I have been to all of the islands and stayed each time at a vacation rental. Usually it was a group of us that came together came together. We love vacation rentals and they are cheaper than the resorts. I will not come back if I have to stay in anything else. It’s getting harder and harder to find a reason to come to Hawaii. Maybe, that is the intent of your government officials.
I am sad to hear they are targeting vacation resorts and condos. We are planning to visit Hawaii for the first time in Nov 2024 and have booked with a Maui vacation condo. I see this causing a downward spiral in tourism as we do not like hotels, I like to prepare most of my own food and eat out occasionally, which hotel stays do not accommodate.
I hope they change their mind on this matter, it offers up options for people who prefer more privacy and being able to cook their own food if they so choose.
But they won’t do that. At this point all Hawaii wants is money, not tourism. They’ve already put fees on non-residents visiting beaches, this is just the next step in totally destroying Hawaii’s economy, which is tourism.
I agree that something should be done about vacation rentals that are non-compliant. But why target compliant non-resident STR owners just because they live off island? Hawaii is still part of the United States last time I checked and it’s a free country… or is it? And do they think all big hotels are owned by residents? I think not.
I don’t see how this addresses the housing shortage and affordability long-term. having a 2% to 6% impact on rental/homeowner costs.
There needs to be a “big picture” look at the housing issue. (I dont Own rental properties) but if you really want to address short-term rental issues, why only non resident ownership being targeted.
Someone who owns a vacation condo and rents it out while they arent using it doesnt seem to be the main issue. Companies/LLC’s that own 5/10/20 or more (no matter where they reside) should be targeted. Also Hawaii invited this development and profited from it. Can they legally legislate to cause property owners to lose their properties by eliminating rentals? (Maybe they can).
No, they can’t take a way a right that was previously explicitly bestowed. That is called “taking” and is illegal according to both the US constitution and the Hawaii constitution.
However, they can affect public opinion. Josh Green can put the evil stamp of “Short-term Rental Evil”, people will listen, residents will rejoice, and visitors will feel too guilty to plan a trip here.
This will have many unintended consequences. I don’t think many understand (or are too proud to admit) the widespread influence that tourism has on the islands, and that removing short-term rentals would cause a lot of pain, with a fan out affect far beyond just the tourist-related businesses.
The direction that the state and county governments are heading is misguided. The vast majority of short term vacation rental (STVR) owners own a single house, condominium or townhouse. The income generated from rentals supplements their ability to pay mortgages and taxes. Some envision permanently living in these units upon retirement.It is absurd that the hotels would want these people to sell their units at a massive loss. The luxury hotels would anchor low income housing sites!Why don’t the counties simply stop issuing new STVR licenses?None of this makes sense.
Hawaii is not alone in its quandary about affordable housing. However, let’s call it what it is: Calling for the illegal and unconstitutional seizing of private property is not a sustainable solution. First it’s out of state owners. What’s next? Seizing property owned by redheads, or people with blue eyes? Where does it stop?
This is discrimination against a group of Americans who worked hard and bought the dream of having a part time home in Hawaii. We are not rich enough to hold that home and not rent it as STR. What the government and these greedy takers want is simply to take what others have worked hard for. Easy to take what you want if you can get the government to do it for you. Harder to work extra hard all your life to earn it.
So it’s going to be okay for locals to own STR rentals, but not others.
If 48%of STR are owned by locals but they are only targeting no locals that is wrong …. (and hope they get a major lawsuits!!)
If they are going to make this change then it needs to be equal rules for all.
Wouldn’t the locals want to turn STR to LTR to help out their own. Nope. They just all want to blame this problem on non locals.
Any progressive or outright ban of STRs would be hugely detrimental to many local residents that depend on income from renting their ohana or rooms in their homes. When the state recently proposed an additional lodging tax directed only at STRs (hotels were excluded), the outcry from local residents who rent out part of their property was significant.
And if the state tries to exempt local owners from the ban, it’s just setting-up taxpayers to pay for a long, and very expensive, legal battle. Does the state have jurisdiction to say that one owner (a resident) has a right to this commerce, but another (a non-resident) doesn’t? Don’t think so…
This is disappointing to read. We stayed in NYC recently, where the hotel industry has also lobbied government to limit short-term rentals. Needless to say, hotel costs are through the roof.
I have long dreamed of owning a unit in Maui, but I guess it just isn’t meant to be…
Is $820,000 considered by most to be affordable housing? I am born and raised in Hawaii, 4 generations. I left due to the high cost of living. I have use STR’s when I come to visit my ohana, because their house’s are full. To afford housing their family have to together and there is no room for us. The cost of hotels is outrageous, and when they lose the STR competition, you know they’ll jack the prices higher. This will not help the local people. I rent from people that have small, converted studios. It’s win win. I can afford it, it helps them with income. I am sure that many others do this as well. These regulations only help big corporations. Will I be able to afford visiting my loved ones then?
I would love to know how much the hotel industry lobbyists have paid the politicians to kill the short term rental industry. The extent to which the governor and the rest of these politicians are going to in order to get rid of tourists would almost be laughable if the long term consequences for the locals weren’t so devastating. Maybe one day the people of Hawaii will realize that elections have consequences but by then it will probably be too late.
Go after all the illegal STVR’s and leave all the legal permitted tax paying STVR’s alone. Vacation rentals have been around for more than 35 years when we used to find them in the back of a newspaper listed in the classified advertisements. Government has their hands in everything…So much for a free market society.
We just returned from 11 nights in Maui and Kauai, our 5th trip to Hawaii. The cost of staying in a 1BR rental on these islands is already extremely high. I can’t imagine how much higher it will get if STRs are fewer in number. We love Hawaii and would like to go back in a year or two, but we’re close to maxing out our travel budget. If costs go much higher, we’ll have to go elsewhere. I wonder if the governor and other parties opposing STRs have thought about the impact of less tourists on restaurants and tour providers.
The people of Lahaina have my deepest sympathy for their loss of relatives, friends, homes and businesses.
Articles to do away with or limit tourism makes me sad because we have been Maui “tourists” for a number of years. Lahaina was our favorite town for shopping and dining. However, we have stayed in Makena and Kihei.
This winter we have rented a place for three weeks large enough for our sons and their families to come over spring breaks. We want to introduce them to a place we have grown to love. It may be their only trip to Maui if rentals changes are made.
We are from the East Coast and it is easier to get to many places but we have choosen Maui because we love being “tourists” there for a few weeks each winter. Aloha!
We are also from the East Coast and will be looking at destinations closer to home instead of Maui after we conclude our trip in July. St. Thomas and Aruba are closer with similar costs.
More government greed. Trying to take over private property of people. Now, what is the difference of other states, or time shares etc. Nothing. This is just another government control and greed.
In a state that is reliant on tourism,it seems to be a stupid move to do away with str!!! Those tourists in those rental units are supporting your economy. They are providing jobs for the locals. Where would HI be without tourists????
As the owner of a legal, permitted, and taxed STR in Hawaii, I cannot say that I disagree with some of the concerns that the Governor, local government, and the community members have. I believe that STRs in Hawaii have escalated to an “out of control” issue. There needs to be more balance for the residents of Hawaii. I support finding ways to bring that balance.
“And the three men I admire most – the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They took the last flight for the coast, the day… Hawaii Tourism… died.”
The locals will surely be able to enjoy the beaches and parks more freely now without the tourists, because they will have a lot more free time, and no jobs!
Exactly! I have been going to Hawaii for 40 years. I lived in Hawaii for 14 years and had to move back to the mainland because I couldn’t afford to stay once I retired. I went back in December and it was sad how things have changed since Covid; entire strip malls empty, stores and restaurants closed, so many buildings run down and in disrepair, and no one wants to work. Josh Greene destroying Hawaii’s only industry – tourism, with their greed, taxes, and stupidity.
Tourism is the life-blood of Hawaii. If you kill the golden goose, what will you have?
I have been to all of the islands and stayed each time at a vacation rental. Usually it was a group of us that came together came together. We love vacation rentals and they are cheaper than the resorts. I will not come back if I have to stay in anything else. It’s getting harder and harder to find a reason to come to Hawaii. Maybe, that is the intent of your government officials.
I am sad to hear they are targeting vacation resorts and condos. We are planning to visit Hawaii for the first time in Nov 2024 and have booked with a Maui vacation condo. I see this causing a downward spiral in tourism as we do not like hotels, I like to prepare most of my own food and eat out occasionally, which hotel stays do not accommodate.
I hope they change their mind on this matter, it offers up options for people who prefer more privacy and being able to cook their own food if they so choose.
I agree with non-residence owners being targeted, but leave the residence owners alone, especially if they only have one short term rental.
But they won’t do that. At this point all Hawaii wants is money, not tourism. They’ve already put fees on non-residents visiting beaches, this is just the next step in totally destroying Hawaii’s economy, which is tourism.
I agree that something should be done about vacation rentals that are non-compliant. But why target compliant non-resident STR owners just because they live off island? Hawaii is still part of the United States last time I checked and it’s a free country… or is it? And do they think all big hotels are owned by residents? I think not.
I don’t see how this addresses the housing shortage and affordability long-term. having a 2% to 6% impact on rental/homeowner costs.
There needs to be a “big picture” look at the housing issue. (I dont Own rental properties) but if you really want to address short-term rental issues, why only non resident ownership being targeted.
Someone who owns a vacation condo and rents it out while they arent using it doesnt seem to be the main issue. Companies/LLC’s that own 5/10/20 or more (no matter where they reside) should be targeted. Also Hawaii invited this development and profited from it. Can they legally legislate to cause property owners to lose their properties by eliminating rentals? (Maybe they can).
No, they can’t take a way a right that was previously explicitly bestowed. That is called “taking” and is illegal according to both the US constitution and the Hawaii constitution.
However, they can affect public opinion. Josh Green can put the evil stamp of “Short-term Rental Evil”, people will listen, residents will rejoice, and visitors will feel too guilty to plan a trip here.
This will have many unintended consequences. I don’t think many understand (or are too proud to admit) the widespread influence that tourism has on the islands, and that removing short-term rentals would cause a lot of pain, with a fan out affect far beyond just the tourist-related businesses.
They did it on molokai and it went to federal and state court, but of course they lost.
If you needed further proof many in Hawaii dislike part-time visitors, here you go.
The direction that the state and county governments are heading is misguided. The vast majority of short term vacation rental (STVR) owners own a single house, condominium or townhouse. The income generated from rentals supplements their ability to pay mortgages and taxes. Some envision permanently living in these units upon retirement.It is absurd that the hotels would want these people to sell their units at a massive loss. The luxury hotels would anchor low income housing sites!Why don’t the counties simply stop issuing new STVR licenses?None of this makes sense.
Hawaii is not alone in its quandary about affordable housing. However, let’s call it what it is: Calling for the illegal and unconstitutional seizing of private property is not a sustainable solution. First it’s out of state owners. What’s next? Seizing property owned by redheads, or people with blue eyes? Where does it stop?
This is discrimination against a group of Americans who worked hard and bought the dream of having a part time home in Hawaii. We are not rich enough to hold that home and not rent it as STR. What the government and these greedy takers want is simply to take what others have worked hard for. Easy to take what you want if you can get the government to do it for you. Harder to work extra hard all your life to earn it.
So it’s going to be okay for locals to own STR rentals, but not others.
If 48%of STR are owned by locals but they are only targeting no locals that is wrong …. (and hope they get a major lawsuits!!)
If they are going to make this change then it needs to be equal rules for all.
Wouldn’t the locals want to turn STR to LTR to help out their own. Nope. They just all want to blame this problem on non locals.
Excellent points.
Any progressive or outright ban of STRs would be hugely detrimental to many local residents that depend on income from renting their ohana or rooms in their homes. When the state recently proposed an additional lodging tax directed only at STRs (hotels were excluded), the outcry from local residents who rent out part of their property was significant.
And if the state tries to exempt local owners from the ban, it’s just setting-up taxpayers to pay for a long, and very expensive, legal battle. Does the state have jurisdiction to say that one owner (a resident) has a right to this commerce, but another (a non-resident) doesn’t? Don’t think so…
This is disappointing to read. We stayed in NYC recently, where the hotel industry has also lobbied government to limit short-term rentals. Needless to say, hotel costs are through the roof.
I have long dreamed of owning a unit in Maui, but I guess it just isn’t meant to be…
When the supply of Short Term Rentals goes gown, hotel prices will jump.
It’s called supply and demand.
Is $820,000 considered by most to be affordable housing? I am born and raised in Hawaii, 4 generations. I left due to the high cost of living. I have use STR’s when I come to visit my ohana, because their house’s are full. To afford housing their family have to together and there is no room for us. The cost of hotels is outrageous, and when they lose the STR competition, you know they’ll jack the prices higher. This will not help the local people. I rent from people that have small, converted studios. It’s win win. I can afford it, it helps them with income. I am sure that many others do this as well. These regulations only help big corporations. Will I be able to afford visiting my loved ones then?
I would love to know how much the hotel industry lobbyists have paid the politicians to kill the short term rental industry. The extent to which the governor and the rest of these politicians are going to in order to get rid of tourists would almost be laughable if the long term consequences for the locals weren’t so devastating. Maybe one day the people of Hawaii will realize that elections have consequences but by then it will probably be too late.
Go after all the illegal STVR’s and leave all the legal permitted tax paying STVR’s alone. Vacation rentals have been around for more than 35 years when we used to find them in the back of a newspaper listed in the classified advertisements. Government has their hands in everything…So much for a free market society.
We just returned from 11 nights in Maui and Kauai, our 5th trip to Hawaii. The cost of staying in a 1BR rental on these islands is already extremely high. I can’t imagine how much higher it will get if STRs are fewer in number. We love Hawaii and would like to go back in a year or two, but we’re close to maxing out our travel budget. If costs go much higher, we’ll have to go elsewhere. I wonder if the governor and other parties opposing STRs have thought about the impact of less tourists on restaurants and tour providers.
The people of Lahaina have my deepest sympathy for their loss of relatives, friends, homes and businesses.
Articles to do away with or limit tourism makes me sad because we have been Maui “tourists” for a number of years. Lahaina was our favorite town for shopping and dining. However, we have stayed in Makena and Kihei.
This winter we have rented a place for three weeks large enough for our sons and their families to come over spring breaks. We want to introduce them to a place we have grown to love. It may be their only trip to Maui if rentals changes are made.
We are from the East Coast and it is easier to get to many places but we have choosen Maui because we love being “tourists” there for a few weeks each winter. Aloha!
We are also from the East Coast and will be looking at destinations closer to home instead of Maui after we conclude our trip in July. St. Thomas and Aruba are closer with similar costs.
More government greed. Trying to take over private property of people. Now, what is the difference of other states, or time shares etc. Nothing. This is just another government control and greed.
In a state that is reliant on tourism,it seems to be a stupid move to do away with str!!! Those tourists in those rental units are supporting your economy. They are providing jobs for the locals. Where would HI be without tourists????
As the owner of a legal, permitted, and taxed STR in Hawaii, I cannot say that I disagree with some of the concerns that the Governor, local government, and the community members have. I believe that STRs in Hawaii have escalated to an “out of control” issue. There needs to be more balance for the residents of Hawaii. I support finding ways to bring that balance.
“And the three men I admire most – the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They took the last flight for the coast, the day… Hawaii Tourism… died.”
The locals will surely be able to enjoy the beaches and parks more freely now without the tourists, because they will have a lot more free time, and no jobs!
Exactly! I have been going to Hawaii for 40 years. I lived in Hawaii for 14 years and had to move back to the mainland because I couldn’t afford to stay once I retired. I went back in December and it was sad how things have changed since Covid; entire strip malls empty, stores and restaurants closed, so many buildings run down and in disrepair, and no one wants to work. Josh Greene destroying Hawaii’s only industry – tourism, with their greed, taxes, and stupidity.