By adding shops, cafes and community spaces to affordable housing projects, Honolulu can not only tackle its housing crisis but also bring life back to our sidewalks.

Honolulu’s housing crisis is among the most pressing challenges facing our city. We aren’t making any more land, yet the cost of living — and the cost of building — continue to climb. Bill 7 , enacted in 2019, was an important step, making it easier for property owners to redevelop underutilized lots into affordable rental housing. But if we want transformative change, we must be bolder and more creative.

One practical yet powerful improvement would be to expand Bill 7’s scope beyond just Apartment Mixed-Use and Business Mixed-Use zones. All Bill 7 projects — even those in Apartment (A) zones — should be allowed to includ

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