Throughout my work with Hawaiʻi's business community, one thing has become increasingly clear: Our state's ability to grow depends on the investments we make today. Business leaders want to expand, entrepreneurs want to build, families want access to housing, and communities want to create opportunities for the next generation. But those ambitions depend on something we cannot overlook: infrastructure.
The approval of Constitutional Amendment Question 2 in the 2026 General Election gives Hawaiʻi another opportunity to address this challenge. The amendment allows the Legislature to authorize counties to issue Resilient Infrastructure for Shelter and Equity (RISE) Bonds to support qualifying infrastructure and community development projects in designated districts. The bonds would be repaid solely from future growth in property tax revenue within the designated districts. In doing so, it gives counties another potential tool to help address long-standing infrastructure needs.
Question 2's approval reflects the support of voters who recognized the need for new approaches to addressing Hawaiʻi's infrastructure challenges, as well as the efforts of the business and community leaders who helped advance the measure. Their work helped bring an important issue into the public conversation. Now the focus must shift to how this authority can be used responsibly and effectively.
Its approval also brings renewed attention to a question that deserves more urgency in our statewide conversations: How do we ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with the future we want to build?
For too long, infrastructure has been treated as something to address after development is proposed, rather than as a necessary foundation for growth. We cannot continue to approach housing and economic development this way. If we want to make meaningful progress, infrastructure planning must be part of the conversation from the beginning.
The consequences are reflected in our state's competitiveness. Hawaiʻi ranked 50th in the nation for infrastructure and cost of doing business in CNBC's 2026 Top States for Business rankings. These rankings reflect challenges that employers, workers and families experience every day.
When infrastructure is inadequate, businesses face higher costs and uncertainty. Housing projects can be delayed or become more expensive. Communities have fewer opportunities to grow, and residents face greater difficulty accessing the homes, jobs and services they need. Ultimately, these challenges make it harder for Hawaiʻi to attract investment and retain the people who will shape our future.
The need for infrastructure investment extends well beyond supporting new development. In Hawaiʻi, our roads, bridges, water systems, drainage networks and other essential infrastructure are critical to keeping communities connected, protecting public safety and ensuring our state can withstand the impacts of natural disasters. Recent storms and flooding have reinforced how quickly damage to these systems can disrupt daily life, affect local businesses and set back recovery efforts. At the same time, reliable infrastructure is essential to building more housing, supporting economic activity and giving communities the foundation they need to grow. These are interconnected needs, and addressing them requires long-term planning and investment.
This is why I believe the approval of Question 2 matters.
Question 2 gives counties another potential tool to address local infrastructure priorities, particularly where improvements are needed to support housing and community development. It does not approve specific projects or determine how counties will use this authority. Those decisions will require careful planning, public input and accountability. But it creates an opportunity to think differently about how we prepare communities for growth.
We should not wait until infrastructure becomes a barrier to housing or business development before making it a priority.
This conversation is also central to the 2030 Blueprint for Hawaiʻi, a shared statewide roadmap for strengthening our economy and improving quality of life. The Blueprint brings together public, private and community partners around priorities that include agriculture, economic action, maritime, military and defense, small business, and travel and tourism. While each sector has its own opportunities and challenges, all depend on a strong foundation of infrastructure, a capable workforce and an environment where businesses can grow.
Consider what infrastructure means across these areas. Our agricultural producers need reliable water systems and transportation networks to move local products to market. Small businesses need dependable utilities and accessible commercial areas. Our maritime and defense sectors rely on critical facilities and connections that support Hawaiʻi's role in the Pacific. Housing and workforce development are equally connected because people need places to live near the jobs that sustain our economy.
The 2030 Blueprint reminds us that economic competitiveness is not an isolated business concern. It is directly connected to whether families can afford to live here, whether employers can find and retain workers, and whether communities have the resources to support future generations. A stronger business environment and a better quality of life must be pursued together.
Of course, approving Question 2 is only one step toward addressing our infrastructure needs. Turning this opportunity into meaningful progress will require thoughtful planning, community input and a clear focus on projects that serve the public good. We must be intentional about how priorities are identified and decisions are made, while looking beyond individual projects to consider how infrastructure investments can support Hawaiʻi's broader, long-term economic and community goals.
At the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, we will continue bringing businesses and community partners into these conversations, advocating for practical solutions and supporting policies that strengthen our state's economic foundation. We recognize that the success of Hawaiʻi's businesses is tied to the well-being of the people and communities they serve.
Voter approval of Question 2 gives Hawaiʻi an opportunity to move forward. We should use it with purpose and urgency. We cannot keep asking the next generation to build a future here while leaving them with the same infrastructure challenges we have struggled to address for decades.
A more competitive, resilient and prosperous Hawaiʻi will not happen by chance. It will take the willingness to make difficult decisions, invest in what matters and work together to turn a shared vision into measurable progress. The opportunity is in front of us. Now we need to build on it.
Sherry Menor is the President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i.
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