The following are testimonies submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii over the past few weeks for consideration by the Hawai‘i, Honolulu and Maui county councils, plus the state’s Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development Task Force:
HAWAI‘I COUNTY
>> Bill 52 (2025) — “Let household hennery owners sell their produce for extra income” and “Allow Hawaii Island backyard henneries, revisit income potential”
>> Bill 63 (2025) — “Permit family dwellings by right in mixed-use, commercial zones”
>> Bill 103 (2025) — “Limit property tax increases for senior agricultural land owners”
HONOLULU COUNTY
>> Bill 42 (2025), CD1 — “Allow taxicabs to keep up with inflation, industry competition“
>> Bill 63 (2025) — “Update tax deduction eligibility for affordable rentals”
>> Bill 72 (2025) — “Allow taller buildings for housing in city’s affordable rentals program”
MAUI COUNTY
>> Bill 110 (2024) — “Waive infrastructure rule to help speed up rebuilding in Lahaina” and “Waive improvement requirements for damaged Lahaina properties”
>> Bill 146 (2025) — “Allow property tax exemptions to take effect the same year of filing”
>> Bill 156 (2025), CD1 — “‘Overhead encroachment’ rule blocking restoration of old Lahaina” and “Preserve Lahaina’s charm, waive overhead encroachment rules”
>> Bill 171 (2025) — “Tax relief extension critical to properties destroyed in wildfires”
>> Resolutions 25-193 and 25-194 — “Extend enterprise zone benefits to incentivize all Maui businesses”
>> Resolution 25-203 — “Support drafting bill that would allow two ADUs per lot in residential zones”
SIMPLIFYING PERMITTING FOR ENHANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE
>> RE: PERMITTING REFORM — “Reforms on building permits, historic preservation, wastewater suggested to state permitting task force”
