April 22, 2024
To: Maui County Council Members
Re: Resolution 24-77 regarding donation of 266 Dickenson Street, Lahaina to the Lahaina Community Land Trust
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Renee Kaiama, and I'm a resident of Maui County, proud to be a native Hawaiian. I'm writing to share my concerns about Resolution 24-77.
As I've looked into the situation surrounding the property at 266 Dickenson Street, which includes two parcels - Lot 3 and Lot A - purchased for $650,000 in 2021 during Mayor Victorino's time in office, I feel strongly that opposing this resolution is the right move for our community.
Lot 3, with its 1500 square feet and ties to Land Commission Awards, Royal Patents, and the Great Mahele, holds a special place in our history. However, the decision to donate this land to the newly formed Lahaina Community Land Trust after recent fires worries me. I wonder if it's the best use of our county's assets.
While it's noble to want to keep Lahaina lands under local control, we must remember that Maui County encompasses Lahaina and must wisely manage its resources. Given the circumstances, I'm not convinced that donating such valuable land is the wisest choice.
Instead, I suggest that the county holds onto the A-2 zoned lot and explores partnerships to create housing opportunities for essential workers like our police officers, firefighters, medical staff, educators, ambulance drivers or our Senior Community. The A-2 zoning offers plenty of options, including residential and duplex spaces, as well as apartment houses, boarding houses, and more.
By holding onto this property and focusing on housing initiatives that meet the needs of our residents, Maui County can better serve its people and tackle our community's housing challenges.
If the county decides to donate the lot, I strongly urge that it be given to Hawaiian Home Lands instead of a trust that's less than a year old. This would ensure that the land is managed by a respected entity with a long history of serving our Native Hawaiian communities.
.
I am Rick Pounds and my wife Dale and I have lived in Maui Meadows for more than 30 years. In 1998 we were granted our Bed and Breakfast permit to use our cottage and rooms in our house for hosting visitors. In fact we were one of the first permits ever issued. To say that it has been challenging, dealing with the County concerning our permit over the years, is an understatement. But our neighbors have always embraced us, and we have made friends of our many of our guests over the years the years.
Property tax has always stuck us as unfair to those of us who have followed the law all these years and maintained our B&B permits. I don’t think that it is fair that we have to pay as much as 3 times what my neighbors pay in property tax as a result of our B&B permit. But the current proposal to increase our tax rate to $5.00/$1000 is a step too far. This newly proposed rate, when applied to my new, much higher tax assessment, would increase my tax bill from $8008 to $11,345, a 41% increase in just one year.
I want to stress that we are not a short term rental. We live in our home full time and it is not fair to charge us more than three times the tax charged to my neighbor, with a similarity assessed home.
Two years ago we began paying an the new 3% Maui County Transient Accommodations Tax to the County and this year an additional 1/2 percent General excise tax. Isn’t that enough? I also pay 10.25% TAT and 4% GET to the State. Why should I also have to pay so much additional property tax? It is not fair and I am asking the Council to reduce the tax rate for the Commercialized Residential tax class to $3.50. This will still have me paying twice and much as my neighbors pay, but at least would be a little more reasonable.
As a result of the Lahaina fires and the pronouncements of the Governor and the Mayor, that visitors should not to come to Maui, my business is off by more than 50%. My wife and I are in our 70’s and survive off of our B&B income. But my income is going down while my taxes are going up. I don’t know how we will make it. Please reduce my tax rate.
April 22, 2024
To: Maui County Council Members
Re: Resolution 24-77 regarding donation of 266 Dickenson Street, Lahaina to the Lahaina Community Land Trust
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Renee Kaiama, and I'm a resident of Maui County, proud to be a native Hawaiian. I'm writing to share my concerns about Resolution 24-77.
As I've looked into the situation surrounding the property at 266 Dickenson Street, which includes two parcels - Lot 3 and Lot A - purchased for $650,000 in 2021 during Mayor Victorino's time in office, I feel strongly that opposing this resolution is the right move for our community.
Lot 3, with its 1500 square feet and ties to Land Commission Awards, Royal Patents, and the Great Mahele, holds a special place in our history. However, the decision to donate this land to the newly formed Lahaina Community Land Trust after recent fires worries me. I wonder if it's the best use of our county's assets.
While it's noble to want to keep Lahaina lands under local control, we must remember that Maui County encompasses Lahaina and must wisely manage its resources. Given the circumstances, I'm not convinced that donating such valuable land is the wisest choice.
Instead, I suggest that the county holds onto the A-2 zoned lot and explores partnerships to create housing opportunities for essential workers like our police officers, firefighters, medical staff, educators, ambulance drivers or our Senior Community. The A-2 zoning offers plenty of options, including residential and duplex spaces, as well as apartment houses, boarding houses, and more.
By holding onto this property and focusing on housing initiatives that meet the needs of our residents, Maui County can better serve its people and tackle our community's housing challenges.
If the county decides to donate the lot, I strongly urge that it be given to Hawaiian Home Lands instead of a trust that's less than a year old. This would ensure that the land is managed by a respected entity with a long history of serving our Native Hawaiian communities.
.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mahalo nui loa,
Renee Kaiama
I am Rick Pounds and my wife Dale and I have lived in Maui Meadows for more than 30 years. In 1998 we were granted our Bed and Breakfast permit to use our cottage and rooms in our house for hosting visitors. In fact we were one of the first permits ever issued. To say that it has been challenging, dealing with the County concerning our permit over the years, is an understatement. But our neighbors have always embraced us, and we have made friends of our many of our guests over the years the years.
Property tax has always stuck us as unfair to those of us who have followed the law all these years and maintained our B&B permits. I don’t think that it is fair that we have to pay as much as 3 times what my neighbors pay in property tax as a result of our B&B permit. But the current proposal to increase our tax rate to $5.00/$1000 is a step too far. This newly proposed rate, when applied to my new, much higher tax assessment, would increase my tax bill from $8008 to $11,345, a 41% increase in just one year.
I want to stress that we are not a short term rental. We live in our home full time and it is not fair to charge us more than three times the tax charged to my neighbor, with a similarity assessed home.
Two years ago we began paying an the new 3% Maui County Transient Accommodations Tax to the County and this year an additional 1/2 percent General excise tax. Isn’t that enough? I also pay 10.25% TAT and 4% GET to the State. Why should I also have to pay so much additional property tax? It is not fair and I am asking the Council to reduce the tax rate for the Commercialized Residential tax class to $3.50. This will still have me paying twice and much as my neighbors pay, but at least would be a little more reasonable.
As a result of the Lahaina fires and the pronouncements of the Governor and the Mayor, that visitors should not to come to Maui, my business is off by more than 50%. My wife and I are in our 70’s and survive off of our B&B income. But my income is going down while my taxes are going up. I don’t know how we will make it. Please reduce my tax rate.
Written Testimony from Ke Ao Hali'i Attached