Short answer: On Oahu, hotels, retail centers, commercial office towers, and residential condominium associations >=25,000 gross sq ft must file whole-building energy and water usage every June 30 under Honolulu’s Better Buildings Benchmarking Ordinance (ROH Ch. 32 / Ord. 22-17). Following the final 2025 rollout of the 25,000–49,999 sq ft tier, all covered private and public Oahu parcels >=25k sq ft are now active.
Because the State of Hawaii maintains no statewide private building benchmarking or performance standard, Honolulu Ordinance 22-17 functions as the islands’ primary commercial real estate energy transparency law. Association boards (AOs), resort operators in Waikiki, and commercial property managers should coordinate both Hawaiian Electric (HECO) and Board of Water Supply (BWS) aggregated accounts well ahead of June 30.
- Full >=25,000 Sq Ft Rollout Active: Phased 2023 (>=100k), 2024 (>=50k), and 2025+ (>=25k) milestones are complete — every Oahu commercial and multifamily building >=25k sq ft files annually.
- Energy + Water Dual Scope: Portfolio Manager reports track electric/gas utilities alongside Oahu Board of Water Supply consumption.
- Condominium Associations (AOs): Residential condo high-rises >=25,000 sq ft fall inside Ch. 32 coverage, placing compliance duties directly on boards and managing agents.
- No GHG Caps: Ordinance 22-17 mandates annual disclosure and public transparency without numeric emissions-cap fines like NYC LL97.
Download the Honolulu Better Buildings Benchmarking Guide
Coordinating HECO & Board of Water Supply Data for Waikiki & Kaka'ako Towers
Multi-tenant commercial arcades and residential condominium towers on Oahu often run split tenant meters alongside central chilled-water plants and cooling towers. Requesting aggregated whole-building electric data from HECO and verifying sub-metered or master water accounts from Honolulu Board of Water Supply early in Q2 ensures June 30 filings avoid incomplete-meter notices.
Confirm your parcel’s Honolulu Building ID number in Resilient Oahu’s Covered Buildings List before submitting via Portfolio Manager so automated compliance confirmation links cleanly to Tax Map Key (TMK) records.
- Verify TMK Parcels: Multiple buildings sharing a single TMK may trigger aggregate square-footage coverage above 25,000 sq ft.
- Check Hospitality Load Profiles: Resorts with pools, kitchens, and centralized laundry facilities should verify space-use breakdown in Portfolio Manager to avoid distorted ENERGY STAR scores.
| Cohort / Wave | Covered Oahu Buildings | June 30 Status | Metrics & Portals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave 1 (>=100k sf) | Commercial, resorts & multifamily >=100k | Live since 2023 (Annual June 30) | HECO + Gas + BWS Water via PM |
| Wave 2 (>=50k sf) | Commercial & multifamily 50k–99,999 sf | Live since 2024 (Annual June 30) | HECO + Gas + BWS Water via PM |
| Wave 3 (>=25k sf) | Commercial & multifamily 25k–49,999 sf | Live since 2025+ (Annual June 30) | HECO + Gas + BWS Water via PM |
Compliance Execution Checklist
| Step | Owner / Team | Auditable Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Verify Covered TMK List | Managing Agent / AOAO | Confirm Honolulu Building ID and >=25,000 sq ft gross area on city portal. |
| 2. HECO + BWS Meter Pull | Building Engineer | Obtain whole-building HECO electric & BWS water feeds by May 1. |
| 3. June 30 PM Submission | Compliance Lead | Share validated Portfolio Manager template via Resilient Oahu link before June 30. |
Keep This Honolulu, HI Compliance Checklist Handy
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Honolulu residential condominium buildings >=25,000 sq ft have to comply with Ordinance 22-17?
Yes. Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 32 covers multifamily residential buildings including condominium associations >=25,000 gross sq ft across Oahu.
Does Honolulu Better Buildings Benchmarking include water reporting?
Yes. Covered buildings report whole-building electricity/fuel energy and Board of Water Supply consumption annually by June 30 via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Primary Authorities & Official Resources
Informational notice: This guide summarizes enacted statutes, regulations, or pending legislative records from the primary authorities linked above as of November 14, 2026. It is not legal, accounting, or licensed engineering advice.