Any local who works hard and wants quality housing should be able to find it.

How We’re Getting There

Housing Hawai‘i’s Future is a movement led by young locals who will create opportunities for Hawai‘i’s next generation by ending the workforce housing shortage.

We Support Hawai‘i’s Next Generations, engaging young leaders through programs and educations.

We Build Relationships by partnering with all stakeholders and building a coalition around shared values.

We Demand Action by proposing and supporting potential solutions and pressuring decision makers to take action.

Our Story

Zachary Yamada and Evan Gates worried for Hawai‘i’s Future. They saw that many of their Gen Z peers could not afford to return to Hawai‘i because of the high cost of housing. They founded Housing Hawai‘i’s Future to organize young leaders and promote civic engagement to end the workforce housing shortage.

Since 2022, Housing Hawai‘i’s Future has established itself as the most prominent advocate for workforce housing. We have reached thousands with our educational programs. Our research fellows are a trusted source for policy ideas. Our advocacy has resulted in some of the most significant housing reforms in the last forty years.

Our Team

  • Sterling Higa, Executive Director

    Sterling Higa is often wrong, but always seeks truth. Before joining Housing Hawai‘i’s Future, he was a debate coach and lecturer at Hawaii Pacific University, a columnist for Honolulu Civil Beat, and a contributing writer for Hawaii Business Magazine. He lives in Kaka‘ako with his wife and four children.

  • Lee Wang, Deputy Executive Director

    Lee Wang believes good information and facts help move the conversation forward. Coming from 14 years of residential and commercial real estate experience, Lee has an in-depth knowledge of Affordable Housing programs. After getting his MBA from Shidler College of Business, he serves as an advisor for their School of Entrepreneurship. He, his wife, and two pups feel fortunate to call Makiki home.

  • Perry Arrasmith, Director of Policy

    Perry Arrasmith believes in the power of constructive debate and discourse. Since returning home to Hawaiʻi in 2020, he has worked on housing policy at the executive and legislative branches of state government. Raised on Oʻahu, Arrasmith earned a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. He resides in ʻAiea, just a mile from his alma mater (ʻAiea High School).

  • Mahina Amoy, Marketing and Communications Director

    Mahina Amoy is a student at Dartmouth College, where she studies Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. She is born and raised in Kāneʻohe and is passionate about photography, lei-making, and telling people’s stories.

  • Faith Christy Soliven, Senior Creative Associate

    Faith Christy Soliven is a Cinematic Arts student at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Born and raised in Maui, she values her family, God, and storytelling as a vehicle for education and human connection. She’s a freelance photographer, avid reader, and filmmaker, aspiring to uplift local stories.

Summer Policy Fellows

  • Satya Fisher, Senior Policy Fellow

    Satya Fisher graduated from Virginia Tech in 2023 with a degree in Real Estate. He has also completed an AmeriCorps VISTA service year focused on affordable housing development in rural areas. Satya was raised on Maui, but currently lives and works in New York. He is a project manager on the real estate development team at Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester.

  • Maka Lambert, Senior Policy Fellow

    Maka Lambert is a student at the University of Denver studying Real Estate and the Built Environment. She was born and raised in Upcountry, Maui. She enjoys horseback riding, outrigger paddling, and painting.

  • Liam Lynch, Senior Policy Fellow

    Liam Lynch is a student at Pomona College, where he studies Economics. He is passionate about making informed decisions to build a sustainable Hawai‘i.

  • Damien Chang, Scholar in Residence

    Damien Chang is a student at Harvard College where he studies Government and Chemistry. Born and raised in Honolulu, he loves nature and learning about Hawaiian history. In the future, he would like to learn Russian and read more Kierkegaard. Above all, he hopes to help make Hawaii a better place to live for those who love it.

  • Adrea Sipalay

    Adrea Sipalay is a recent graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she studied Political Science and American Studies. She grew up in southern Colorado, and moved to Hawaiʻi for a rigorous yet rewarding academic career. But she’s not done yet! Adrea is currently working towards attending law school. She values family, friends, creativity, nature, good food, and cute dogs!

  • Faith Christy Soliven

    Faith Christy Soliven is a Cinematic Arts student at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Born and raised in Maui, she values her family, God, and storytelling as a vehicle for education and human connection. She’s a freelance photographer, avid reader, and filmmaker, aspiring to uplift local stories.

Policy Fellows Emeriti

  • Hailey Akau

    Hailey Akau is a student at Emerson College studying Writing, Literature, and Publishing. She currently serves as the Co-Section Editor for the Beacon Magazine and as the Assistant Multimedia Editor for the Berkeley Beacon. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

  • Zachary Gaoiran

    Zachary Gaoiran is a student at Vanderbilt University studying Economics and Human & Organizational Behavior. Outside of academics, he enjoys serving on his university's first-gen organization's executive board, being a part of the undergraduate real estate club, and playing on his school's men's club soccer team.

  • Andrew Luff

    Andrew Luff is a rising junior at Radford High School. As a military child, Andrew has lived in Virginia, Connecticut, Washington state, Italy, and Georgia, and he has had the opportunity to visit 26 countries. Andrew is fascinated by what causes our cities to look the way that they do and what we can do to make them better.

  • Sean Maskrey

    Sean Maskrey is a Political Science, Economics, and Management student at the University of British Columbia. He enjoys working in student government and is passionate about singing and dancing, fashion, and the outdoors.

  • Jorge Soto

    Jorge Soto graduated from Hawaii Pacific University last year with a degree in Finance and Economics and works as an industrial engineer. Beyond his professional endeavors, he finds joy in giving back to the community, indulging in his passion for soccer, and learning about entrepreneurship.

Board of Directors

  • Katie Chang

  • Evan Gates

  • Jeff Laupola

  • Talitha Liu

  • April Nakamura

  • Blair Suzuki

  • Zachary Yamada