Mayor Bissen’s Japan trip stands in stark contrast to harsh measures planned for the Maui vacation rental market. It paints a picture of an administration that appears out of touch with the needs of residents and visitors. And the proposed 50% reduction in Maui vacation rentals over the next 18 months is a drastic and potentially disruptive change in the Maui tourism landscape.
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Bissen tries to mask his incompetence with his disastrous pandering plan to wipe out most STRs, which may make some “Hawaii for Hawaiians” people feel good, but which will result in lost tax and Maui resident income, not to mention doing nothing to provide affordable housing. Bissen joins Green in following the shiny star to Japan, where Green was twice rebuffed by Japanese concerned about their own economy. The major source of tourism comes from the mainland, along with tip income that Japanese are not accustomed to paying.
I guess I can’t blame Bissen for trying to get out of town. Better than he get out of office.
It should be pointed out that Maui’s tumultuous times are of its own making. I think there is a growing perception of Mauin governance as incompetent; at least there is from me. And if a region gets a reputation as “sketchy”, in some sense, it will impact vacation choices.
Brings to mind the adage of: “We get the government we deserve”…
Best Regards
They even use the “D” word to defend newsom in cali at the same time complaining what he’s doing to cali. These are Hawaiians I talk to in oahu.
I was informed by a native Hawaiian that they live a simple life. It’s about the land, culture, and the beauty (preservation of the islands). They hate technology and don’t need cellphones,wifi,laptops, and don’t want new construction whatsoever. That said how do you rebuild? If most of the solutions are out of their beliefs then where is the solution? What is normal to a mainland tourist in area’s of disaster don’t match with the beliefs of true Hawaiians. My experience IMO with Hawaii is that as a tourist you spend a lot and get next to nothing for your money. Maybe government is following culture by no new construction. Maybe it has to do with new government assistance applicant claims with new homes built.
The immense amount of dumped household goods, junked boats, derelict vehicles, and general 1st World trash combined with the paucity of $1200 phones, lifted “Yotas”, thumping stereos, air conditioners, $150 slippas, vandalized beach facilities, and lines at fast food restaurants in the general island populace belies that “Simple” life…
Best Regards.
Hey… I was going to say that. But I like the way you said it much better.
“The Early Bird… etc” 😀
Yeah good point. I don’t understand all but his response to a simple life was Native Hawaiians live a simple life. We don’t need cellphones etc.etc.etc. We are raised and taught to live off the land. Other than that we don’t need or care about technology tourists or new hotels. Tourists only come and trash our land wreck the place we call home. We are taught at a young age how to fish, hunt and provide for our families. Other than that we Don’t Care. He just wished that tourists would stop coming and let the real Hawaiians live in peace. IMO I saw the same thing you experienced Jay well put.
How many tourists bring their crap cars & appliances to Maui to dump along the road? There is an element of local people who don’t clean up the parks after using them. An element of tourists, as well. Good and bad on both sides. After 30 plus years of visiting, we’ve met many residents who work more than one job to make ends meet. We’ve also met residents who try to sell us pot on Front Street and pan handle for money. As on the mainland, mental illness contributes to these behaviors. I get weary of hearing that tourists are the reason for the woes of Maui
Then why is there new commercial building going on right now. I was shocked to see contractors working on an office building in Kahului when they should all be busy rebuilding homes! What need for offices when we don’t have jobs or enough people that want to work to staff the businesses still holding on? How did they get permits approved and when?
BOH,
This is the second time you’ve written about the mayor’s proposal. You got quite a lot of flak about actually entertaining it as an effective solution to our housing crisis.
This article is so much better – many details, great analysis, and the courage to point out the emperor has no clothes.
Thank you.
The vacation rental condos targeted by the mayor are all within a half mile of the beach. That alone puts their value close to a million or more. Secondly, they were built before 1989 (the qualification to be on the Minatoya List). Nearly 50 years old, they need hundreds of thousands of dollars of work. Who pays for that? The owners of the condos, through special assessments and sky-high monthly dues. They will never be affordable housing. Even if they were given away for free, the cost to own would be $5,000 – $10,000 a month, and the rent would reflect that. Bissen is saying what you want to hear, instead of saying the truth: “The government f—ed up, not building affordable housing for our people.”
Exactly!!! These properties will never be affordable low income housing! Most aren’t suitable for families.
A breath of fresh air to read a publication willing to document the truth. I hope the government corruption doesn’t overwhelm your efforts to provide clarity and honest reporting. Bravo to the beat of Hawai’i.
I second that!
I just returned from a weeks stay on Maui here’s what I learned.
When a property becomes available for purchase investors are coming in with cash offers of 20 percent over asking price.
Mauiians of retirement age are working 2 sometimes 3 part time jobs to cover expenses especially health care.
The government guarantees of 2 year rental payments to STR owners have sent rental prices soaring to the point where no one can afford to rent without assistance.
We stayed in Wailea Kihei business owners said tourism is down, but since Lahaina was lost their sales are up.
This doesn’t surprise me one bit. You’ve been way too nice. He must think he’s safe. Not so.
The mayor should be recalled!
Our family has been visiting Maui annually for over 15 years, we have made so many great memories with our boys and my parents. The devastation of the Lahaina fires is heartbreaking but the behavior of Mayor Bissen is disappointing. I’m surprised he hasn’t been removed from office. Hopefully that will happen in the near future. You are held accountable for your actions!
Corruption and Incompetence.
Over the past 25 years my annual observation is that Hawaii in general is incredibly mismanaged by public officials who place no priority on safety or infrastructure. In this case, I would expect the citizens of Maui to be outraged. Do they not have the ability to recall and replace elected officials???
Mahalo BOH for this article. We need more of these. Many hope that the mayor will come to his senses but at the very least shedding light on his failure to govern must be done to make residents aware before voting time. Who knows how long it will take to reverse the damage already done to the economy. Rather than free temporary housing at the expense of others that will cripple the economy, present a sustainable solution with jobs, fair pay and training new skills. His bills will not be a solution to an issues, only causes and worsen new issues.
Bissen has bowed down to the few, but loud voices. Bissen apparently also doesn’t understand math. Which Maui families are moving into 500sq. ft condo’s? Where’s the loss of STR money coming from? Why is there no public discussion of loss of STR monies that subsidize us locals on our owner occupied tax rate? Why was Bissen an absentee leader? You cannot replace tourism and cut it off at the head if you have no alternative plan. The level of ignorance & illogical decision making is why Hawai’i is exposed. Lack of foresight & true leadership. You can do all of that & still be pono with aloha.
I have been going to the Hawaii islands for over 20 years, but I canceled my most recent trip because your prices are getting outrageous with all the fees and you 18 percent tax .Hawaii is not a good destination anymore. First you say don’t vacation here then you say we keep people to visit, you don’t know what you want. Hawaii is very poorly run
Florida seems to know how to deal with events like these. Guess they just didn’t want to go in that direction. I mean, within 6 months the Sanibel Island was asking for tourism to return. And a year and half later barely any noticeable hurricane damage. Ft. Myers and Naples seem completely back to normal.
Guess the people of Maui like paying for expensive vacations for others.
Florida is the master of raking in federal FEMA funds and other government assistance for the rebuilding of housing and infrastructure that will just be wiped out once again in a few years, while complaining when any other state needs federal help.
You could make the same claim about the blue city of New Orleans, but you would rather trash Florida because of their success. Either way, no one is complaining in these places about FEMA using the tax dollars we all pay to help our communities in emergency situations…no one except you.
We to are regular visitors to maui over 30 years. We have seen it go from affordable family trip to out of control prices. We were there in February and it seems like everything tripled in price. Some because of our president and inflation like food.
We decided to visit Hawaii in September and stayed in waikoloa. It was incredibly different. The locals appreciate the tourist very friendly and prices are alot more reasonable still expensive but not like maui. We felt a calming atmosphere and not over crowded. It’s very different than maui and truly enjoyed our stay.
Debbie,
Mahalo for not giving up on Hawaii entirely. 🙂
The article seems a little like pile on the dog (but I understand the sentiment and frustration. With that said there are real issues that do need to be addressed with the Short-term rental strategy the mayor has proposed.
I don’t see how the State can take away a property owners rights to earn income. I also don’t understand why there isn’t more discussion and Action on new affordable housing. There
The mayor is significantly out of touch and needs to be replaced with someone who can support the fire efforts, rebuilding, this vacation destination that is crucial to our island and owners of property, including short term rentals. He is clueless.
The mayor should be held accountable for the deaths & loss from the Lahaina fire, imprisoned & removed of any pensions rather than allowed to cause more damage to the residents of Maui & stripping constitutional rights that were fought for & what our country stands for. Hawaii is one of the United States, no matter how it transpired. We fall under the same rights & responsibilities. The U.S. is a melting pot of cultures, ideals & beliefs protected by our constitution until that is also ripped up & meaningless. There is housing, just not low income housing. So build and subsidize but not in resort areas & not by taking away from others. These bills will affect all of us negatively & at huge costs.
I will chose to be hopeful about his visit to Fukushima. Maybe he will see the benefits of the government enabling the construction of new housing to shelter the displaced (not just financially, but by expediting permits, red tape, etc.) as opposed to banning short term rentals and wrecking the Maui economy.
As for the tourism piece- as long as the yen remains historically weak against the dollar- I think that is a fool’s errand (for now).
Whats the problem here? You voted him in, now live with it.
Have to agree with Kenneth. Our political leaders from local to national are voted in by us. If the Maui residents don’t like what the mayor is doing, they will vote him out. If not, they approve. Their choice; it’s their economy and home.
Not for thee but ok for me….mentality.
“..reduce vacation rentals by 50% within the next 18 months.”
Those rentals provide income to the people and businesses and taxes to the government. Does the government have a realistic plan to at least replace, dollar for dollar, every lost payroll, business, and tax dollar? Or is it a hope and prayer based on some kind of hate for mainland tourists?
Do anyone of us trust vote counts anymore? I didn’t vote for him nor did many responsible invested resident voters. I will do everything in my power to bring awareness to his ineptness & get him thrown out. Even Hawaiian locals are realizing the damage he is causing that will affect us all. What is hi end game? Will it look like the hotel corps are coming to our rescue or is the mayor truly the scarecrow without a brain? Our governor is the tin man without a heart. What next? These bills will never deliver low income housing. Utility bills alone are can’t be supported with low income, let alone insurance & taxes.
Wow, he’ll probably get voted back in. When will people learn? Maui was awesome. I got to visit 5 times…got married there in ‘08, but…one of our go to restaurants burned down….Aloha Mix Plate closed down since our last visit. The owner of the condo we rented every time has since sold….Kimo’s and Java Jazz is probably the only reason we’d go back…just for the memories. Loved the people and the places…but your mayor has got to go. I bet he had a fun time in Japan. Hopefully Maui makes the best decisions for its future. Would hate to see that place get any worse off.
@Justin R… Just for clarity:
1. Aloha Mix Plate is open and thriving at it’s original location on Front Street.
2. Kimo’s is gone.
3. Java Jazz is open and awesome
We’d love to see you back on Maui…
I really hate to bring up politics but Hawaii really needs to test-drive another party. They can’t do any worse and I’m sure they’ll do better. The state has nothing to lose.
Absolutely need another person at helm!!!!
I hate to say this but I don’t think it has anything to do with party. It’s baked into the culture. Leverage cronies and cultural ties to get yourself elected and then hand out jobs to all your friends and ‘ohana with no regard to competency.
Talk about ‘CYA’, Bisson’s Expense paid trip, follows two by Governor Green (who , along with Maui’s Fire Chief was also out of State on August 7, 2023) already this Spring! What of the Discussions held over the past 10 years over Wind-Fire Mitigation? What of M. Kaleo Manuel? What of Hawaiian Power and Light? What of the former Governor Ige taking Al of the Counties Hotel Tax revenue for the States General Fund? Of all Newspapers, the NYTimes seems to be on the ball as to the cronyism that is part of the One-Party Rule
I haven’t met a awaʻawaʻa loea kālaiʻāina yet who would turn down a free trip. Its in their DNA. Their motto is “Do as I Say, Not as I Do”.
BOH, this is a thoughtful, fair, all-encompassing article. Your efforts in attempting to piece together all of the different moving parts is appreciated. Mahalo!
Hi Pat.
Thanks for saying that. We appreciate your nearly 600 comments too!
Aloha.
The more I read, the more I’m convinced that Maui County’s government is irrevocably incompetent at all levels. But the blame lies with us, the voters, who continuously elect people who are manifestly unfit for office. Until that changes, nothing will.
We get the government we deserve. The real problem is that good, competent people aren’t running for office anymore. In this age of deceit and attack politics, who wants to subject themselves to the horrible process of campaigns and money-raising? Until we change the campaign finance and information laws (not likely from the entrenched interests) we will continue to vote in compromised, incompetent hacks.
I respectfully have to disagree. There are a couple of good reasons for going to Japan. If only to foster more Japanese to visit would be worth it alone.
Much can be learned from the Japanese concerning disaster mitigation. They are really good at putting things back together again.
Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the Tohoku and January Noto Peninsula earthquakes to name a few.
These endeavors can only help Maui rebuild.
Thank you for the article.
Can you please explain how the Governor going to Japan “… foster more Japanese to visit…” ?
Really, comparing atomic bombs wiping out entire cities, hundreds of thousands of displaced people, deaths and injuries. No comparison. The best place to learn would be to have come to California which has had several towns burned to the ground as a result of electric companies failures. I’m sure the regulations in California would be more similar to those in Hawaii. Plus how many delegates do you need to send…20 seems extremely excessive. Can’t wait to see how this helps Maui, hoping and praying it does but considering your government I don’t have much faith in them. Mahalo
Beat of Hawaii has written a very one-sided editorial, ignoring Maui County’s general plan and the best interests of the residents of Maui. Maui’s tourism numbers were way in excess of those allowed by the Maui Island plan and the mayor’s reducing the number of short-term vacation rentals means that he is implementing the plan, unlike any of his predecessors.
Furthermore he is reducing the vacation rentals and making an effort to convert them to long-term rentals for the many people displaced by the Lahaina fire and for the pent-up demand for housing by Maui residents. Without these measures our young families will continually move away. Congratulations mayor vision for doing your job very well.
Housing in resort areas will never be low income housing. There are real costs. The need is for low income but without jobs not even low income rent will be affordable. 2200 fire victim homes were needed but 7000 STRs are banned. Most of the lost homes were unpermitted, illegal, non or underinsured properties. True subsidized low income housing should have been built without devastating our economy. There is no such thing as a free ride. Locals need to be educated with skills & professions, taught to budget, save & qualify rather than be handed a temporary solution that will cause more damage than it helps.
You’re sadly mistaken if you think your incompetent mayor can force home owners to donate their earnings to support long term renters. If STR’s are denied, owners will only rent to qualified long term renters who can afford to pay rent equivalent to the weeks or months the STR’s would generate. Otherwise, you, the Maui taxpayer, will have to foot the bill for any money handed to long term renters to offset the difference.
Do you realize very few of those “didplaced” families can adequately live in a 1 or 2 bedroom condo whether it’s via rent or purchase and also very few of them are interested in living way over in the Kihei /Wailea area, regardless if they can even afford it along with the HOA dues etc. Additionally the island cannot afford the lost tax revenue the tourists bring in for just the rentals alone. I wish the island well but there’s a loooong road ahead.
The Governor, Mayor and council are working off of charts put out by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. The charts indicate that the vast majority of the displaced are looking for 1 and 2-bedrooms.
I think the charts are rigged, as it certainly doesn’t seem to be true, judging by the number of displaced who are rejecting them.
I have seen the charts, and so many of the statistics in them just can’t be right.
PatG,
Thank you for this explanation. I saw a claim tied to an employee of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. He thinks the loss of STR property taxes, TAT and GET will amount to only 3 -4 % of the County budget, when in reality, GET property taxes alone are 40% of the County budget from property taxes. Now County Council has ordered a $300,000 study to determine the “real” costs. But who will do the Study? The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement?
Yes, that was another suspicious “statistic. My jaw dropped at some of these charts.
Here they are, for anyone interested:
app.helpingmaui.org/data/minastats
Here are more charts for Lahaina property data. You can also view other charts from the CNHA (Council for Native Hawaii Advancement) at this link.
This conflicting data has a large majority of the properties destroyed being occupied by the owners. I have seen other charts by other organizations showing that 75% of the displaced were renters.
app.helpingmaui.org/data/prop
There’s a significant difference between losing one’s home and losing one’s rental, although both are devastating.
Which one is it?
The vacation rental condos targeted by the mayor are all within a half mile of the beach. That alone puts their value close to a million or more. Secondly, they were built before 1989 (the qualification to be on the Minatoya List). Nearly 50 years old, they need hundreds of thousands of dollars of work. Who pays for that? The owners of the condos, through special assessments and sky-high monthly dues. They will never be affordable housing. Even if they were given away for free, the cost to own would be $5,000 – $10,000 a month, and the rent would reflect that. Bissen is saying what you want to hear, instead of saying the truth: “The government f—ed up, not building affordable housing for our people.”
If the Minatoya units are taken over by long-term landlords (doubtful, but that’s what the powers-that-be are hoping for) the owners will have their HOAs lowered by voting out and deferring needed maintenance, and the units will fall into disrepair.
Up until now, the Minatoya units have been immaculately maintained because they have to be for short-term visitor use, and also because owners spend time in their units themselves and want their complexes well-maintained.
Take both the option to short-term rent and owner visits away, and you will end up with sub-par rental housing with the cheapest possible upkeep. It will degrade and devalue the surrounding areas. That’s just the nature of long-term rentals.
Why wasn’t that “plan” ever mentioned in his reason for doing what he did?
The money paid for this junket would have been better spent on the legal fees the County of Maui will incur, now that the Electric company has turned the table on the County and is accusing the County of mismanagement.
If I am reading correctly The County did not pay for the trip.
“The delegation from Maui was reported by multiple sources to have visited Fukushima to learn how to help Maui recover based on learning from the earthquake-stricken area.”
Hello? What did the delegation expect to learn? Fukushima is not a place that tourists are greatly attracted to, so nothing about that issue is at play here.
As far as how the people of Fukishima and the government of Japan are dealing with post-earthquake issues, do not expect Hawaii legislators to learn anything about how to deal with Lahaina. It is apples and oranges and the mindset of the Japanese is far-removed from that of Hawaiians, native or otherwise.
There’s a little app called, “ZOOM”. It helps provide a face-to-face meeting whether across the city, across the country or around the world. At $159.00 for a year for a corporate rate, this would warrant a savings in the tens of thousands and even allow multiple people in attendance at the same time!
What a concept!!
Too bad the mayor has not been advised or sought out that little tiny app as a cost saving alternative.
Optics: Appears it was more about him and his pleasure than his reported duties!
End Result: Fired!
It seems the trip to Japan was to learn about disaster recovery but this article is trying to tie it to tourism. I’m wondering what took them so long to do this in their recovery planning efforts
Absolutely appalling and disgusting. This guy is totally incompetent and should be recalled immediately from office by the voters. What a disgrace and lack of judgement and respect for the citizens of Maui. Special interest politics at its worst. Vote all these politicians out of office. Hawaii deserves much better than its current clown car government.
Fire his ….
I believe 2011 was when the Tsunami wiped out Fukushima due to ocean turbulence caused by an offshore earthquake. The remnants of that Tsunami effected Kona quite badly with more minor damage occurring on the other Hawaiian Islands also.
I think that Mayor’s salary should be attached to tourism. His compensation should be reduced by 25% and is able to get this back if tourism meets the budgeted amount, anything short and he does not get the money. Could work a bonus plan based the amount of tourists dollars generated that exceed budget. Must exceed the budgeted amount by 10%.
This is an interesting concept, but since all of the claims show that by eliminating 50% of the STR, the county will only loose 3-4% in revenue, base his salary on the county’s revenue. If it goes below that 3-4% expected loss, start deducting the same percentage of the loss from his salary. I know I’m not going where I’m not wanted, so he’s lost all of my tax revenue.
Mike
Once again the old adage is “You get what you vote for” yet the citizens of Hawaii and each of the Islands continue to just vote the same old way and yet strangely Still believe that things will be somehow different! That is the definition of political insanity but no matter what has happened in the past they only believe that voting a straight ticket is the only thing that they can do! Pretty damn sad is what it is and where the equivalency is between Fukushima and Lahaina is totally escapes me considering that they had to deal with a tsunami AND radioactive waste spread by the melt down of several nuclear reactors! Differences with Huge distinctions with no similarities whatsoever!
Junkets in the age of Zoom…. should be suitably punished.
Not unlike Muriel Bowser, Mayor of DC, going to The Masters last month, and this week to Las Vegas, entourage and all, paid for by Taxpayers! These people don’t get it…………