Today Green confirmed plans for reducing Hawaii vacation rentals, and increasing visitor fees.
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192 thoughts on “Governor Confirms Maui Rental Moratorium, New $25 Tourist Fee, + Increase In Accommodation Tax Possible”
Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel News » Governor Confirms Maui Rental Moratorium, New $25 Tourist Fee, + Increase In Accommodation Tax Possible
Steff……make bank? You are lacking a lot of information…I challenge you to call around and find the cost of HOA dues, insurance and pick a cheapy mortgage…ohh say 300,000$ at 7%….you tell me most people you know could afford to buy? I forgot to mention the 10% down payment…and thats ifyou can find a place for 350K…and you would have to make 3 times the payment you just did the math on…to qualify…perfect credit and not much other debt…you need to do some math before you throw out such statements that owners are keeping the homeless from having a studio condo.
I am a kama’aina that moved away because of the high cost of living for a single parent at the time. Coming home to see family, I usually rent a STR so my family can visit leisurely with us in comfort. Are these taxes and fees stacked? Does this now mean I can no longer afford to visit? This is looking out of control!
So the 4 billion dollar award is not going to fix this?
Hawaii residents and that 27% of short-term rental unit owners own twenty or more units
That is obscene and should be stopped. Also the out of state ownership should be taxed out of existence. The fact that folks are making bank at the expense of Hawai’i homeless is ridiculous
I don’t own a STR on Maui so I don’t have any skin in this game. We do come to Maui a couple of times a year for 2-3 weeks each time and we typically rent a VRBO. I’m confused as to what “bank” you feel these owners are making. If you break down the fees taxes etc (their mortgage if they have one) there is not a ton of “bank” leftover and that’s even assuming the unit is rented out every single day of the year, which is not realistic. The only ones making “bank” are the state of Hawaii from the above cuts on each rental as well as the money the tourists spend while on the islands. I have a feeling quite a few of these owners would gladly sell their unit at fair market value but who can afford them…..or are you hoping the state of Hawaii buys them and gives them to the “less fortunate”.
As I mentioned before, Washington DC puts anyone who owns more than 5 rental units under rent control (meaning DC decides how much rent owners can charge). In addition, owners who keep their properties unoccupied have a heavy tax penalty. Maybe something to consider here in Maui ..?
Why are STR’s the “sudden” reason for lack of affordable housing after so many years of knowing such a predicament was already in place? Is this really our fault?
STR’s provide affordable rentals for guests who spend lots of taxable dollars and further provide the jobs necessary to spend them. Forcing them out of the market will eliminate many tourists and thus eliminate the jobs needed to take care of them. What then? Locals living in FEMA paid housing for a limited time, their jobs decimated (thus less income) and your tax base seriously damaged. Less jobs means less income tax and more tax money going out to provide for housing and unemployment. That is a no-win for everybody except corporate-owned hotels/resorts.
Real estate taxes and fees for vacation rentals are already the highest in the country. Three times higher for comparable rental ocean front properties in Florida. Eventually you will kill the Golden Goose
Vast majority of west maui is condo’s where HOA are in the thousands per month, The people who lost their homes, Not many people anywhere in the USA can afford rent that would be 5 grand a month.
As usual screw the little guy, Hotels will make even more as they will jack rates even higher
Hawaii visitors and condo purchasers are becoming affordable only to the wealthy
More killing the goose that lays the golden eggs
More evidence of the government simply hiking it’s taxes on out of state condo owners to pay for their rapidly increasing spending on welfare programs, pensions, and who knows what else with obvious mismanagement of funds and liberal priorities.
Despite the large amount of taxes paid by Poipu visitors, we have dealt with tons of potholes, lack of safe and attractive roadside walkways that make walking between hotels safe – for the 34 years I have owned a condo there – and my guests paying $22,100 in taxes imposed on rental condo owners only. My overhead includes $22,640, $34, 056 management, cleaning fees $10,000, property tax $13,000 per year – and more. If you have to pay a mortgage?
Rolf,
Exactly.
And with those liberal policies and what it has brought, one would think that Hawaiin voters would learn. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result does not make sense.
I have read your articles for several years. I sense mismanagement of money at all levels. I know that’s a very general statement, but we experienced something specific last week. We visited Waimea Canyon January 25, 2024. We paid $30 for parking and for the four people in our group. A female of our group used the restroom, and she said it was the worst restroom she’s been in. That says a lot because we have traveled in Europe and South America. It seems that, with a collection of $10 parking/vehicle and $5/visitor, the restrooms should be maintained properly – facilities updated and kept clean. I have never been to a national park restroom that was in gross and terrible shape.
Hi Carolyn.
We’re so sorry to hear that. We’ve actually done articles about the state maintained beach/park facilities before. Thanks for your comment.
Aloha.
If they want my timeshare week they can pay for it. I’m fine with that. My wife and I are only nurses who get rest on our trips. We will save more by going somewhere else where we are appreciated and not ostracized by their elected representatives.
I feel bad for the investors. After my trip this summer, I’ll stick to the Caribbean. Less people, better beaches, and less government overreach.
The Mexican Tourist Board thinks this is a great idea
When you price visitors out of coming to Hawaii what will be the plan then?
Planning to visit Kaanapali in April. Are visitors welcome to that area? What is the impact to visitors?
I live near the Westin Kaanapali Villas and it seems to me that visitors mostly hang around the pool. I am surprised that they no longer have signs at the beach entrance that alcoholic beverages are not allowed, but as long as Maui doesn’t become Cancun, I am ok. Since most are timeshare, they stock up at Costco for the week. Not sure how much interaction they have with the local population…
i was a life long visitor to all the islands . . just like I was to Vegas . . until like you, I was choked out of ever coming back.
Vegas hotels are now bumping resort fee’s to $50
Very true. Prices are going up everywhere, but based on what I have priced-Hawaii leads. Plus the last trip was not the best-you could tell the Aloha Spirit was gone. So, we’ve cancel our trip and will return when it sounds like Hawaii wants people to visit.
Perhaps, the mainland tourists need to contact our legislators to stop federal funding on interstate Highways in Hawaii since they don’t connect states. Anywhere else, the roads would be state funded highways. Why are mainland tax dollars paying for highways we are not welcome to drive on.
Welcome or not, you are driving our roads when you visit and most are not small cars either ….
The Interstate Highway System has always had a military purpose. Perhaps not its main one, but it’s been in the list.
H1 connects Barbers Point/Ewa to Pearl Harbor/Hickam, and I suspect the Waikiki extension was to UH-Manoa primarily.
H2 adds Schofield Barracks and Wheeler AAR (formerly AFB) to the mix.
H3 added Kaneohe MCAS to the list of connected military facilities. As I remember Like Like and Pali were getting a bit crowded, even back in the 80s.
Many people forget that the official name is National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.