HousingPermits

Pacific division · West

Hawaii

Hawaii authorized 3,708 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 56% below the 2004–2006 average, the third-weakest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC. Its 2025 total was only 38% of the 2005 high of 9,828 units, the fifth-furthest below a series peak among the 50 states and DC.

03,0006,0009,00012k2004: 9,034 units (5,603 single-family, 312 in 2–4 unit, 3,119 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 9,828 units (6,641 single-family, 532 in 2–4 unit, 2,655 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,530 units (5,597 single-family, 244 in 2–4 unit, 1,689 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,972 units (4,482 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 2,295 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 4,115 units (2,510 single-family, 189 in 2–4 unit, 1,416 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,617 units (2,002 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 541 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,442 units (1,919 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 1,490 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,743 units (1,632 single-family, 21 in 2–4 unit, 1,090 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,993 units (1,940 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 948 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 3,882 units (2,358 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 1,500 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,066 units (2,197 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 815 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 5,422 units (2,356 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 2,993 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 3,369 units (2,044 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 1,178 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,035 units (2,534 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 1,404 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,659 units (2,592 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 1,969 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,093 units (2,547 single-family, 110 in 2–4 unit, 1,436 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,164 units (2,171 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 925 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,459 units (2,445 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 899 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 4,303 units (2,033 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 2,052 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,791 units (2,360 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 1,228 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 3,879 units (2,444 single-family, 183 in 2–4 unit, 1,252 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,708 units (2,420 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 1,070 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 9,82804,0008,00012k2004: 9,034 units (5,603 single-family, 312 in 2–4 unit, 3,119 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 9,828 units (6,641 single-family, 532 in 2–4 unit, 2,655 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,530 units (5,597 single-family, 244 in 2–4 unit, 1,689 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,972 units (4,482 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 2,295 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 4,115 units (2,510 single-family, 189 in 2–4 unit, 1,416 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,617 units (2,002 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 541 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,442 units (1,919 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 1,490 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,743 units (1,632 single-family, 21 in 2–4 unit, 1,090 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,993 units (1,940 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 948 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 3,882 units (2,358 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 1,500 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,066 units (2,197 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 815 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 5,422 units (2,356 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 2,993 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 3,369 units (2,044 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 1,178 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,035 units (2,534 single-family, 97 in 2–4 unit, 1,404 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,659 units (2,592 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 1,969 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,093 units (2,547 single-family, 110 in 2–4 unit, 1,436 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,164 units (2,171 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 925 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,459 units (2,445 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 899 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 4,303 units (2,033 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 2,052 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,791 units (2,360 single-family, 203 in 2–4 unit, 1,228 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 3,879 units (2,444 single-family, 183 in 2–4 unit, 1,252 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,708 units (2,420 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 1,070 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 9,828

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 34% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the second-lowest share among the 5 Pacific states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Utah (34% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202561.1%61%4.9%34.0%34%2004–200667.6%68%4.1%28.3%28%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202561.1%61%4.9%34.0%34%2004–200667.6%68%4.1%28.3%28%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Maine, Rhode Island, West Virginia. Annual permits fell from 9,828 during the mid-2000s boom to 2,617 in 2009, a drop of 73%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Connecticut's (73%).

Relative to population

With 1,432,820 residents in July 2025, Hawaii authorized 2.7 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Mississippi (2.7) and Ohio (2.6).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 68% of the units authorized in Hawaii fell in counties belonging to one of its 2 metro areas; the other 32% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Urban Honolulu leads with 1,780 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Hawaii, 4 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Honolulu County, with 8,899 units or 46% of the total, followed by Hawaii County with 5,297. Among the three largest, Honolulu County put 53% of its units in five-plus buildings, Hawaii County 2.1%.

  • Honolulu County46% (8,899 units)
  • Hawaii County28% (5,297 units)
  • Maui County22% (4,190 units)
  • Kauai County3.9% (754 units)

Share of the units authorized in Hawaii, 2021–2025.

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Hawaii reported 78% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 22% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Montana, 22%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Hawaii3,7082.734%
New Hampshire5,0303.528%
Maine6,9794.721%
Montana5,2585.140%
Rhode Island1,7381.423%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Hawaii beside New Hampshire

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