Hawai'i Housing Reform
Every parking space costs you $68,000
Outdated parking mandates are quietly adding tens of thousands to home prices and hundreds to monthly rents. It's time to make parking a choice—not a mandate.
The real cost
Parking mandates are pricing you out
Added to every condo
A 2-stall parking mandate adds 20% to the unit cost
Of rent goes to parking
Even if you don't own a car, you're paying for a spot
Less housing built
Half the lot goes to parking instead of homes
Since the 1950s
Outdated rules
Government mandates are the problem
Parking mandates are zoning rules that force developers to build minimum parking—often 1-2 spots per unit—regardless of actual demand.
The market already handles this. Developers build what tenants want. But with government mandates, we get overbuilt parking and underbuilt housing.
70+ years old
Rules from before modern transit
Bill 53 (2025)
New mandates making it worse
The solution
Remove mandates, unlock housing
When we let the market decide, everyone wins
Walkable neighborhoods
More space for homes, shops, and parks. Less asphalt. Communities designed for people, not cars.
Lower costs for everyone
One Honolulu project saved $10 million by right-sizing parking. Those savings go directly to residents.
Housing choices for all
Young professionals, families, kūpuna—everyone gets options that fit their lifestyle, with or without a car.
Proof it works
Honolulu already did it
Bill 2 (2020) removed parking mandates in urban Honolulu. The result? Developers still built parking where demand existed—but with flexibility that cut costs.
$10M+
Saved per project
0
Chaos created
Common misconception
"This will ban parking!"
False. Removing mandates makes parking optional, not banned. Developers still build it where people want it.
Ready to take action?
Join the movement for affordable housing in Hawai'i
Contact lawmakers
Voice your support for parking reform legislation
Share the word
Help friends and family understand the issue
Join advocacy
Connect with local housing reform groups
Sources: Ulupono Initiative • Honolulu City Council • Full research