As Lahaina residents, we are devastated by the fire thatg tore through our small beautiful community. While my home is still standing, it is ground zero on Front st. Fire and toxic ash burned in every single direction around my home and community. Our home has had no water, power, or sewage since the fire occured. Even when all of that is taken care of, my home is still filled with toxic poisounous ash and soot. I can't clean my home and remediate the interior and exterior until ALL of Lahaina is cleaned of the toxic ash. Every time a debris pile is picked up, the wind will spread those toxins over my home. By the time Lahaina is fully cleaned and I can remove drywall wtc it will be years. I am forced to pay a mortgage and HOA fees on a home that is uninhabitable for years while also paying rent. My buisness was also impacted by the fire. We deserve the same courtesy as other fire victims received. We support 3.48.551
Maui County Council Members,
Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee
Meeting – October 31, 2023 Support of Bill 95, section 3.48.551
We are the owners of a property located in the Lahaina burn zone. Our property was not destroyed but is located next to an enormous burn zone of toxic unstable rubble. We still have no water or sewer services and estimates say it could be many months until those are restored. Our home will require extensive cleaning/remediation to remove the ash and toxins but this cannot be done until the toxic debris has been removed from the surrounding burn zone which may take up to a year to complete. Our home is uninhabitable and there is no timeline as to when it will be safe to live in.
In addition to property taxes, we are also still responsible for paying our monthly HOA fees. Property taxes are based on property values which have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town. It is unfair that owners of still-standing but uninhabitable properties be required to pay their property taxes during a time when basic infrastructure (water, sewer) is not available, the property itself in uninhabitable, and surrounded by toxic debris which may not be removed for many months.
We ask that you support Bill 95 and specifically the new section 3.48.551 which provides a 2-year property tax exemption for all properties in Lahaina Tax Zone 4, sections 5 and 6.
Property tax relief for those strs receiving income, enough to cover all of their expenses and more should not receive additional help. Your creating a tax nightmare down the road for all but mostly those who have had no str income now for 3mos or more into the future.
I am writing in support of Bill 95, we have a rental and personal use condo in Lahaina Roads that stands, but in uninhabitable due to toxicity embedded in the drywall and throughtout the condos. We have lost most of our income from this fire and were planning on living in this unit, as we are beginning our retirement. The contiunued HOA and taxes are destroying our retirement funds and for this reason we as that you please vote yes to support Bill 95
Sarah Hall
Lahaina Road Unit 202
Aloha Maui Council Members,
I am writing in support of Bill 95, specifically the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax Zone 4, sections 5 and 6.
The deadly Lahaina Fire that caused so much destruction on August 8, 2023, continues to cause devastation for all of Lahaina, including those whose homes were fortunate enough to be “spared” from burning down completely but still remain uninhabitable and will be so for some time.
I am an elderly property owner and cannot live in my condominium since the fire in August. In Lahaina Roads, all units are uninhabitable as we have no water or sewer and the property is covered and filled with toxic materials, smoke and ash. It has come to my attention that the insulation and drywall will need to be replaced because the porous walls and sidings have soaked in the toxins. My home will not be safely habitable until all toxins have been cleared and removed. In addition, once the water is restored, it will take several months before the water is safe to use.
We are only being allowed one clean up from the insurance companies and I cannot start my clean up process until all the hazards and toxins are removed because I cannot afford to pay twice. They are saying that the toxic mitigation cleaning will average $35,000 per property.
My property value has decreased tremendously due to this unfortunate disaster. I am respectfully requesting tax relief for all of Lahaina Town which includes the unsafe, uninhabitable smoke and toxic filled homes.
Mahalo for your time and consideration,
Fred T. Roseberry III
Owner, Lahaina Roads #302
My family lost three homes in the Lahaina Fire and our other three homes are smokers. We have lost jobs, and our businesses have been destroyed. Our three smoker homes do not have water or sewer and are filled with toxic ash. We cannot live in them, yet we are paying mortgages, property taxes, maintenance fees, and insurance in addition to paying rent.
Thus, we pray you will help us and grant the property tax exemption for our smoker homes. Our lives, homes, and the values of our homes have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town and our neighborhood.
Please vote to support Bill 95 and specifically the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax zone 4, sections 5 and 6.
Council of the County of Maui
Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
October 31, 2023
We support Bill 95, an attempt to lower Property Taxes for those buildings that survived the Lahaina wild fires of August 8, 2023.
Our property at 48 Puailima Place, #4, in Puamana, did survive the fires but damage was done to the property and the use of the property. We intend to clean up our unit and rent to the local population for the immediate future. We do not expect to get anywhere near the real value of our property in the local rental market for the next few years. For that reason we ask that you support the proposal to exempt our property from Real Property Taxes for the next couple of years. We know of many homeowners who will not be able to pay their Property Taxes or their HOA fees without the draw of a healthy rebuilt Lahaina Town. It may take four or five years or more for the restoration of Lahaina.
Please vote yes on Bill 95, especially section 3.48.551 that provides exemption from real property taxes for homeowners like us.
Michael and Karen Learned, property owners on Maui since 1986
I am an owner in Puamana and although my unit is still standing I have no water or sewer.
Our properties are covered and filled with toxic smoke and ash. Our homes won’t be safely habitable until the Lahaina Town toxins have been cleared and removed.
All of Lahaina Town needs Tax Relief including our unsafe uninhabitable homes that are standing.
Property taxes are based on property values. Our property values have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town and our neighborhoods.
Environmental assessments are discovering toxic cancer-causing pollutants that were released throughout Lahaina Town in the fire.
Some have recently been told by experts that because Lahaina homes have been sitting in the heat for months with toxic ash inside and outside, the porous walls and siding could have soaked up toxins, requiring more than just mitigation cleaning. Many will need to replace the insulation and drywall, a potentially lengthy process.
Most insurance companies will only pay once for cleaning, painting, and or replacement of drywall, siding, and insulation, and this should be done once the toxic debris is removed from the neighboring environment.
Cleaning and replacement of siding and drywall can't start until all the hazardous debris and toxins in Lahaina Town are safely removed or we might have to pay twice. Toxic mitigation cleaning estimates are averaging $35,000 per property.
The clean-up of Lahaina Town will take at least a year once it finally starts.
Once we have water it may be toxic for several months.
C. Real property classified as commercialized residential or TVR-STRH and used to temporarily house a person or family displaced by the August 2023 wildfires is exempt from real property taxation for each month a displaced person or family is housed in the property, whether the displaced person or family uses the property for a partial or complete month, from August 1, 2023 through July 1, 2025 . . ."
Writing in strong support of Bill 95. My name is Rann Watumull. My wife Gina and I are the trustees of the Albert G. Oaks 2012 Dynasty Trust which owns the home located at 5187 Lower Honoapiilani Rd in Napili. We have been housing up to 2 families with a total of 10 people, who lost everything in the Lahaina fire, since August 10, 2023 two days after the fire. We have been housing these families at no cost to them.
However, we are being charged over $58,000 per year in property tax as a legal short term vacation rental house.
We strongly support this bill as it would provide much relief from the burdensome property tax expenses while we are helping victims of the fire.
My wife and I own a home in Lahaina that was not destroyed in the wildfire. We were able to see it first-hand late October. While our property did not burn, the damage is significant. The fire came within 40 yards of our home, leaving deck furnishings strewn about, a layer of ash covers everything both outside and inside.
We support Bill 95, particularly section 3.48.551 that provides exemption from real property taxes for homeowners like us.
Our home is located within fire (zone 16A). As I stated, our home did not burn but several neighbors' homes as close as 40 yards away were destroyed along the essential services. We cannot live in our home and have no timetable as to when we can. The nearest estimate to return to our home is 1-2 years. Remediation to restore our home could include replacing all furnishings and taking the home to the studs and starting over with everything. These are expenses that extend well beyond what my insurance will cover.
While in the past we have enjoyed our home during some of the year, it was a vacation rental for the majority of the year and zoned as such. And therefore, our property taxes are assessed as such as well. We will not be able to use or rent our home for the foreseeable future due to its location and condition, leaving my property's value severely negatively impacted.
We urge you to pass this bill as soon as possible.
I am an owner of a home in Lahaina that was not destroyed in the August wildfire. Notwithstanding that my home did not burn down, the personal financial impact of the event- in totality- is proving to be catastrophic.
I am writing in support of Bill 95, and in particular section 3.48.551 that provides a two year exemption from real property taxes for homeowners like myself.
My home is located squarely within the area impacted by the fires (zone 16A). Many of my neighbours' homes were destroyed, along with services in my community. My home is not habitable. I have no reliable information about when it will be habitable, but various sources advise it will be at least many months, if not over a year, until even basic water and sewer service is restored. My home is full of toxic ash. The full extent of the remediation required is unclear at this point, but the preliminary advice I've received is that I may be required to replace drywall, wall insulation, paint, carpet and other floor coverings, exterior cladding, and of course most or all of my home's furnishings. I am not even remotely fully insured for my loss.
Even after my home might be made liveable in the coming year or longer, it will in effect be an "island" surrounded by devastation and a long-term multi-year cleanup of a massive toxic area and eventual rebuilding.
My property taxes are substantial, in particular because my home is zoned for vacation rental. Vacation rental of my home will not be reasonably viable for years, given its condition and location. And as a result, the property value of my home has been devastated.
Bill 95 would offer at least some mitigation of my loss. I respectfully urge you to pass it as soon as possible.
Respectfully,
Sean George
Ariel Holdings
176-1 Pualei Dr.
Lahaina, HI
96761
I am a homeowner in Puamana, Lahaina and I have been affected adversely by the fire of August 8th. Since the fire, I have not been able to occupy my home and it is likely that it will not be habitable for the foreseeable future. Though power has been restored, there is no sewer or water service and until the ashes are removed, there is an inhalation risk from the remaining fire debris.
It is for these reasons that I strongly support the new section 3.48.551 that provides a a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax zone 4, sections 5 and 6..
M Bradford Henley
226 Pulalei Dr. #2
Lahaina, HI 96761
Council:
My name ids Gary Wetsel. My wife and I hav owned 150-3 Pualie Drive, Lahaina for 10 plus years. I have previous sent a letter in support of Prop.95 to the Council. I strongly urge support for the proposition. I believe te owners of this property have suffered substantial financial loss as a result of the Lahaina fires and ned the County help ease the pain of this disaster. Please see my previous letter to Council Member Tamara.
Respectively Gary Wetsel
Bill 95 and specifically 3.48.551. I hope you pass this bill and give the two year exemption for property taxes. Our unit at Lahaina Shores Hotel is still not habitable since we do not have water, etc. We continue to have to pay HOA dues even though our unit cannot be lived in.
My name is John Sims and my wife is Pam Sims. We are (or were) permanent Hawaii residents at 1403 Front St, Unit 307 until the August 8 fire. Since then, we are having to live else where. While we are blessed that the cement structure is still standing with some minor damage, the building and our unit is still not usable as intended and assessed for property tax purpose. Our unit, along with the other 41 units do not have water, sewer, or electricity. The unit is filled with ash, soot, and toxic smoke. Even when we get utilities, I will not be able to clean my unit of the ash and smoke until all the neighboring homes that were burned are cleared and their dust and ash settle.
This was our retirement dream and we started it full time in October 2021. That has now been decimated just like the wonderful people around us lives have been decimated. It will be years before I will be able to return to live at Lahaina Roads. My property value has been decimated and is no where close to what it was assessed at for tax purpose. I ask your grace on this following statement. While my building and unit didn't burn to the ground, I'm equally unable to use it. It might as well have burned.
My wife and I are humbly and respectfully asking you, the Budget Committee, to pass Bill 95, especially the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption, not only for Lahaina Roads, but for everyone that is in the burn zone. All of Lahaina needs this relief.
Mahalo for all your work and efforts during these difficult times,
As Lahaina residents, we are devastated by the fire thatg tore through our small beautiful community. While my home is still standing, it is ground zero on Front st. Fire and toxic ash burned in every single direction around my home and community. Our home has had no water, power, or sewage since the fire occured. Even when all of that is taken care of, my home is still filled with toxic poisounous ash and soot. I can't clean my home and remediate the interior and exterior until ALL of Lahaina is cleaned of the toxic ash. Every time a debris pile is picked up, the wind will spread those toxins over my home. By the time Lahaina is fully cleaned and I can remove drywall wtc it will be years. I am forced to pay a mortgage and HOA fees on a home that is uninhabitable for years while also paying rent. My buisness was also impacted by the fire. We deserve the same courtesy as other fire victims received. We support 3.48.551
Sincerely,
Matthew and Amanda
Maui County Council Members,
Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee
Meeting – October 31, 2023 Support of Bill 95, section 3.48.551
We are the owners of a property located in the Lahaina burn zone. Our property was not destroyed but is located next to an enormous burn zone of toxic unstable rubble. We still have no water or sewer services and estimates say it could be many months until those are restored. Our home will require extensive cleaning/remediation to remove the ash and toxins but this cannot be done until the toxic debris has been removed from the surrounding burn zone which may take up to a year to complete. Our home is uninhabitable and there is no timeline as to when it will be safe to live in.
In addition to property taxes, we are also still responsible for paying our monthly HOA fees. Property taxes are based on property values which have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town. It is unfair that owners of still-standing but uninhabitable properties be required to pay their property taxes during a time when basic infrastructure (water, sewer) is not available, the property itself in uninhabitable, and surrounded by toxic debris which may not be removed for many months.
We ask that you support Bill 95 and specifically the new section 3.48.551 which provides a 2-year property tax exemption for all properties in Lahaina Tax Zone 4, sections 5 and 6.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter and Donna Gibson
Property tax relief for those strs receiving income, enough to cover all of their expenses and more should not receive additional help. Your creating a tax nightmare down the road for all but mostly those who have had no str income now for 3mos or more into the future.
I am writing in support of Bill 95, we have a rental and personal use condo in Lahaina Roads that stands, but in uninhabitable due to toxicity embedded in the drywall and throughtout the condos. We have lost most of our income from this fire and were planning on living in this unit, as we are beginning our retirement. The contiunued HOA and taxes are destroying our retirement funds and for this reason we as that you please vote yes to support Bill 95
Sarah Hall
Lahaina Road Unit 202
Aloha Maui Council Members,
I am writing in support of Bill 95, specifically the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax Zone 4, sections 5 and 6.
The deadly Lahaina Fire that caused so much destruction on August 8, 2023, continues to cause devastation for all of Lahaina, including those whose homes were fortunate enough to be “spared” from burning down completely but still remain uninhabitable and will be so for some time.
I am an elderly property owner and cannot live in my condominium since the fire in August. In Lahaina Roads, all units are uninhabitable as we have no water or sewer and the property is covered and filled with toxic materials, smoke and ash. It has come to my attention that the insulation and drywall will need to be replaced because the porous walls and sidings have soaked in the toxins. My home will not be safely habitable until all toxins have been cleared and removed. In addition, once the water is restored, it will take several months before the water is safe to use.
We are only being allowed one clean up from the insurance companies and I cannot start my clean up process until all the hazards and toxins are removed because I cannot afford to pay twice. They are saying that the toxic mitigation cleaning will average $35,000 per property.
My property value has decreased tremendously due to this unfortunate disaster. I am respectfully requesting tax relief for all of Lahaina Town which includes the unsafe, uninhabitable smoke and toxic filled homes.
Mahalo for your time and consideration,
Fred T. Roseberry III
Owner, Lahaina Roads #302
Aloha Honorable Council,
My family lost three homes in the Lahaina Fire and our other three homes are smokers. We have lost jobs, and our businesses have been destroyed. Our three smoker homes do not have water or sewer and are filled with toxic ash. We cannot live in them, yet we are paying mortgages, property taxes, maintenance fees, and insurance in addition to paying rent.
Thus, we pray you will help us and grant the property tax exemption for our smoker homes. Our lives, homes, and the values of our homes have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town and our neighborhood.
Please vote to support Bill 95 and specifically the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax zone 4, sections 5 and 6.
Thank you,
Mark & Vicki Marchello
Council of the County of Maui
Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
October 31, 2023
We support Bill 95, an attempt to lower Property Taxes for those buildings that survived the Lahaina wild fires of August 8, 2023.
Our property at 48 Puailima Place, #4, in Puamana, did survive the fires but damage was done to the property and the use of the property. We intend to clean up our unit and rent to the local population for the immediate future. We do not expect to get anywhere near the real value of our property in the local rental market for the next few years. For that reason we ask that you support the proposal to exempt our property from Real Property Taxes for the next couple of years. We know of many homeowners who will not be able to pay their Property Taxes or their HOA fees without the draw of a healthy rebuilt Lahaina Town. It may take four or five years or more for the restoration of Lahaina.
Please vote yes on Bill 95, especially section 3.48.551 that provides exemption from real property taxes for homeowners like us.
Michael and Karen Learned, property owners on Maui since 1986
I support this bill!
I am an owner in Puamana and although my unit is still standing I have no water or sewer.
Our properties are covered and filled with toxic smoke and ash. Our homes won’t be safely habitable until the Lahaina Town toxins have been cleared and removed.
All of Lahaina Town needs Tax Relief including our unsafe uninhabitable homes that are standing.
Property taxes are based on property values. Our property values have been decimated by the destruction of Lahaina Town and our neighborhoods.
Environmental assessments are discovering toxic cancer-causing pollutants that were released throughout Lahaina Town in the fire.
Some have recently been told by experts that because Lahaina homes have been sitting in the heat for months with toxic ash inside and outside, the porous walls and siding could have soaked up toxins, requiring more than just mitigation cleaning. Many will need to replace the insulation and drywall, a potentially lengthy process.
Most insurance companies will only pay once for cleaning, painting, and or replacement of drywall, siding, and insulation, and this should be done once the toxic debris is removed from the neighboring environment.
Cleaning and replacement of siding and drywall can't start until all the hazardous debris and toxins in Lahaina Town are safely removed or we might have to pay twice. Toxic mitigation cleaning estimates are averaging $35,000 per property.
The clean-up of Lahaina Town will take at least a year once it finally starts.
Once we have water it may be toxic for several months.
Sanford Pearl
Unit 226-4 Puali Drive
Lahaina
RE: Bill 95; “3.48.551. C
C. Real property classified as commercialized residential or TVR-STRH and used to temporarily house a person or family displaced by the August 2023 wildfires is exempt from real property taxation for each month a displaced person or family is housed in the property, whether the displaced person or family uses the property for a partial or complete month, from August 1, 2023 through July 1, 2025 . . ."
Writing in strong support of Bill 95. My name is Rann Watumull. My wife Gina and I are the trustees of the Albert G. Oaks 2012 Dynasty Trust which owns the home located at 5187 Lower Honoapiilani Rd in Napili. We have been housing up to 2 families with a total of 10 people, who lost everything in the Lahaina fire, since August 10, 2023 two days after the fire. We have been housing these families at no cost to them.
However, we are being charged over $58,000 per year in property tax as a legal short term vacation rental house.
We strongly support this bill as it would provide much relief from the burdensome property tax expenses while we are helping victims of the fire.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Rann and Gina Watumull
(808) 255-4353
My wife and I own a home in Lahaina that was not destroyed in the wildfire. We were able to see it first-hand late October. While our property did not burn, the damage is significant. The fire came within 40 yards of our home, leaving deck furnishings strewn about, a layer of ash covers everything both outside and inside.
We support Bill 95, particularly section 3.48.551 that provides exemption from real property taxes for homeowners like us.
Our home is located within fire (zone 16A). As I stated, our home did not burn but several neighbors' homes as close as 40 yards away were destroyed along the essential services. We cannot live in our home and have no timetable as to when we can. The nearest estimate to return to our home is 1-2 years. Remediation to restore our home could include replacing all furnishings and taking the home to the studs and starting over with everything. These are expenses that extend well beyond what my insurance will cover.
While in the past we have enjoyed our home during some of the year, it was a vacation rental for the majority of the year and zoned as such. And therefore, our property taxes are assessed as such as well. We will not be able to use or rent our home for the foreseeable future due to its location and condition, leaving my property's value severely negatively impacted.
We urge you to pass this bill as soon as possible.
Aloha Mayor and Council,
I am an owner of a home in Lahaina that was not destroyed in the August wildfire. Notwithstanding that my home did not burn down, the personal financial impact of the event- in totality- is proving to be catastrophic.
I am writing in support of Bill 95, and in particular section 3.48.551 that provides a two year exemption from real property taxes for homeowners like myself.
My home is located squarely within the area impacted by the fires (zone 16A). Many of my neighbours' homes were destroyed, along with services in my community. My home is not habitable. I have no reliable information about when it will be habitable, but various sources advise it will be at least many months, if not over a year, until even basic water and sewer service is restored. My home is full of toxic ash. The full extent of the remediation required is unclear at this point, but the preliminary advice I've received is that I may be required to replace drywall, wall insulation, paint, carpet and other floor coverings, exterior cladding, and of course most or all of my home's furnishings. I am not even remotely fully insured for my loss.
Even after my home might be made liveable in the coming year or longer, it will in effect be an "island" surrounded by devastation and a long-term multi-year cleanup of a massive toxic area and eventual rebuilding.
My property taxes are substantial, in particular because my home is zoned for vacation rental. Vacation rental of my home will not be reasonably viable for years, given its condition and location. And as a result, the property value of my home has been devastated.
Bill 95 would offer at least some mitigation of my loss. I respectfully urge you to pass it as soon as possible.
Respectfully,
Sean George
Ariel Holdings
176-1 Pualei Dr.
Lahaina, HI
96761
Re -Bill 95
I am a homeowner in Puamana, Lahaina and I have been affected adversely by the fire of August 8th. Since the fire, I have not been able to occupy my home and it is likely that it will not be habitable for the foreseeable future. Though power has been restored, there is no sewer or water service and until the ashes are removed, there is an inhalation risk from the remaining fire debris.
It is for these reasons that I strongly support the new section 3.48.551 that provides a a two-year exemption from Real Property taxes for all properties in Lahaina Tax zone 4, sections 5 and 6..
M Bradford Henley
226 Pulalei Dr. #2
Lahaina, HI 96761
Council:
My name ids Gary Wetsel. My wife and I hav owned 150-3 Pualie Drive, Lahaina for 10 plus years. I have previous sent a letter in support of Prop.95 to the Council. I strongly urge support for the proposition. I believe te owners of this property have suffered substantial financial loss as a result of the Lahaina fires and ned the County help ease the pain of this disaster. Please see my previous letter to Council Member Tamara.
Respectively Gary Wetsel
Bill 95 and specifically 3.48.551. I hope you pass this bill and give the two year exemption for property taxes. Our unit at Lahaina Shores Hotel is still not habitable since we do not have water, etc. We continue to have to pay HOA dues even though our unit cannot be lived in.
My name is John Sims and my wife is Pam Sims. We are (or were) permanent Hawaii residents at 1403 Front St, Unit 307 until the August 8 fire. Since then, we are having to live else where. While we are blessed that the cement structure is still standing with some minor damage, the building and our unit is still not usable as intended and assessed for property tax purpose. Our unit, along with the other 41 units do not have water, sewer, or electricity. The unit is filled with ash, soot, and toxic smoke. Even when we get utilities, I will not be able to clean my unit of the ash and smoke until all the neighboring homes that were burned are cleared and their dust and ash settle.
This was our retirement dream and we started it full time in October 2021. That has now been decimated just like the wonderful people around us lives have been decimated. It will be years before I will be able to return to live at Lahaina Roads. My property value has been decimated and is no where close to what it was assessed at for tax purpose. I ask your grace on this following statement. While my building and unit didn't burn to the ground, I'm equally unable to use it. It might as well have burned.
My wife and I are humbly and respectfully asking you, the Budget Committee, to pass Bill 95, especially the new section 3.48.551 that provides a two-year exemption, not only for Lahaina Roads, but for everyone that is in the burn zone. All of Lahaina needs this relief.
Mahalo for all your work and efforts during these difficult times,
Aloha,
John and Pam Sims
1403 Front St, Unit 307