Did Governor Green go overboard with his remarks or were they on target? A whirlwind of debate surrounds Hawaii vacation rentals.
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Did Governor Green go overboard with his remarks or were they on target? A whirlwind of debate surrounds Hawaii vacation rentals.
Clearly about 98% of the comments on this site are from non-Hawaii residents with speculative properties in Hawaii.
Not true. Many of us are joining this forum and are locals. We need to speak up to save our islands economy or we will have to leave. Leaving is no longer looking like an option as we foresee a glut of inventory about to be for sale and values dropping. We are faced with selling quickly before this happens and before restrictions are put on us as far as who to sell to. Again, we all have choices and opportunities for an education, career and to purchase property. We should not be penalized for the choices others have made. Those against tourism have a rude awakening coming. Unemployment ran out and being on welfare will not qualify you for a rental or to buy a home.
Hawaii is a double edged sword. Many resent tourists, yet the economy & infrastures, survives off that tourism. Yes if they want to go back to minimalism, which some would be willing, most like their current economic status: rich, middle class or poor. Because without tourism, each class would be worse off economically.
Not all of us want to ban tourism! We are dependent on tourism. Every single household is dependent on tourism in one way or another. I am ashamed for our island that some are content to live off welfare and others. Many of us are hard working and responsible. We are saddened but need to move forward with a solution not destroy our economy which will result in more job losses, property values plummeting and then the very rich mainland investors coming which is who they they think they are battling. Please do not judge all of Maui on the words of the governor, mayor and those that scream the loudest feeling that they deserve to be taken care of indefinitely on the backs of others. I can only hope that they can see reason.
They missed a huge point here. Most owners won’t rent to FEMA because what happens when the money runs out ? Most of us fear squatters and losing our income for years to come. Fix that and I’d happily give up my property for the 175% of FMV they are offering…
Don’t forget. Many of them are not squatters. They were homeowners who lost their home in the fire.
They become squatters when the subsidies expire and they can’t pay rent and refuse to vacate the premises. Then the owner has to evict them at great cost and time. And no, I do not own any property anywhere in Hawaii.
Absolutely one reason but many owners use their homes for personal use and rent during the times they are not using their homes.
Josh Green is nothing more than a politician that thinks he can strong arm and bully people that own property in Hawaii, who may or may not live there full-time. WHO does he think he is? The increasing fees and taxes on visitors, and now his unreasonable demands of property owners. Like it or not, Hawaii is part of the United States of America, Not communist Russia or China. It’s time for the people of Hawaii to start electing people that truly care about them, and not how much they can line their political pockets.
I don’t know Governor Green personally, but based on listening to him in the media, a governor he is not. His Robin Hood approach to the Maui wildfire disaster is understandable given his role. However, like it or not, Maui is the United States of America, and therefore fairness is required to settle legal disputes. Short-term rental owners did not cause the disaster and therefore are not responsible to pay for relocation costs of our displaced fellow citezens. Anywhere in the U. S., whether you lost your home in a wildfire, flood, tornado, or whatever, you need to use all available personal, public and private assistance to transition to a new living situation. It’s unfair to try to take advantage of short-term rental owners.
Amen to this. Very true. Definitely not a responsible, professional official but one that knows he will not be re-elected. The ignorance and unfairness is baffling and will result in legal action. I hope some legal action is personal and we don’t end up suing ourselves by having to pay up. He had options for housing which he chose against. Now housing is being refused unless in West Maui? Many are renters. They can go anywhere. I understand keeping those that lost their homes near where they will be rebuilding. Now FEMA refuses to pay for those. Understandable.
You know what’s B.S., Governor? Hotel rates on Maui. Don’t know about you but we can’t afford $500-$1,100 a night for a room. Plus taxes and resort fees. That’s why I rent for a fraction of that. You take away that option and you’re taking away many of the people who will come to the island.
The fire victims need to be attended to. But don’t balance their needs on the backs of people who are supporting tourism, which still accounts for most of the GDP on the island. Saber-rattling accomplishes nothing.
All lip service too many illegal rentals here in Hauula, on Oahu Hawaii. You report them nothing happens!
It seem that the governor should be seeking as much willing cooperation from short term vacation rental owners as he can before imposing strong controls on some owners.
I for one, own a unit on the Big Island and would rent it for a fix term lease if payments, and return of the unit at end of lease were guaranteed by the state.
At least get the ball rolling with a bill that would stop sales of single family residents to non residents. If you buy a resident here you
must live in it. No renting of single family residents by non residents. Also we need some sort of rent control based on average income.
Jerry,
You may prefer living in Cuba. Beautiful island paradise, and the government controls all housing. Nothing is private. And talk about rent control!? No one has any property rights, plus you would not be part of that pesky USA and it’s silly laws preventing a state from excluding residents of other states from buying property. And in Cuba, they know a few things about forcing people to live where the government says, and how to keep outsiders off their island.
Stepping on rights is not the answer. What you would consider average income won’t pay a mortgage. Many of us worked hard for an education and multiple jobs to afford to buy a home. We are not the ones that should be penalized or not have the option to sell our homes for what they are currently valued at. And yes, I live here in the home I co own with the mortgage company. Getting rid of tourism will result in major job losses and then you will not qualify to rent let alone buy a home. Get real!
If you’re worried about the value of your home, you should probably sell your house as soon as possible. If it’s your retirement plan you absolutely should be worried. US News ranked Maui as the most overvalued real estate market in the entire country, by a big margin. Their analysis showed that it would take 95% of per-capita income to pay for housing costs (affordable is considered to be around 30%), leaving 5% to eat and live on. Prices have to meet affordability, and I doubt the local income is going to 3x any time soon.
Your governor is destroying your state, he clearly doesn’t know how business works and has no intelligent solutions to the problem. He is just trying to bully people!
Amen Bill! Thank you for speaking up. Voices of reason need to get louder!
Airbnb started where owner lived in house or apartment and that was great. When became business only, problems are now out of hand and communities destroyed.