just this week from UHawaii Economic Research Org: Why are we so expensive?

[WaikikiFirst]

report released Monday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Hawaii's building regulations drive the cost of condominium development up 58%. Regulatory costs account for $387, 000 of the price of a new two-bedroom condo that sells for about $670, 000 in Hawaii.
For the math geeks, the 1st sentence is wrong. Such costs = 58% of the total, which is not what the 1st sentence says. But, you know, journalists. Oh. Boy!

 

[Tamaradarann]

report released Monday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Hawaii's building regulations drive the cost of condominium development up 58%. Regulatory costs account for $387, 000 of the price of a new two-bedroom condo that sells for about $670, 000 in Hawaii.
For the math geeks, the 1st sentence is wrong. Such costs = 58% of the total, which is not what the 1st sentence says. But, you know, journalists. Oh. Boy!

This report is VERY MISLEADING. Hawaiii building codes and permitting process does cost more than most states. However, to say that the regulatory cost more than double the construction would only be true if the construction in the other states had no code so housing could be made out of cardboard and have no electrical and plumbing codes to prevent fires, electrocution, or diseases and polution from human wastes.