When Ian Kealoha decided to build a rental unit on his Wahiawā property four years ago to help offset his mortgage, he probably didn’t expect his journey would highlight why Honolulu’s affordable housing strategy isn’t working as planned. After navigating more than four years of permits and construction hurdles, Kealoha’s experience represents the broader challenges facing the city’s efforts to expand housing options through accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
The tension reached a breaking point recently when the Honolulu City Council passed a resolution condemning new state-mandated ADU rules. According to Honolulu Civil Beat, council members said that while they appreciate the sentiment of tackling the housing crisis, the measures overstepped into their territory and were too broad.
The Numbers Tell a Different Story
The reality behind Honolulu’s ADU program reveals a stark disconnect between expectations and results. A city plan from 2014 estimated between 17,000 and 22,000 rental units could eventually be built through ADUs, with at least 250 built annually in initial years. However, only 1,320 ADUs have actually been constructed since then, averaging little more than half of the yearly goal.
Department of Planning and Permitting Director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna didn’t mince words about the program’s performance in an April interview, calling it “not really a super successful program,” as reported by Civil Beat.
State Mandates Meet Local Resistance
The controversy stems from new state legislation allowing two ADUs per residential lot, which forced counties to develop regulatory frameworks. Honolulu implemented these requirements through its updated Land Use Ordinance late last year. The disconnect between state expectations and local realities is striking—while legislators passed the law requiring counties to allow two ADUs to encourage the practice, the city struggles to persuade people to build just one…