Mayor Kirk Caldwell

UPDATE: Bills 51 and 52 passed the Honolulu City Council on a 6-3 vote. The additional requirements added by the City Council were not removed from the bills.

  The Honolulu City Council is meeting to for a final on vote on two bills submitted by Mayor Kirk Caldwell that could have a significant impact on Honolulu’s homeless policy. Bill 51 would make it illegal to obstruct a public sidewalk. Bill 52 would make it illegal to establish lodging in public spaces like parks.

On Wednesday the Honolulu City Council voted unanimously to advance two bills that could have a major impact on the city’s homelessness policy. One would make it illegal to obstruct public sidewalks. The other would ban camping in any public space. But a court case on the mainland may spell trouble for one of the bills.

The effects of Hurricane Lane are being felt on the Big Island and has prompted State and County leaders to take immediate action.

An on-site children’s facility was blessed today at a plantation-style affordable housing village near Sand Island.

The long-simmering dispute between Honolulu’s taxi companies and ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft came to a head yesterday with Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s veto of Bill 35, a measure that would have regulated so-called “surge pricing” by rIde-sharing companies and made them subject to increased regulation.  

The City and County of Honolulu showcased its latest affordable housing purchase today. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The failure of counties to enforce zoning codes has added to the state's housing crisis with a staggering number of runaway illegal vacation rentals. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is proposing to try and fix that broken picture by legalizing Bed and Breakfasts, with operators paying higher taxes and penalties for violations.

Legalizing Transient Rentals; Increasing Tobacco Restrictions; Blue Planet Energy in Puerto Rico

A temporary ban on over-sized homes on O’ahu was formally implemented today. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports. 

The Honolulu Rail Transit Project is hosting a 2-day forum to attract private development partners. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

Today the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium exists as a crumbling relic, a civic embarrassment that has endured in its dilapidated, state for a half century. Honolulu's Mayor has declared his intention to change that state of affairs.

The City began clearing homeless encampments along the Pearl Harbor Bike Trail today fronting Neal Blaisdell Park.  As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, it’s the latest action to restore public spaces for residents on O’ahu.    

The devastating fire at the Marco Polo Condominium left 3 residents dead and more than a dozen injured, Friday.  As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, residents and lawmakers are now looking at requiring automatic fire sprinkler systems in all high rise condominiums to prevent another tragedy.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled his 2018 budget today.  He is proposing to raise property taxes for investors and hotels, charge more for trash pickup and increase fuel and vehicle weight taxes.   He says there is no fat in the City’s budget and also took the opportunity to ask state lawmakers to fund the rail transit project.      

Some think he has the race all sewn up. And while Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell hopes that's true, whoever is declared Mayor on Nov 8 will still have to face the issues voters want fixed. This afternoon on Town Square an open line to Kirk Caldwell.

Honolulu City and Council officials are looking for the public’s feedback on a renovation plan to Ala Moana Beach Park.

A nine point plan announced last year has already made improvements to the park.  But last week the city released a draft plan that would redesign the 948 existing parking, switching to angled stalls near the McCoy Pavillion.

Honolulu’s Mayor unveiled plans today to construct temporary shelters for the chronically homeless on O’ahu.   As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, this project is a test that could be replicated throughout the island.

Waikiki Beach loses tons of sand each year and obtaining funding from the state legislature to replenish it takes at least a couple of years.  Today, two City and County ordinances were signed into law to enable surrounding businesses to contribute to maintaining the beach.   HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.