HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi used his sixth State of the City address Wednesday night to deliver a single, overarching message: the cost of living is driving people away, and the city must move faster — on housing, infrastructure, permitting, and core services — to keep residents on Oahu.
“This moment demands a higher level of leadership,” Blangiardi said, speaking before a packed house at Mission Memorial Auditorium on the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds next to Honolulu Hale.
Blangiardi began by thanking residents, city departments, and first responders following a Kona low system that brought heavy rain and strong winds across the state late last week. He also acknowledged the Honolulu City Council, calling collaboration with councilmembers essential as the city takes on what he described as “the many difficult and significant challenges” ahead.
Housing: New, dedicated department and transit-oriented development
With Oahu experiencing the state’s sharpest population decline, Blangiardi tied outmigration to two forces: affordability and economic opportunity…