HousingPermits

Metro area in Hawaii

Urban Honolulu, HI

The Urban Honolulu metro area authorized 1,446 new housing units in 2025. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 1.8 units a year in 2021–2025, 38% of the national rate of 4.7. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2004, with 4,084 units; 2025 came to 35% of that.

01,5003,0004,5006,0002004: 4,084 units (1,898 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 2,070 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 3,988 units (2,079 single-family, 160 in 2–4 unit, 1,749 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,606 units (1,727 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 879 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,944 units (1,152 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 1,644 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,438 units (780 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 635 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,036 units (862 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 146 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,891 units (879 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 1,002 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,724 units (734 single-family, 9 in 2–4 unit, 981 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,724 units (994 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 695 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,641 units (1,137 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 1,484 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,578 units (875 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 691 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,833 units (982 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 2,851 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,658 units (846 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 812 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,968 units (1,028 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 940 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,410 units (983 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 1,427 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,279 units (912 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 1,343 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,621 units (862 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 753 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,438 units (938 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 446 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,526 units (662 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 1,714 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,851 units (657 single-family, 153 in 2–4 unit, 1,041 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,638 units (706 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 793 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,446 units (607 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 717 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 4,0842009 low · 1,03601,5003,0004,5002004: 4,084 units (1,898 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 2,070 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 3,988 units (2,079 single-family, 160 in 2–4 unit, 1,749 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,606 units (1,727 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 879 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,944 units (1,152 single-family, 148 in 2–4 unit, 1,644 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,438 units (780 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 635 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,036 units (862 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 146 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,891 units (879 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 1,002 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,724 units (734 single-family, 9 in 2–4 unit, 981 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,724 units (994 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 695 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,641 units (1,137 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 1,484 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,578 units (875 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 691 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,833 units (982 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 2,851 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,658 units (846 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 812 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,968 units (1,028 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 940 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,410 units (983 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 1,427 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,279 units (912 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 1,343 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,621 units (862 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 753 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,438 units (938 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 446 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,526 units (662 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 1,714 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,851 units (657 single-family, 153 in 2–4 unit, 1,041 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,638 units (706 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 793 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,446 units (607 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 717 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 4,084

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Houses or apartments

In Urban Honolulu, 40% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 53% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Olympia (53% in five-plus buildings). Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 6.9% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2015 (2,851), single-family houses in 2005 (2,079).

2021–202540.1%40%6.9%52.9%53%2004–200653.4%53%2.6%44.0%44%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202540.1%40%6.9%52.9%53%2004–200653.4%53%2.6%44.0%44%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Albuquerque, McAllen, Rochester, NY. Annual permits fell from 4,084 during the mid-2000s boom to 1,036 in 2009, a drop of 75%. The nearest bust profile in the Pacific states was Wenatchee's (76%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,780 units a year is 50% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 12%.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Omaha, NE-IA6,3776.245%
Urban Honolulu, HI1,4461.853%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT3,4782.168%
New Orleans-Metairie, LA1,6942.221%
Knoxville, TN7,8556.828%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Urban Honolulu beside Bridgeport

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Hawaii. Counting rules.