THE COST OF LIVING IN HAWAII CONTINUES TO RISE EACH YEAR.

MANY RESIDENTS ARE FORCED TO WORK MORE THAN ONE JOB, LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS OR MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION TO LEAVE HAWAII, JUST TO SURVIVE.

FOR YEARS, LAWMAKERS HAVE DEBATED THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND WITH THE MEDIAN PRICE FOR HOMES IN HAWAII CLIMBING TO RECORD NUMBERS, A FEASIBLE SOLUTION IS BADLY NEEDED.

SO WHAT KIND OF PLANS ARE BEING PITCHED?

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES.

PRICED OUT OF PARADISE.

FOR MOST PEOPLE, THEIR LARGEST MONTHLY EXPENSE GOES TOWARD HOUSING, WHETHER IT’S FOR A MORTGAGE PAYMENT OR RENT.

THE HARSH REALITY IS MANY HAWAII RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN MULTI‑GENERATIONAL HOMES BECAUSE IT’S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN AFFORD A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.

OR, THEY’RE MOVING TO THE MAINLAND.

IN FEBRUARY, PUBLISHED REPORTS SHOWED THAT ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES OF THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A HOME ON OAHU THAT COSTS $1 MILLION, COULD BE CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT’S JUST ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES PLAGUING THE STATE’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

OUR PANEL TONIGHT WILL DISCUSS WHAT IDEAS ARE ON THE TABLE TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE NADINE NAKAMURA REPRESENTS SEVERAL KAUAI TOWNS INCLUDING HANALEI, PRINCEVILLE, KAPAA AND WAILUA.

SHE IS THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED, SHE WAS THE FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR KAUAI COUNTY.

SHE ALSO HOLDS A MASTER’S DEGREE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING.

DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR STANLEY CHANG REPRESENTS NEIGHBORHOODS IN EAST HONOLULU INCLUDING HAWAII KAI, AINA HAINA, WAIALAE‑KAHALA AND DIAMOND HEAD.

HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL AND PRIOR TO THAT PRACTICED LAW SPECIALIZING IN REAL ESTATE LAW.

KENNA STORMOGIPSON IS THE HOUSING POLICY DIRECTOR WITH HAWAII APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW & ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

SHE HAS A MASTER’S DEGREE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND WROTE HER THESIS ON HOW TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HAWAII THROUGH PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING.

AND CATHERINE LEE WORKS IN PUBLIC FINANCE AND VOLUNTEERS WITH THE NON‑PROFIT FAITH ACTION FOR COMMUNITY EQUITY.

THE GRASSROOTS, INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION PROMOTES SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE COMMUNITY.

MS. LEE IS PART OF THE GROUP’S HOUSING TASK FORCE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HAWAII.

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS?

WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE STATE?

I WOULD SAY AFFORDABLE IS WHAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD ON AVERAGE LOCAL WAGES.

AVERAGE LOCAL WAGE IN HAWAII IS ABOUT $45,000 A YEAR.

DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT ISLAND TO ISLAND.

>> BUT TWO PEOPLE EARNING $45,000 A YEAR, THE $0,000 AS A COUPLE, IF THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO THEM, I WOULD CALL THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I THINK WHAT YOU EARLIER POINTED OUT ABOUT THIS $1 MILLION HOME, COUNTING AS AFFORDABLE IS BECAUSE THESE FORMULAS HAVE NOT BEEN REVISITED IN A LONG TIME AND THEY REALLY NEED TO BE REWORKED.

>> I WANT TO COMMEND REP NAKAMURA AND SENATOR CHANG BECAUSE THEY HAVE BOTH SIGN ON TO AND PUT FORWARD RESOLUTION TO RELOOK AT FORMULAS.

WE NEED TO RE‑EVALUATE THESE.

THESE DON'T MAKE SENSE ANY MORE.

I COMMEND THOSE RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE LEDGE RIGHT NOW AND I THINK IT'S TIME.

WHEN WE HAVE 3% INTEREST RATES BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET THAT RATE, WHEN WE HAVE FORMULAS SAY A COUPLE EARNING $176,000 A YEAR WOULD COUNT AS AFFORDABLE.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THAT IS NOT RIGHT.

IF YOU'RE EARNING $176,000 A YEAR, AS A COUPLE, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HOUSING.

SO I REALLY COMMEND THOSE EFFORTS TO REVISIT AND RELOOK AT SOME OF THESE LONGSTANDING FORMULAS WE HAVE.

>>Yunji: IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT KIND OF PRICE, THAT KIND OF EARNING RANGE, LET'S LOOK AT SOME NUMBERS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

WE HAVE A GRAPHIC TO SHOW JUST ABOUT THE CHANGES EVEN IN THE LAST YEAR.

MEDIAN PRICES FOR SINGLE‑FAMILY HOMES HERE ON OAHU.

WENT UP 17% FROM MARCH OF 22 TO $950,000.

CONDOS UP ABOUT 2%.

$445,000.

MISS LEE, HOW HAS THIS SHORTAGE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOTTEN SO BAD HERE IN HAWAII?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY FRANK THAT HAWAII IS JUST NOT COMPARABLE TO OTHER STATES.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE OPERATING AS THOUGH IT IS.

CAN MARKET CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

HAWAII REAL ESTATE MARKET IT'S JUST NOT TIED TO LOCAL WAGES AND INCOME.

SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF VERY WEALTHY MAINLANDER, SOMETIMES FOREIGNERS, DRIVING, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE HERE.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO OWN A PIECE OF THIS LAND.

THEY'RE DRIVING UP THE COST OF HOUSING.

AND SO WE CAN'T KEEP RELYING ON THE PRIVATE MARKET TO PLACATE THE SITUATION.

OUR HOUSING CRISIS WILL ONLY WORSEN WITHOUT STATE FUNDED REGULATED HOUSING MARKETS.

>>Yunji: WHOLE IDEA OF STATE‑FUNDED REGULATED HOUSE MARKET PLAYS INTO SENATORS CHANG'S LEGISLATION THAT IS CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH THE LEDGE.

WILL YOU TELL US SOMETHING, FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH IT, SINGAPOREAN MODEL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PRESENTING FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND WHERE IT STANDS RIGHT NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> SURE.

SO THERE AREN'T IN A MANY JURISDICTIONS IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GONE FROM A HOUSING SHORTAGE TO HOUSING SURPLUS.

THINK ABOUT CHICAGO, HONOLULU, SAN FRANCISCO, EXPENSIVE FOR A LONG TIME.

SINGAPOREAN HOUSING SURPLUS.

LESS THAN SIZE IN HONOLULU.

POPULATION IS OVER FIVE TIMES THAT OF OAHU.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT THEY DO?

THEY TAKE EXISTING STATE OWNED LANDS, NEAR THEIR TRANSIT STATIONS, AND THEY PLAN TO BUILD NEW TRANSIT STATIONS AND THEN DEVELOP THOSE TRANSIT STATIONS WITH HOUSING, THEY SELL THEM AT COST.

EVEN BELOW COST.

TO LOCAL PEOPLE.

FOR AN AVERAGE OF 180,000 U.S.

DOLLARS FOR A BRAND NEW UNIT.

AND THEY ARE GIVEN 99 YEAR LEASES SO THAT EVERYBODY IS TAKEN CARE OF WITH A SECURITY THAT THEY WILL NEVER HAVE TO MOVE BEFORE THEY DIE.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE BUILD ENOUGH TO MEET DEMAND.

THEY PROJECT WHAT THE DEMAND WILL BE EVERY YEAR.

AND NOT ONLY TO THEY BUILD ENOUGH, THEY ACTUALLY BUILD A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT SPECULATION TO RESULT FROM SCARCITY.

THAT IS IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT WE'VE BEEN PROPOSING WITH OUR PLAN, ALOHA HOMES WHICH STANDS FOR AFFORDABLE LOCALLY HOMES OWNS FOR ALL.

SEEKS TO OFFER HOMES FOR ONLY $300,000 BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SURVEYS SHOW IS WHAT PEOPLE CONSIDER TO BE AFFORDABLE HERE IN HAWAII.

WITHOUT A TAXPAYOR SUBSIDY.

BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BEAR INCREASE IN TAXES ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TIMES.

BUILD WITH REALLY HIGH DENSITY ON THE STATE‑OWNED LANDS IN THE URBAN CORE ON THE RAIL STATIONS SO WE DON'T NEED TO BUILD SUBURB ON SPRAWL OVER THOUSANDS ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION LAND.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR.

WE'RE TRYING TO THREAD A VERY NARROW NEEDLE THAT CATHY AND SOME OF THE OTHERS TALKED ABOUT.

ALL POTENTIAL OBJECTIONS TO NEW HOUSING SUPPLY HERE IN HAWAII.

WHICH ARE VERY PASSIONATELY HELD.

WE DON'T WANT OUR HOUSING STOCK TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF SPECULATORS AND AIRB&B HOLDERS.

DON'T WANT ALL OF OUR AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION LAND BE TO DEVELOPED WITH SUBURBAN SPRAWL AND DON'T WANT TONS OF NEW CARS CLOG UP TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD.

WE WANT WALKABLE TRANSIT‑ORIENTED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INEXPENSIVE AND AVAILABLE TO ALL.

>>Yunji: WHERE DOES THAT PROPOSAL STAND RIGHT NOW AND IF IT PROCEEDS IN THE WAY THAT YOU WANT, HOW SOON COULD WE ACTUALLY SEE PEOPLE MOVINGING TURNING THE KEY INTO THESE RESIDENCES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE BILL WE INTRODUCED BEGINNING OF THE SESSION IS SB1 IS NO LONGER MOVING IN THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE ARE OTHER BILLS WITH ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN AND THEY COULD BE SEIZED UPON BY OUR STATE HOUSING AGENCIES, NOTABLY HHFDC, TO IMPLEMENT PARTS OF THIS PLAN.

NOW, THE REALITY IS WHETHER IT PASSES THIS YEAR, WHETHER IT PASSES IN THE FUTURE YEAR, THE PLANNING, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, ANALYSIS, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL OF THIS WOULD TAKE YEARS BEFORE A PROJECT LIKE THIS WERE TO COME TO FRUITION.

AND SO THEY SAY THAT THE BEST TIME TO PLANT A TREE IS 20 YEARS AGO.

THE SECOND BEST TIME IS NOW.

WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.

WE'VE BEEN IN A HOUSING SHORTAGE FOR A VERY LONG TIME HERE IN HAWAII.

AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

SO WE MIGHT AS WELL START NOW.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, ABSENT WHAT SENATOR CHANG IS TALKING ABOUT, WHAT CAN WE DO RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE HUGE COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IN HAWAII.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE MADE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS INTO TWO MAJOR SOURCES OF FUNDING.

THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND AND THE DWELLING UNIT REVOLVING FUND.

WE HAVE COMMITTED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THESE FUNDS AND WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THIS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THERE WILL BE 8,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING BUILT IN HAWAII.

ON ALL OF THE ISLANDS.

AND THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE'S COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

THERE IS ALSO IT'S A LOT OF SUPPORT TO PROMOTE THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.

WHICH PROVIDES A LOT OF EQUITY TO DEVELOPERS TO TARGET HOUSING FOR VERY LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT BILLS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.

>>Yunji: 8,000 SOUNDS GREAT.

BUT IS THAT ENOUGH?

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

BUT EVERY BIT COUNTS.

EVERY PROJECT, EVERY UNIT THAT IS BUILT HELPS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL KIND OF SOLUTIONS AND ONE OF THE BILLS THAT I INTRODUCED IS THE HOMEOWNERSHIP REVOLVING FUND.

WE HAVE FUNDING FOR RENTAL HOUSE AND WE HAVE FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ONE OF THINGS WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR IS HOMEOWNERSHIP.

SO HOMEOWNERSHIP REVOLVING FUND IS A START TO HELP THOSE NONPROFITS PRIMARILY DEVELOP HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENCE.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITIES ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AROUND THE STATE.

SELF‑HELP HOUSING IS IN MY OPINION, A WAY TO TRY TO BUILD LIFT PEOPLE FROM LOW INCOME HOUSING SITUATIONS INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

AND THEY DO THIS BY PUTTING IN SWEAT EQUITY.

THEY PUT UP TO 600 HOURS OF TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THEY ARE ABLE TO BUILD HOMES FOR $250,000.

THEIR MORTGAGE AT THE TIME OF CLOSING IS LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE PAYING IN RENT.

AND AT THE TIME OF CLOSING, THE PROPERTIES ARE, THE $250 HOME IS APPRAISED AT $400,000 ON KAUAI.

AND ON MAUI, THE $350,000 HOME IS APPRAISED AT $600,000.

THEY ARE ABLE TO ‑‑ VERY SOPHISTICATED HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SELF‑HELP DEVELOPERS LEVERAGING TONS OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

THIS IS A WAY TO CREATE ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES IN HAWAII.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO GET TO YOU.

QUESTION FROM ROGER ON LANAI.

WHO SETS PRICE CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THIS.

COMMENT IS EVERY HAWAII BORN PERSON WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO MOVE TO THE MAINLAND.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE BUILDING PROJECTS AND HAVE TO BUILD PERHAPS A CERTAIN PORTION OF A PROJECT, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHO IS ACTUALLY SETTING THOSE PARAMETERS AND HOW CAN WE LOWER THAT SO THAT IT ACTUALLY REFLECTS WAGES?

>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.

IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, IF THE RENTAL HOUSING, IT'S FEDERAL SUBSIDY, YOU HAVE TO GO BY A HUD FORMULA.

IF YOU HAD HAS STRICT FORMULA IF YOU'RE GETTING FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE RENTAL HOUSING THAT REP NAKAMURA WAS TALKING ABOUT, 8,000 UNITS.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED.

BUT IF YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT FULFILLING AFFORDABLE FOR SALE REQUIREMENT, YEAR NOT TAKING ANY HUD, NOT TAKING ANY FEDERAL MONEY, YOU SET YOUR OWN FORMULAS.

SO STATE CAN SET ITS OWN FORMULA FOR WHAT IT THINKS IS AFFORDABLE FOR SALE.

THE COUNTIES DO THE SAME.

SO DIFFERENT COUNTIES ACTUALLY HAVE DIFFERENT FORMULAS OF WHAT THEY CONSIDER AFFORDABLE.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE HAWAII FORMULA FOR AFFORDABLE FOR SALE, IS WAY TOO HIGH AND IT'S WAY HIGHER THAN IT IS IN OTHER PLACESES AND SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, THEY HAVE WAY LOWER THRESHOLDS FOR THAT.

IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT RENTALS, OR FOR SALE.

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A HUGE PRESSURE OUT THERE FOR US TO CREATE MORE FOR SALES LIKE WHAT REP NAKAMURA WAS TALKING ABOUT, THAT ARE AT LEAST 30, 40% BELOW MARKET BECAUSE IF YOU'RE ONLY DISCOUNTING IT 10% BELOW WHAT MARKET IS.

HAPPENED IN MAUI A LOT, MARKET IS 600.

I'M GOING TO CALL AFFORDABLE AND TRY TO SELL AT 550, WE DON'T WANT TO GET STUCK IN THAT.

>>Yunji: I SEE YOU WANT TO JUMP IN.

GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU.

SO THE STATE STUDIED REALITY IS THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF NEED WEIGHS HEAVILY OVER 50% TOWARDS LOWER INCOME BRACKETS.

80% OF AMI AND LOWER.

NOT JUST HAWAII DOING THIS.

WE TEND TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT WEIGH HEAVILY IN FAVOR ABOVE MARKET RATE HOUSING.

WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE'RE OVER BUILDING ABOVE RATE MARKET HOUSING AND IT'S NOT SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.

WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THE SAME THING.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF EXPENSIVE HOMES THAT WE, FAMILIES THAT LIVE HERE, CAN LONGER AFFORD.

KIDS WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM ON INSIGHTS.

COVER THIS TOPIC PROBABLY EVERY YEAR.

AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THE SHOW.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THE CONVERSATION?

WHAT ARE MAJOR BARRIERS TO CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

THINK THE SPEAKERS TODAY HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED HOW COMPLEX THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS ARE AND IN A NUTSHELL, WE NEED ALL OF THEM.

BUT IF WE WANT REALLY GET TO THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM UNDERLYING WHOLE SYSTEM, IT'S THAT WE JUST AREN'T BUILDING ENOUGH SUPPLY TO MEET DEMAND.

SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAYS TO EXPLAIN THIS, THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 11,000 GRADUATES OF D.O.E.

HIGH SCHOOLS STATEWIDE.

WHICH DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THOSE WHO ARE GRADUATING FROM PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

WHICH ARE NUMEROUS HERE IN HAWAII.

WE'RE ONLY GOING TO AVERAGE ABOUT 2,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS THIS YEAR.

SO 11,000, NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE OR DICE IT, DOES NOT FIT INTO 2,000.

AND AS MISS LEE JUST POINTED OUT, PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING IS THAT GOING ON TEND TO BE EXPENSIVE AND FOR THE FEW.

IN WE CONTINUE WITH OUR EDUCATION ANALOGY, EXISTING PRIVATE SECTOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING IS KIND OF LIKE PRIVATE SCHOOL.

EXPENSIVE AND NOT THE MAINSTREAM OPTION.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN MY OPINION CREATE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

OPTION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY AT A LOW COST AND THAT WILL ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

NO MATTER HOW BAD THE ECONOMIC CRISIS MIGHT BE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS, THE PANDEMIC, IT WOULD NEVER EVEN OCCUR TO US IN HAWAII TO TURN CHILDREN AWAY FROM D.O.E.

SCHOOLS.

THAT IS ABUNDANCE MENTALITY.

THAT IS WHAT SINGAPORE HAS WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING.

IT WOULD NEVER OCCUR TO SOMEONE IN SINGAPORE THERE COULD BE A NEW CHILD OR NEW ADULT OR NEW COUPLE THAT COULD GROW UP AND GOVERNMENT NOT PROVIDE A HOME FOR THEM.

AND IN HAWAII, I THINK WE NEED TO SHIFT OUR MENTALITY FROM A SCARCITY MENTALITY WHERE WE'RE REALLY VIEWING EACH NEW UNIT THAT GOES TO WEALTHY FAMILY OR AIRB&B, SNATCHING ONE OUT OF THE NEEDY LOCAL FAMILY.

INSTEAD OF THINK OF HOUSING LIKE PUBLIC UTILITY.

LIKE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

GOVERNMENT DOES KEEP UP WITH ENOUGH SUPPLY TO MEET DEMAND THE WAY THAT OR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS SET UP, THE WAY THAT OUR MOST OTHER MARKETS ARE SET UP.

SO BACK TO SINGAPORE, SENDING POUR REALLY KICKED OFF ITS HUGE HOUSING SUPPLY CONSTRUCTION BOOM IN THE 1960S AFTER, FIRST THEY WERE DECOLONIZED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM.

KICKED OUT OF THE MALAYSIA.

HUGE FIRE WHERE 16,000 PEOPLE WERE LEFT HOMELESS IN SQUATTER ENCAMPMENTS AND THAT WAS A TIME WHEN 3/4 OF SINGAPORE LIVED IN THESE SQUATTER VILLAGES, SLUMS.

THAT'S HOW EXTREME IT WAS IN SINGAPORE.

THAT'S WHEN IT TOOK TO KICK OFF THIS HUGE BUILDING EFFORT THERE.

MY HOPE IS THAT HERE IN HAWAII, WE DON'T HAVE TO ACHIEVE SUCH EXTREME POSITION.

WE CAN SIMPLY LOOK AT THE STATISTICS WE'VE ALL BEEN CITING TODAY.

WE LOOK AT THE 11,000 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES THAT WE'RE GETTING WITH EVERY PASSING YEAR.

LOOK AT THE COST OF HOUSING NOW APPROACHING $1 MILLION FOR A MEDIAN UNIT.

STATEWIDE.

AND WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION THAT THIS IS WHERE WE CHANGE THE COURSE OF OUR HISTORY AND TALK A SIGNIFICANT STEP TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL HAVE A HOME HERE IN HAWAII.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA ON THAT POINT, WHAT ARE SOME SORT OF OTHER OUT OF THE BOX IDEAS, GREG IN KAKAAKO SAYS, CAN WE CONSIDER RVS AND MOTOR HOME PARKS.

HEARD DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST ABOUT TINY HOMES.

>> SHIPPING CONTAINER HOMES.

THINGS THAT CAN COME IN FAST AND GET PEOPLE INTO SOME KIND OF A UNIT.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT OR WHAT IS THE STATE LOOK AT, WHAT IS THE LEDGE LOOKING AT OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL SINGLE‑FAMILY HOMES?

>> COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE PASSED OHANA ZONE BILL THAT PROVIDED FUNDING, I BELIEVE IT WAS $10 MILLION, TO THE COUNTIES IT COME UP WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS SITUATION.

EACH COUNTY APPROACHED IT DIFFERENTLY.

KAUAI COUNTY PUT UP 30 TO 40 UNITS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL HOUSING WITH KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS IN THE UNITS.

HOMELESS FAMILIES ARE MOVING INTO THOSE UNITS.

IN OTHER AREAS, THEY USED TINY HOMES, I THINK THERE'S TENTS ARE USED IN OTHER AREAS.

I THINK THERE IS I THINK ALL OF THE ABOVE IS NEEDED.

AND THE SOLUTION HAS TO MATCH THE NEEDS OF EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THAT.

AND I THINK WE HAVE, CAN DO MANUFACTURED HOUSING THAT LOWERS THE COST.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE SOLUTIONS.

>>Yunji: I KNOW THAT YOU'VE TAKEN LOOK AT BUYING.

IS THE PROBLEM SHORTAGE OF HOMES AVAILABLE OR LOCALS CAN'T COMPETE FINANCIALLY WITH MAINLAND AND INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS.

PERCEPTION A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE COMING IN AND TAKING ALL THE STOCK.

OR IS IT SIMPLY THERE JUST ISN'T ANY STOCK?

>> COMBINATION OF BOTH.

I WOULD SAY IT'S MORE STRONGLY IN THE LATTER CAMP.

ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FAITH ACTION DOES SUPPORT ALOHA HOMES IS TO QUALIFY, YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF HAWAII.

YOU CAN'T OWN ANY OTHER PROPERTY.

AND IT MUST BE OWNER OCCUPIED.

WITH THESE PREQUALIFICATIONS DOES, IT REALLY ENSURES THAT WE'RE NOT SUBSIDIZING REAL ESTATE SPECULATION.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR POINT.

SENATOR CHANG, ABOUT THE SUPPLY.

I DO THINK THAT WE CAN KEEP BUILDING AND BUILDING AND BUILDING, PICKUP THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE DEMAND FOR HOUSING IN HAWAII JUST BY THE NATURE OF, I MEAN, LOOK AROUND US.

THE GORGEOUS.

BEAUTIFUL.

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HERE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE BUILDING, IT'S FOR THAT ALS POPULATION.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS AFFORDABLE.

AS WELL ALICE ARE POPULATION.

>>Yunji: FOR THE AUDIENCE REMIND FOLKS WHAT THE A.L.I.C.E.

POPULATION IS.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A.L.I.C.E.

FAMILY, ASSET LIMITED INCOME STRAINED, BUT EMPLOYED POPULATION.

>>Yunji: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WORKING, WHO MIGHT BE ONE CAR BREAKDOWN, ONE MEDICAL EMERGENCY AWAY FROM BEING IN FINANCIAL DIRE STRAITS.

DO YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT?

>> YEAH.

I WANTED TO BUILD OFF CATHY'S POINT.

SENATOR CHANG, YES, WE DO NEED TO BE BUILDING MORE.

BUT MORE OF IT HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE AND WE HAVE TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE.

SO KAKAAKO IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP DOING.

BECAUSE KAKAAKO, THE STATE PUT IN A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THE STATE PAID FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

AND WE GOT 10,000 HOMES.

AND ORIGINALLY, 3,000 WERE AFFORDABLE BUT WE HAVE LOST 15 HUNDREDS OF THESE AFFORDABLE HOMES.

BECAUSE THEIR AFFORDABILITY PERIOD EXPIRED.

WE LOST 1500 AFFORDABLE HOMES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED.

SO NOW, IN KAKAAKO, WE HAVE FIVE UNAFFORDABLE HOMES FOR EVERY ONE AFFORDABLE.

WE CAN'T KEEP GOING LIKE THAT.

AND SO WHEN WE GET THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE NEED TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE AND PART OF WHAT IS THE HE SHALL IS THAT THERE IS ONLY A TEN YEAR AFFORDABILITY PERIOD ON FOR SALE HOMES THAT THE STATE IS SPONSORING.

COUNTIES HAVE STARTED TO PUT IN 50 YEAR AFFORDABILITY PERIODS, 30 YEARS, NOW, ON THE RENTAL SIDE, THEY HAVE 60 YEAR AFFORDABILITY PERIODS.

RENTALS.

>> NOT FOR SALE.

I THINK WE JUST REALLY HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE BECAUSE ONCE YOU LOSE IT, IT'S SO HARD TO GET IT BACK.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THAT.

JANICE IN KAKAAKO SAYS.

SORT OF A SIMILAR THREAD HERE.

WHY DON'T WE COME UP WITH A BILL WHERE HOME BUYER CVS TO RESIDE AT LEAST FIVE YEARS HERE SO IT CAN HELP LOCALS MORE.

WHAT ABOUT PUTTING MORE RESTRICTIONS LIKE WHAT MISS STORMOGIPSON WAS TALKING ABOUT?

>> I AGREE.

I AGREE WITH YOUR CALLER BECAUSE I THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IN HAWAII IS WE DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT OUR SCARCE HOUSING SUPPLY GETTING CONVERTED INTO OBJECTS OF SPECULATION.

LIKE STOCKS AND BOND OR VACANT UNITS OR EVEN GEORGE BARISICH AND VACATION RENTALS WHEN THERE'S SO MANY NEEDY LOCAL FAMILIESES.

WHICH WHY OWNER OCCUPANCY IS REALLY FOR ME THE CRUX, SHOULD BE THE CRUX OF FUTURE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT STATEWIDE.

I THINK THAT ONE MAIN OBJECTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT KAKAAKO IS THAT THE TOWERS ARE DARK AT NIGHT.

IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF THEY WERE OCCUPIED BY LOCAL FAMILIES.

BUT THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT IS REALLY WHAT BOTHERS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HAWAII.

BECAUSE THEY SEE THOSE EMPTY UNITS AS NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOLUTION AT ALL.

ONE THING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THOUGH IS THAT AS LONG AS LOCAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING CHILDREN, WHICH WE OF COURSE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO, WHICH MANY PARENTS DO WANT TO HAVE, WE NEED TO EITHER PROVIDE HOUSING, BY AUTHORIZING CONSTRUCTION THROUGH THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTORS, OR BEING HONEST WITH THEM AND SAYING TO THEM, WELL, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU ARE BORN AND RAISE AND EDUCATED HERE, NOW THAT YOU'RE AN ADULT, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE AND YOU CAN'T COME BACK.

AND WE THE DECISIONMAKERS HAVE MADE THAT DECISION FOR YOU, THAT THIS WILL NEVER BE YOUR HOME AGAIN.

AND THAT THE DE FACTO POLICY THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN PURSUING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

LONGER THAN ANY OF US IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE BEEN ALIVE.

THROUGH A CONSTANT PERSISTENT UNDERSUPPLY OF THE MARKET WHERE NEW SUPPLY, ONLY ABOUT 2,000 UNITS A YEAR ON AVERAGE CONSISTENTLY AND STRUCTURALLY BELOW EVEN LEVEL OF HOUSING DEMANDED BY OUR VERY OWN LOCAL CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

IS 11,000 NEW LOCAL ADULTS HERE IN HAWAII.

AS A RESULT, WE ARE SEEING SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE HAD NOW A NET DECREASE IN POPULATION FOR THREE STRAIGHT YEARS.

MAY BE TO SOME PEOPLE, DOESN'T SOUND SO BAD.

BUT WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT PEOPLE IN HAWAII, ESPECIALLY AS THEY'RE GETTING ON THIS YEAR, THEIR CHILDREN ARE ON THE MAINLAND.

THEIR GRANDCHILDREN ARE ON THE MAINLAND.

THEY WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

AND THAT IS NOT THE KIND OF HAWAII THAT I WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN THAT I WOULD WANT OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN.

I WANT TO GIVE LOCAL PEOPLE OPTION TO HAVE A HOME HERE EVEN AFTER THEY'RE ADULTS WITHOUT HAVING HAVE TO SQUEEZE 20 PEOPLE TO ONE HOUSE.

WHICH IS A VERY COMMON SITUATION WE'RE SEEING THESE DAYS IN HAWAII.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, HOW DO WE EVEN OUT THE RATIO?

WHY IS HAWAII STILL ALLOWING NONRESIDENT TO BUY LAND AND HOUSES HERE?

IS IT REALISTIC FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON WHO CAN BUY HERE?

WE ARE PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

PRESUMABLY, ANYONE WHO IS A CITIZEN AND OBVIOUSLY, INTERNATIONAL BUYER AS WELL, THEY'RE FREE DO THAT AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR THE LEGISLATURE PRESTRICT THAT.

COULD THERE BE A MECHANISM FOR PROPERTY TAXES FOR OUT OF STATE, OR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WELL BEYOND FOR LOCAL FOLKS.

AT LEAST A WAY TO TRY TO REGULATE SOME OF THAT ABSENT JUST BARRING PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE TO BUY HOUSING WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU COULD LEGALLY DO.

>> RIGHT.

THERE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT PREVENT US FROM SAYING THAT, YOU CAN'T STOP OTHER PEOPLE FROM PURCHASING LAND AND PURCHASING HOUSING HERE.

WHAT WE CAN DO, AND WHAT SOME OF THE COUNTIES HAVE, THEY HAVE WAITING LIST.

THEY HAVE WAITING LISTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVE GONE THROUGH LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE HOME BUYER EDUCATION.

SO THEY ARE MORTGAGE RENT READY, GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO CLEAR THEIR CREDIT, SAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT THOSE ARE THE LISTS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS THAT CAN BE USED TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOMES THAT ARE BUILT.

SO I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO BEEF UP THE QUALIFICATIONS SO THAT PEOPLE ARE RENTER READY, AND ARE HOME BUYER READY.

SO MORTGAGE READY.

O THAT THEY CAN MOVE INTO THESE UNITS THAT GET BUILT.

>> COULD I ADD TO THAT QUICKLY?

I ALSO THINK SINCE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, I'M NOT A LEGISLATOR, BUT IS IT STILL BEYOND THE POSSIBILITY THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T SUBSIDIZE DEVELOPMENT UNLESS IT'S 100% FOR THE A.L.I.C.E.

POPULATION?

IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SUPPLIES WE KNOW THAT THE DEMAND IS HERE WITH LOCAL RESIDENCE.

MAYBE WE SHOULD BE REALLY HONING IN ON OUR STATE POLICIES TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER NEW HOUSING IS BEING BUILT, IS BEING SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SOLVE THE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?

>> SURE.

I THINK CHAIR NAKAMURA DID A REALLY ELOQUENT JOB DESCRIBING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS LEGISLATURE HAS INITIATED INCLUDING RECORD AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED TO PAY FOR THIS SUBSIDIZED HOUSING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

AND IF WE DID WANT TO SUBSIDIZE OUR WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS, STUDY SHOWS THAT WE NEED ABOUT 65,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS PER YEAR AND IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY THE $300,000 ON AVERAGE SUBSIDY THAT GOES TO UNITS THAT ARE PAID FOR THROUGH THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSED EARLIER, I MEAN, WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT BILLION UPON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE STATE JUST DOESN'T HAVE.

NORS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE FOR THAT MATTER.

AS WE KNOW, SECTION 8 VOUCHER WHICH IS THE MAIN FEDERAL SOURCE OF SUBSIDIES, ONLY REACHES ABOUT ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR IT.

SO WHILE I WOULD TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS JUST NEW BOOM OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING REALLY, VERY POOREST IN OUR SOCIETY COULD AFFORD THROUGH THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM OR THROUGH A DATE VERSION OF SECTION 8, THE REALITY IS THE MONEY IS JUST NOT THERE.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE LOOK AT WAYS TO SUPPLY HOUSING, LOW COST, OWNER OCCUPIED, DOES NOT ADD TO THE TRAFFIC OF OUR ROAD, DOES NOT PAVE OVER OUR AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION LAND, AND THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, SO THAT ALL GENERATIONS OF HAWAII'S PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A HOME HERE.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO GET TO TWO COMMENTS HERE.

AND I'LL DIRECT THESE TO YOU.

PANEL CAN RESPOND.

SIMILAR.

DARREN ON FACEBOOK SAYS, WHAT BEEN KURISUING PROPERTY TAX ON INVESTMENT PROPERTIES?

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROVIDE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR OWNER OCCUPIED BUYERS COMPOTE AGAINST MAINLAND OR FOREIGN INVESTORS BUY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE.

WE NEED TO THINK AND TALK ALONG LINES PRICE CONTROL AND OUT OF STATE BUYING RESTRICTIONS.

OUT OF STATE COST FOR INVESTOR OWNERS MUST BE HIGH MULTIPLE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

WHAT KIND A DIFFERENCE DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD MAKE IF REALLY DID PUT SOME HIGHER TAXES ON INVESTMENT PROPERTIES SPECIFICALLY, I MEAN, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOR FOLKS OUT OF STATE.

COULD BE FOR FOLKS IN STATE AS WELL.

>> I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.

THE HARD PART IS THAT THE STATE DOES NOT CONTROL PROPERTY TAXES.

COUNTIES DO 100%.

HOWEVER, HAVING SAID THAT, THE COUNTIES ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO THE STATE FOR HELP FINANCING THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES TO TALK ABOUT, HEY, IT'S NOT HELPING OUR ECONOMY TO HAVE ALL OF THESE OUTSIDE INVESTORS THAT AREN'T PAYING HAWAII INCOME TAX.

SO WHY DON'T WE HAVE, TRY TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES ON YOUR SECOND OR THIRD OR WHATEVER HOME, IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO LIVE HAWAII.

WE CAN SUBTRACT THAT OFF YOUR INCOME TAX, BUT IF YOU DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE AND NOT PAYING INCOME TAXES, WHY ARE WE GIVING YOU THE LOWEST PROPERTY TAX RATE IN THE COUNTRY?

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND IN FACT, COUNTIES, THEY'RE STARTING TO INCREASE THOSE TAX RATES A LITTLE BIT.

KAUAI COUNTY RECENTLY INCREASED THEIRS.

TO ALMOST 1%.

WHICH IS STILL BELOW AVERAGE, FOR THE COUNTRY.

I KNOW HONOLULU IS LOOKING AT RESIDENTIAL A AND MAUI.

RIGHT NOW, THERE MAY BE INCHING UP TO 1% PROPERTY TAX FOR INVESTMENT PROPERTIES.

ONLY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT REALLY, TO DISCOURAGE INVESTMENT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE AT 2%.

2.5 OR 3%.

WHERE TEXAS IS AT.

NEW JERSEY IS AT.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS HURTING THE ENTIRE STATE RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT CAN WE DO.

I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT THING ABOUT RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS.

>> YOU CAN'T CONTROL WHAT PEOPLE BUY IN THE PRIVATE MARKET, IF IT'S A STATE SPONSORED PROGRAM, LOOK A LEASEHOLD PROGRAM, WHICH THE STATE HAS HAD IN THE PAST.

KAUAI HAS GREAT LEASEHOLD PROGRAM, COUNTY DOES, CAN YOU HAVE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.

SAY YOU HAVE TO BE RESIDENT OF MAUI OR RESIDENT OF HONOLULU.

IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BELOW MARKET FOR SALE PROGRAM.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA.

GET TO YOU RESPOND TO THAT GIVEN YOUR BACKGROUND WORKING FOR THE COUNTY, IS THERE THE INTEREST AND THE WILL TO ACTUALLY RAISE THOSE TAXES SO DO DOES PROVIDE LISTEN INCENTIVIZED TO BUY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES.

>> KAUAI COUNTY DID JUST THAT.

THAT IS, CREATE HIGHER TAX FOR INVESTMENT PROPERTIES.

AND THAT IS HOPEFULLY, WILL DISCOURAGE AND HELP THOSE, ALSO, INCREASE THE HOME, IF YOU'RE A OWNER OCCUPANT, THEN YOU KNOW, HAVE A HIGHER EXEMPTION.

IN THE REAL PROPERTY TAX.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT COUNTIES CAN USE.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE REALLY, WHERE WE NEED ALL OF THIS IS I THINK THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES NEED TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE LAND DEVELOPERS BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THEY SHARE THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF WE CAN PARTNER AND WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TO LOWER THE COST OF THE UNIT, THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE'RE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO MORE OF.

AND WORKING WITH REP KYLE YAMASHITA FROM MAUI, OUR CIP MANAGER, TO KIND OF LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

>>Yunji: MISS LEE, I WANT TO SORT OF PIVOT A LITTLE.

ANDREW FROM ALA MOANA HAS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

HE SAYS, WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS LIFTED?

WE KNOW THAT WITH COVID‑19 RESTRICTIONS ON LANDLORDS KICKING OUT TENANTS.

ONCE THOSE ARE GONE, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS FOR THOSE RENTERS?

>> AT RISK HOUSELESSNESS, UNSHELTERED.

FAMILIES WORKING JOBS WHO ‑‑ WE HAVE TO EXTEND IT.

WHERE I DON'T, I HAVE NO OTHER THOUGHTS ON IT THAN WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO EXTEND THIS MORATORIUM.

WE ARE REALLY HURTING OUR WORKING FAMILIES HERE.

I MEAN, HAWAII, FASCINATING, COST OF LIVING, HAWAII IS ALL THE WAY UP HERE ON THIS GRAPH.

NEXT HIGHEST COST OF LIVING IS CALIFORNIA.

THEY'RE, AFTER ALL, GROUPED TOGETHER MOST OF THE MAJOR STATES.

SO WE HAVE THE HIGHEST COST OF LIVING.

UNBELIEVEABLE HOUSING RATES.

AND JUST NOT A LIVABLE WORKING WAGE.

SO HOW MUCH MORE CAN OUR WORKING FAMILIES TAKE?

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT TOO.

I MEAN, WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS LIFTED?

WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THERE?

>> WE HAVE A BILL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

THERE'S AN HB1376 THAT REP HASHIMOTO INTRODUCED THIS SESSION.

WE WORKED WITH NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE STATE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT MORATORIUM IS LIFTED.

WHEN WE'RE AWARE THAT THERE ARE OVER 12,000 FAMILIES THAT ARE BEHIND IN RENT, AND THE LAST THING WE WANT THEM TO DO IS FOR LANDLORDS TO FILE EVICTION NOTICES TO ALL OF THESE FAMILIES.

SO WHAT WE HAVE DESIGNED IS PROGRAM THAT GOES INTO EFFECT THE DAY AFTER THE MORATORIUM IS LIFTED, THAT WOULD HELP TO DIRECT THE LANDLORDS AND THE TENANTS INTO MEDIATION PROGRAMS.

SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO AVOID EVICTIONS AND HOPEFULLY, GET LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO WORK OUT PAYMENT PROGRAMS, TO PREVENT JUST THE STIGMA OF HAVING EVICTION ON THEIR FILE.

MAKES IT HARD FOR ANYONE TO RENT IN THE FUTURE.

>>Yunji: WILL THAT KIND OF SAFETY NET BE ENOUGH FOR THESE FOLKS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO TELL BECAUSE I THINK LANDLORDS WOULD NOT BE SMART TO KICK SOMEBODY OUT RIGHT NOW ANYWAY.

I MEAN, WE'RE IN A RECESSION.

WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BE RENTING YOUR HOME TO RIGHT NOW?

I THINK THE SMARTER THING FOR LANDLORD AND TENANTS TRY TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK IT OUT.

AND THERE IS CONCERN THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDING IN THERE.

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY JUST HAD A RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WENT UP AND WHAT, FOUR HOURS I THINK THEY ‑‑ PEOPLE.

SO YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, THERE IS MORE FEDERAL SUPPORT COMING.

AND I DO THINK MEDIATION IS A GREAT IDEA.

AND I HOPE THAT'S ABLE TO RAMP QUICKLY ENOUGH TO MEET THE NEED.

BUT I SUPPORT WHAT CATHY WAS SAYING ABOUT HOW WE PROBABLY NEED TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM UNTIL WE HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS IN PLACE.

TO CATCH PEOPLE.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS HERE TONIGHT ABOUT YOUR PLAN THAT THE SINGAPORE PLAN, MODEL THAT YOU LAID OUT.

JUST ONE BASIC ONE.

WHO FUNDS DEVELOPMENT FOR UNIT THAT ARE SOLD TO INDIVIDUALS AT COST IN MR. CHANG'S SINGAPORE PLAN?

>> SO THE PLAN IS A REVENUE NEUTRAL PLAN.

THERE WOULD BE NO TAXPAYOR SUBSIDY THAT GOES INTO IT.

STATE COULD DO ONE OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE THING THE STATE COULD DO IS BEHAVE LIKE ANY OTHER DEVELOPER.

SELL BONDS, BUILD THESE STRUCTURES, AND THEN RECOUP THE COST OF THOSE BONDS, PAY BONDS BACK THROUGH THE SALES OF UNITS.

THAT'S OPTION NUMBER ONE.

ANOTHER OPTION IS STATE COULD SIMPLY DESIGNATE A PARCEL OF LAND, ALOHA STADIUM PARCEL AND SAY, OKAY, HERE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS.

WE WANT CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS.

THEY HAVE BE TO A CERTAIN SIZE.

THEY CAN SELL FOR NO MORE THAN HOWEVER MANY DOLLARS.

WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SO ON.

WEN INVITE DEVELOPERS TO BID.

AND IF A DEVELOPER THINKS THAT THEY CAN MEET ALL OF THOSE RESTRICTION, AND MEET ALL OF THOSE CRITERIA, THEY CAN SUBMIT A BID IN RFP PROCESS.

COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER.

AND IN THAT CASE, THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO STATE DOLLARS INVOLVED AT ALL.

DEVELOPER WITH BE EXPECTED TO RECOUP THE COST OF THEIR INVESTMENT THROUGH RESELLING THOSE UNITS OR SELLING THOSE UNITS.

ACCORDING TO THE STRUCTURE AND THE CRITERIA THAT THE STATE PRESCRIBES.

THERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE LARGE UP FRONT INVESTMENT.

OTHER PANELISTS DID A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING SOME OF FEDERAL FUNDS COMING DOWN.

ONE THAT I JUST WANT EMPHASIZE, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

WHICH IS DELIVERING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE STATES INCLUDING HAWAII, AND WHILE I DON'T SEE HAWAII TAXPAYOR IS CAPABLE OF BEARING ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO SUBSIDIZE INFRASTRUCTURE, IF INDEED THERE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP PAY FOR THE WASTE WATERS IMPROVEMENT, WATER IMPROVES AND SO ON, NECESSARY TO SUPPORT LARGE SCALE DENSITY, THEN YOU KNOW, BY ALL MEANS WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF IF NOT THE MOST URGENT INFRASTRUCTURE NEED IN THE STATE.

>>Yunji: REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, I WANT TO KIND OF ‑‑ I WANT TO WIDEN OUT.

INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PANELISTS OVERALL.

SHOULD THE STATE BE MORE FOCUSED ON HOMEOWNERSHIP OR RENTAL HOUSING?

WHERE SHOULD WE PUTTING OUR ENERGY AND RESOURCES RIGHT NOW?

>> THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE CONTINUUM OF HOUSING.

I THINK WE DEFINITELY KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY AFFORDING THE COST OF BEING A HOMEOWNER.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE RENTAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND LOOK AT HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

WE, THERE'S IT'S A NEED ALONG THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF HOUSING.

FROM THOSE WITH ZERO INCOME, ALL THE WAY TO THOSE WITH HIGHER INCOMES.

THERE IS ACTUALLY A SHORTAGE OF MARKET UNITS AS WELL.

I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A MULTIPRONG APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS.

SHORTAGE.

>>Yunji: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

SHOULD WE BE FOCUSING ON HOMEOWNERSHIP OR RENTALS OR AS REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA SAID, SORT OF A CONTINUUM OF BOTH?

>> ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA.

HAS TO BE A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT ON TONIGHT'S PANEL IS ALSO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER SERVICES THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE PROVIDING ALONG WITH THAT.

THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE PART OF SOLUTION.

>>Yunji: CAN YOU SEE ELABORATE ON THAT?

>> SURE.

DEFINITION OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING?

>>Yunji: YES.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> SURE.

IT'S JUST PROVIDING HOUSING FOR THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION, BUT ALONG WITH IT, YOU PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, JUST IN GENERAL, WHATEVER NEEDS THAT WE AS A SOCIETY CAN HELP WITH.

THAT ALL COMES IN AS ONE PACKAGE.

>> CAN I ADD TO THAT.

CATHY IS RIGHT ON POINT.

THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT POPULATION TO SERVE.

IT'S PEOPLE BETWEEN ZEROED A 30% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME WHERE THEY MAY BE JUST HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK, OR DISABILITY PAYMENT.

PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, PEOPLE, CHILDREN WHO ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING OUT OF PRISON, WHO NEED SOME PLACE TO GO TO BE READY FOR OUTSIDE WORLD.

THERE ARE MANY POPULATIONS WITH SPECIALIZED NEEDS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS THAT MAY BE REQUIRE EITHER UNIT WITH WRAP AROUND SERVICES OR LIVING FACILITIES WITH SERVICES PROVIDED ON SITE.

AND SO THIS IS THE GAP THAT REALLY IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY CURRENT POLICIES OR IT'S BEING DONE PIECEMEAL.

SO I AGREE WITH CATHY THAT THIS IS ONE OF AREAS THAT WE REALLY ANYWAY TO FOCUS IN ON AND TRY TO INCORPORATE THESE UNITS IN ALL OF THE HOUSING THAT WE BUILD MOVING FORWARD.

>>Yunji: SENATOR CHANG, YOU MADE REFERENCE TO AIRB&B AND ILLEGAL VACATION RENTAL MARKET AND SORT OF IMPACT THAT IS HAVING ON THIS.

DONE ENTIRE PROGRAMS JUST BASED ON THAT.

PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT HAVING TOURISTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THEY BOUGHT INTO A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

DIDN'T EXPECT TO ALSO HAVE VISITORS AND WHATNOT.

CHANGES THE DYNAMIC IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S VIEW OF THE PLACE THAT THEY LIVE.

ARE LOCAL LAWS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE EFFORTING TO FIX THAT PROBLEM, ARE THEY HELPING?

IF WE WERE TO BE ABLE TO CRACK DOWN ON THIS, HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT COULD THAT MAKE ON THE HOUSING SHORTAGE?

>> LET'S JUST LOOK AT THE FACTS.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AIRB&B AND VACATION RENTAL MARKET COLLAPSED.

GONE DOWN AT POINTS OVER THE PAST YEAR, TO REALLY ZERO.

IF A YEAR AGO, I HAD TOLD YOU THAT WITH THE UTTER COLLAPSE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, THE DECIMATION OF THE DEMAND FOR VACATION RENTALS, THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS HAWAII HAS SEEN IN GENERATIONS, NATION'S HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, AT A TIME LIKE THIS, COST OF HOUSING WOULD NOT HAVE STABILIZED OR EVEN GONE DOWN, BUT THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

NOT JUST INCREASE, BUT SHATTER THE MARCH 2021 RECORD, BROKE THE ALL TIME RECORD FOR MEDIAN HOME SALES ISLAND OF OAHU 950 THOUSANDS.

COUNTY OF KAUAI, TWO STRAIGHT MONTHS, MEDIAN HOME PRICE OVER $1 MILLION.

COUNTY OF MAUI IS NOT FAR BEHIND.

ALL OF THIS HAPPENED DESPITE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY'S COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.

SO WHILE YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT AND I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON THE AIRB&B MARKET, THAT REALLY BECAME VERY EFFECTIVE STARTING IN 2019, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT ONE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

IS IT MY HOPE THAT THE CURRENT RULES CITY IS DRAFTING WILL NOT PERMIT THE NET EXPANSION OF VACATION RENTALS CROSS OUR ISLAND.

CERTAINLY, IT DOES NOT HELP BUT UNTIL WE ADDRESS THE SUPPLY PROBLEM, THE HOUSING MARKET WILL CONTINUE TO SPIRAL OUT CONTROL.

THAT IS WHY SUPPLY HAS BEEN MY FOCUS.

IN MY LEGISLATIVE WORK.

BECAUSE FOR MATTER HOW MUCH YOU DEPRESS DEMAND, LIKE I SAID, WE REDUCED TOURISM DEMAND TO JUST ABOUT AS LOW AS COULD POSSIBLY GO OVER THE PAST YEAR.

SHORTAGE CONTINUES.

AND THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ME.

>>Yunji: REALLY INTERESTING POINT.

I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT OF IT IN THOSE TERMS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

IDEA THAT WE REALLY TOOK TOURISTS OUT OF THE EQUATION FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF MONTH AND YET, AS SENATOR CHANG POINTED OUT, WE SAW THE NUMBERS TOP OF THE SHOW 17% INCREASE IN SINGLE‑FAMILY HOMES YEAR AFTER YEAR.

DO THESE ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS ALTHOUGH WE TEND TO BLAME THAT FOR LOT OF OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE, DOES THAT NOT MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE?

>> WELL, THINK THAT SOME OF THOSE VACATION RENTALS DID TURN INTO LONG TERM RENTALS.

AND I THINK THERE WERE SOME PLACES WHERE RENTS DROPPED A LITTLE BIT.

SO WE DID SEE SOME DROP IN RENTS.

THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HOMES ARE SELLING FOR.

BECAUSE THE SELLER'S MARKET IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE RENTAL MARKET.

YES, HAVING NO TOURISTS, I THINK IT DID LOWER THE RENTER MARKET.

FOR HOMES SALES, YOU KNOW, NO IMPACT.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS WHY WHEN WE HAVE HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT, WE NEED FOR MAINTAIN THE AFFORDABILITY.

WHETHER IT'S A RENTAL OR FOR SALE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE WITH RESTRICTED PRICES ON THEM.

SO RIGHT NOW, OF ALL HOUSING IN HAWAII.

LESS THAN 1% OF THE FOR SALE HOUSING HAS RESTRICTIVE PRICE FOR LOCAL BUYERS.

AND REALLY, IT SHOULD BE MORE LIKE OF ALL THE FOR SALE, 50% REALLY, SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE PRICES THAT HAVE TO STAY AFFORDABLE.

INSTEAD OF HAVING IT BE 99% AND ONE.

SO I THINK ON ALL LEVELS, WE DO NEED ‑‑ I AGREE WITH SENATOR CHANG.

WE NEED MORE HOUSING.

BUT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE RESTRICTED LONGTERM HOUSING.

>> CAN I JUST ADD TO THAT QUICK?

AGAIN, I WANT TO HARKEN BACK TO THE FACT THAT OUR HOUSING MARKET, REAL ESTATE MARKET JUST NOT TIED TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, THAT THE RICH ARE GETTING RICHER.

AND WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF AMERICANS UNEMPLOYED SEEKING WORK, STRUGGLING.

SO WE TALK ABOUT THAT, THEY'RE NOT RENTING.

BUT THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS FORECASTING AND LOOKING TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN POST PANDEMIC.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN IGNORE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, I MEAN SAVING UP A LOT MONEY AND BEING LOOKING TO INVEST.

THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVING UP THIS SPECULATION.

>>Yunji: WE HAVE LESS THAN FIVE MINUTE IN THE PROGRAM.

I WANT TO GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION CAME TO US VIA EMAIL.

WE CLAIM THAT HAWAII IS A PLACE OF ALOHA, AND THAT WE ARE ONE OHANA, WE HAVE NOT DEVELOPED A STRATEGY TO BUILD HOMES TO RENT OR BUY AT THE INCOMES MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE EARN.

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE WAY FORWARD TO HOUSE THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII?

WE'LL GET TO EACH OF YOU.

YOU HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE.

REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA, START WITH YOU.

>> I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO STRATEGICALLY DEVELOP WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AROUND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

ALONG OUR RAIL LINES, ON OAHU, AND ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS AT BUS HUBS AND BUS STATIONS.

I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE OUGHT TO GO.

WE HAVE A BILL THAT IS INTRODUCED BY SENATOR KANUHA, GIVE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE THESE TRANSIT‑ORIENTED ZONES AND TO REALLY HELP ALL OF OUR AGENCIES, STATE AGENCIES, THAT OWN LAND AROUND THESE STATION, TO HELP TO PUT TOGETHER THE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NEEDED, SO THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN BE DEVELOPED.

>>Yunji: WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

>> YEAH, I AGREE.

THE PUBLIC HAS TO TAKE A BIGGER ROLE IN MAKING SURE STUFF GETS BUILT AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SUBSIDY, WHETHER IT'S LAND, OR INFRASTRUCTURE, OR ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN WE NEED TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE.

WE CAN'T BE LOSING IT AND HAVING THIS BUCKET OF WATER WITH A GIANT HOLE IN IT.

WE'RE JUST PUTTING MORE AND MORE WATER IN THE BUCKET AND IT'S JUST LEAKING OUT THE SIDE.

>>Yunji: MISS LEE?

>> I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE.

AND I DO WANT TO JUST PLUG FAITH ACTION COMMUNITY HOUSING MANDATE HERE.

THAT MANDATE BASICALLY SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE THE CURRENT PROCESS WORKS AS IT IS.

DEVELOPERS AND LEGISLATORS MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS THEN ALMOST AS AN AFTER THOUGHT, WHEN COMMUNITIES STAKEHOLDERS ARE ASKED TO GET INVOLVED.

I THINK IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING REP NAKAMURA HAVE MENTIONED, WE REALLY NEED TO BE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY THE HOUSING CRISIS FROM THE GET‑GO.

AND JUST BECAUSE IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME NOT TO SAY THIS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAWAII MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND JUST HAWAII LAND IN GENERAL IS A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE.

WHAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE ON TONIGHT'S PANEL IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY.

>>Yunji: WE'LL GIVE YOU LAST WORD TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

I LEARNED A LOT FROM TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

I WANTED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION BY ECHOING WHAT ALL OF THE OTHER PANELISTS HAVE ALREADY SAID.

WE NEED TO BE MAXIMIZING THE STATE‑OWNED LANDS NEAR THE RAIL STATIONS BY BUILDING VERY HIGH DENSITY, BY SELLING THOSE UNITS FOR A VERY LOW PRICE, AT COST, WITHOUT A PROFIT, BUT ALSO WITHOUT A SUBSIDY.

TO HAWAII RESIDENT WHO ARE OPENER OCCUPANTS AND WHO OWN NO OTHER REAL PROPERTY AND EVERY OWNER OF THESE UNITS WILL HAVE MEET THOSE CRITERIA.

LEASE TERM LONG TO GIVE SECURITY, NEVER HAVE TO MOVE BEFORE THEY DIE.

START THE PROGRAM BY MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO ALL, SO THERE ARE NO, SO THAT EVERYBODY BUYS IN JUST LIKE PUBLIC PARKS, PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF INCOME.

WE NEED TO CREATE A NEW MODEL OF LOOKING AT HOUSING THE WAY WE LOOK AT PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE WITH THE WAY WE LOOK AT PUBLIC PARKS.

WAY WE LOOK AT PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.

PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY AND WE ALLOW EVERYBODY TO LIVE EQUALLY IN HAWAII.

I THINK THAT'S THE FAIR WAY DO IT.

I THINK THAT'S IS THE WAY THAT IS PROVEN ITSELF SUCCESSFUL IN JURISDICTIONS LIKE SINGAPORE.

LIKE VIENNA AND IT'S I WOULD BE OPEN TO OTHER SUGGESTIONS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN RIGHT NOW.

>>Yunji: MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE NADINE NAKAMURA, STATE SENATOR STANLEY CHANG, KENNA STORMOGIPSON FROM THE HAWAII APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW & ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND CATHERINE LEE WITH THE FAITH ACTION HOUSING TASK FORCE.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, HAWAII BUSINESSES ARE CONTINUING TO ADJUST TO THE EVER‑CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES DURING THE COVID‑19 PANDEMIC.

AND WHILE VACCINES ARE OFFERING A GLIMMER OF HOPE, MANY RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

WE’LL HEAR HOW THEY’RE MAKING ENDS MEET.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

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