There are more and more examples of just how tight the local housing market is, from tales of simple homes in regular neighborhoods going for close to a million dollars to stories of families tripling up in shoebox apartments.

But the one making the rounds this week is a high-water mark.

Among listings of rooms for rent was a closet — a closet! — in a Kailua house, for $100 a month. There were 33 replies and the closet was rented immediately.

The walk-in was advertised on the Web site Craigslist.org.

The posting, dated Feb. 10, made it clear that this closet was intended for living space:

"We are 4 professionals living in a very spacious house. We have a huge walk-in closet downstairs outside living areas that is being used for storage. You can fit a twin bed in there and probably a small nightstand. We can power your closet with some extension cord.

"This space is best for someone who doesn't stay at home much, and literally just needs a bed to crash. We did some tests with a metal bar so you can definitely 'lock' your door for full privacy. Obviously there is limited storage space.

"You will share a bathroom with 4 other people. Utilities are included. Fifteen minute walking distance to Kailua Beach Park, safe neighborhood, plenty of street parking."

This brings up so many questions about who would live this way, how you make it work, who came up with the idea and so on. Three days after the ad was posted, the e-mail contact for the rental unit was no longer active (the closet was scooped up that fast), so further questions about the arrangement couldn't be answered.

There apparently was also a laundry room for rent in the same household that was spoken for immediately.

The posting later picked up this anonymous commentary: "It is no crime to rent out very small places. The crime is when they are way over priced. I hope you guys that placed the ad feel good. You made it work out better for everyone."

Clearly, there are people who find this arrangement acceptable, even desirable. The landlords came up with a workable idea and people lined up for a chance to have a bed and a hot plate and a place to get their mail.

Why not? There are hot, noisy hollow-tile hovels in town that are 10 times the price and only two or three times the space. There are wait lists for public housing and Section 8. Even the beach encampments are full.

This is the plain truth of Hawai'i's housing crisis. People are willing to sleep in a closet.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.