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Hawai'i State Legislature

Ka 'Aha'ōlelo Moku'āina 'O Hawai'i

Photo of Sam Satoru Kong

House District 33
Portion of Hālawa, ‘Aiea, Waimalu
Room: 425
Phone: 808-586-8455
Fax: 808-586-8459
repkong@capitol.hawaii.gov

Representative Sam Satoru Kong joined the Hawaii State Legislature in 2014 as the Representative for District 33 (Halawa, Aiea, and Waimalu). Representative Kong served in the United States Air Force as an electronic technician for ten years and a computer technician before owning Aiea Florist from 1992-2016. He currently serves as a committee member on the House Committees of Economic Development, Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, and Tourism.
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April 2, 2018

Representative Sam Kong Prompts the Department of Planning and Permitting to Examine New Protocol for "Monster Homes"

Due to inquiries from State Representative Sam Kong’s office staff and the overwhelming complaints received by the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) regarding problems with large residential structures or "high occupancy residential dwellings," a new protocol to the Inspection Process is being considered by DPP to address the recent growth of large residential structures, according to DPP Building Inspector (Waipahu Area) Mr. Steve Wescott.

Inquiries from Honolulu residents, whose neighborhoods are being impacted with these large structures, range from but are not limited to, concerns regarding Land Use Ordinance (LUO) compliance of required setbacks, driveway construction, and off-street parking requirements.

Consequently, there has been serious consideration by DPP in the recent weeks to adopt a new inspection protocol for the issuance of Certificates of Completion and Certificates of Occupancy for high occupancy residential dwellings.

Routinely, a Certificates of Completion and a Certificate of Occupancy are concurrently issued by Inspectors upon inspection and completion of construction.

However, with the new protocol, a high occupancy residential dwelling unit will be issued a "Certificate of Completion" upon construction completion, and a temporary "Certificate of Occupancy" will be issued with a one-year temporary status.

The temporary "Certificate of Occupancy" will have a continuing inspection period of one year and will be assigned to a special DPP inspector. Currently, Mr. Edmond Castro is the only Special Inspector assigned to follow this specific issue. Mr. Castro is responsible for confirming LUO compliance, finding potential violations, and any other concerns related to high occupancy dwelling units.

According to Mr. Wescott, this new proposed protocol is currently being evaluated by DPP's Senior Building Inspector, Lynn Asaoka and will soon be in draft form for implementation. Representative Sam Kong and his staff will diligently monitor the status of the proposed new protocol regarding these high occupancy dwellings, and will obtain a written copy of such as soon as they are made available by DPP.

December 28, 2017

Sam discusses solutions to homelessness on Thinktech Hawaii's Navigating the Journey series



2026 Committee Member of
 Measures Introduced in 2026
Measure and Title
HB9
DESIGNATING HAWAII AS A PURPLE HEART STATE.
HB10
RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB11
RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.
HB12
RELATING TO TORT LIABILITY.
HB13
RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.
HB81
RELATING TO INCOME TAX CREDITS.
HB82
RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB83
RELATING TO FIREWORKS.
HB84
RELATING TO THE MINIMUM WAGE.
HB310
RELATING TO OPIOID ANTAGONISTS.
HB428 HD1 SD1
RELATING TO FARM TO FAMILIES.
HB429 HD1 SD1
RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.
HB432 HD1 SD2
RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.
HB433 HD1 SD1
RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
HB455 HD1 SD2
RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS LOANS.
HB471
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB572 HD1
RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.
HB607
RELATING TO FIREWORKS.
HB725
RELATING TO MEDICAID.
HB865
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB1288
RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.
HB1328
RELATING TO MIDWIVES.
HB1340
RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST ELDERS.
HB1344
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB1441
RELATING TO THEFT.
HB1442 HD1
RELATING TO OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
HB1530
RELATING TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.
HB1531
RELATING TO EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
HB1532
RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB1533
RELATING TO THE MINIMUM WAGE.
HB1585
RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.
HB1586
RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES.
HB1587
RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES.