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| Office of Planning (Hawaii) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Office of Planning (Hawaii) |
| Formed | 2012 (reorganization) |
| Preceding1 | Hawaii State Planning and Development Agency |
| Jurisdiction | State of Hawaii |
| Headquarters | Honolulu, Oʻahu |
| Parent agency | State of Hawaii |
Office of Planning (Hawaii) is a state executive office responsible for statewide land use, coastal zone management, climate adaptation, and strategic planning in the State of Hawaii. It provides policy analysis, regulatory coordination, and technical assistance across agencies such as the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation (Hawaii), Department of Health (Hawaii), and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation while engaging stakeholders including the County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaiʻi, and County of Kauaʻi.
The office traces lineage to territorial-era planners and post-statehood entities like the Territory of Hawaii's planning functions and the Hawaii State Planning and Development Agency created after statehood. Reforms influenced by cases such as Spreckelsville zoning disputes and policy shifts following the Hawaii State Constitution's land use provisions prompted reorganizations during administrations of governors including John A. Burns and George Ariyoshi. Federal laws and programs—National Environmental Policy Act, Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and Endangered Species Act of 1973—shaped the office's role in coordinating compliance with agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Major milestones include adoption of statewide plans aligned with initiatives from governors such as Ben Cayetano, Linda Lingle, Neil Abercrombie, David Ige, and Josh Green.
The office's mission aligns statutory mandates under the Hawaii Revised Statutes and statewide policy frameworks like the Hawaii State Planning Act. Responsibilities include statewide land use classification in coordination with the Hawaii Land Use Commission, coastal zone management under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration partnership, climate resilience planning consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidance, and housing policy support working with entities such as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Regulatory interaction extends to environmental permitting processes involving the Army Corps of Engineers and consultation with cultural agencies including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Leadership typically comprises an appointed Planning Director reporting to the governor and interacting with boards and commissions such as the Land Use Commission (Hawaii) and the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Divisions often include planning policy, coastal management, climate adaptation, geographic information systems partnering with agencies like the United States Geological Survey, and data analytics units collaborating with universities such as the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Hawaiʻi Pacific University. The office coordinates with professional associations like the American Planning Association and regional entities including the Pacific Islands Forum.
Programs address statewide land use plans, coastal erosion and sea level rise adaptation consistent with reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration satellite analyses. Initiatives include affordable housing support aligning with Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation projects, sustainable transportation planning related to Honolulu Rail Transit, disaster preparedness linked to the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grants, and renewable energy siting in coordination with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (Hawaii). Cultural resource stewardship connects with the National Park Service and Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation efforts.
The office convenes interagency working groups with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Department of Agriculture (Hawaii), and federal partners including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries. Community engagement includes consultation with community boards such as the Hawaii County Council, Native Hawaiian organizations including Kānaka Maoli advocacy groups, and non-governmental organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Surfrider Foundation. Coordination mechanisms employ memoranda of understanding with counties and joint planning with entities like the East-West Center.
The office produces technical reports, statewide planning documents, and mapping products using GIS datasets from the United States Geological Survey, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, and the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program. Publications draw on demographic data from the United States Census Bureau, economic projections from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and climate science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Research collaborations have involved institutions such as Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and local research centers including the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute.
Funding streams include state appropriations authorized by the Hawaii State Legislature, federal grants from agencies like the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and NOAA, and project-specific funding from philanthropic partners such as the Kamehameha Schools and national foundations including the MacArthur Foundation. Budget oversight involves coordination with the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance and legislative committees such as the Hawaii State Legislature's committees on transportation, land use, and energy.
Category:State agencies of Hawaii Category:Urban planning organizations