Aloha friends and neighbors

Over the past few months, we’ve been holding a series of community forums to engage residents in shaping Hawaii’s financial future, with a particular focus on how we use our state’s resources to build a more equitable and sustainable economy. Our recent land use and housing forum on September 30th highlighted some powerful ideas from our community, underscoring a clear desire to confront the housing crisis head-on with innovative policy solutions that prioritize local families.

One of the strongest messages we heard was the call for an “empty homes tax”—a strategy aimed at discouraging property owners from keeping homes vacant while so many residents struggle to find affordable housing. Participants also advocated for dramatically increased property conveyance taxes, with exemptions for Hawaii residents, as a way to target speculative real estate transactions that drive up costs and price out local families. The emphasis was on creating a tax structure that discourages speculation while protecting those who actually live and work in our communities.

Community members also called for a fundamental rethinking of what it means for housing to be “affordable.” The current definitions don’t align with the lived experiences of working families, who are often priced out of homes that are labeled as “affordable” yet remain out of reach. Participants pushed for a new standard that truly reflects the economic realities faced by Hawaii’s residents. Improving and expanding public housing options was also a top priority, with a focus on making sure that our public housing is both accessible and responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable in our society.

Finally, a strong sentiment emerged around using legislation to limit, if not outright prohibit, out-of-state property speculation. The community is frustrated by the impact that outside investors have on driving up property prices, contributing to the displacement of local families and changing the character of our neighborhoods. There was broad support for taking bold action to keep Hawaii’s homes in the hands of those who call our islands home.

These discussions on housing and land use are part of a larger effort we’re calling the “People’s Budget” series, which aims to align our state’s fiscal policies with the values and priorities of the people. We recently wrapped up the second forum in this series on Oct. 17th, where we examined the state budget and the challenges created by the shortfall from HB 2404. We discussed potential remedies like filling vacancies in state services and exploring new, progressive revenue streams. The insights shared in that forum will guide us as we move forward in this budget process.

Our next event in the series will be held on October 30th at the Mililani High School library from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This community visioning session will focus on translating our shared values into concrete law and policy. We want to hear directly from you: What are the top priorities that our state should work on and fund? This is where we need your marching orders. Your input will help us craft a legislative agenda that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our communities.

These forums are about more than just influencing policy—they’re about empowering our community to have a direct say in how our state is governed. By elevating your voices in these discussions, we aim to create a budget and policy framework that truly serves the people of Hawaii.

Mahalo to everyone who has joined us so far and contributed to these critical conversations. For those who haven’t yet participated, I urge you to join us on October 30th. This is your chance to shape the future of our community, to ensure that our policies reflect our collective values, and to help build a Hawaii that works for all of us. Together, we can transform these ideas into actionable steps that move our state forward. I look forward to seeing you there and continuing this journey with you.

Mālama pono,
Representative Amy Perruso