Senate advises and consents to Grant Chung for HHFDC board; discussion centers on permitting and finance reforms

Grant Chung, nominee to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation board, appeared before the Senate Committee on Housing on April 10, 2025. The committee moved to advise and consent to his appointment and adopted the recommendation.

Chung described his background in real estate and nonprofit housing work and told senators he was prepared to help the agency address financing and pipeline issues. Committee members pressed him on the causes of development delays and asked whether state-level permitting or changes to lending priorities could speed construction.

Why it matters: HHFDC stewards significant state housing financing, including long-term low-interest gap loans. Senators queried ways to accelerate revolving funds and to prioritize income-blind or revenue-neutral products so that public funds can be redeployed more quickly to build housing.

Key points from the hearing

- Chung cited experience leading housing organizations and private-sector development work. He said permitting-review timelines — which can exceed a year for complex multifamily projects — are a significant bottleneck on Maui and Oahu.

- Senators discussed the possibility of a state permitting office for state-funded projects and…