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VIO iS- _ A Removing harriers to Hawaii's prosperity
Jan. 7, 2026, 9 a.m.
Hawai'i County Council Chambers in Hilo
To: Hawai'i County Council
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Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair
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Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Vice Chair
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From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst
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RE: Bill 63 (2025) — RELATING TO DWELLINGS
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Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 63, Draft 2 (2025), which would make single-family,
double -family and multifamily dwellings by -right permitted uses in the county's industrial -commercial
mixed -use zoning districts and expand housing options.
Under the bill, double -family and multifamily dwellings would be allowed at a maximum density of one unit
per 1,250 square feet of land area. Single-family dwellings would not face this same density restriction.
These are the same standards under which single-family, double -family and multifamily dwellings are allowed
in Hawai'i County's neighborhood commercial, village commercial and general commercial zoning districts.
Grassroot does prefer the current draft of the bill to the proposed draft 3, which would remove single-family
dwellings as a permitted use. Letting builders have the option to construct single-family dwellings would give
them the opportunity to respond as needed to the specifics of each lot and ever -changing construction costs.
According to a 2024 estimate from the state Research and Economic Analysis Division, Hawai'i County needs
6,665 new housing units built between 2025 and 2035 just to keep up with demand.' Authorizing more
mixed -use construction could help make a dent in this shortfall.
' Rene Kamita, "Hawai'i Housing Demand: 2025-2035." Research and Economic Analysis Division, Hawaii Department of Business,
Economic Development and Tourism, March 2024, p. 11.
1050 Bishop St. H508 1 Honolulu, HI96813 1 808-864-1776 1 info@grassrootinstite6rflftt. 0 33 Z_I
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This measure would also align Hawai'i County's zoning code with the state'sAct 37 (2024) which authorized
residential uses in all commercial zones statewide.
Buildings that contain both housing and businesses also promote walkable neighborhoods and all the benefits
that come with them.
As Grassroot pointed out in a 2023 policy brief: "Studies show that walkable neighborhoods also yield positive
health outcomes. People lose weight, cardiovascular disease declines, and people report being happier."Z
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Analyst
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
'Jonathan Helton, "How to facilitate more homebuildine in Hawaii." Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, December 2023, p. 16.
1050 Bishop St. #508 1 Honolulu, HI 96813 1 808-864-1776 1 info@grassrootinstitute.org
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