Affordable & Income-Based Housing in Honolulu

Affordability

Honolulu is widely recognized as one of the most expensive rental markets in the United States. Affordable and income-based housing options here can provide significant relief for cost-burdened renters.

Lease Lantern has identified 22 HUD-assisted or income-restricted properties in Honolulu, covering 1,989 units across the city.

Safety

According to the Honolulu Police Department's data reported to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Honolulu had a violent crime rate of 214 per 100,000 residents in 2024. Crime rates are not directly comparable across cities due to differences in reporting practices and definitions.

Getting Around Honolulu

The area around assisted properties in Honolulu scores well for both walking and transit, according to Walk Score.

• Walk Score: 73 -- Very Walkable
• Transit Score: 74 -- Excellent Transit
• Bike Score: 40

These scores reflect the walkability, transit access, and bikeability near the assisted housing properties in this city, as rated by Walk Score.

Schools

Honolulu is served by 75 public schools within 1 district, including 49 elementary, 13 middle, and 13 high schools, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. Quality and programs vary by school, so renters should look up the assigned schools for any specific address they are considering.

Cost of Living & Affordable Housing in Honolulu

Honolulu is one of the most expensive rental markets in the United States. Assisted housing programs -- including HUD-assisted and income-based properties -- can provide a critical path to stable, below-market housing for eligible renters.

Lease Lantern has identified 22 affordable and income-based properties with a combined 1,989 units across Honolulu. These units span HUD-assisted, Section 8, and LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) programs, and rents are restricted based on household income rather than market rates.

• Who qualifies: Eligibility is typically based on household income as a percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI) set by HUD for Honolulu County. Each property sets its own income limits and program requirements.
• What to expect: Income-restricted rents are set at a portion of your household income or capped at a program limit -- they are not market rents.
• Waitlists: Many properties in high-cost cities like Honolulu maintain waitlists. Applying to multiple properties improves your chances of securing housing sooner.

To understand what you may qualify for, contact individual properties directly or reach out to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for guidance on local programs and current availability.

Environmental Exposure

Of the 22 HUD-assisted properties mapped in Honolulu, 5 fall within a high-risk flood zone according to FEMA flood map data. Renters considering those specific properties may want to ask about flood insurance requirements and building-level flood mitigation measures.