New ‘Parking for the People’ resource supports smarter parking policy

Jun 11, 2026

Access to parking is a hot topic being debated across Hawai‘i, with policymakers and communities weighing how parking policies affect transportation, housing, land use, and quality of life.

In Honolulu, City Council members are considering a measure to improve public parking rules to better reflect how people live and move. At the state level, officials are also exploring strategies to better manage parking on Oʻahu’s North Shore, where residents and visitors have grappled with parking shortages and traffic congestion for years. The issue has also sparked conversation at the community level, with Honolulu Civil Beat recently reporting that someone in ʻAiea had painted a curb red, indicating a “no parking” zone, frustrating residents in the area.

To support these discussions and community members interested in advancing parking policy reform to better serve those communities, Ulupono Initiative has introduced an online toolkit titled “Parking for the People.” This toolkit builds on studies and policy work conducted in Hawai‘i over the past decade and serves as a vital resource for community members, planners, and policymakers.

Visitors to the “Parking for the People” website are prompted with a thought-provoking question: How much of Hawai‘i’s limited lands should be dedicated to parking — and why?

“This parking toolkit offers important and accessible resources for those interested in talking about parking changes so that it can help support thriving, vibrant and connected communities,” said Kathleen Rooney, vice president of transportation policy and programs at Ulupono Initiative. “Parking triggers strong emotions. Many people want it to be free, close by, and always available, but that goal comes with tradeoffs. It consumes a lot of land, time, money, and our quality of life.”

Managing street parking more effectively to ensure 10-20% of spaces available during peak hours can help kamaʻāina find reliable parking, even in high-demand situations. Parking management policies can even be structured to give local residents special pricing or priority access.

Key concepts of the toolkit include:

Impacting ‘Āina: Prioritizing land for parking means less land for housing, jobs, food and more.  Hawai‘i has an estimated 4.5 million total parking spaces statewide. That’s 17% of the state’s total urban land.  

Increasing Cost of Living: The addition of parking spaces is one of the more expensive components of building new homes or businesses. Construction costs range from $4,200 per space in a surface lot to $60,400 per space in a free-standing parking garage. Construction and ongoing carrying costs are passed on to Hawai‘i residents. 

Limiting Parking Availability: When parking is free or too cheap, people are encouraged to use more of it and demand increases, leaving most (if not all) spaces constantly full. 

Case Studies: These offer examples and insights from successful parking management projects in cities like San Francisco and Portland. Information on restricted parking zones in Honolulu and other local examples are also available.

“We hope this toolkit will be a helpful resource for those passionate about their community’s health, guiding them through the challenges they may encounter,” Rooney added.

Link to the ‘Parking for the People’ online toolkit

About Ulupono Initiative: A mission-driven venture of The Omidyar Group, Ulupono Initiative strives to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawai‘i through sustainable and resilient solutions. For more information about Ulupono Initiative, visit ulupono.com or connect with Ulupono on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.