Hawaiʻi Housing Factbook 2025: Modest improvements amid ongoing crisis

The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) has released the Hawaiʻi Housing Factbook 2025, the third edition of its annual report offering detailed analysis of the state’s housing market. The report documents continued affordability challenges, a historically low rate of housing production, and recent policy shifts, alongside emerging signs of modest improvement.

Key findings from this year’s Factbook include:

• Homeownership remains out of reach for most households: In 2024, fewer than 25% of Hawaiʻi households earned enough to afford a mortgage on the median single-family home, priced at $950,000. Condominium prices declined slightly, though rising HOA fees may offset that gain.
• Rents continue to rise, but at a slower pace: Hawaiʻi, which previously had the highest median rent in the nation, now ranks second behind California. This shift reflects a moderation in rent growth, particularly in counties that have expanded their housing supply.
• Housing supply remains constrained: The pace of new housing construction remains historically low. Housing permitting times continue to be long, especially in Honolulu and Maui. However, recent efforts such as the Ka Lei Momi public housing initiative and Honolulu’s transit-oriented development strategy aim to expand supply.
• Maui faces acute pressures: The 2023 wildfires led to sharp rent increases and a surge in homelessness. While many displaced residents remain on-island, a substantial share still lives in temporary housing. Hawaiʻi now has the highest homelessness rate in the country.
• External cost pressures are rising: Insurance premiums have increased statewide, particularly for condominiums. Supply chain issues and tariffs on building materials could further raise construction costs.
• Short-term rentals and out-of-state demand continue to impact housing availability: In 2024, short-term rentals made up 6% of the state’s housing stock. Out-of-state buyers accounted for 20% of single-family and 31% of condo purchases, with the highest concentrations on the neighbor islands.

The Factbook is based on a wide range of data sources and offers housing indicators down to the zip code level.

The full Hawaiʻi Housing Factbook 2025 is available at UHERO‘s website.

UHERO is housed in UH Mānoa’s College of Social Sciences.