July 8, 2026, 10 a.m.
Honolulu Hale
To: Honolulu City Council
Tommy Waters, Chair
Andria Tupola, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: Bill 46 (2026) — RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXATION
Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 46 (2026), which would increase the real property tax homeowner exemption for those 65 years old and older to $200,000 from $180,000 beginning in fiscal 2029.
This measure would provide tax relief to elderly Honolulu homeowners squeezed by increasing assessments. Bumping up the homeowner exemption by $20,000 would save each homeowner $70 at the current residential tax rate of $3.50 per $1,000 in assessed value.[1]
Last year, this Council passed a bill to increase the homeowner exemption to $180,000 from $160,000 starting in fiscal year 2028.[2] Before that, the exemption was last increased in 2023, for tax years beginning with fiscal 2024.[3] Passing Bill 46 (2026) now would head off possible increases in property values that could occur in the next two years.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
1050 Bishop St. #508 | Honolulu, HI 96813 | 808-864-1776 | info@grassrootinstitute.org
[1] Resolution 26-62, Honolulu Records Collection, accessed July 6, 2026.
[2] Ordinance 25-42, Honolulu Records Collection, accessed July 6, 2026.
[3] Ordinance 23-33, Honolulu Records Collection, accessed July 6, 2026.
