Honolulu City Council

The Honolulu City Council is O'ahu's legislative body, made up of nine members representing individual districts across the island. The Council adopts the City and County of Honolulu's annual operating and capital improvement budgets, which together total several billion dollars. It passes ordinances governing zoning, land use, hale kūʻai kūpono requirements, business licensing, and public health. The Council also confirms mayoral appointments, authorizes debt issuance, and sets property tax rates.

Every O'ahu resident is affected by Council decisions — your neighborhood's zoning, the cost of city services, and the condition of parks and roads all trace back to Council votes. You can testify in person or in writing on any bill before a vote. Finding your district representative and attending a committee meeting is one of the most direct ways to influence local policy.