Maui County’s zoning code makes it difficult to build any new housing, including affordable housing. It’s outdated and must be reformed, argues Sterling Higa, Executive Director of Housing Hawaii’s Future. The county is currently working on a revision, but it’s not scheduled to be finished until 2026. In the meantime, Higa says, the county should enact a hybrid code, a way to guide rebuilding after the tragic wildfires on the island while also correcting the worst provisions of the current code. – Honolulu Civil Beat
