Honolulu City Council

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has signed a resolution creating a new Ocean Safety Department. In his March state of the city address, Blangiardi said he wanted to separate ocean safety services from ambulance services. Both were housed in the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.

To help deter thieves from breaking into cars in scenic areas in East Oʻahu, the Honolulu City Council is considering a resolution to allow surveillance cameras.

The Honolulu City Council has approved a measure to establish a separate Ocean Safety department for Oʻahu. Prior to this, ocean safety services currently fall within the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, along with ambulance services.

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 Honolulu Salary Commission wants to give the mayor, city lawmakers and department leaders a raise of about 3.6%. The commission this week made its final recommendations for the salaries, which now go through the Honolulu City Council. It includes a salary of $217,000 for the mayor, $127,000 for the council chair and $117,000 for councilmembers.

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.

The bill would amend a $10 million city program by offering grants to developers before the construction of rental units, instead of just after construction. It would also allow developers to receive up to $35,000 per eligible unit — up from a maximum of $15,000.

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.

On Monday the council formally approved a resolution opposing Senate Bill 3202 and its now-dead House companion bill, which would allow up to two additional dwelling units on residential properties in urban areas.

The council has introduced a resolution opposing Senate Bill 3202, which would allow at least two additional dwelling units to be built on residentially zoned properties in urban districts.