Environmental Impact Statement
If a project includes any actions listed in Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 343-5, compliance with the State’s environmental review process is required. To complete the process, either:
- The determining agency must declare the action exempt from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) (agencies maintain lists of actions that are commonly exempt);
- An environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact must be published (if significant environmental impacts are not anticipated); or
- An environmental impact statement must be accepted and published (if significant environmental impacts are anticipated).
How do I complete an Environmental Impact Statement?
The State or county agency that initially receives and processes an application for a discretionary approval is the agency that processes the environmental impact statement. If the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) is the approving agency, follow the general steps below, and refer to our EIS Instructions for more detailed information.
1. Pre-Consultation
2. Complete EISPN and Submit to DPP
Complete all of the required documentation for the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN). Starting August 4, 2025, all permit applications must be submitted to the DPP through HNL Build. However, there is currently no application type for the submittal of EAs or EISs in the HNL Build system. Therefore, until such time as this function becomes available a single electronic .pdf application package should be emailed or submitted in person to DPP as follows:
- Email Submittal: Because EIS documents and their required appendices are large files, applications submitted via email should be submitted via a link to a file sharing platform such as Dropbox™, or comparable program. Email the link to dpp@honolulu.gov. The email line must state “Application Submittal – Environmental Impact Statement” to ensure the application is routed to the correct DPP Division for review.
- Mail or Hand Delivery: Applications may be uploaded to a USB drive or CD, and submitted by mail or hand-delivery to the following address:
3. Payment
Environmental Impact Statements in Support of a Shoreline Setback Variance or Special District Permit
Submit two checks or money orders made out to the City & County of Honolulu for:
- A review fee of $400 (this is a non-refundable fee to review whether the application is complete); and
- A processing fee of $2,000 (this is returned if the application is incomplete).
Environmental Impact Statements in Support of a Major SMA Permit
Submit two checks or money orders made out to the City & County of Honolulu for:
- A review fee of $400 (this is a non-refundable fee to review whether the application is complete); and
- A processing fee of $2,400 (this is returned if the application is incomplete).
All other Environmental Impact Statements
Submit two checks or money orders made out to the City & County of Honolulu for:
- A review fee of $400 (this is a non-refundable fee to review whether the application is complete); and
- A processing fee of $800 (this is returned if the application is incomplete).
Checks or money orders that are more than 3 months (90 days) old will not be accepted. There is no fee for City agencies.
The fees are doubled when an applicant applies for a permit after being cited for taking action without obtaining necessary approvals.
Fee payments are not accepted online and must be delivered to:
Department of Planning and Permitting
650 South King Street, 7th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
The DPP submits the EISPN to the State’s Environmental Review Program for publication in the next edition of The Environmental Notice, which initiates a 30-day public comment period.
4. Complete Draft EIS
Following the 30-day comment period, the applicant must prepare and submit a draft EIS that incorporates all written comments received and responses to those comments, as well as a summary of the required EIS public scoping meeting.
5. Publish
The applicant must submit the draft EIS to both the DPP and to the State’s Environmental Review Program for publication in the next edition of The Environmental Notice, which initiates a 45-day public comment period.
6. Finalize
Following the 45-day comment period, the applicant must prepare and submit a final EIS that incorporates all written comments received and responses to those comments to both the DPP and to the State’s Environmental Review Program for publication in the next edition of The Environmental Notice.
7. Determine
The DPP determines acceptance or non-acceptance within 30 days.
- Acceptance – If the final EIS adequately discloses and describes all identifiable environmental impacts and satisfactorily responds to all comments, the DPP submits a notice of its acceptance determination to the applicant and to the State’s Environmental Review Program for publication in the next edition of The Environmental Notice.
- Non-Acceptance – Otherwise, the DPP submits a notice of its non-acceptance determination to the applicant and to the State’s Environmental Review Program for publication in the next edition of The Environmental Notice. The applicant may revise the non-accepted final EIS and resubmit it as a new draft EIS.
If the DPP does not make a determination within 30 days, the final EIS is deemed accepted. Acceptance and non-acceptance determinations are subject to a judicial challenge period, pursuant to HRS Section 343-7.
For more information on the EIS process, please contact the DPP at (808) 768-8000 or email dpp@honolulu.gov.
A webpage of the City and County of Honolulu, supported by the Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Coastal Zone Management Program, pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award, Award No. NA18NOS4190082, funded in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, administered by the Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.