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Hawaii County housing office reports no change in affordable‑housing inventory for Q2; council presses on credits and dashboard
Summary
The housing administrator told the Council’s Communications, Reports and Oversight Committee that the April–June 2024 quarterly inventory showed no new affordable units, transfers or credits issued. Councilors asked how market starts and developer transfers of credits are tracked and requested dashboard totals for recent years.
HILO — Housing administrator Susan told the Communications, Reports and Council Oversight Committee on Oct. 1 that the county’s affordable‑housing inventory showed no activity for the quarter covering April 1–June 30, 2024. “For this period I don’t have any activity to report,” she said.
Committee members questioned what the lack of movement on housing credits means for construction. Councilmember Evans asked how the county learns when a developer intends to use or purchase excess affordable‑housing credits. Susan said developers typically work through the County Planning Department or contact the housing office directly; if credits are to be used, staff must certify eligibility, check geographic and program criteria and process transfers through the housing office.
Councilmember Connie Lee Kleinfelder asked whether the county can quantify how many affordable units have been created over the past four years. The administrator said the recently launched dashboard includes inventory activity and offered to produce totals on request.
Councilmember Galimba asked whether the housing office tracks market (non‑affordable) housing starts; the administrator said it does not track market starts. Council members also clarified that temporary shelter beds run by outside providers are recorded as shelter capacity for homelessness response rather than as housing units on the county inventory when the county does not own or manage the facility.
Chair Rebecca Villegas said she preferred seeing developers build units rather than rely on credits and moved to close the file on Communication 322.5. The motion to close the file, moved by Councilmember Kimball and seconded by Councilmember Inaba, carried by voice vote; the chair announced seven members in favor with Councilmembers Kerkowitz and Leroy excused.
Next steps: councilors requested that housing staff produce dashboard totals for multi‑year unit production and said they would follow up with staff for any additional clarifications.
