Housing needs, fixes discussed ADVERTISING Housing needs, fixes discussed HONOLULU (AP) — A greater focus is needed on more affordable housing in the region, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said during a summit aimed at discussing housing needs and possible solutions.
Housing needs, fixes discussed
HONOLULU (AP) — A greater focus is needed on more affordable housing in the region, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said during a summit aimed at discussing housing needs and possible solutions.
That includes a shift to building housing for people earning up to 80 percent of the area median income, rather than well over the median, which has been the case in recent years, he said.
In Honolulu, 80 percent of the median income is $53,700 for a single person. According to the Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, janitors earn about $25,000 a year, construction workers about $46,000 and firefighters about $53,000.
“No one is building to that market. So where are kids going? They stay home with us. … And they’re leaving,” he said.
Caldwell said he doesn’t blame developers that are building to a market where they can make money. He said it’s important to find ways to work with builders, but just passing laws won’t help.
One popular suggestion at the summit was to allow homeowners to build small, second units on their properties that could be rented to nonrelatives. The city council is expected to hear a resolution on what have been called “accessory dwelling units” this week.
Schools chief to attend summit
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii state Department of Education says it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a national leader in digital learning.
Hawaii Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi will be attending the first-ever National Connected Superintendents Summit Wednesday at the White House.
The department says Matayoshi will be among the school chiefs recognized for helping districts transition to digital learning.
The 2013 state Legislature appropriated $8 million for a pilot program in eight schools to equip every student and teacher with a digital tablet and laptop.
172 people fell ill on cruise
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 172 people on a cruise ship arriving in California on Sunday fell ill with the highly contagious norovirus during a nearly monthlong trip that passed through Hawaii.
The Crown Princess has more than 4,100 people on board and was to be met by CDC staff upon arrival in San Pedro. CDC staff were to conduct testing and evaluate the response.
Princess Cruises has “enacted our stringent disinfecting protocols” and will do a deep cleaning of the ship and terminal in Los Angeles before departing Sunday night for a weeklong Mexico cruise.
