AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS RECOGNIZED STATES DECADES AGO.

CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

LAWMAKERS SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A TOP PRIORITY.

BUT WITH THE MEDIAN PRICE OF HOMES IN TWO I WHOA AS COUNTIES TOPPING IS MILLION DOLLARS.

SOLUTIONS REALLY POSSIBLE?

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M LACY DENIZ.

1970, STATE COMMISSION REPORT CALLED LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING A CRISIS.

FAST FORWARD 2018.

STATE REPORT FOUND ON OAHU ALONE, MORE THAN 20,000 UNITS NEED TO BE BUILT TO MEET CURRENT DEMAND.

POLITICIANS AT EVERY LEVEL PLEDGE TO MAKE THE ISSUE TOP PRIORITY.

NEED STILL GROWS.

WHAT DO STATE LAWMAKERS PROPOSE TO DO THIS YEAR AND WILL THEY FINALLY BE ABLE TO MAKE HEAD WAY TO HELP LOCAL RESIDENTS FIND A PLACE TO LIVE THAT THEY DID ACTUALLY AFFORD?

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

GET INVOLVED WITH THE CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW ON FACEBOOK PAGE.

TO OUR GUESTS, SENATOR STANLEY CHANG IS THE CHAIR FOR THE STATE SENATE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

HE REPRESENTS SENATE DISTRICT SENATOR CHANG GRADUATED CUM LAUDE FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND SPECIALIZED IN REAL ESTATE LAW BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

REPRESENTATIVE NADINE NAKAMURA IS THE CHAIR FOR THE HOUSING COMMITTEE IN THE STATE HOUSE SHE SERVES HOUSE DISTRCIT 14, WHICH INCLUDES THE KAUAI TOWNS OF HANALEI TO WAILUA PRINCEVILLE, KILAUEA, ANAHOLA, SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS MAJORITY WHIP IN THE HOUSE.

KENNA STORMOGIPSON IS THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING POLICY AT THE HAWAII APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

KENNA COMPLETED A MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC AFFAIR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY AND WROTE HER THESIS ON HOW TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE EL HOUSING IN HAWAII.

LINDSAY PACHECO WAS AT ONE TIME HOUSELESS AND IS THE CO‑FOUNDER OF KA POE O KAKAAKO (KPOK) — A GROUP OF HOUSELESS PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZED IN KAKAAKO GATEWAY PARK IN 2019.

GROUP LEADERS ARE SPEARHEADING AN EFFORT TO FIND LAND TO SERVE AS A PERMANENT HOME FOR HOUSELESS PEOPLE IN URBAN HONOLULU.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE HONESTLY ANCHORED SHOW BEFORE.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AS WE NOTED IN THE INTRO SOME TIME.

BEFORE I STARTED HERE.

PROBLEM CONTINUES.

A LOT OF FORCES THAT ARE BEYOND THE STATE'S CONTROL.

WITH YOU LOOKING AT INFLATION, COST OF BUILDING MATERIALS, AND WHAT NOT.

WHAT CAN THE STATE ACTUALLY DO?

WHAT IS IN LAWMAKERS CONTROL?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK WE HAVE START WITH FUNDING.

THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'VE SEEN HISTORIC COMMITMENT BY LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

$600 MILLION PROPOSAL TO FUND NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING DHHL.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE DIDN'T GETS IN 30 YEARS.

WORTH OF APPROPRIATIONS.

CAN PRODUCE FIVE OR EVEN 6,000 UNITS OF HOUSING.

I THINK IT STARTS WITH FUNDING.

I THINK IT ALSO EXTENDS TO STIMULATING CONSTRUCTION.

THE ONE OF THE SHOCKING STATISTICS THAT I LEARNED RECENTLY IS THAT BACK IN THE 1970S.

WHEN THAT REPORT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS AUTHORED, WE WERE ACTUALLY PRODUCING AS MANY AS 12 OR 14,000 HOUSING UNITS A YEAR ON OAHU.

NOW DWINDLED TO ONLY ABOUT 1200.

SO HOUSING PRODUCTION HAS PLUNGED BY 90%.

I THINK RECOGNITION OF THAT FACT STIMULATING TO PEOPLE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO HOUSING PRODUCTION AND OVERCOME BARRIERS SO WE CAN RAISE HOUSING PRODUCTION UP TO A LEVEL HEALTHY THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, DO YOU AGREE?

DO YOU THINK IT'S A FUNDING ISSUE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS ACTUALLY IN THE STATE'S CONTROL AND WHAT CAN BE DONE IT ACTUALLY FIX THIS PROBLEM?

>> I THINK SENATOR CHANG IS CORRECT.

THAT FUNDING IS A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SO COSTLY TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'M REALLY PROUD THAT IN THE HOUSE MAJORITY PACKAGE, SENATOR SAID, $600 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

IT IS A HISTORIC AMOUNT.

I'M ALSO HAPPY THAT THE MAJORITY PACKAGE INCLUDES FUNDING FOR OHANA ZONES.

EXTENDING THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER 3 YEARS.

AT $30 MILLION MORE.

SO THAT THE WE CAN DO MORE HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY SHELTERS ASSESSMENT CENTERS.

NAVIGATION CENTERS.

AND ALL THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED.

FINALLY, WE HAVE, ARE COMMITTED TO DOING MORE IN RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND SETTING ASIDE $150 MILLION FOR FAMILIES MAKING BETWEEN 61 AND 100% OF AMI AREA MEDIAN INCOME BECAUSE THIS GROUP HAS BEEN NEGLECTED AND THESE ARE OUR WORKING FAMILIES.

WE NEED TO HAVE RENTAL HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THEM.

>>Yunji: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP RENTALS.

WHERE SHOULD THE FOCUS BE?

RENTAL HOUSING OR FOCUS ON HOMEOWNERSHIP WHAT ARE OUTYOUR THOUGHTS?

>> BOTH REALLY FIRST OF ALL, SHOULD BE MAXIMIZING FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE GET TOWARDS RENTALS.

THAT'S THROUGH THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.

WE'RE NOT MAXIMIZING THAT PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE LEAVING FEDERAL MONEY ON THE TABLE.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO PUT MORE FUNDS INTO WHAT NAKAMURA TALKING ABOUT, RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVEING FUND.

COULD BE BUILDING 1500 UNITS A YEAR.

INSTEAD WE'RE AT 700 TO A THOUSAND.

MAXIMIZE FEDERAL FUNDS, MAXIMIZE THAT PROGRAM.

FOR SALE HOUSING, I THINK SENATOR CHANG IS DEFINITELY ON TO SOMETHING.

WITH ESSENTIALLY LEASEHOLD HOUSING FOR THE REST OF US THAT ARE NOT BENEFICIARIES.

LEASEHOLD OPTION MAKES TON OF SENSE.

NAKAMURA, ON KAUAI, GREAT PROGRAM THERE, KAUAI LEASEHOLD HOUSING, COUNTY PROGRAM.

WAITING LIST OF 400 PEOPLE.

ONLY ABLE TO ADD A FEW HOMES A YEAR.

I DO THINK PEOPLE WANT SOME SORT OF LONGTERM LEASEHOLD OPTION.

JUST A MATTER OF WORK OUT ALL DETAILS.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW HE STATE PROGRAM WOULD WORK WITH COUNTY PROGRAM.

SO WE HAVE WORK THROUGH THAT.

PEOPLE WANT TO OPTION WHERE THEY CAN GET A MORTGAGE.

AND YOU CAN STAY AFFORDABLE LONGTERM FOR NEXT BUYER AND NEXT BUYER 600 MILLION A YEAR EVERY YEAR FOR HOUSING NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK.

WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS EXPENSIVE.

IT'S EXPENSIVE TO HAVE 6,000 HOUSELESS PEOPLE.

EXPENSIVE TO HAVE SO MANY RENTERS BARELY HANGING ON.

EXPENSIVE TO MOVE SO MUCH OF OUR MIDDLE CLASS TO THE MAINLAND.

CAN I STOP THERE.

BUT WE GOT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD LIKE THIS.

WITH BIG PUBLIC INVESTMENTS.

AND THEN I LOVE TO HEAR FROM LINDSEY WHAT SHE THINKS SHE NEEDS FOR HOUSELESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>>Yunji: LET'S HEAR FROM YOU.

SOMEBODY WOULD HAS ACTUALLY NAVIGATED THAT JOURNEY AND OUT OF BEING HOUSELESS.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU AND FOR OTHERS YOU MAY KNOW?

>> THAT'S GOOD QUESTION.

WHAT REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR ME WAS A LOT OF CONSISTENCY WITHIN THE CASEWORKERS THAT I ACTUALLY GOT TO WORK WITH.

MY IDEA OF LONGTERM SOLUTION DOESN'T LIE IN A SHELTER SYSTEM.

BECAUSE SHELTERS ARE ONLY TEMPORARY.

THEY DO NOT PROVIDE LONGTERM HOUSING.

UNLESS, THE ONLY WAY SHELTER SYSTEMS REALLY WORK IS IF LONGTERM HOUSE TO GO PUT PEOPLE INTO.

MAXIMIZE THE SHELTER SYSTEM, AND PEOPLE ONLY END UP RIGHT BACK ON THE STREET, IF THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.

IF THERE'S NO HOUSING, FOR THEM TO GET INTO, IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE SYSTEM.

OF THE SERVICE THAT IS THERE.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PASS THROUGH ONE OF THE SHELTERS WHICH WAS HALE MAULIOLA IN SAND ISLAND.

THROUGH THAT SHELTER, AND THAT THOSE SERVICES I WAS ABLE TO GET HOUSING.

I AM CURRENTLY HOUSING FIRST HOUSING VOUCHER.

ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING FIRST AND BELIEVE IN HOUSING FIRST.

BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS HOUSING VOUCHER, I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE JOINING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU FOLKS RIGHT NOW.

IT WAS THE IDEA OF GETTING HOUSED BEFORE GETTING MY SERVICES, THERE IS NO GREAT STIGMA AND STEREOTYPE THAT PEOPLE CANNOT BE HOUSED WITHOUT GETTING DRUG TREATMENT OR GETTING HELP FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

I'M SORRY BUT I VOUCH FOR THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO DO ANY OF THAT.

UNTIL I GOT HOUSED.

THE HOUSING PART IS IMPORTANT.

BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE SHELTERS AND WE PROMOTE TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

BUT IT MAKES NO SENSE IF THERE'S NO LONGTERM SOLUTION AT THE END OF THAT TUNNEL.

TO PUT PEOPLE INTO.

>>Yunji: PROGRAMS LIKE HOUSING FIRST DON'T WORK IF THERE'S NO INVENTORY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU PROPOSED IS SINGAPORE STYLE MODEL THAT GOT A A LOT OF BUZZ.

I THEY WE DID SOME PROGRAMS HERE ON INSIGHTS ABOUT THAT.

WHERE IS THAT IDEA RIGHT NOW?

IS THERE A SCALED DOWN VERSION THAT FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT?

I KNOW THERE WAS SOME PUSH BACK TO THAT.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND RIGHT NOW?

IS.

>> SO WE'RE BACK WITH SEVERAL BILLS THIS YEAR TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT THIS SOLUTION.

AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DIFFERENT ITERATIONS, DIFFERENT CHANGES OVER THE YEARS.

I'VE BEEN PLEASED TO WORK WITH BOTH KONA AND REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA ON THIS CALL TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE REALLY IDENTIFIED AS WAYS TO IMPROVE THE BILL.

AND SO THE BILL IS MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE TO WHAT LINDSTROM LINDSEY WAS SAYING DO IN SINGAPORE.

BUILDING SO MUCH PUBLIC HOUSE ALL LEVELS OF INCOME FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND VERY RICH, ABLE TO TAKE FOLKS WHO PREVIOUSLY HOUSELESS AND PUT THEM INTO THESE INTEGRATED COMMUNITIES.

WHAT WE KNOW FOR A FACT IS THAT CONCENTRATING POVERTY DOES NOT WORK.

AND SO YOU GIVE PEOPLE THE BEST CHANCE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET BY SURROUNDING THEM WITH A COMMUNITY.

STABLE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS AS TO WHY SINGAPORE HAS REALLY MADE GREAT STRIDES ON HOMELESSNESS AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN FOLLOW IN THOSE FOOTSTEPS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE HOMELESSNESS.

PEOPLE JUST MIDDLE CLASS FOLKS WHO NEED HOUSING.

>>Yunji: BILL THAT YOU HAVE MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW, IN A NUTSHELL, DON'T WANT TO GET TOO SIDETRACKED.

WHAT EXACTLY WOULD IT DO AND HOW LIKELY DO YOU THINK IT IS IT ACTUALLY PASS?

>> SO THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WE HAVE WOULD STATE OWNED LANDS NEAR RAIL STATIONS.

SPECIFICALLY LANDS THAT ARE NOT PART OF SEEDED LANDS CORPUS.

AND HAVE THE STATE BUILD VERY HIGH DENSITY HOUSING TO SELL IT TO A RANGE OF INCOMES UP TO 140% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

AND TO ALLOW FOR THE PROGRAM TO BE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE ALTHOUGH THERE WOULD BE AN OPTION TO HAVE SUBSIDIES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, FEDERAL SUBSIDIES AND OTHER CASH INFUSIONS INTO THE PROGRAM.

AND THAT THIS WOULD REALLY BE A CHANCE TO PROVIDE A LARGE SCALE, LARGE VOLUME OF HOUSING FOR WIDE VARIETY OF INCOMES ALL HAWAII RESIDENTS OWNER OCCUPANTS AND WOULD OWN NO OR REAL PROPERTY.

PRETTY MUCH MOST LOCAL PEOPLE.

AS FOR ITS POSITION RIGHT NOW, THE BILLS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SENATE.

I ANTICIPATE BROUGHT TO A VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

THEN AFTER THAT, BE SENT OVER TO THE HOUSE FOR THE HOUSE'S CONSIDERATION.

BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, BOTH IN HOUSE SUCH AS REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA AND NONPROFIT OTHER COMMUNITIES INCLUDING ADMINISTRATION.

WE'RE HOPEFUL.

I THINK WE'RE IN THE BEST POSITION OUT FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE INTRODUCED THIS PROPOSAL THUS FAR.

TO ACTUALLY GETTING IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, IF SENATORS CHANG IS SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING IT AT LEAST OVER TO YOUR SIDE, WITH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PROPOSAL?

>> I HAVE TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT THE PROPOSAL SAYS.

I KNOW THAT SENATOR CHANG HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED IN THE HAWAII APPLE SEED STUDY THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE STATE OF HAWAII.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THE BILL HAS SHAPED UP AND THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT HOW SOME THINGS ARE DIFFERENT HERE, SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED, AND WE NEED TO ADJUST THE SITUATION FOR DIFFERENT SITUATION IN HAWAII.

THAN SINGAPORE.

SO I THINK, I THINK SENATOR CHANG IS VERY SENSITIVE TO THESE ISSUES.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO REVIEWING THAT BILL AND OTHERS THAT ARE COMING OUR WAY.

>>Yunji: GOT A LOT OF VIEWER QUESTIONS I WANT TO BRING IN.

SOME OF THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU ANSWER THIS ONE FROM RICHARD.

HOW MUCH OF THE PROBLEM OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM MIGHT BE EASED IF WE COULD USE ILLEGAL SHORT‑TERM RENTALS FOR LONGTERM HOUSING.

MATTER UP TO THE COUNTIES.

MAYOR BLANGIARDI SAYS PRIORITY.

TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE ILLEGAL SHORT‑TERM RENTALS.

WOULD THIS BE, WHAT KIND OF A DIFFERENCE WOULD THIS MAKE?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO RICHARD?

>> I SAY TAX THEM.

I SAY, IF YOU HAVE A VACATION HOME, YOU SHOULD BE PAYING TAXES AS THOUGH IT WAS A HOTEL.

INSTEAD OF PAYING VERY, VERY LOW PROPERTY TAX RATE.

PAY A TAX RATE THAT 1.4%.

WHAT DO WE CHARGE OUR HOTELS?

WITH THAT TAX MONEY, WE DID SOME ANALYSIS ON MAUI.

IF YOU CHARGED INVESTMENT HOMEOWNERS SECOND HOMEOWNERS FOR $2 MILLION HOUSE, EXTRA $300 A MONTH, FOR THEIR SHORT‑TERM RENTALS, EXTRA THREE DOLLARS A DAY.

YOU GET TO ABOUT $57 MILLION A YEAR.

ADDED REVENUE.

NOW, THAT IS VERY, VERY GUARANTEED INCOME.

BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE VERY, VERY SECURE.

AS WE'VE SEEN DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

WHEN OTHER FORMS OF REVENUE WENT DOWN, PROPERTY TAXES ACTUALLY WENT UP.

UNFORTUNATELY.

BECAUSE HOME VALUES WERE DISCONNECTED FROM WAGES.

BUT YOU CAN TAKE THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, PUT A BOND ON IT, YOU HAVE $1.1 BILLION.

SO MY RESPONSE TO THAT, REALLY HARD TO FORCE PRIVATE OWNERS, WHO IS GOING TO BE IN THEIR HOME, IF IT'S, IT'S HARD TO YOU CAN TAX IT.

>>Yunji: INTERESTING.

LINDSEY WANT TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR GROUP TO TRY TO CREATE HOUSING.

>> SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT KAUHALE OR AFFORDABLE VILLAGE STYLE OF HOUSING HELP THOSE FOLKS GET PERMANENT HOUSING.

TELL US ABOUT THE WORK OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.

>> SINCE LATE I BELIEVE EARLY 2018, LATE OR YEAH, EARLY 2018, AT ONE POINT, WE WERE PROPOSED A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND AREA.

THAT WE HAD PROPOSED TO US THAT THIS WOULD BE A POTENTIAL PLACE COULD ACTUALLY HOUSE OUR PEOPLE.

DEVELOP KAUHALE AND BUILD IT FROM THE GROUND UP OURSELVES.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH LAND TRANSFERS, GOING FROM THE STATE TO CITY AND COUNTY, AND THEN TRYING TO BE LEASE TO NONPROFIT ENTITY, WHICH IS WHO WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH TO GET THAT DONE, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY BEHIND THE SCENES GOING ABOUT IT THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING TO ACTUALLY SET FOOT ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

LIKE NEARLY 3 YEARS LATER OR GOING ON FOUR YEARS SOON.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE GIVE UP HOPE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN SEARCH OF A PIECE OF EITHER PRIVATE PROPERTY OR DONATED PROPERTY OR PROPERTY THAT WE COULD AFFORD TO BE ACTUALLY LEASED OUT AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU FOLKS ARE FAMILIAR WITH PUUHONUA O WAIANAE.

WHAT THEY DID.

LITERALLY RAISED OVER $3.5 MILLION TO FLAT OUT BUY A 20‑ACRE PARCEL OF AGRICULTURE LAND IN MAKAHA VALLEY.

TO WHERE NOW, THEY OWN THEIR LOT.

THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY CAN ACTUALLY BUILD THEIR VILLAGE.

THEIR KAUHALE STYLE VILLAGE.

IT'S EXACTLY WHO KA POE O KAKAAKO MODELS AFTER.

WE LOOK UP TO AFTER THAT'S OUR SISTER ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW WHAT FOLLOW THEM AND REPLICATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING BUT IN URBAN HONOLULU.

URBAN HONOLULU SO CROWDED ALREADY, THAT IT IS PRETTY DIFFICULT TO ACTUALLY FIND A PARCEL PIECE OF LAND.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

WE'RE AT THAT POINT WHERE WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET A PLACE.

THE GO AHEAD.

OKAY.

ONCE WE GET THAT OKAY, WE CAN TAKE IT FROM THERE AND AT LEAST HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO PUT A MANAGED ENCAMPMENT AND START BUILDING OUR KAUHALE FROM THE GROUND UP.

THAT WOULD BE THE WORK THAT THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE WOULD HAVE TO DO.

HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE.

>>Yunji: HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

HOW MANY PEOPLE?

>> WE WERE STILL IN KAKAAKO, BEFORE, ENCAMPMENT GOT DISBURSED, WE WERE HEAD COUNT WAS LAST KNOWN ABOUT 120 PEOPLE.

THAT INCLUDED SINGLES, COUPLES AND FEW FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

HOWEVER, SWEPT OUT OF KAKAAKO, CHILDREN IN OUR ENCAMPMENT ARE NOW ADULTS.

THERE'S NOT TOO MANY YOUNGER GENERATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY ANY MORE.

>>Yunji: I'M SURE THE NEED IS STILL GREAT.

I WANT TO BRING THIS TO REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA.

STELLA FROM KAUAI ASKS THIS QUESTION, GIVE TO YOU.

HOPING OUR LEGISLATURE CAN TAKE STEPS TO PROMOTE HOUSING/ADU WHICH IS CERTAIN AGO ZONE LAND.

ANY CHANCE THIS WOULD REALLY HELP FARMERS?

WHAT ABOUT CHANGING ZONING TO ALLOW FOR MORE HOUSING?

>> I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTIES TO IDENTIFY THE AGRICULTURAL LANDS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

SOME OF THE AG LANDS ARE IN REMOTE AREAS DIFFICULT TO BRING INFRASTRUCTURE TO AND SUPPORT.

BE VERY COSTLY.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTIES TO IDENTIFY THE LANDS, HOPEFULLY, AROUND ON THENEIGHBOR ISLANDS BUS STATIONS.

ON OAHU, ALONG THE RAPID TRANSIT LINE AND BUS STATIONS.

WHERE MAKES SENSE TO DO HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENT.

THAT WAY, WE CAN CONCENTRATE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS IN THESE AREAS.

UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY NOW.

CONGRESS LAST YEAR, PASSED INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT.

THAT'S GOING TO BRING $2.8 BILLION TO HAWAII.

IN FORMULA FUNDS.

AND WE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO DISCRETIONARY INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS AS WELL.

WE'RE WORKING TO SEE HOW WE CAN BEST USE THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

ACROSS THE BOARD, WE KNOW THERE'S A NEED ACROSS THE CONTINUUM.

I THINK LOOKING, ONE OPPORTUNITY.

WE DO HAVE BILLS TAKEN CLOSER LOOK AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE PROCESS TO HAVE AG LANDS USED FOR HOUSING.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, THERE'S A COMMENT HERE FROM CLAUDIA TORRES.

QUITE LONG.

INCLUDED YEAH, FORGIVE ME.

SORT OF SUMMARIZE IT.

USE WORDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HAWAII IS LAUGHABLE.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE EVERYONE WHO CAN'T?

IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS LIVING WAGE, WHY BOTHER?

THOSE NEED IT WILL STILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY UNLESS THE PLAN IS TO SUBSIDIZE.

WOULD END UP PAYING FOR IT?

UNDER WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS INDEED AFFORD?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THE KEYS STICKING POINTS WE GET.

ONE THING THAT I HAVE REALLY TRIED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT, WE'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO BUILD HOUSING AT THE UPPER REACHES WORKFORCE OR RESERVED.

SINGLE HOME COULD COST $867,000.

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT'S AFFORDABLE PRICE.

STUDY THAT APPLE SEED CONDUCTED LAST YEAR INDICATED THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR THE STATE TO BUILD AND SELL 2 BEDROOM UNIT FOR ONLY $400,000.

LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE.

WHICH IS AFFORDABLE TO A FAMILY MAKING LESS THAN 60% OF AMI OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT $400,000 IS STILL HIGHER THAN A LOT OF FOLKS CAN AFFORD, IT'S DRAMATICALLY BELOW THE MARKET FOR A 2 BEDROOM CONDO RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW THAT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, I RECENTLY GOT MARRIED.

WE'VE BEEN ON THE HOUSING MARKET AND WE HAD TO PAY A LOT MORE FOR A 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT THAN $400,000.

SO WE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.

REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, REALLY POINTED OUT THAT CONGRESS HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

UP TO US THE STATE AND COUNTIES TO MAXIMIZE USE OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS TO ENABLE THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING.

WHAT WE FIND TIME AND AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S RURAL AREAS, REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, REALLY HIGHLIGHT, URBAN AREAS, YOU HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY RESTRICTS.

WHETHER IT'S WASTEWATER, TRANSPORTATION, AND IT WOULD BE A REAL SHAME IF THOSE FUNDS WERE SPENT ON THINGS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HOUSING.

INSTEAD OF ENABLING CREATION OF LARGE SCALE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WHICH I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE HERE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING THIS QUESTION TO KENNA.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S GREAT TO PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED TO DO THAT.

WHAT WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHEN WE PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE PUTTING IN A LOT OF PUBLICLY FINANCED HOUSING.

IF THE FINANCING COMES FROM THE PRIVATE MARKET, WHICH MEANS DEVELOPERS HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET INVESTORS TO PAY TO BUILD THE HOUSING, MOST OF THAT HOUSING WILL BE SOLD FOR MARKET PRICE.

SO THIS BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN KAKAAKO.

PAID FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT MOST OF THAT HOUSING WAS FINANCED BY PRIVATE INVESTORS AND SO IT HAD TO BE SOLD MOSTLY FOR MARKET PRICE.

WHEREAS IF YOU'RE USING MODEL LIKE DHHL, YOU ARE ACTUALLY THE PUBLIC IS FINANCING IT.

UP FRONT.

THEN GETTING THAT MONEY BACK.

WHEN PEOPLE GET MORTGAGES, OR WHEN THEY RENT IT.

VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT SENATOR CHANG IS TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS LEASE MOLD MODEL.

WE FEED A LOT MORE HOUSING BUT NEED SPECIFICALLY MORE HOUSING WITH PUBLIC FINANCING THAT IS THERE FOR A RESERVE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

NOT BEING SETTLED FOR TOP MARKET PRICE.

>>Yunji: HEAR A LOT OF BUZZ AROUND THIS IDEA OF PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

EVERYTHING IS A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

THAT GETS A LOT OF TRACTION.

IDEA OF THE STATE, GOVERNMENT, BUILDING KIND OF LARGE SCALE HOUSING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT IS THE APPETITE FOR THAT AMONG THE PUBLIC WHERE YOU STAND AS A RESEARCHER?

HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, LIVES IF PUBLICLY FINANCED.

TAX CREDIT BUILDING BUILT BY A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.

PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

DEVELOPERS ARE PRIVATE.

YOU HAVE STANDFORD CARR, YOU HAVE KALI WATSON.

A LOT OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.

DOING IT.

BUT IT'S JUST THEY GET THEIR MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC SIDE.

INSTEAD HAVING TO CHASE DOWN INVESTORS.

I DON'T KNOW.

LINDSEY?

>>Yunji: I HAVE A DIFFERENT QUESTION FOR LINDSEY THAT COMES FROM CASEY ON FACEBOOK.

WANT TO GET TO.

IT SAYS, YES, PEOPLE MOVE OUT OF POVERTY MORE QUICKLY IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

>> WOULD HAWAII KAI WELCOME SEVERAL LOW INCOME HOUSING CLUSTERS.

YOU MENTIONED RED TAPE THAT YOU'RE PROJECT IS GOING THROUGH.

GROUP IS GOING THROUGH.

WHAT IS THAT PROCESS BEEN LIKE WE ALL SAY WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO GET OUT OF HOUSELESSNESS.

ON THE GROUND, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN MORE?

>>Yunji: HOW HAVE YOUR NEEDS BEEN AND WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN AS YOU TRY TO ACQUIRE THIS LAND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HURDLES YOU'RE ENCOUNTERING AND RED TAPE, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM AND HOW CAN THAT BE BETTER ADDRESSED?

WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED?

>> WE JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO SAY OKAY.

BASICALLY.

SOMEBODY TO SAY, OKAY, GIVE US THE CHANCE.

WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING WITH THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY MENTIONED EARLIER, PROPOSED TO US IS I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

PERMITS THAT NEED TO BE DRAWN UP.

ZONING NEED TO BE CHANGED.

ZONED FEDERAL RIGHT NOW.

SO IT NEEDS TO BE, THAT ZONING NEEDS TO CHANGE.

AND THERE'S TON OF HOOPS THAT WE NEED TO JUMP THROUGH.

TO GET, JUST TO GET IT.

AND WHAT WE NEED, AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, GOVERNOR IGE HAD A EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION THAT WAS DECLARED.

AT ONE POINT.

WHICH HAD ALLOWED PUUHONUA WAIANAE TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT ON AN EXPEDITED PERMIT PATHWAY.

AND ONCE THAT PROCLAMATION ENDED, THAT EXPEDITED PERMITTING PATHWAY ENDED.

WE, THEY ARE STILL COVERED ON IT.

BUT WE CANNOT, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE WOULD NEED.

WOULD NEED ANOTHER EXPEDITED PATH WAY THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DEVELOP OUR PROPERTY IN THE MEANTIME.

WHILE EVERYTHING ELSE IS GETTING SORTED OUT.

AND IRONED OUT AND FINETUNED.

BASICALLY WHAT WE WOULD REALLY NEED.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO COMMENT ABOUT EXPEDITING PATHWAYS.

IN THE CURRENT OHANA ZONED BILL, THAT'S GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE, WE HEARD FROM THE COUNTIES, WE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE ADVOCATES THAT THESE EXEMPTIONS THAT EXPIRED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION EXPIRED NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BILL.

EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE IN COMMITTEE.

REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'RE BEING RESPONSIVE AND WE KNOW THAT AS LONG AS HOMELESSNESS IS WHERE THE SECOND HIGHEST HOMELESS POPULATION IN THE NATION, PER CAPITA, AS LONG AS IT'S A PROBLEM, WE NEED TO HAVE THESE EXEMPTIONS IN PLACE SO WE CAN EXPEDITE DEVELOPMENT.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, I KNOW THAT YOU LOOKED AT HOUSING FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES.

INTERESTED WHAT YOU THINK OF THE QUESTION.

WHAT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF USING UNDER USED SCHOOL LAND GROUNDS AS PROPERTY THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED?

THERE HAVE BEEN TALK ABOUT HAVING SCHOOL AT LOWER LEVEL.

BUILDING CONDO UNIT ABOVE IT.

WHAT ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY PROMISING IDEA.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOL LANDS AT THE STATE OWNS.

MANY OF THEM ARE LOCATED NEAR THE RAIL TRANSIT STOPS ON OAHU.

OR NEAR OTHER TRANSIT CENTERS, OTHER COUNTIES.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF UNDER UTILIZE PROPERTY OUT THERE.

ONE OF BIG PUSHES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS NOW IS THE NEED FOR TEACHER HOUSING.

TURNS OUT ONE OF THE GREATEST BARRIERS FOR TEACHER RETENTION IN THE STATE IS THAT WITH THE SALARIES BEING WHAT THEY ARE, AND COST OF HOUSING BEING WHAT IT IS, SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A STABLE HOUSING SITUATION.

SO WHETHER WE PRIORITIZE THE FACULTY MEMBERS AT THE SCHOOLS THEY'RE TEACHING AT, WHETHER WE REALLY BUILD A LOT OF DENSITY SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE WIDER COMMUNITY AS WELL, I THINK THAT IS VERY RICH SOURCE OF LANDS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO BUILD ENOUGH HOUSING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE.

>>Yunji: THERE'S A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS IN HERE ABOUT FOREIGN BUYERS.

NOT FOREIGN BUYERS BUT OUT OF STATE BUYERS OF THE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THAT?

IS THAT A RED HERRING OR HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THE IDEA THAT MAINLAND BUYERS AND OTHERS COMING IN AND SORT OF JUMPING, LEAP‑FROGGING OVER LOCAL RESIDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO PURCHASING HOMES?

>> I DO THINK THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

I HAVE HEARD ESPECIALLY FROM THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS, MAUI AND KAUAI, PEOPLE SAYING THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEIR SCHOOLS ALL OF A SUDDEN CLASSROOM, QUARTER THE CLASSROOM BRAND NEW KIDS FOLKS COMING FROM THE MAINLAND.

WE KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ON KAUAI, AND MAUI, IN 2020, ALMOST 70% OF ALL HOME SALES WERE SECOND HOMES.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THEY WERE FROM THE MAINLAND OR FROM CANADA.

OR FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY.

IT'S HARD TO TELL THROUGH THE TAX DATA EXACTLY WHERE THAT PERSON LIVES.

BUT I DO KNOW THEY WERE NOT OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES.

SO THEY WERE SECOND HOME TO SOMEBODY.

AND THAT'S CONCERNING.

IF THAT MUCH OF OUR MARKET OUT THERE IS NOT BEING SOLD AS A PRIMARY RESIDENCE.

I THINK THE CONCERN AS A RESEARCHER IS LESS, DOES THAT PERSON LIVE IN CANADA OR LIVE IN CALIFORNIA?

AND MORE, HEY, WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN'T EVEN AFFORD A FIRST HOME, MAYBE WE NEED TO TAX SOME OF THESE INVESTMENT HOMES, SOME OF THESE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH HOMES TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN HAVE A FIRST HOME.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, KAUAI YOU JUST HEARD CITE THAT AS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH HOME.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO PUNISH SOMEONE FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL.

BUT YOU DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE A HOME.

WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF INCREASES TAXES SO THERE IS A IS SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION THAT THAT HOME IF THEY DECIDE THEY WANT HAVE HAVE A VACATION HOME IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> GOES TO THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES.

THEY NOW ARE THE ONLY ENTITY IN THE STATE CAN CHARGE REAL PROPERTY TAXES UNLESS WE MAKE A CHANGE TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

A BILL DO THAT.

TO CHANGE IT AROUND SO THAT WE INCREASE OR PROPERTY TAXES AND REDUCE OUR STATE INCOME TAXES.

AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WAY, WE CAN BETTER DIRECT OUR TAXATION AND TO FIT WITH OUR POLICIES TO DISCOURAGE OUT OF STATE HOME BUYING AND TO ENCOURAGE MORE LOCAL HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL IN HONOLULU WHEN WE FIRST INSTITUTED THE RESIDENTIAL A PROPERTY TAX CLASSIFICATION.

WHICH IS NONHOMEOWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTIES WORTH OVER $2 MILLION.

AND OVER THE YEARS, THAT TAX RATE HAS INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S NOW TRIPLE HOMEOWNER ATTACHMENT RATE.

COME BACK TO THINKING ABOUT MY OWN FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE.

DAD U.H.

PROFESSOR.

STATE EMPLOYEE WITH ONE SALARY.

HE WAS ABLE TO BUY THE HOUSE THIS OUR FAMILY STILL IN TODAY.

HE WAS ABLE TO RETIRE COMFORTABLY.

FOR ME, AS A STATE EMPLOYEE WITH ONE SALARY, TO BUY THE SAME HOUSE THAT HE BOUGHT IN 1983, WOULD COST OVER 40 YEARS OF MY ENTIRE SALARY.

THE DIFFERENCE WAS NOT THAT IN 1983 THEY TAXED THE PANTS OFF OUTSIDE INVESTORS OR THAT THEY PROHIBITED WEALTHY PEOPLE FROM SPECULATING.

THE DIFFERENCE WAS BUILDING TEN TIMES THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT THEY'RE BUILDING TODAY.

SO TO ME, THE FOCUS ON DEMAND WHILE I THINK IT HAS ITS PLACE, IT'S NOT BY ITSELF GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

AND BUILDING LARGE SCALE NEW SUPPLY IN MY OPINION, IS BOTH NECESSARY AN SUFFICIENT IN SOLVING HOUSING SHORTAGE HERE.

>>Yunji: TALK ABOUT THE SUPPLY.

WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE FROM LARRY IN MAKIKI.

WHY DOES THE STATE NOT ALLOW MOBILE HOMES OR MODULAR HOUSING KELVIN SAYS.

WHAT ABOUT MICRO HOUSING?

WHY NOT EXPLORE MORE OF THESE OPTIONS?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO KELVIN AND LARRY ON THESE IDEAS?

>> WELL, LET ME FIRST ADDRESS MICRO UNITS.

I'M A MILLENIAL.

JUST GOT MARRIED I WOULD LIKE TO START A FAMILY.

I HAVE LIVED IN A UNIT 168 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE.

SIZE OF SMALL ASIAN HOTEL ROOM.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO START ABLE TO START A FAMILY IN UNIT THAT SIZE.

MATTER GENERATIONAL EQUITY.

HAVE THE EXISTING HOMEOWNER GENERATION IN HAWAII BUYING A HOME FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT HOME PRICE NOW HAVING APPRECIATED TO MILLION DOLLARS.

OR MORE.

AND THAT IS A QUARTER ACRE LOT WITH THREE BEDROOMS OR FOUR BEDROOMS.

THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO BE ABLE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

SO I CAN REALLY, I GET A LITTLE TOUCHY WHEN IT'S IMPLIED THAT THE NEXT GENERATION DOESN'T NEED FAMILY SIZE HOME.

SHOULD BE CONTENT WITH A TINY HOME.

OR A TINY UNIT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.

>>Yunji: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IDEA OF MICROHOUSING OR MODULAR HOMES.

WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE COULD THAT MAKE AND IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING?

>> I THINK WE NEED EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

TALKING ABOUT WAIANAE.

BUILD HOMES $75,000 TO BUILD.

AND ON KAUAI, THERE'S THAT PROJECT THAT WAS ABOUT $120,000.

FOR EACH OF THOSE HOME.

RENTS PAYING $500 A MONTH FOR THEIR OWN TWO OR ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED A RANGE AND ULTIMATELY, YES, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE HAVING LOTS OF SPACE.

BUT WHAT DO WE DO FOR THE 6,000 HOUSELESS PEOPLE NOW?

IN BETWEEN.

MAYBE LINDSEY COULD SPEAK TO THAT WHAT WOULD FEEL AFFORDABLE TO YOU.

>> IF I MAY, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IN THE SENSE OF DEALS WITH HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSELESS FOLKS.

YES, MICROUNITS TINY HOMES CAN WORK.

YOU GIVE SOMEBODY WHO IS LIVING ON STREET, THAT MUCH SPACE TO CALL THEIR OWN, YOU WOULD BE AMAZED AT HOW WELL THEY'LL ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF IT AND PITCH IN TO HELP TAKE CARE OF NEXT ONE.

AND THE NEXT ONE.

SO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT CAN WORK FOR THE IN BETWEEN.

MAYBE NOT FOR SINGLE FAMILY.

WHO WANTS LIKE REP SAID.

A FAMILY WHO WANTS TO START A FAMILY.

YEAH.

HOUSELESS SENSE.

YES, IT COULD WORK.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, WHY DO WE NOT HAVE, WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT MOBILE HOMES, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT MICROUNITS.

WHAT ABOUT MOBILE HOMES?

AS WELL?

>> YOU KNOW, IT GOES BACK TO THE ZONING CODE.

THAT THE COUNTIES CONTROL.

AND THE MOST OF THOSE ZONING CODES ARE REQUIRE SOME ATTACHMENT TO THE LAND.

SO THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THERE'S A HURRICANES, LIKE ON KAUAI, THESE HOMES WILL LIFT AND FLY AND COULD BE A HAZARD TO THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR.

SO IT IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN THAT GETS RAISED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, FACEBOOK SAYS, WHY IS HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY WAIT LIST SO LONG?

I MEAN, YEARS LONG.

WE HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE WAITING FOR SOLUTIONS FOR SOME TIME.

UNDER THE MODEL THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, HOW LONG IS THAT WAIT AND WHAT DO WE DO IN THE INTERIM?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

TO GET TO THE ANSWER OF THAT, WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL IDEA OF PUBLIC HOUSING.

IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE FOR THE POOREST.

DESIGNED TO BE MIDDLE CLASS SOLUTION.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS UNDER THE TRUMAN AND JOHNSON ADMINISTRATIONS AND 40'S, FIFTIES AND SIXTIES AND 70s.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WENT INTO THE PROGRAM.

BILLIONS AND BILLIONS DOLLARS.

LARGE SCALE PROJECT, LIKE KPT WERE DEVELOPED.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS BECAUSE THEY BECAME THESE CONCENTRATED POVERTY DEVELOPMENTS, A LOT OF PROBLEMS ENSUED FROM THAT.

AND I THINK THAT AS A NATION, WHEN THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS CAME IN, PAIRED BACK FUNDING OF PUBLIC HOUSING WHICH CAUSE THE MAINTENANCE PROBLEM TO DEVELOP WHICH CAUSED VICIOUS CYCLE.

SO THE ANSWER IS NOT TO STOP.

THE ANSWER IS ACTUALLY TO KEEP GOING.

THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY MAGIC TRICK THAT JURISDICTIONS LIKE SINGAPORE AND VIENNA HAVE USED.

>> NEVER STOPPED BUILDING.

KEPT BUILDING MORE AND MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR.

WHAT HAPPENED IN HAWAII, WAS THAT BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING FELL OFF A CLIFF.

PLUNGED BY 90% IN THE 1970S.

BASICALLY STOPPED BUILDING.

AS A RESULT, THERE'S VERY, HUGE SHORTAGE OF PUBLIC HOUSING.

HUGE SHORTAGE OF PRIVATE HOUSING.

STARTED TO TAKE THOSE FIRST STEPS AS A NATION AN COMMUNITY.

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, YOU'RE SEEING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TALKING ABOUT DOING THINGS LIKE REPEATEDLY AMENDMENT, CAP ON THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS NATIONWIDE.

LOCAL LEVEL, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS SURPRISED, 264 UNITS THAT HPHH, PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY OWN IS NOT INHABITED TODAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T MEET HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.

TO BRING THOSE 264 UNITS ACROSS ALL FOUR COUNTIES UP TO THOSE HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS, WOULD TAKE APPROPRIATION BETWEEN 10 AND $20 MILLION.

ONCE THAT IS HAPPENED, ONCE THAT'S THERE, WE CAN HAVE THESE TURNKEY UNITS.

WOULDN'T NEED TO DEMOLISH ANYTHING.

WOULDN'T NEED TO BUILD ON NEW ANY NEW PROJECTS.

THESE UNITS ARE GOING TO BE SHOVEL READY FOR THOSE WHO NEED THEM.

AND THAT IS, I THINK HOPEFUL SIGN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE TREND ON THIS.

>>Yunji: WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, NUMBER OF LIKE THAT, THAT THAT MANY HOUSING UNITS ARE JUST SITTING THERE VACANT, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT'S IF IT'S NOT UP TO HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS YES, I WOULD PERSONALLY WANT IT TO BE UP TO PAR.

BEFORE I OR MY FAMILY OR ANYBODY I KNOW MOVES IN.

I UNDERSTAND THE NUMBER.

BUT THAT IS A SHOCKING NUMBER.

264 FAMILIES THAT COULD BE HOUSED.

SO KIND OF TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED, WHY WAIT LIST SO LONG.

I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT NOW.

WHEN I WAS DOING RESEARCH FOR ONE OF MY PAPERS RECENTLY, I FOUND OUT REASON WHY PUBLIC HOUSING WAIT LISTS ARE SO LONG, IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT.

ONCE SOMEBODY GETS INTO A UNIT, THEY CAN STAY THERE FOR X AMOUNT OF YEARS.

UNTIL THEY VACATE.

GET EVICTED, PASS AWAY, MOVE OUT.

BUT THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT FOR SOMEBODY TO STAY IN A UNIT.

MEANTIME, LIKE SENATOR CHANG HAD SAID, THE BUILDING OF THE UNITS STOPPED.

IS WE DON'T, THERE IS A SHORTAGE.

ISN'T ANY MORE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS ASIDE FROM 264 THAT NEED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE.

HOPEFULLY SOON.

BUT UNLESS THERE'S MORE UNITS BEING DEVELOPED AND ADDED ON, WAIT LIST GOING TO STAY THERE.

UNLESS YOU KNOW, NEXT PERSON MOVES OUT OF UNIT ALREADY OCCUPIED.

TO FREE UP THAT SPACE.

THEN THE WAIT LIST CAN GET TACKLED.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, THERE'S A QUESTION HERE FROM KAILUA.

DEFER TO THE COUNTIES COUPLE OF TIMES.

STATE HAS MORE RESOURCES.

YOU MAKE THE LAWS.

WHY CAN'T YOU DO MORE?

HOW LIKELY IS THAT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT TO HAPPEN?

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.

WHERE THE STATE COULD HAVE SOME MORE AUTHORITY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE NOW.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S AN IDEA HOW WE CAN TRY TO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

IT WILL TAKE VOTERS TO AGREE TO DO THIS.

AND SO IT IS IN PLAY.

YES, THE STATE HAS A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT THE COUNTIES DON'T HAVE.

AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

WE HAVE THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE HAVE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

ALL WHO HAVE A ROLE IN HOUSING IN DEVELOPING HOUSING.

SO YES, WE MAKE LOT OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

LAST YEAR, OVER $200 MILLION WENT INTO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

WE CONTINUE TO GIVE A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT THE COUNTIES DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND THAT IS WHY THE COUNTIES, THAT'S WHY PROGRAMS GET DONE IN MANY OF THE COUNTIES.

I'M REALLY PROUD THAT THE COUNTY OF KAUAI HAS TAKEN AN ACTIVE ROLE IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

THEY ARE DOING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON THEIR OWN.

TAKING THE RISK OF THE DEVELOPER.

PURCHASING LANDS, YEARS AGO.

DECADES AGO.

AND NOW, IT'S COMING TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THEY ARE WHICH BY TAKING RISK WENT THROUGH THE LAND USE PROCESS.

DONE ALL THE ENTITLEMENTS.

ENVIRONMENTAL WORK DONE.

AND SUBDIVISION.

THEY'RE PUTTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOW, THEY CAN GO OUT AND THEN DEVELOPER HAS VERY LITTLE RISK.

SO NOW, THEY'RE WORKING, JUST AWARDED ONE OF THE FIRST PHASES OF THE LIMA OLA PROJECT.

IN 'ELE'ELE.

THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN VERY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR KUPUNA AND FOR FAMILIES.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG.

>> GREAT EXAMPLE I THINK OF WHAT CAN BE DONE.

>> IF I COULD JUST CHIME IN.

WE DO LOVE IN A NATION OF LAWS.

AND THERE IS A REASON WHY THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

BOTH REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA AND I CAME FROM THE COUNTY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

AND SO I THINK WE'RE ALL, WE ALL AGREE HOME RULE IS IMPORTANT VALUE.

I DO THINK THAT REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA IS ONE OF THE TOP ADVOCATES FOR DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

ONE GOOD EXAMPLE IS $600 MILLION PROPOSAL FOR DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS FUNDING.

WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY ZONING CODES.

SO THAT WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE WHERE THE STATE IS ABLE TO STIMULATE LARGE SCALE HOUSING PRODUCTION WITHOUT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS THAT OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO.

I'VE SEEN REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA WORK HARD TO TRY TO GET MORE FUNDING TO THE NONPROFITS SELF‑HELP HOUSING AGENCIES SUCH AS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TRY TO BUILD MORE.

TO ENABLE COUNTIES AND AGENCIES AT THE STATE LEVEL TO RECOVER INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.

THROUGH CREATIVE NEW WAYS.

THROUGH NEW TENANTS.

I THINK THAT FROM THE BENEFITS THAT THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE GENERATE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

NOT A HOUSING SHORTAGE AROSE OVERNIGHT.

NOT ONE THAT GOES AWAY OVERNIGHT EITHER.

>>Yunji: THERE'S A QUESTION HERE FOR YOU.

I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT HAWAII TO LOOK LIKE SINGAPORE.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE PROPOSED UNITS WOULD BE DESIRABLE.

WHO WANTS TO LIVE ON AN ISLAND THAT IS A HUGE CITY.

ARGUABLY PART OF THIS ISLAND ARE A HUGE CITY.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE WITH AESTHETIC OF SINGAPORE AND'S AESTHETIC OF HONOLULU.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION.

BECAUSE ONE FACT THAT I ALWAYS BRING OUT THAT EVERYBODY IS SURPRISED BY, IS THAT HONOLULU ACTUALLY HAS THE FORTH MOST SKY SCRAPERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AFTER NEW YORK, CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES.

WE HAVE MORE SKY SCRAPERS THAN SAN FRANCISCO, DALLAS, ATLANTA, MIAMI, WASHINGTON DC, BOSTON, MINNEAPOLIS.

ALL CITY WE THINK OF AS LARGER THAN HONOLULU.

I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, EVEN MORE THAN THAT, I REMEMBER QUESTION FROM THAT I GOT AT A FORUM A LITTLE WHILE BACK, FROM ELDERLY LADY.

WHO WAS SAYING, WE CHERISH OUR WAY OF LIFE HERE IN HAWAII.

WE DO.

I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THAT WAY OF LIFE HERE IN HAWAII.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF HE DON'T BUILD ENOUGH HOUSING.

DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CARS OR BUY ENOUGH SHOES OR IMPORT ENOUGH FOOD, OR ENOUGH ENERGY, THE REALITY IS THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TO LEAVE.

NOW OVER HALF OF ALL NATIVE HAWAIIANS IN THE WORLD LIVE OUTSIDE HAWAII.

OVER HALF OF ALL HAWAII BORN COLLEGE GRADUATES LIVE OUTSIDE OF HAWAII.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN A HAWAII WHERE YOU ONLY GET TO SEE YOUR KID AND GRANDKID MAYBE ONCE, MAYBE TWICE A YEAR, THAT IS THE REALITY THAT WE HAVE FOR OURSELVES.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE DECISION THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING.

AS A POLICY MAKE COMMUNITY AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL.

FOR GENERATION.

I JUST WISH WE WITH BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

I WISH WE WOULD SAY TO OUR KIDS, AND GRANDKIDS AS THEY'RE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE BORN AND RAISED AND EDUCATED HERE.

BUT NOW, THAT YOU'RE ADULT, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.

YOU CANNOT COME BACK.

THIS IS NOT YOUR HOME.

AND WILL NEVER BE YOUR HOME AGAIN BECAUSE THAT IS THE DECISION THAT WE'VE MADE FOR YOU.

TO ME, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO LEAVE.

AND OUR COMMUNITY LOSES THESE INCREDIBLY PEOPLE WHO DO LOVE AND DESERVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HOUSED HERE.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING IN A FEW MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

HEIDI ASKS, COULD THE STATE CREATE RENT CONTROL BUILDINGS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TIED TO BUILDING OF THE STADIUM?

HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT HAPPENING AROUND STADIUM.

HOW SIGNIFICANT DO YOU THINK PROJECT AROUND THAT AREA COULD BE?

WE KNOW PERHAPS DECADES AWAY DEPENDING ON HAWAII'S TIMELINE.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS THERE?

>> I MEAN, THAT'S STATE OWNED LAND ALREADY.

A LOT OF IT.

NO REASON NOT TO PUT PUBLIC MONEY.

AND HIRE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.

JUST LIKE WHAT KAUAI COUNTY IS DOING REALLY.

DHHL DOES.

SOME WAY, LEASEHOLD HOUSING, SINGAPORE MODEL.

SIMILAR THINGING PUBLIC MONEY.

TAKES AWAY THE RISK.

YOU'RE HIRING PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND JUST I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON IT DOESN'T ALL HAVE TO BE 30 STORY SKYSCRAPER.

WE CAN BUILD HOUSING THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, APPROPRIATE FOR BIG ISLAND.

AND MAUI.

AND KAUAI.

AND USE THAT BASIC STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC TAKING ON SOME MORE RISK, USING THAT TO KEEP COSTS DOWN FOR EVERYONE.

AND SAYING THIS IS 100% FOR LOCAL PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE HERE.

SO YOU KNOW, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH SENATOR CHANG SAYING, ALL GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A MODEL WHERE STATE CAN SUPPORT COUNTIES.

AND INCENTIVIZE COUNTIES AND THEN RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETHING THAT WORKS IN THE STADIUM AREA IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME SOLUTION AS WHAT YOU NEED ON BIG ISLAND.

RIGHT?

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, I WANT TO GO AROUND AND TALK TO EACH OF YOU.

START WITH YOU.

TO GET A FINAL THOUGHT.

WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

BUT JUST FOR FOLKS FOLLOWED THIS SO CLOSELY FOR SO LONG AND FEEL FRUSTRATED, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM TONIGHT ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON?

>> I THINK AGREE WITH ALL THE PANELISTS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

SO MANY, IT'S NO NOT ONE SIZE SOLUTION.

IT'S MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS.

AND FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS AND ANGLES THAT WE HAVE TO CONFRONT AND I THINK THERE'S I'M SOME REALLY GREAT BILLS GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT WILL HELP TO MOVE THE DISCUSSION FORWARD.

TO ATTACK IT HOUSING ISSUE SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES DEPENDING ON THE INCOME GROUP THAT WE'RE TARGETING.

BECAUSE THE WAY HOUSING IS DEVELOPED, HERE, THE FUNDING IS TIED TO THE INCOME GROUP THAT YOU'RE SERVING.

SO HEAR PRIVATE FINANCING TARGET MARKET GROUP.

HIGH END WORKING FAMILY GROUP.

YOU HAVE TO RESORT TO PUBLIC FINANCING FOR SOME OF THE EXTREMELY LOW, LOWER MODERATE INCOME GROUPS.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES AND WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO FILL.

>>Yunji: SHORT FINAL THOUGHT FROM YOU TONIGHT.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WITH THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS HERE IN GENERATIONS WITH THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE DID NOT SEE HOME VALUES STABILIZE OR GO DOWN.

THEY ONLY HE WENT UP.

NOW, THREE OF THE FOUR COUNTIES OF HAWAII HAVE HAD HOUSE PRICES EXCEED $1 MILLION MARK.

I THINK THAT AS HORRIFYING AND SHOCKING AS THAT IS, I THINK IT HAS HELPED TO MOBILIZE THE OFFICIALS OF THE STATE AND COUNTY.

I'M SEEING ALL OF THESE CAMPAIGNS NOW FOR THE MAJOR OFFICES IN 2022.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SAYS THAT HOUSING IS TOP PRIORITY.

BECOME AN ISSUE CAN'T BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG ANY MORE.

REQUIRE HARD CHOICE.

HAVE TO MAKE TRADEOFFS.

NO PERFECT ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION.

AS REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA SAID.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THE POLITICAL THERE IS DEVELOPING TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

>>Yunji: HEAR FROM YOU.

>> AGREE WE ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S NEEDED.

AND IT'S AT EVERY LEVEL.

NEED OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION HELPING US OUT.

STATE LEADERS.

COUNTY LEADERS.

WE NEED OUR PEOPLE LIKE LINDSEY LEADERS IN THE HOUSELESS COMMUNITIES.

COMING FORWARD WITH THEIR IDEAS.

WE ALL KEEP LISTENING AND TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL MAKE PROGRESS.

THIS IS NOT FINDING CURE TO BRAIN CANCER.

>>Yunji: OKAY.

LINDSEY I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE FINAL 30 SECONDS TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

I TOTALLY AGREE.

I AGREE THAT THINGS NEED TO BE DONE COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER.

IT IS NICE TO INCLUDE MORE VOICES LIKE MY OWN.

PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES AT DECISION MAKING TABLE.

BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN OUR SHOES TO TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND THINK THAT THAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

BUT TO HEAR IT FROM PEOPLE LIKE ME, ACTUALLY BEEN THROUGH IT, WE CAN TELL YOU WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH IT.

SO IT HELPS TO BRING DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS TO THE TABLE AND I AGREE.

I THINK WE ALL, ALL NEED TO JUST GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND WORKING TO.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO SOLVE THIS.

>>Yunji: CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS: SENATOR STANLEY CHANG, REPRESENTATIVE NADINE NAKAMURA, AND THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING POLICY FROM HAWAII APPLESEED, KENNA STORMOGIPSON, AND HOUSING ADVOCATE LINDSAY PACHECO, MARCH IS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH AND ON NEXT WEEK’S INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, WE WILL SPEAK WITH LOCAL WOMEN WHO ARE CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS HERE AT HOME.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, ALOHA!