Explainer Episode 86 – Regulation & Red Tape: Lessons from Lahaina Fire Recovery & the Path Ahead

Hawaii leads the nation in high housing prices. Experts Ted Kefalas and Jonathan Helton from Grassroot Institute explain the regulatory obstacles to building sufficient housing for Hawaiians, and regulatory reform efforts that could increase the housing supply. It has been over 18 months since the fires that nearly destroyed the town of Lahaina in Maui County, Hawaii. Since that time, thousands of commercial and residential properties have been destroyed or damaged, and only 6 houses have been rebuilt.

In this segment, Kefalas and Helton discuss the legal and regulatory hurdles that have prevented Hawaiians to rebuild their destroyed homes and businesses, and proposals that could help facilitate rebuilding. In the final segment, the experts discuss what lessons California could learn from Hawaii‘s experience to ensure that Angelinos do not experience the same slow rebuild after the Pacific Palisades Fire.