Hawaii is facing a complex balancing act: creating safer, more resilient buildings in a state that is continually threatened by natural disasters while also addressing a severe housing shortage. Governor Josh Green’s recent efforts to update building codes highlight the challenge of protecting public safety without further exacerbating an already critical shortage of affordable homes.
Building Codes on Hiatus: Maui Fires and Their Aftermath
In the wake of the devastating wildfires that tore through Maui in August 2023, Governor Green issued an emergency proclamation halting the adoption of new building codes. This move was intended to alleviate a housing crisis worsened by the fires, which destroyed over 2,200 structures and left a significant number of residents without homes. But the unintended consequence of this decision was that it also placed Hawaii’s State Building Code Council—the body responsible for updating construction regulations—on hiatus.
This meant that Hawaii had to rely on an outdated version of the building codes formulated by the International Code Council, which, among other things, included requirements irrelevant to Hawaii, such as snow standards. Now, the governor’s office is working to fast-track the adoption of the most recent building codes, aiming to modernize construction standards to better reflect Hawaii’s unique conditions.
A Fast-Tracked Adoption Process
Governor Green’s new approach is to fast-track the adoption of the 2024 building codes while bypassing the 2021 version. His administration plans to hire two technical advisors to work with the State Building Code Council to draft necessary amendments ahead of time. The idea is to streamline the process for Hawaii’s counties and make it easier for them to adopt these codes when the council is reinstated next year.
Scott Glenn, Governor Green’s senior housing advisor, emphasized that this approach will allow the counties and the State Building Code Council to focus on their own priorities and building requirements rather than get bogged down by national standards that may not be directly relevant.
Industry Reactions: Too Fast, Too Slow, or Just Right?
The building industry has long criticized Hawaii’s code adoption cycle, arguing that the three-year timeline for adopting new codes is too rapid for both state and county agencies to keep up with. Geena Thielen of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii has pointed out that Hawaii’s building code process is “broken from top to bottom,” and suggested that the current system places an unnecessary burden on both developers and the housing market.
Rep. Luke Evslin even introduced a bill in 2024 to allow Hawaii to adopt new building codes every six years instead of every three, which would make it easier for the state to manage updates. However, this proposal failed to gain traction. The local chapter of the American Institute for Architects (AIA) expressed concern that adopting codes less frequently could lead to safety lapses, especially in a state as vulnerable to natural disasters as Hawaii.
Public Safety vs. Housing Needs
At the heart of the debate is a tension between public safety and housing affordability. Building codes serve to protect residents from hazards such as hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Codes are regularly updated to reflect advancements in construction technology, such as better fire-resistant materials and renewable energy storage systems, which have become critical given Hawaii’s frequent natural disasters.
But these same codes can also make new housing more expensive, as compliance costs rise with every new set of regulations. For example, the new codes will require builders like Tom Liu, who is reconstructing a home destroyed by the Maui fires, to use larger foundation bases than before—a costlier, but safer, solution.
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting is also in favor of re-evaluating the code adoption process to create a more efficient system that doesn’t place undue stress on public and private stakeholders. The department’s director, Dawn Takeuchi Apuna, noted that the governor’s pause on adopting new codes had given her staff a chance to focus more on processing applications, ultimately helping the strained housing sector.
Looking Forward: Reform and Staffing Challenges
One of the root causes of the current chaos lies in staffing shortages. When the State Building Code Council was created in 2007, it was supposed to have an executive director and an assistant to help manage the workload. These positions, however, have never been funded, which has significantly impeded the council’s ability to stay on schedule. AIA Hawaii President Reid Mizue believes that funding these roles should be a top priority for the upcoming legislative session.
Without a fully staffed council, Hawaii’s building codes will likely continue to lag behind, compromising both safety and the efficiency of housing development. Thielen of the Building Industry Association has suggested doing away with the state-level building code entirely and allowing the council to act purely in an advisory capacity to the counties, which would then have more autonomy to manage building standards as they see fit.
Striking the Balance
The debate over Hawaii’s building codes is a microcosm of broader issues faced by the state: the challenge of building resilience in the face of frequent natural disasters, while also attempting to alleviate a crippling housing crisis. With the governor pushing for updated building codes and new advisors set to join the council, it remains to be seen whether Hawaii can find a sustainable balance between safety and affordability. As the 2025 legislative session approaches, all eyes will be on the State Building Code Council and the measures put forth to address this ongoing crisis.