance Association (HPIA) seeks a share of a proposed $200 million state loan to expand coverage for other perils, targeting relief for the 60% of condo associations reliant on costly surplus carriers. However, some lawmakers express concerns the initial focus on well-maintained, high-value concrete high-rises up to $350 million could favor wealthier owners, prompting calls to adjust coverage caps and prioritize broader condo types, with legislative approval for the loan still pending (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/04/2025
Alo Cafe is showcasing a fresh vegan menu at its new Salt Kakaako location and to celebrate easter the cafe offers 25% discount for families with children under 12 (source: KHON2).
04/03/2025
Honolulu Mayor, Blangiardi, signed Bill 50 into law, creating a new category for street festival closures in Waikiki, limiting them to six per year - three legacy events and three lottery-selected ones - to balance cultural celebrations with the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors. The legislation also encourages more community-driven festivals across Oahu (source: KITV).
04/03/2025Honolulu’s Skyline Rail is set to open its second segment by October 1, 2025 extending service from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street with four new stations, including Pearl Harbor and the Airport (source: KHON2).
04/03/2025
A Honolulu City audit found the Department of Planning and Permitting has improved its handling of "monster homes" - large, nonconforming dwellings - since a 2019 audit highlighted deficiencies in permitting, inspection, and enforcement, with 7 of 15 recommendations fully implemented, 2 resolved, 5 in progress, and 1 dropped (source: StarAdvertiser).
04/02/2025
The survival of a “miracle house” in Lahaina, amid devastating wildfires, highlights the potential of fire-resistant building techniques - such as reinforced concrete walls, metal roofs, and defensible space—to protect homes, though high costs and inconsistent regulations pose challenges (source: CivilBeat).
04/01/2025
Maui Mayor Bissen defended his plan to phase out over 6,000 short-term vacation rentals in Maui’s apartment-zoned districts, recognizing the UHERO report’s forecast of 1,900 job losses and $900 million in visitor spending drops, but insisting it’s vital to tackle the housing crisis and reduce tourism over-reliance, while urging owners of units functioning “more like hotels than homes” to seek rezoning or special use permits (source: MauiNow).
04/01/2025
The City of Honolulu is buying properties, including the former First Hawaiian Bank and Iwilei Center, for the Kuwili rail station in Iwilei to create affordable housing, retail, and sustainable infrastructure, offering fair market value and relocation help while seeking developer proposals by April 30 (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
04/01/2025The Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island has nearly completed a multimillion-dollar renovation, refreshing all 540 guest rooms, suites, the private Gold Floor, and meeting spaces with new lighting, furniture, carpeting, and Hawaiian-inspired design elements (source: PBN).
04/01/2025
A University of Hawaii study estimates that Maui Mayor Bissen’s proposed ban on 7,200 short-term rental units in apartment-zoned districts could add up to 6,127 long-term housing units and reduce condo values by 20-40%, but at a steep cost of 1,900 jobs, $900 million in annual visitor spending, and a 4% economic contraction by 2029 (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/31/2025
Maui Mayor Bissen’s proposed 2026 budget lowers tax rates for owner-occupied homes from $1.80-$3.25 to $1.70-$3.10 per $1,000 of assessed value, though higher assessments will still boost tax bills and county revenue by $63.8 million. The plan also raises the threshold for the lowest tax rates to $1.3 million for owner-occupied and long-term rentals, while keeping rates flat for other categories (source: MauiNow).
03/31/2025
Maui Mayor Bissen’s plan to convert over 7,000 short-term rentals into long-term housing on Maui, is unlikely to proceed in 2025 as the Maui County Council delays voting, awaiting more economic impact studies (source: CivilBeat).
03/29/2025
A temporary gas station opened March 26th supporting the Princeville Shopping Center’s expansion, which began in November and includes plans to relocate Foodland to a new 40,000-square-foot site by late 2026 or 2027 (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/29/2025
The Maui Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of amendments to the Honuaula project in South Maui, reducing total units from 1,400 to 1,150, adjusting workforce housing from 50% to at least 288 units (exceeding the 25% minimum), and replacing a golf course with cultural and educational facilities. The decision now awaits further action by the Maui County Council on Bills 171 and 172 (source: MauiNow).
03/29/2025
Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, a delegate to the U.S. Congress, established the Hawaiian Home Lands Program in 1921 to provide homesteads for Native Hawaiians, allowing those with at least 50% Hawaiian ancestry to lease land for 99 years at $1 annually. While the program has aided tens of thousands, bureaucratic mismanagement has left many eligible claimants waiting decades for homes, with recent state efforts including a $600 million investment and a $328 million lawsuit settlement aiming to address historical underfunding and mishandling of claims (source: CivilBeat).
03/28/2025
Things to do the next few days on Oahu and on the Big Island.
03/27/2025
Moo Bong Ri Soup and Yakiniku, a Korean franchise, launched on March 26, at 930 McCully St, Honolulu (source: KITV).
03/27/2025
The Michaels Organization stepped down from the Kuhio Park Terrace affordable rental redevelopment amid resident complaints about relocation handling, passing the $212 million project to Highridge Costa Development Co., which aims to finish Phase 1 by late 2026 (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/26/2025
Hawaii lawmakers backed the New Aloha Stadium project with resolutions, advancing a multi-billion dollar plan for a stadium and 4,000+ housing units in Halawa, with demolition set for summer 2025, despite minor opposition (source: KITV).
03/26/2025
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) is purging building permit applications idle for over 365 days to reduce backlog as it transitions from the POSSE system to the new Clariti system, expected later this year. This includes 1,900 residential and 1,890 commercial permits, with applicants able to request retention by contacting DPP (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/25/2025Ordinance 25-2 (Bill 64), signed into law, changes the minimum rental term for Residential / Apartment zoned properties on Oahu from 30 to 90 days, effective September 2025, with no reference to grandfathering current property owners.
03/25/2025
Maui Mayor, Bissen, stated at a recent South Maui Community Meeting that he only wants to ban 2,000 out of the 7,000 short-term rentals from the Minatoya List, that were originally built as workforce housing units (source: Jesse G. Wald Youtube).
03/25/2025
Maui Mayor, Bissen, presented a $1.512 billion FY2026 budget to the Maui County Council, focusing on housing, recovery, infrastructure, and public safety, with real property tax rates proposed to stay flat except for a reduction for owner-occupied properties to support local families (source: MauiNow).
03/25/2025
Applications are now open, until April 7, for the second building of the Kai Olino Family Apartments in Eleele, Kauai, offering 27 affordable units with a lottery on April 8 (source: KauaiNow).
03/25/2025Pepper Lunch, a Japanese teppanyaki chain, will open its first Hawaii location at Moanalua Shopping Center in late 2025, followed by two more in Waikiki and Kapahulu by late 2026, as part of a plan to launch 10 restaurants statewide (source: KITV).
03/25/2025
Hoonani Village, a project proposed by Hoonani Development in Central Maui, aims to create a mixed-use community with 1,600 rental housing units, including workforce and market-rate options, alongside commercial and recreational spaces (source: MauiNow).
03/23/2025
The Honolulu City Council approved a public-private partnership between Stanford Carr and Standard Communities to develop 127 affordable rental units on a vacant city-owned property in Ewa Beach (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/22/2025Yakiniku Like, a Japanese barbecue chain, will open its first U.S. location at 1108 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu, on April 1st, offering affordable, quality meals in a fast-casual, tech-streamlined setting (source: PBN).
03/22/2025The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) board approved a settlement with Ward Village developer, Howard Hughes, over a land acquisition lawsuit involving 2 acres in Kakaako, where the developer sought over $200 million for land needed to extend the rail line. The settlement amount remains undisclosed until court approval (source: CivilBeat).
03/21/2025
Maui’s Budget Committee is probing $12 million in unspent Affordable Housing Fund money, asking why it’s unused as of June 30, 2024, with plans to allocate some to a Napili project (source: MauiNow).
03/21/2025
Condo insurance rates in Hawaii have spiked, with some Oahu associations facing 1,000% increases since 2019, due to rising costs and climate risks, straining owners with higher fees and limited coverage (source: PBN).
03/20/2025The Park Ward Village has been topped off, completing its highest structural point (source: PBN).
03/20/2025
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) plans to award 700 project leases for homesteads in Kapolei, allowing eligible families to secure leases before construction. This initiative, targeting Kauluokahai and Kaupea areas (source: KHON2).
03/20/2025
A small group of Canadian tourists have canceled their trips to Hawaii, citing President Trump’s comments toward Canada as their reason. This is causing concern for Hawaii’s tourism industry, already strained by cuts to social programs and a decline in visitors from Japan (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/19/2025
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is proposing two new solar-plus-battery-storage projects that could bring Kauai close to 80% renewable energy by 2028 These projects, expected to power over 30,000 homes, align with the utility's goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2033, well ahead of Hawaii's 2045 mandate (source: KauaiNow).
03/19/2025Festa Italiana, Hawaii’s only Italian festival, will take place on Friday, March 21st, at Velocity Honolulu (888 Kapiolani Blvd) for a VIP experience, and Saturday, March 22nd, from 4 to 9:30 pm at Mother Waldron Park for the free street festival, featuring Italian food, music, and culture (source: KITV).
03/19/2025
Gentry Homes in West Oahu plans to raise prices on market-rate units in their Kaulu development to boost sales, as affordable units struggle to sell despite being below the state maximum (source: CivilBeat).
03/17/2025
In an interview with Civil Beat, Mufi Hannemann of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance discussed the tourism industry's uncertain future, highlighting challenges such as a shift toward experiential travel amid a post-pandemic recovery (Source: CivilBeat).
03/17/2025
A University of Hawaii study reveals that parts of the Hawaiian Islands, particularly Oahu’s south shore, are sinking at a rate of up to 25 millimeters per year - 40 times faster than the island-wide average (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
03/17/2025
Chef Jasmine Silverstein’s new venture, Meals in a HeartBeet, is delivering organic, locally sourced meals across the Big Island. The business is an expansion of her decade-long catering business (source: BigIslandNow).
03/14/20254823 Kahala Ave sold today for $65.75M, becoming the most expensive home ever sold in the State of Hawaii, surpassing 2676-e Kauapea Rd, Kilauea (Kauai), which previously had the record with a $46.1M sales price in 2018.
03/13/2025
The developer of Kukuiula, a subdivision with upscale homes in Koloa, Kauai, has secured financing for a 24-lot oceanfront project within the subdivision - Kula Makai III (source: PBN).
03/12/2025
Construction of new properties, across the US, was 1.6 million last year (2024), which is the the highest since 2016. Yet, the US has a 3.8 million housing shortage of available and affordable homes (source: KHON2).
03/12/2025Aurum Maui is a restaurant coming to The Shops at Wailea soon. The dishes will focus on modern American dishes with quality local ingredients.
03/10/2025
Ultra-luxury Ilima and MeliaWard Village showrooms are coming soon and we speculate sales may commence over the summer.
03/09/2025
Hawaii's Governor, Josh Green, wants to increase the Transient Accommodation Tax by 1%, from its current 10.25%, which is levied on rentals that are less than 180 days (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/08/2025
Maui County Council members voted 9-0 for first-reading passage of Bill 105, which would allow disaster-impacted property owners to rebuild their homes and other structures to their original condition, even if they were decades old and didn’t meet current building codes (source: MauiNow).
03/08/2025
In Maui Mayor Richard Bissen's State of the County Address he mentioned Maui contributed 620 completed housing units last year and over 1,200 new units are coming over the next two years. There is also plans to allocate $1.2 billion over the next six years toward the reconstruction, rebuilding and development of housing and housing-related infrastructure (source: KITV).
03/07/20250 Pauwela Lighthouse Rd in Haiku is 82 acres of land offered for $2.5M, which the community hopes Maui County will purchase to avoid developments (source: MauiNow).
03/07/2025
Oahu single-family homes median sales price was $1,185,000 Feb 2025 - 10.2% higher than Feb 2024 when it was $1,075,000. Condos median sales price was $494,000 - 3.6% less than Feb 2024 when it was $512,500 (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/07/2025
About 25% of new construction in Hawaii - built 2013 to 2023 - have been subject to construction defect litigation and lawmakers are examining ways to reduce such litigation (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/06/2025
Hawaii pays 64% above national average for electricity (source: KauaiNow).
03/06/2025
The developer of Hale O Piikea, an affordable rental project in Kihei, has announced work on the final phase of the project (source: MauiNow).
03/06/2025
A new program from Honolulu's DPP (Department of Planning & Permitting) is expected to start soon, which will speed up the permitting process by allowing permit issuance based on architects' self-certification. As relates to residential real estate, only projects controlled by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and low-rise affordable rentals are eligible for the program (source: CivilBeat).
03/03/2025
Bill 504 was passed by the Housing Finance Committee, which seeks to require a $20 TAT (transient accommodation tax) for each transient night (levied on rentals periods that are less than 180 days, which is on top of the 10.25% TAT rate and the additional TAT % charges levied by each county (source: StarAdvertiser).
03/02/2025Casa En Maui, a luxury home on Keawakapu Beach, is listed for $65M and will next month be offered on an auction event.
02/28/2025
The first sales of homes in Lima Ola is completed. Lima Ola, located in Eleele, Kauai, is a master planned community, which will have 550 affordable housing units (source: KauaiNow).
02/28/2025Bill 103 - currently under consideration by Maui County Council - would allow one dwelling unit per 2,500 sq ft and would apply to all its residential zoning districts (source: MauiNow).
02/25/2025
Although still relatively low activity, Lahaina has in recent months seen an increase in number of real estate transactions (source: CivilBeat).
02/21/2025
Design ideas for the city's $63M Ala Wai Pedestrian Bridge project are available in this pdf from the Department of Transportation's website (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/19/2025
With a significant rise in condo insurance premiums, Hawaii lawmakers are proposing bills to help stabilize the market (source: CivilBeat).
02/19/2025
Laulima Gateway Center is a new shopping center planned in Kapolei, with an expected completion in 2026 or 2027. The Center will be a 100,000 sf venue offering retail, dining and various services, including a 30,000 sf grocery store (source: PBN).
02/17/2025
Maui County was unable to get an independent contract study done on the proposed phase-out of vacation rentals and now plans to conduct research in-house instead. A study by Kloninger & Sims - summer 2024 - forecast prohibiting vacation rentals on Maui would cost the County in the range of $53M - $92M, due to lost property, transient accommodation and general excise taxes (source: MauiNow).
02/16/2025Kaliu - a new luxury condo project in Kakaako - starts owner-occupant sales tomorrow, Feb 17h, 10am. The owner-occupant buyer must be present to execute an owner-occupant affidavit, which is required when signing the purchase contract. 1BR from $890K, 2BR from $1.25M and 3BR from $2.71M.
02/16/2025
The freshest matcha tea in Hawaii can be found on Maui, where a couple makes match using the State's only traditional mill, with ingredients sourced from Wazuka, a small town in Japan. You can try the matcha at Collab Cafe (source: KauaiNow).
02/15/2025Ko Olina plans to utilize 2 parcels near its entrance, total 18 acres, to develop a venue that represents Hawaiian culture, possibly a Hawaiian culture center of some sort, administered by The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (source: PBN).
02/14/2025Bill 105, a Bill that would allow people to rebuild their homes and business in Lahaina to the way there were before the 2023 wildfires, even if they don't meet today's code, is likely going to the Maui Council for review in March (source: MauiNow).
02/14/2025Bill 27, A Bill to exempt state-financed housing projects from County approval, has passed a second reading in the Senate (source: MauiNow).
02/13/2025Waimea Town, Kauai begins its annual 9 day celebration this coming Saturday and will include long distance canoe races, storytelling, rodeos, films, concerts and eating contests (source: KauaiNow).
02/13/2025
Maui County invites residents to share ideas and get an overview of Maui County Hazard Mitigation planning process and discuss how the public can provide input. Feb 27, 2025 5pm to 6pm, Velma McWayne Santos Community Center (source: MauiNow).
02/13/2025
December 2024 a 43-unit development of tiny homes in Honolulu was completed, housing former homeless, incurring electricity costs 4 to 5 times that of an average single-family home on Oahu, since they run on electric generators (source: CivilBeat).
02/12/2025
Hawaii's General Excise Tax used to be 4% in Honolulu, but in 2005 a 0.5% surcharge was added to help pay for the Honolulu Rail, which has become a $10 billion project. This surcharge was to expire in 2022, but was extended to 2030, and now a new Bill advancing in the Senate looks to extend the 0.5% surcharge to 2045 (source: CivilBeat).
02/11/2025The Park On Keeaumoku construction is ahead of schedule and expected to close on all sold units during Q4 of this year - Liona Tower is 98% sold and Rycroft Tower is 67% sold.
02/11/2025
The second property tax installment, for the 2024-2025 tax year, is due no later than Feb 20, 2025.
02/11/2025
Hawaii's Governor, Josh Green, and consul general of Japan to Hawaii, Yoshinori Kodama, have signed an action plan to bring more visitors from Japan to Hawaii, which includes an expanded VIP entry program. Japanese visitors spend $1.07 billion in 2024, which is 14% more than 2023, but down 52.5% compared to 2019 (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/10/2025
A $4 billion settlement to resolve Maui wildfire lawsuits can proceed, allowing the settlement to start flowing to more than 1,000 homeowners and businesses, despite the insurance industry's objections (source: CivilBeat).
02/10/2025
The right of the Kahala Hotel to use the public beach in front of its hotel with beach equipment is, after a lengthy ruling, pending further litigation, with an end result that could impact other beachfront hotels. In Waikiki, there are now guidelines, whereby the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Moana Surfrider and Outrigger Waikiki may only place beach equipment on the beach when it is rented to a named customer, prior to occupying the beach space (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/10/2025
Home fire in Maui Meadows - firefighters were able to prevent fire from spreading to neighboring homes (source: MauiNow).
02/10/2025
Residents are invited to learn more about the Lahaina wildfire debris transfer to a permanent site, scheduled for Feb 15th 10:30am - 1pm at the Lahaina Resource Center (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
02/09/2025
Bills are introduced to appropriate up to $600M more to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands to develop more housing for Hawaiians, including more housing at its Kauluokahai subdivision in East Kapolei (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/08/2025
The median sales price of a condo in Maui has fallen to $675,000 - the lowest price level in 2 years (source: MauiNow).
02/07/2025Starwood Capital Group owns the land located at the former Woods Golf Course in Princeville, Kauai and wants to develop luxury properties on that land. However, beneath the golf course are hundreds of decomposed cattle that were killed during an anthrax outbreak more than a century ago, which has some led to some concerned Princeville residents filing a lawsuit against the developer (source: CivilBeat).
02/07/2025
Hawaii's Supreme Court posed many questions pertaining to the validity of the $4 billion proposed deal to settle Maui wildfire litigation. A decision by the court could determine whether the proposed settlement can prevent insurer from obtaining compensation, through litigation, from parties deemed responsible for the fire. It may be weeks before a decision (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/06/2025Honolulu's Mayor is making a push to utilize city-owned land across Oahu to develop more affordable housing over the coming years, especially along the Honolulu Rail (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/06/2025
Standard homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage and the Hawaii Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division encourages homeowners and renters to understand their insurance policies and consider adding flood coverage (source: KauaiNow).
02/05/2025
Three Hawaii Senate committees have advanced a bill that would allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to built high-rises on its 31 acres location on the oceanside of Ala Moana Blvd as seen here. The proposal focuses on affordable housing and market rate units, all for Hawaii residents, but possibly with 1 tower being a hotel or condo hotel (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/05/2025
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea has a new sushi restaurant, Komo.
02/05/2025
A new Bill - Bill 217 - would require visitors driving on parts of Hana Hwy on Maui to pay a road toll fee (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
02/04/2025Bill 1296 is advancing. If the Bill becomes law, it will not be required for owners to obtain a special management area permit for structures in Lahaina that were destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires (source: MauiNow).
02/04/2025
Demolition of Aloha Stadium is scheduled to start this coming June to make room for a $450M planned project that would include 25,000 stadium seats, new residential neighborhoods, parks, a school, a grocery store and more (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
02/04/2025Grand Wailea Resort on Maui is seeking approval to built another 137 hotel rooms, but faces opposition from activities who are concerned construction could disturb iwi kapuna, which is bones of Hawaiian ancestors (source: KITV).
02/04/2025
The State is evaluating offering leasehold condos on State Land (99 year lease) and the developer of recently built Ililani has been selected to come up with design concept for a 360 unit tower with prices starting at $456,400 for one bedroom units and goes up to $862,600 for four bedrooms units (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/03/2025Bill 738 aims to reduce the time a Hawaii government agency has to concur or not with new development proposals, which would help speed up the approval process and ultimately create more housing (source: MauiNow).
02/03/2025
Dec 2024 Maui saw 227,800 visitors, which is 15% higher than December 2023, but 17.3% below Dec 2019, when Maui saw 275,419 visitors (source: MauiNow).
02/02/2025
This coming Thursday, the Hawaii Supreme Court will hear arguments from attorneys representing various parties to help determine the allocation of the $4 billion settlement for the nearly 10,000 Maui wildfire survivors (source: StarAdvertiser).
02/01/2025
9.7M visitors arrived in Hawaii 2024 and spend $21BL vs the record 2019 visitors of 10.4M with $18BL in spendings. However, taking inflation in to account 2019 spending was a bit more than 2024 (source: PBN).
01/31/2025Kuilei Place is about 85% sold out and all existing structures on the planned site is expected to be demolished within a few weeks.
01/31/2025
720,488 Japanese tourists visited Hawaii 2024 vs 580,172 in 2023 and 1,580,000 in 2019. More Japanese are now traveling to much cheaper locations such as Taiwan and Korea (source: PBN).
01/31/2025Waikoloa Village is expected to get two new hotels: A Holiday Inn Express (expected to open 2027) and a Candlewood Suites (expected to open 2028) - (source: PBN).
01/30/2025
A deal worth $4BL has been reached for Maui fire victims and soon we will know how much each victim will receive (source: KHON2).
01/30/2025
A decision on Bill 534 has been deferred until next week. The Bill is proposed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and, if it became law as written, the Bill would allow OHA to built five 400 ft residential towers on its 31 acres of land, located on the oceanside of Ala Moana Blvd, as seen on this map (source: StarAdvertiser)
01/29/2025
Hawaii State (all islands) vacation rental occupancy was 52.1% in 2024, which is 6.7% less than 2023 and 29.7% less than 2019. Hotel occupancy was 73.3% in 2024 (source: DBEDT).
01/29/2025
Sales have just started for Kaliu, a luxury condo that is to be built.
01/29/2025
It will possibly be one year before the State is able to offer (hurricane) insurance for condo associations, meant to help reduce the sky rocketing insurance premiums, and even so, there are questions around obtaining the capital required to offer such insurance (source: StarAdvertiser).
01/29/2025
Hawaii hotel revenue for 2024 totaled $5.48 billion, up 21.5% from $4.51 billion in 2019. However, when taking inflation into account it is a small revenue drop (source: PBN).
01/29/2025
Maui's eviction moratorium, put in place since the Lahaina wildfires, is set to expire next week and some Maui residents are asking the Governor to extend the moratorium (source: KITV).
01/28/2025
Kauai lawmakers are proposing bills to address Kauai's expensive housing - including high-density housing in Lihue - where the median price of single-family homes has reached $1.4M (source: CivilBeat).
01/27/2025
The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization has developed a tool that consolidates data on subsidized housing programs on Oahu, meant to assist in better understanding Oahu's affordable housing situation and hopefully leading to better policy making decisions (source: UHERO).
01/27/2025
A run down building located at 121 Banyan Drive, Hilo, owned by the State, had a developer propose a $20M renovation plan, which would include converting 80% of its 152 units to long-term rentals. However, lack of decision making on the proposal, by the State, lead to the developer revoking their proposal (source: StarAdvertiser).
01/25/2025
A plan to redevelop the 10.85 acre Paradise Cove Luau lot in Ko Olina is progressing, which would include restaurants, shops, an art venue, spaces for workshops and more (source: PBN).
01/25/2025
A Bill has been introduced, which would allow Lahaina owner to rebuilt, without special area permits, normally required (source: MauiNow).
01/24/2025
President Trump is requesting the Fed to cut interest rates (source: USA Today).
01/24/2025Kuhio Park Terrace, a public housing complex located in Kalihi, has requested its approximate 60 tenants to move out by the end of February with plans to take the low-rise complex down and instead develop a large-scale affordable housing project (source: HawaiiNewsNow).
01/22/2025
The cost to built 450 temporary homes for Maui wildfire survivors came out to $411,000 per home, which does not take into account the land value (source: CivilBeat).
01/21/2026
Maui County median sales price for single-family homes, Dec 2024, was $1,374,238 (source: MauiNow).
01/21/2026
The City & County of Honolulu is seeking a developer to create affordable housing units in four city-owned properties, starting with redevelopment of the property located at 1615 Ala Wai Blvd (source: PBN).
01/21/2026
In order to revitalize Honolulu's Downtown cleaning up homelessness and further reducing crime is a proposed starting point and discussions take place to create a Business Improvement District to help address these issues, most efficiently (source: StarAdvertiser).
01/19/2025
Military housing members occupy about 14,700 out of an estimated 105,868 rentals on Oahu and 2,150 own a property on Oahu (source: StarAdvertiser).
01/17/2025
Systematic barriers in Hawaii constrains housing production, which is a key factor in the lack of affordable housing being developed, according to Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp (source: MauiNow).
01/16/2025
The City & County of Honolulu is planning to develop affordable housing units at 1615 Ala Wai Blvd, a 3-story property it acquired through condemnation 1 year ago (source: City & County of Honolulu).
01/15/2025
Business leaders and politicians have plans to revitalize Downtown Honolulu with more safety, shops, restaurants, condos and more (source: CivilBeat).
01/15/2025
South Maui's long-term proposed development plans do not include enough affordable housing and could worsen traffic and water supply, according to some (source: CivilBeat).
01/14/2025
A California real estate developer, Kam Sang Co., has purchased two oceanfront parcels in Ko Olina for $216M with plans to develop an Atlantis Resort on one of the lots and a luxury hotel on the other lot - total costs estimated at $2.5BL (source: PBN).
01/13/2025Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager, proposes merger of his Pershing Square with Howard Hughes Corporation, the developer of Ward Village (source: Reuters).
01/13/2025
Solving Hawaii's housing crisis is the center in new legislative session and different approaches / ideas are discussed (source: CivilBeat).
01/12/2025
It is a challenge rebuilding Lahaina, while keeping its historic character, due to the current building codes and laws (source: MauiNow).
01/10/2025AirBnB sued for discrimination, after a host rejected renting to a family with 3 kids (source: Reuters).
01/10/2024Haleiwa Backyards - a proposed development in Haleiwa Town, which would include 30,000 sq ft commercial space and 150 rental units - is facing pushback from residents (source: KHON2).
01/09/2025
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is expected to take ownership of The Courtyards at Waipouli in Kauai with plans to turn the units in to affordable housing (source: KauaiNow).
01/08/2025The Office of Hawaiian Affairs owns 31 acres of land in Kakaako on the oceanside of Ala Moana Blvd, known as Kakaako Makai - see details on this map - and they are trying to get approvals to built condos, proposing 50% restricted / affordable units and 50% market rate units, which would also be for owner occupants only (source: StarAdvertiser).
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