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Proposed empty homes tax gets exemptions added for Hawaii residents as final vote nears

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Proposed empty homes tax gets exemptions added for Hawaii residents as final vote nears


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A bill aimed at cracking down on vacant homes on Oahu by increasing taxes is expected to face a final vote at the Honolulu City Council in the coming weeks.

It comes after the proposal has been revised several times because of questions and concerns from the community.

Bill 46 would add an incremental 3% yearly tax for vacant dwellings on a property that would be rolled out over three years.

Some owners could end up paying tens of thousands of dollars more in property taxes, but a recent change to the measure adds exemptions for Hawaii residents.

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The 2020 U.S. Census reported roughly 35,000 unoccupied housing units on Oahu.

Council Chair Tommy Waters, who introduced the bill, said it’s meant to get people to rent out or otherwise free up their unused units.

Under the measure’s current language, the higher tax would be placed on homes that are unoccupied for six months.

“We’re trying to get creative to figure out how we can get our local people to stay here. We can’t build our way out of this solution,” said Waters.

This week, the council’s budget committee narrowly passed the bill in a 3 to 2 vote after making several changes.

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One change would allow Hawaii residents to request an exemption for a second home they own.

To reduce administrative costs that would likely come with a new tax, the bill proposed it to operate under the already running property tax system by adding a new class.

There’s also changes to the bill’s language to comply with both with state and federal law to try and avoid potential lawsuits.

But still some residents still believe it will do more harm than good.

“Trying to enforce this and make sure that it’s equitable is going to be a nightmare,” said Hawaii Kai resident Natalie Iwasa.

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“My other concern about this is the landlords, they obviously have a stake in this but if they miss a deadline, it is no skin on their backs you know why? Because they will increase the rent for people like me and other families who cannot afford a home,” she added.

But younger constituents seem to support the proposal.

“This is not about punishing anyone. It is about making housing accessible to the people who call Hawaii their home,” said one testifier.

Bill 46 could still undergo even more revisions.

The bill is expected to go for a final vote on December 11, where public input will also be taken.

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Sports betting bills still alive – West Hawaii Today

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Sports betting bills still alive – West Hawaii Today






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Hawaii man freed after 30 years in prison for murder he denied committing, celebrates with steak dinner

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Hawaii man freed after 30 years in prison for murder he denied committing, celebrates with steak dinner


A Hawaii man was freed after spending 30 years in prison for a murder he says he did not commit, and some of the first things he did after his release was enjoy a steak dinner and visit his mother’s grave.

Gordon Cordeiro had his freedom secured on Friday after a judge ordered him released in light of new DNA evidence that led to the overturning of his conviction in the 1994 fatal shooting of Timothy Blaisdell on the island of Maui.

Cordeiro’s mother, Paulette, died in September 1994, a month before her son was arrested. She died at the age of 49 from ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Cordeiro and his sisters had taken turns caring for her before her passing.

“Thanks for looking over me,” Cordeiro recalled saying at her grave just hours after his release on Friday, he told The Associated Press. “Keeping me safe.”

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CONNECTICUT TO AWARD NEARLY $6 MILLION TO FAMILY OF DISABLED MAN WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED FOR MURDER CONVICTION

Gordon Cordeiro, who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he said he did not commit, visits the grave of his mother on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Makawao, Hawaii, hours after a judge ordered his release. (Denise Cordeiro via AP)

Cordeiro said he often thought about his mother during his time behind bars. He said he was with her and building shelving units for the family when Blaisdell was shot and killed during a drug deal robbery.

After enjoying a steak dinner at a steak house and visiting his mother’s grave, he celebrated with family at his father’s house. The next day, he went to other relatives’ graves and made a trip to Costco.

“It feels normal,” he told The Associated Press.

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Maui, however, has changed a lot during his time in prison, Cordeiro said, citing the historic town of Lahaina being destroyed by a wildfire in 2023.

He also pointed out that technology and its consumption have changed.

“Everybody is looking at their phones,” he said.

Gordon Cordeiro, who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he said he did not commit

Gordon Cordeiro enjoys dinner at a steak house Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Kahului, Hawaii, hours after a judge ordered him released because of new evidence. (AP)

Cordeiro only had a pager before he was sent to prison. He now has a smartphone, but said he is “not staring at it yet. It keeps beeping and messages coming in, and it’s different.”

Judge Kirstin Hamman announced Friday that Cordeiro’s sentence was vacated and that he was to be released from custody. She ruled that new evidence, including DNA test results, would likely change the outcome of another trial.

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Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin said he plans to appeal and seek to have bail imposed on Cordeiro’s release.

Cordeiro’s first trial ended in a hung jury, as only one juror voted to convict him. He was later found guilty of murder, robbery and attempted murder, and he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

PHILLY MAN EXONERATED AFTER SERVING 24 YEARS FOR MURDER CONVICTION HAS BEEN CONVICTED IN SEPARATE KILLING

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Gordon Cordeiro was freed after a judge ordered him released in light of new DNA evidence that led to the overturning of his conviction in the 1994 fatal shooting of Timothy Blaisdell. (iStock)

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After his conviction, new testing on physical evidence from the scene excluded him as the source of DNA on Blaisdell’s body and other crime scene evidence, according to the Hawaii Innocence Project. A DNA profile of an unidentified person was also found on the inside pockets of Blaisdell’s jeans.

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“Thank God for new DNA,” Cordeiro said Saturday. “Technology is awesome.”

Cordeiro said his immediate plans include fixing cars, helping with his dad’s house and “maybe giving back to the community a little bit.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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What Are The Most Expensive ZIP Codes In Hawaii? Zillow Data Reveals

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What Are The Most Expensive ZIP Codes In Hawaii? Zillow Data Reveals


On our trek of going state by state, analyzing and identifying the most expensive ZIP codes in each state, we have yet to consider a Pacific state — until now. Hawaii has always been expensive, which should come as no surprise when you consider just how much it must cost to transport life’s necessities to the islands. We wanted to zero-in on the most expensive parts of Hawaii.

Read on to find out the most expensive ZIP codes in Hawaii in 2025, based on the latest data from Zillow’s home value index.

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The Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Hawaii

We made use on data from Zillow’s home value index, plus the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, we analyzed thousands of ZIP codes from all over the U.S. We zeroed in on the 78 ZIP codes tracked by Zillow in Hawaii. As part of our analysis, we took into consideration the latest monthly home values Zillow has — December 2024 — as well as the average of 12 months of median home values from January 2024 to December 2024.

The Top 5 Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Hawaii

ZIP code 96714 is the most expensive one in Hawaii. This ZIP code is centered on Hanalei, on the north side of Kauai. Situated on the picturesque Hanalei Bay, ZIP code 96714 is small and wealthy. More than a quarter of households earn $200,000 or more. The median household income is $132,115, while the average household income is $140,126. Home values were already quite high in this ZIP code, with the median home value being over $1.528 million back in December 2019. But the median soared by 77.2% over the next five years, reaching nearly $2.708 million in December 2024.

The second most expensive ZIP code in Hawaii is just east of the No. 1 most expensive ZIP code. Centered on Kilauea, ZIP code 96754 is far larger than its neighbor 96714 and includes a much longer stretch of the northern coast of Kauai. One-fifth of households here earn $200,000 or more per year, though the median household income is notably lower, at $85,428. The average household income is $123,311. Home values in 96754 rose significantly over the last five years: By 70.9%, from a median home value of more than $1.235 million in December 2019 to nearly $2.112 million in December 2024. From December 2021 to December 2022, the growth was incredible: From $1.365 million to almost $1.749 million.

The No. 3 most expensive ZIP code is 96821 and it is centered on eastern Honolulu, including communities like Waialae Iki, Aina Haina, and Kuliouou – Kalani Iki. This is a sizeable ZIP code, home to nearly 6,800 households. or more. This is a very wealthy ZIP code. More than two-fifths of households in 96821 make $200,000 or more. The median household income is a lofty $174,152, while the average household income is $232,927. The home appreciation rate was not as substantial as the first two ZIP codes on our list. From a median home value of close to $1.293 million in December 2019, it rose by 35.4%, to just below $1.750 million.

The No. 4 most expensive ZIP code in Hawaii is 96712. This ZIP code covers a northwestern portion of Oahu, including places like Haleiwa, Pupkea, as well as spots like Waimea Falls. Incomes here are high though not of the spectacular proportions of many of the other ZIP codes we’ve analyzed. The median household income in 96712 is $97,771 and the average household income is $140,046. Home values appreciated at a similar rate to the No. 3 most expensive ZIP code: 31.7%, from close to $1.221 million in December 2019 to over $1.608 million in December 2024.

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The fifth most expensive ZIP code in Hawaii — 96722 — takes us back to Kauai and right next door to the No. 1 most expensive ZIP codes. Each one of these ZIP codes on the northern coast of Kauai saw their home values nearly double over the last five years. Centered on Princeville, ZIP code 96722 is narrow, stretching from northern coast, down toward the Halelea Forest Reserve in the island’s interior. This place really blew up: From a median home value of $771,431 in December 2019, it rose by 92.9%, reaching well over $1.487 million.



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