City and County of Honolulu

Senate Bill 3202 would allow two accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, to be built on residential properties. Most of the opposition came from lawmakers who represent urban Honolulu.

The city wants to build 18,000 affordable housing units by fiscal year 2029, according to its 2023 housing plan, but the availability of land and city funding continue to be two of some of the most expensive obstacles to doing that.

The Summer Fun program is the largest of its kind in the state with 60 locations on Oʻahu. The program began in 1944 to provide positive engagement of children during World War II.

The exhibit has two kai-centered banners and sculptures of sea animals made from recycled clothes from artist Jane Chang Mi and her son. It is on display at Honolulu Hale until May 17.

A handful of Honolulu councilmembers have introduced resolutions to let voters decide how the commission operates. The resolutions come a year after the commission gave councilmembers a controversial 64% raise. The commission said the raise followed and made up for years of stagnant pay. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is formally asking to create a standalone Department of Ocean Safety on Oʻahu. The council has been moving along its own measure that would ask voters this year if they wanted an ocean safety department with its own oversight commission.

Herbal cigarettes don’t contain tobacco or nicotine but can still be harmful to users, so the Honolulu City Council wanted to limit their accessibility to Oʻahu’s youth via Bill 1.

Honolulu city officials have removed a Waikīkī lifeguard tower that was damaged by large swells in August 2020. The city is taking the opportunity to reevaluate its coastline infrastructure as sea levels rise. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote reports that one approach is mobile towers on sleds or skids that can be moved back as the sand erodes.

Honolulu officials have started the process of removing the Haʻikū Stairs from the Koʻolau Mountains. The popular illegal hike, also known as the "Stairway to Heaven," has about 4,000 stairs. Debate has surrounded the removal for decades, heightened by neighborhood complaints of trespassing and noise. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports.

Two measures at the Honolulu City Council aim to help police take down illegal game rooms. HPD Maj. Mike Lambert has said that about 100 illegal game rooms are operating on Oʻahu at any given moment. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.