Hawaii Residential Vacancy Rate Falls by More Than Half

A sharp one-year change

Hawaii’s residential vacancy rate dropped by more than half in one year. The change marks a substantial shift in the share of homes that were vacant compared with the previous year.

What the change shows

A lower vacancy rate means fewer residential units were vacant at the time measured. The year-over-year change describes the difference between two points one year apart.

The vacancy-rate decline is a statewide housing-market development. It does not, by itself, explain why the rate changed or identify how the remaining vacant homes were distributed across Hawaii.

Why the measure matters

Residential vacancy is one way to track how much housing is unoccupied. A change of more than half in one year is a significant movement in that measure and gives residents, housing organizations and public officials a basis for watching conditions in the state’s housing market.

The rate alone does not establish whether homes became occupied, were removed from the housing supply or changed status for another reason. Those questions require additional details about the underlying count and the period measured.

What comes next

The next updates will show whether Hawaii’s residential vacancy rate remains below its earlier level. Future measurements can also clarify whether the one-year decline was part of a continuing pattern or a change limited to that period.