STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1856-26

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 98

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

 

Madame:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 98, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO DEVELOP A COUNTYWIDE HOUSING PATTERN BOOK TO STREAMLINE PERMIT APPROVALS AND REDUCE REGULATORY BARRIERS FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND WELL-DESIGNED HOMES ACROSS OAHU,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu to develop a countywide housing pattern book containing prereviewed residential building designs that comply with applicable building codes and best practices for safety, affordability, resilience, and architectural quality.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Housing and Land Management of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

     Your Committee finds that a housing pattern book containing prereviewed residential designs that comply with applicable codes can reduce design costs, expedite permitting, and accelerate housing production while maintaining safety, affordability, resilience, and architectural quality.  Your Committee further finds that similar programs in places such as New South Wales, Australia, and Los Angeles, California, have demonstrated that preapproved housing designs can successfully accelerate construction of accessory dwelling units and low and midrise housing, which could help to alleviate Oahu's severe shortage of housing.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 98, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair