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Will Caron: Price Of Paradise

The Honolulu City Council is slated to vote on a new tax on homes that stand empty, a measure supporters say will force owners to rent the properties and help provide badly needed housing for local residents. But critics say it’s unfair to the property owner and will be hard to enforce anyway.

By Will Caron

December 9, 2024 · 1 min read

Will Caron/Civil Beat/2024

About the Author

Will Caron

Will Caron is director of communications at the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, a policy research and advocacy nonprofit. Opinions are the author鈥檚 own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat鈥檚 views or that of Appleseed. You can reach him at 聽info@willcaronhawaii.com.

The Honolulu City Council is slated to vote on a new tax on homes that stand empty, a measure supporters say will force owners to rent the properties and help provide badly needed housing for local residents. But critics say it’s unfair to the property owner and will be hard to enforce anyway.

(Will Caron/Civil Beat/2024)

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About the Author

Will Caron

Will Caron is director of communications at the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, a policy research and advocacy nonprofit. Opinions are the author鈥檚 own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat鈥檚 views or that of Appleseed. You can reach him at 聽info@willcaronhawaii.com.

Latest Comments (0)

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The truth hurts. This left wing, government perspective and over reach is cantered to those socialists that think there will be cheap housing and rents, plus a glut of fire sales as a result, all born on the backs of the other guy. It should be known that low income housing is soley the responsibility of government, not private landowners.

wailani1961 · 1 month ago

I'm SO disappointed with the City Council on caving to the realtors and wealthy multi-house owners. The fact the council held so many hearings on this bill tells me it was all shibai to draw out the fight, fatigue activists, and do more nothing.

Funkadelik · 1 month ago

As long as Hawaii is a tourist destination, with property marketed to visitors before they even step off the plane, local first time buyers will compete with LLCs, corporations, partnerships and wealthy individuals for homes. Prices drop when some economic or natural disaster hits the islands and no one is buying property.

Fred_Garvin · 1 month ago

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