Surfboard waste could help solve Hawaii’s housing crisis

• Hawaii, which faces the highest homelessness rate and housing costs of any state in the U.S., is in the midst of a chronic housing crisis that surfboard waste may help solve. Hawaii Off Grid aims to address these challenges by repurposing surfboard foam into building materials.
• Surf Blocks are lighter, fire-resistant, termite-proof and use less concrete than traditional cinder blocks.
• The first home made entirely of Surf Blocks is nearly complete in Maui, and its potential success could expand this method of sustainable home building across the state.

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Efforts to address Hawaii’s ongoing housing crisis are utilizing an unconventional building material — surfboards. Maui-based architecture firm Hawaii Off Grid is turning this favorite local pastime into a tool for home building.

Why is Hawaii experiencing a housing crisis?

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Hawaii has the highest homelessness rate in the United States. It is also the most expensive state to buy or build a home.

Zillow’s average home value report for the final quarter of 2024 ranked Hawaii at the top nationwide, with a median price of $982,134, nearly $200,000 higher than second-place California.

Meanwhile, building a standard 2,100-square-foot home in Hawaii costs $431,364, almost $100,000 more than the national average, since most of the materials used to build houses here are imported from elsewhere and sold at a premium.

The 2023 Maui wildfires further worsened the situation, destroying over 2,000 structures and raising the median home price in the most severely affected areas from $1.9 million in 2023 to $2.7 million in 2024, an $800,000 increase.

How can surfboards help solve this problem?

In response to these housing challenges facing the state, Hawaii Off Grid is developing new construction materials by repurposing polystyrene foam waste from surfboard manufacturing. Known as Surf Blocks, they are lighter, fire-resistant, termite-proof and require less concrete than traditional cinder blocks.

What happens next?

Major retailers such as Lowe’s are partnering with Hawaii Off Grid to collect surfboard waste for use in new housing developments, including homes under construction in Maui, as part of fire recovery efforts. The first home built entirely with Surf Blocks is nearing completion, and if successful, it could offer a sustainable model for home building in Hawaii.