Kent talks permitting, Lala cleanup on local news

by Jonathan Helton, Grassroot Institute, August 24, 2026

Grassroot Executive Vice President Joe Kent appeared on “Covering the Cost” with Hawaii New Now’s Annalisa Burgos on Aug. 19 to talk about recent initiatives to reduce permitting wait times in Honolulu and streamline recovery after Hurricane Lala. 

VIDEO: Covering the Cost: The cost of construction permit delays and post-disaster rebuilding

The issue lies in the maze of approvals needed for simple permits. “The permitting process is just too complicated,” he said. 

Honolulu’s AI permit review system, CivCheck, has helped reduce wait times for residential projects, but it has yet to make a dent in the delays faced by businesses and other commercial projects. 

“We need computers now to help us through our own laws,” Kent said. “Another solution… is to just make the laws simpler.” 

After all, he wondered, “Wouldn’t it be nice if all you had to do is take a plan off the shelf and just have it automatically approved?

“This is what they do on the Big Island… But Honolulu still needs to catch up with that.”

Asked by Burgos what the state and counties have done to make storm recovery easier, Kent pointed to Honolulu’s emergency permitting rules, which allow work to begin the day before a permit is submitted for repair work and simple cleanup. Permit fees have also been waived for repair work. 

One barrier not yet addressed, Kent said, is the state’s handyman law, which requires licensed contractors to perform home repair jobs valued at more than $1,500. 

If a repair job for a window, door or air conditioner costs more than that, the property owner must hire a licensed contractor or do the work themselves. Paying a general handyman would not be an option. 

Because of the state’s shortage of licensed laborers, Kent said this regulation could result in homeowners paying more for repairs or experiencing delays. 

Overall, Kent stressed the need for policymakers to reduce regulatory barriers, not just make it easier for residents to navigate them.