In what would be an unprecedented move, several Honolulu City Council members want to take the Honolulu Police Commission to court over whether the city should pay former Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s legal fees. Read more
Bankers, builders and housing advocates flanked Mayor Kirk Caldwell as he signed the Affordable Rental Housing Bill into law Tuesday. Read more
A bill giving big breaks to owners of smaller properties who develop affordable rental units was signed by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell today. Read more
Condominium and apartment owner associations critical of the city’s new appointment-only pilot program for bulky item pickups have convinced officials to review the program. Read more
A bill offering significant building bonuses and breaks from taxes and fees to entice owners of smaller Oahu apartment- zoned properties to develop affordable rentals is expected to be signed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell this week. Read more
Rod Tam — among the more colorful and controversial figures in Hawaii politics during a career that spanned three decades — died Wednesday due to complications from leukemia. Read more
Colorful and controversial political figure Rod Tam died this afternoon due to complications from leukemia, a family spokesman said. Read more
The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee on Tuesday again rejected Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s plan for a trash pickup fee, but approved proposals to raise rates in the hotel-resort and nonowner occupant property tax categories. Read more
The Honolulu City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday to override Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s veto of a bill to lower by $70 a year the property taxes of homeowners who live in their houses. Read more
It’s generally not legal to rent out a house or apartment for less than 30 days at a time, unless specifically permitted to do so by the city. Read more
Ron Menor emerged as among the most influential — if not the busiest — of the nine Honolulu City Council members under a revamped committee assignment plan released by new Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson on Wednesday. Read more
After more than 100 hundred people testified on the short-term vacation rental issue over a span of over five hours Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council decided to hold off on a final decision on the two bills before them and send them to a newly formed Council Zoning, Planning and Housing Committee. Read more
Mayor Kirk Caldwell believes the current draft of the omnibus vacation-rental bill up for a final vote by the City Council today doesn’t allow for enough permits to be issued. Read more
A Honolulu County Councilwoman is urging her colleagues to override Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s veto of a bill to lower by $70 a year the property taxes of homeowners who live in their houses. Read more
Georgietta Chock had trouble finding long-term renters who could pay the $2,400 monthly rent and meet financial qualifications. Read more
A state audit of the city agency tasked with building the $9.2 billion Honolulu rail project found instances where building contractors were overpaid — but how widespread that practice has been appears to be unclear. Read more
Ikaika Anderson could become chairman of the Honolulu City Council under a resolution up for vote Wednesday. Read more
A measure making it easier for owners of older high-rise condominiums to meet stricter fire safety regulations was signed into law Thursday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Read more
Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday allowed a bill designed to be a comprehensive policy on large-scale houses to become law without his signature, warning that it might go too far and have unintended consequences. Read more
The mayor is urging the City Council to address provisions in the new law that could cause unintended consequences on legitimate builders. Read more
Two bills up for final votes by the Honolulu City Council next week could destroy the short-term rental market and deal a serious blow to the visitor industry, according to the companies that own the websites where the bulk of the state’s vacation rentals advertise. Read more
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