衝浪板重生：夏威夷為住房危機尋找低碳、文化融合的解決方案

當美國民眾面對居高不下的房價、貸款利率停滯與房屋供給短缺時，夏威夷的住房危機更可謂處於風暴中心。不僅面臨全美最昂貴的房價與建築成本，當地更經歷了極端氣候事件如2023年茂宜大火的重創，使得原已嚴峻的居住問題雪上加霜。如今，政府與民間單位紛紛提出各種解方，包括一項來自茂宜島建築師的創意提案：以報廢衝浪板為建材，打造低碳、永續、具地方文化特色的可負擔住宅。

As Americans face sky-high housing prices, stagnant loan interest rates, and a shortage of housing supply, Hawaii finds itself at the epicenter of the housing crisis. Not only is it dealing with the most expensive housing prices and construction costs in the U.S., but the state has also suffered from extreme climate events, such as the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires, which have worsened an already dire housing situation. Now, both government and private sectors are proposing various solutions, including a creative proposal from a Maui architect to use discarded surfboards as building materials to create low-carbon, sustainable, and culturally distinctive affordable housing.

夏威夷房價與建築成本全美居冠 中位價近70萬美元

根據《 Realtor.com 》數據，夏威夷目前的住宅中位價高達67.9萬美元，遠高於全美平均的40萬美元。某些高端地區如可愛島的Kilauea地區（郵遞區號96754），住宅中位價甚至高達410萬美元，為全美最昂貴地段之一。

不只是房價高，建屋成本也居高不下。根據《Today’s Homeowner》資料，夏威夷平均建造一棟2,100平方英呎住宅的成本為43萬1,364美元（每平方英呎205美元），相較全美平均158美元，顯示出材料、人力與物流成本在島嶼經濟體系下的明顯劣勢。

Hawaii’s Housing Prices and Construction Costs Are the Highest in the U.S. – Median Price Near $700,000

According to data from Realtor.com, Hawaii’s current median home price stands at $679,000, far higher than the national average of $400,000. In certain upscale areas, like Kilauea on Kauai (ZIP code 96754), the median home price reaches $4.1 million, making it one of the most expensive regions in the country.

Not only are home prices high, but construction costs are also steep. According to Today’s Homeowner, the average cost to build a 2,100-square-foot home in Hawaii is $431,364 ($205 per square foot), compared to the national average of $158 per square foot. This highlights the significant disadvantage of materials, labor, and logistics costs in an island economy.

高昂的房價與建築成本也導致無家可歸人口快速上升。美國住房與城市發展部（HUD）在2024年發表的年度無家可歸人口評估報告中指出，夏威夷在一年內無家可歸人數暴增187%，成為全美增幅最高的州。

2023年茂宜大火摧毀超過2,200棟建築 住房危機雪上加霜

住房壓力不僅來自市場結構，更受到氣候災害的劇烈衝擊。2023年夏季，茂宜島拉海納發生重大野火，摧毀超過2,200棟建築物，其中96%為住宅。該事件導致數千居民無家可歸，也迫使州政府與聯邦政府啟動大規模緊急安置與重建援助。

The high prices and construction costs have also led to a rapid rise in homelessness. In the 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Hawaii saw a 187% increase in homelessness over the past year, making it the state with the highest increase in the nation.

2023 Maui Wildfires Destroy Over 2,200 Structures, Worsening the Housing Crisis

The housing pressure is not just due to market forces but is also exacerbated by climate disasters. In the summer of 2023, a major wildfire in Lahaina, Maui, destroyed over 2,200 buildings, 96% of which were residential. The event left thousands of residents homeless and prompted state and federal governments to initiate large-scale emergency housing and rebuilding efforts.

Hawaii Off Grid建築事務所首席建築師David Sellers指出，茂宜島大火不僅摧毀住宅，更加劇原本已緊繃的房市供需失衡，使得租金與房價持續攀升，影響面擴及中低收入戶、原住民社區與長期居民。

更令人憂心的是，夏威夷正面臨日益加劇的氣候風險。根據美國地質調查局（USGS）研究，檀香山與威基基等地區正出現比預期更快的地層下陷與海岸侵蝕現象，未來數十年內可能有大量沿海建築物面臨損毀風險。Sellers強調，未來的住宅政策必須將「抗災與調適」納入核心設計思維。

州政府啟動緊急行政命令 目標3至5年內興建5萬戶住宅

為解決嚴重的住房供應缺口，夏威夷州長Josh Green於2023年底發布行政命令，宣布啟動「5萬戶住房建設行動」，目標在未來3至5年內興建5萬戶新住宅，特別針對中低收入與受災戶需求進行配置。

此行政命令同時暫時中止部分與土地使用、歷史保存與環評相關的州級與縣級法規，大幅簡化建案審查程序，加快開發時程。此外，州政府也設立「超越障礙建設工作小組」（Build Beyond Barriers Working Group），由22人組成的專責委員會協調跨部門資源。

David Sellers, Chief Architect at Hawaii Off Grid, pointed out that the Maui wildfires not only destroyed homes but also worsened the existing imbalance between housing supply and demand, driving rents and home prices even higher, particularly affecting low-income households, native communities, and long-term residents.

What’s even more concerning is that Hawaii is facing increasing climate risks. According to research by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), areas like Honolulu and Waikiki are experiencing faster-than-expected land subsidence and coastal erosion, putting many coastal buildings at risk of damage in the coming decades. Sellers emphasized that future housing policies must integrate "disaster resilience and adaptation" into core design thinking.

State Government Issues Emergency Executive Order to Build 50,000 Homes in 3-5 Years

To address the severe housing shortage, Hawaii Governor Josh Green issued an executive order in late 2023 to launch the “50,000 Housing Construction Action” with the goal of building 50,000 new homes within the next 3 to 5 years, especially focusing on the needs of low-income and disaster-affected households.

The executive order also temporarily suspends certain state and county regulations related to land use, historic preservation, and environmental reviews, significantly streamlining project approvals and speeding up the development process. Additionally, the state government has set up a Build Beyond Barriers Working Group, a 22-member committee tasked with coordinating cross-departmental resources.

聯邦層級則由FEMA（聯邦緊急事務管理署）主導，在茂宜大火後提供租屋補貼與臨時安置援助，並延長至2026年2月。民間團體如夏威夷原住民促進會（CNHA）則推出「接待住房支援計畫」，補助接待災民的家庭每人每月500美元、最多2,000美元，藉此促進社區互助與原地安置。

創意建材登場：Surf Block 將廢棄衝浪板轉為建屋材料

在眾多政策與重建行動中，來自茂宜島的Hawaii Off Grid建築事務所，則提出一項具地方特色的創新構想：利用廢棄衝浪板製成建築模組—Surf Block。

Sellers表示，夏威夷每年約有上萬塊報廢衝浪板流入垃圾場或海洋，若能回收再製成結構用模組，不僅能降低建材成本，還能解決廢棄物問題，創造在地循環經濟。

On the federal level, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is leading efforts to provide rental subsidies and temporary housing assistance following the Maui wildfires, with support extended until February 2026. Private organizations, such as the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), have also launched the Hospitality Housing Support Program, offering up to $500 per person per month (up to $2,000 total) to households hosting displaced residents, promoting community mutual aid and local relocation.

Creative Building Material Emerges: Surf Block Turns Discarded Surfboards into Construction Materials

Amid these various policy and rebuilding efforts, the Hawaii Off Grid architecture firm, based in Maui, has proposed an innovative and locally inspired idea: using discarded surfboards to create building modules - called Surf Blocks.

Sellers explained that Hawaii discards tens of thousands of surfboards every year, either sending them to landfills or to the ocean. By recycling and remaking them into structural modules, not only can material costs be reduced, but the waste issue can be tackled, fostering a local circular economy.

這種模組設計可用於小型住宅、臨時庇護所或社區共享空間，具有重量輕、防水、防腐蝕且施工快速的優勢。目前團隊正與在地建商、社區與災後重建組織合作進行初步試點。

Sellers強調：「這不只是建築材料創新，更是文化與自然資源回收的結合。我們希望未來的房屋，不只是應對房價，更能反映夏威夷與大自然的共生理念。」

These modules can be used for small homes, temporary shelters, or community shared spaces. They offer advantages such as being lightweight, waterproof, corrosion-resistant, and quick to construct. The team is currently working with local builders, communities, and post-disaster rebuilding organizations on pilot projects.

Sellers emphasized, “This isn’t just about innovative building materials - it’s about combining culture and natural resource recycling. We hope that future homes not only address housing costs but also reflect the symbiosis between Hawaii and nature.”

永續建築與社區韌性：從危機中打造未來居住模式

夏威夷的住房挑戰不僅是經濟議題，也是一場牽涉氣候調適、社區韌性與永續發展的社會變革。從Surf Block這類創新建材，到政府政策改革與社區互助機制，夏威夷正試圖在壓力中開創不同的居住未來。

Sustainable Architecture and Community Resilience: Creating the Future of Housing from Crisis

Hawaii’s housing challenge is not just an economic issue - it’s a social transformation involving climate adaptation, community resilience, and sustainable development. From innovative building materials like Surf Block to government policy reforms and community support mechanisms, Hawaii is trying to forge a different housing future under pressure.

正如Sellers所言：「這場災難與危機提醒我們—未來的房屋不只需要遮風避雨，更需要能夠抵禦氣候災害、符合在地文化、並能讓居民生活有尊嚴。」

As Sellers said, “This disaster and crisis remind us that future homes need to do more than provide shelter - they must be able to withstand climate disasters, reflect local culture, and allow residents to live with dignity.”