Jiro Sumada News Today

Concerns about residents being priced out of living in Hawaii were expressed at a daylong hearing Friday as the Department of Planning and Permitting considers adjusting affordable housing requirement rules.

In case you’re seeking something else, there’s also a health care talk story event featuring “Seniors in Paradise” host Derek Kurisu, the Celebrate ‘Ohana Festival in Kona, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies live in Hilo and more.

The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting is making some changes, starting next month, all commercial plans will need to be submitted online and will no longer accept paper permit applications.

The Honolulu City Council is considering loosening some housing codes to allow empty commercial buildings to more easily be converted to housing units.

Denise Iseri-Matsubara, a former state housing official, has been hired to lead the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Homelessness as its executive director.

“Wicked” is how Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi described the issues that are vexing his administration, one being the Department of Planning and Permitting. The Conversation spoke with DPP Director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna about the backlog and the staffing challenges.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi named Jiro Sumada as the Department of Planning and Permitting's new deputy director.