My name is Keshia-Ann S. Dela Cruz, I’ve been a Maui Resident for 35 years, Born n Raised
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in my area and all over Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being. I live at Kahului Town Terrace and have been experienced rent increases twice in one year, maintenance fees which there not even fixing anything and now I’m hearing a third time because they made an mistake and it’s getting harder to save money to buy a home and take care my family, Especially having to worried about next increases. Its really messing with our mental health thinking how you gonna take care your family. If you’re gonna have to live in your car. It’s a really hard struggle. Rent stability would really help the families and they can remain in their homes together. For the sake of our community’s future, I urge you to support rent stabilization.
I appreciate the time in reading to my testimony
Aloha and good evening chair and members.
My name is Carol Lee Kamekona as you all know.
I am here to say I am in support of providing affordable housing for our residents. Something that truly does not exist at this time due to stock deficiency.
Our housing situation has been severely exacerbated since the fires of 2023. We need major reform in order for this issue to subside. And it starts with livable wages! Our families should not be expected to work 2-3 jobs just to survive. We need them to
Thrive! The decision to begin that reform lies with the powers to be which is this body. It is your decision that will make or break our Community!
Aloha and good evening chair and members.
My name is Carol Lee Kamekona as you all know.
I am here to say I am in support of providing affordable housing for our residents. Something that truly does not exist at this time due to stock deficiency.
Our housing situation has been severely exacerbated since the fires of 2023. We need major reform in order for this issue to subside. And it starts with livable wages! Our families should not be expected to work 2-3 jobs just to survive. We need them to Thrive! The decision to begin that reform lies with the powers to be which is this body. It is your decision that will make or break our Community!
The housing market on Maui has reached a critical point, exacerbated by the fires of 2023, which destroyed over 6,000 units and displaced at least four thousand local residents who have moved off-island. Rent hyperinflation, driven by a dysfunctional market and speculative investor practices, has destabilized Maui’s economy and its community, with many essential and community workers and families forced to leave the island. The Rent Stabilization Bill introduced by the Maui Tenants and Workers Association offers an essential corrective measure to stabilize rents, protect our full-time residents, and foster economic and community resilience. This document provides a 30,000 foot view of the economic and societal arguments in favor of rent stabilization, addresses the opposition’s concerns about rent stabilization, and counters the self-interested arguments of those profiting from the broken housing market.
Economic Arguments in Favor of Rent Stabilization
Stabilizing the Local Workforce:
Predictable rents allow workers to stay on the island, maintaining stability in businesses, schools, healthcare, and essential services. Rent stabilization prevents further population decline and displacement of the workforce.
Mitigating Hyperinflation:
Hyperinflated rents, worsened by FEMA’s above-market-rate payments, have destabilized the rental market. Rent stabilization will bring predictability, reducing price speculation and calming rent increases.
Community Resilience:
Housing stability leads to a stronger local economy, as residents are able to spend and invest in their communities. With rents stabilized, families can plan for the future, contributing to Maui’s long-term sustainability.
Addressing Market Failure:
The housing market was already broken before the fires, as evidenced by a five-year net loss in housing units. Market-driven solutions have consistently failed to provide sufficient affordable housing, and rent stabilization is necessary to prevent further displacement.
Addressing Infrastructure Issues:
With developers and private ownership interests withholding constitutional water rights and water resources and has prevented housing development.
Countering Opposition’s Economic Arguments
Economic Decline Argument:
Opponents claim that rent stabilization will reduce market value and hurt property owners. However, rent stabilization policies still allow landlords to receive fair returns, preventing price gouging while maintaining a functional and profitable market for property owners.
Job Loss Argument:
Critics suggest that rent stabilization will deter development. In fact, cities with moderate rent control, like those in California, have maintained high levels of new construction. Furthermore, the proposed bill exempts new multi-family developments, preserving incentives for growth.
Market-Driven Solutions Argument:
Simply building new housing will not resolve the affordability crisis, especially when many units are purchased by investors for short-term rentals. Rent stabilization ensures that existing housing remains accessible to local families, complementing the development of new units.
Encouraging New Construction Argument:
The argument that rent stabilization will halt new development is unfounded. Many modern rent stabilization policies, like the one proposed, exempt new constructions from restrictions, ensuring that developers still have incentives to build new housing. Please refer to the Exemptions Section L. on page -7- as follows:
"New multi-family construction completed, as verified by the county, after this bill takes effect, shall not be covered under this ordinance"
Property Rights Argument:
Opponents argue that rent stabilization infringes on property ownerʻs rights to set rents freely and undermines the financial autonomy of landlords. However, property rights are not absolute and they must be balanced against the public good, especially in times of crisis like Maui County is experiencing now. This rent stabilization measure ensures fair returns while protecting tenants from price gouging in a broken market.
Property Tax Revenue Argument:
Critics argue that the rent stabilization will lower property values and reduce tax revenues, thus harming public services. Modern rent stabilization properties actually enhance economic stability by reducing speculative buying bubbles and ensuring a stable population base which keeps both property assessed values stable and tax revenues steady.
Cost of Enforcement:
The argument that administrative challenges and costs involved in enforcing rent stabilization policy will be too difficult and too costly to manage does not take into consideration the societal costs of displacement, population reduction, and homelessness due to rent hyperinflation. Some societal costs of housing displacement are:
increased strain on public services like healthcare, mental health, public hospitals, and chronic illnesses
Increasing demand for homelessness services like shelters, transitional housing, social services, and more that stretch public resources
educational disruption on children with displaced families moving frequently or becoming houseless, leading to missed school and unstable learning environments. This affects overall academic performance and long-term educational attainment
houseless and housing insecure children are more likely to drp out of school which limits their future economic opportunities and increases the likelihood of continuing cycles of poverty and homelessness
displacement leads to a loss of local workforce as people move off-island or become homeless, further destabilizing local businesses, reducing productivity, and harming essential services (healthcare, education, and retail) that depend on a steady workforce
displaced individuals and families spend less on local goods and services, causing diminished revenue for small businesses and the local economy, which leads to reduced tax revenues for the County
displacement breaks apart social and familial support networks, weakening community cohesion, increasing social isolation, and reducing the effectiveness of community-based support systems and mutual aid networks
particularly in Maui County, displacement due to rent hyperinflation threatens the unique cultural identity here by pushing Native Hawaiiand, local families, and long-term residents out of their ancestral lands
displacement contributes directly to the homeless population, thus compounding the housing crisis. AS more residents become homeless due to rising rents, it becomes harder for the County to address both homelessness and affordable housing shortages
displacement of working families and low-income residents increases the overall demand for affordable housing. Without rent stabilization and other interventions, this demand remains unmet and exacerbates the overall crisis
In summary, rent hyperinflation creates a cascading set of challenges, increasing taxpayer costs and pressures on public services, while eroding the social fabric, economy, and health of those directly impacted.
Addressing the Opposition's Conflict of Interest
Commission-Driven Opposition:
Conflict of Interest: Realtors opposing the bill profit directly from hyperinflated housing prices, earning 3%-6% commissions on each property sold to off-island investors. With the median home price in Maui exceeding $1.2 million, realtors are profiting significantly each time a unit is sold to off-island investors. Their opposition is financially motivated, seeking to maintain a broken market that benefits them at the expense of local residents.
Stabilizing Rental Prices Is Good For The Local Economy:
Keeping Workers on Island: When workers are forced to leave due to unaffordable rents, local businesses and services suffer. Rent stabilization helps keep workers on the island, ensuring a healthy local economy and reducing displacement.
The Market Has Been Failing For Nearly A Decade:
Rent Stabilization is Necessary Intervention: The housing market in Maui County is already deeply dysfunctional, as evidenced by the housing shortage and hyperinflation, which existed long before the 2023 fires. We already had a net loss of housing over the past five years before losing over 6,000 units in the fires last year. RAMʻs argument for the past 10 years to let the market resolve the issue ignores its decades long failure to provide adequate affordable housing. Free-market solutions have not worked, and rent stabilization is a necessary intervention to protect local residents.
Societal Costs of Displacement and Homelessness Due to Rent Hyperinflation
Rent hyperinflation and displacement create widespread societal costs, including increased strain on public services, such as shelters and healthcare, destabilized schools, and a shrinking local workforce. Displacement breaks apart social networks and cultural ties, leading to community fragmentation and higher crime rates. The emotional and mental health impacts of displacement are severe, creating long-term trauma for families, especially children. Rent stabilization is a necessary measure to mitigate these costs and prevent the continued breakdown of Maui’s social and economic fabric.
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in Maui County and the state of Hawaii now.
As a resident of the Kihei community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being.
On Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, King Kamehameha III proclaimed the phrase "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono," which translates to "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness". This phrase is now the Hawaiian state motto. Do you think that forcing those off island for private interest and personal gains are what was meant by this?
Please note that those who are in opposition of this measure will refer to this as Rent Control, while also note that those who are in favor and strongly support this measure refer to this as Rent Stabilization. There is a difference and it makes a difference that the community understands how and why. Also, most who are opposed are in Real Estate and Property Management industries, so they have a vested interest as their industries are tied to rents increasing for profit in order to acquire more and more properties, it is their business models.
Mind you those who are opposed are not your traumatized , victimized, marginalized, aging, disabled, single parent, or essential worker. The concern I hear over and over again is in respect to the loss of property taxes and money the county will receive but then please explain why there are a multitude of banks that are under construction or recently built in just about every neighborhood of Maui? Banks do no invest in communities they do not believe in, this is certain.
Affordability and Stability Rent control can make housing more affordable and stable for low-income and marginalized communities. By limiting rent increases, rent control can prevent displacement and ensure that tenants can continue to afford their homes. Reducing Inequality Rent control can help reduce income inequality by preventing landlords from exploiting tenants and charging exorbitant rents. This can help ensure that the benefits of economic growth are shared more equitably among all members of society.
Encouraging Investment in Affordable Housing Rent stabilization can encourage investment in affordable housing by providing a stable and predictable revenue stream for developers and landlords. This can help increase the supply of affordable housing and reduce the shortage of affordable units. Rent control and rent stabilization are two related but distinct concepts in the context of rent regulation.
Rent control typically refers to a stricter form of regulation, where the rent is capped at a specific amount, and any increases are severely limited or prohibited. This is often implemented in response to a housing crisis, such as a shortage of affordable housing or rapidly rising rent prices. On the other hand, rent stabilization is a form of rent regulation that aims to protect tenants from excessive rent increases while also allowing landlords to earn a fair return on their investment. Under rent stabilization, landlords are allowed to increase the rent by a certain amount each year, as determined by a government agency or rent board.
The key differences between rent control and rent stabilization are:
Rent cap: Rent control typically has a stricter rent cap, while rent stabilization allows for annual increases.
Applicability: Rent control is often applied to specific units or buildings, while rent stabilization may cover a larger number of units or even an entire city or region.
Landlord rights: Rent control often limits a landlord's ability to evict tenants, while rent stabilization may allow for evictions under certain circumstances.
It's worth noting that rent control and rent stabilization regulations and laws vary widely from one location to another. Some cities or states may have rent control laws that apply to certain types of units or buildings, while others may have rent stabilization laws that apply to a larger number of units. ect tenants' rights by preventing landlords from engaging in unfair and deceptive practices, such as sudden and excessive rent increases. This can help ensure that tenants are treated fairly and with dignity.
Addressing the Housing Crisis Rent Stabilization can help address the housing crisis by reducing the pressure on the housing market and preventing rapid gentrification. This can help ensure that communities remain diverse and inclusive, and that low-income and marginalized communities are not priced out of their homes. It is not that I disagree that the government needs to do more, especially with the staffing crisis the county is experiencing, but we are all here to make this community work and work well for everyone who lives in it.
In Conclusion, I urge the County of Maui to seriously push for the support towards rent stabilization in Hawaii, starting here and now with Maui County.
Much Mahalo to the Maui County HLUC for all your time and consideration and your attention to this critical issue at this critical time.
Good evening esteemed members of the Maui County Council Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Alejandra Mosqueda, and I have had the privilege of calling Maui County home for the past three years. During this time, I have worked in various roles within social services, dedicating myself to providing essential support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Today, I come before you to share my personal experience and to advocate for a change that is crucial for the well-being of our community.
I am preparing to relocate to California, and while there are multiple factors influencing this decision, a significant one is the escalating cost of living here in Maui. Despite my deep commitment to this community and my efforts to serve those in need, the rising cost of housing has made it increasingly difficult to sustain my residence in the place I have called home.
My experience as a social service worker has granted me the opportunity to listen to and understand the struggles faced by many individuals and families in our community. I have heard countless stories from our Kupuna and others who are teetering on the brink of homelessness. Many of these individuals are living on limited social security incomes and are unable to keep up with the escalating rents. The lack of affordable housing options is not just an inconvenience—it is a crisis that threatens the stability and dignity of our most vulnerable residents.
It is truly disheartening to witness a situation where those who serve and support our community are driven away due to unaffordable living costs. This is a stark reminder that our community's well-being is inextricably linked to the affordability of housing. Without rent stabilization, we risk further deepening the divide between those who can afford to stay and those who are forced to leave.
Rent stabilization is not merely a policy—it's a lifeline. It represents a commitment to ensuring that the people who provide vital services, like myself, and those who are most in need, like the Kupuna and low-income families, have the opportunity to live with dignity and stability in the community they cherish.
I urge you to consider the pressing need for rent stabilization with the urgency and compassion it deserves. Implementing such measures will not only help retain dedicated professionals but also protect the most vulnerable members of our community from the crushing effects of unaffordable rent.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Alejandra Mosqueda
Written Testimony in Support of Rent Stabilization
Christa Briggs I would like to remain ANONYMOUS, Kihei, HI 96753 9/16/24
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in Kihei, HI now. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a necessity for the future of Maui to thrive.
In my personal opinion Maui needs more policies in place to protect residents from outlandish rent increases that have no cap like other cities do.
Personal Impact:
In my recent experience my rent increased by $300 and I still don’t have a working dryer and my kitchen counter top needs to be replaced.
I really love where I live but rent increases without keeping up with up keep of the rental as far as making sure everything works is egregious and offensive plus downright manipulative because the landlord’s are already aware that it is hard to find a new place.
Rent stabilization would ensure future peace of mind for Maui residents.
Sincerely,
Christa Briggs
I wish to remain ANONYMOUS
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Kristen Heidtke and I am a full-time 14 year resident of Wailuku.
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures on Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being.
Since the fires not a week has gone by where I don’t learn of another friend or family forced to leave the island because of rental prices. If they’re lucky, they can afford to pack up and leave but many can’t. This leaves people with two choices: homelessness or suicide. As someone who is involved with the community I see these two things happen far too often. Housing is suicide prevention! I implore you to please put a cap on the percentage a landlord can increase the rent. We need rent stabilization now!!
Mahalo for your time.
I understand you are discussing rent stabilization/rent control tonight with the long-term goal of creating affordable rental rates and increased housing for residents.
History has shown time and time again rent control is a “false promise” and has NEVER worked. Not one time.
All rent control policies wherever they have been tried result in reduced housing and higher rental rates because builders/investors will not build if there is no incentive for profit – and yes, PROFIT, that horrid term some on the council detest, is responsible for creating tax revenue for county employees past and present to spend on needed infrastructure, county services, police and emergency services, retirement, medical benefits, etc.
Property values go down because of proposals like this which will ultimately cause lower county tax revenue due to lower property values - less money to spend on needed county services.
We already have an increase in condos for sale due to Bissen’s proposed STVR ban proposal and now this unwise proposal. This is a double whammy from which property owners and Maui will not survive.
Rent control also causes deferred maintenance and neighborhood blight. Property owners face financial strain due to loss of needed revenue and defer nonessential maintenance, sometimes walking away from a property because there is no money to make needed repairs.
If Maui County residents want subsidized housing Maui County residents need to pay for it themselves out of county tax revenues.
Facts are facts and cannot be denied. Taking other peoples’ property through rent control or “stabilization” is not the solution.
Rent control/rent stabilization is government control of other peoples’ money/property to give to someone else. This is simply defined as socialism/communism.
If this had ever worked I’d be all for it but history is crystal clear, government control over private sector prices does not work and results in just the opposite of the intended goal.
In the end these naïve, wishful thinking fantasies will cause less affordable housing, ultimately driving up rental prices and stop investment in needed housing stock.
Maui County elected officials need to roll up their sleeves and start thinking outside the box to create affordable housing that is a win/win for every Maui resident, property owner and non property owner alike.
Property owners are not the cause of the housing shortage here and should not be held responsible for fixing the 40 year problem.
Taking other peoples’ property is not the answer.
Thank you
Terry Craven
10 Hoohui Rd, #209
Lahaina, HI. 96761
808-268-1450
terry@kapaluavacations.com
Written Testimony in Support of Rent Stabilization
Mandy Trella
Kihei, HI 96753
September 16, 2024
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures for the County of Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being.
I have personally benefited from living in a city with strong rent control. After graduating from Lahainaluna High School I moved to San Francisco where I received my BS in Business Management. I would not have been able to live and go to school in such an expensive city had I not had rent control protection on my apartment.
Since returning home a decade ago, I have witnessed many family members and childhood friends be forced to leave the islands because of the high cost of housing. I see the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the devastating 2023 Lahaina wild fires forcing more local people to leave their home and island. As a real estate professional on Maui, I have witnessed long time tenants be evicted to prepare a house for sale or even to be replaced with higher paying tenants.
Due the lack of rent control or tenant protections, Maui is a very attractive market for off-island investors. Maui offers relatively low property taxes with the long-term rental exemption, high rents due to a lack of housing inventory and a great return on investment due to increasing home prices. Additionally, many of the investor home states/cities have instituted their own rent stabilization policies.
I do not think a voluntary rent stabilization program will be effective as a small reduction in property tax rates won’t entice landlords to accept lower than market rental rates.
We have failed to build enough affordable housing to keep our residents here. We need to get creative on how to make the existing inventory of housing work for the local people of Maui. I wholeheartedly support rent stabilization as a necessary step toward protecting our community, to ensure residents have access to safe and reliable housing, and ultimately discourage outside investment. For the sake of our community's future, I urge you to support rent stabilization. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
My name is Carolina Davis, and I have been a resident of Hawaii since 2005. When we first moved here, finding housing was challenging due to the low inventory and high rents. Despite these difficulties, we took the leap of faith because of my husband's job, and we are grateful we did.
In the wake of the Lahaina Fire in August 2023, I have witnessed a remarkable outpouring of support from organizations and individuals both within Hawaii and beyond, coming together to aid the fire victims. As a Spanish interpreter, I have had the privilege of assisting Limited English Proficient victims in accessing the available resources. It has been an honor to contribute to the recovery efforts in our community.
However, the impact of the Lahaina Fire has extended beyond the immediate victims and is affecting all of Maui and Hawaii. The rental market has been severely impacted, with rental rates increasing dramatically over the past year. This surge is partly due to the rental assistance FEMA has provided to homeowners to address the housing crisis and move people out of hotel shelters. My own rent has increased by nearly $1,000 per month. Despite having two incomes in our household, the rising rents and cost of living have made it challenging to make ends meet. As a result, my husband and I are now considering the heartbreaking possibility of leaving the island.
Given this situation, I urge you to take action to stabilize rents in Hawaii. It is deeply troubling to think that individuals who grew up here might be forced to leave due to exorbitant rents, high living costs, and low-wage jobs. Hawaii's minimum wage rates, which range from $12.75 to $14.00 per hour, are insufficient to keep pace with the increasing cost of living. We urgently need rent control measures to ensure that people can continue to live in their homeland.
While assistance is being provided to Lahaina Fire victims, many others are facing eviction and hardship as a result of the fire's indirect impact, with no support available to them. I implore you to address this issue and provide the necessary help to stabilize the housing market.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Your prompt action is crucial.
The only way you're going to help the working class of Maui is by rolling back rent studios $800 one bedrooms $1000.02 bedrooms $1200.03 bedrooms $1500. If you adopted these rates and kept them in place for the rest of this decade, you would attract all the blue-collar workers you need on Maui this would also eliminate the mainland nonresident investors, who are responsible for our skyrocketing real estate and rental prices.
Hello, my name is Chivas Ludloff-Ellswick most people call me “Chevy” for short I have been a resident of Kihei for over 14 years.
I am writing to you today to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization in our community.
As a resident, I have seen first hand the challenges many of us face in finding affordable housing after the Lahaina Fire I’ve watched my sister and my nieces and nephews lose everything in the fire including our fathers remains who we had just lost the year prior and my friends who now struggle to find homes they can’t afford, with rents rising ridiculously high.
This instability in rent affects people in different ways mentally, physically, emotionally, and even financially just naming a few its hard to listen to people talk about how many generations of families have lived in there house just for it to disappear overnight literally and now over a year later still waiting for some type if any help at all from anyone and then see rent go so high that they are forced to leave the island just so they can survive which is heartbreaking and very upsetting being a local myself
I myself cant even afford a place of my own let alone with my girlfriend because rent is too high I am lucky to be in the position I am in right now where I have my own room but for me moving out right now is not an option and this frustrates me greatly trying to make a life for me my girlfriend and possible children in the future there’s no way I could afford to live here now if this is what the county of Maui wants to do is push out all of the locals well I’ll tell you something they are on the right track that’s for sure.
So, I end this on a final note that I will always support rent stability because everyone NOT just the elite should enjoy these islands the way I have all my life
My sisters and I were born and raised in Lahaina, and we had lived in the same home in Lahainaluna for 15 years before the devastating fire. Sadly, after the fire, our landlord decided to sell the property, and because we were not protected under the emergency proclamation, we were evicted. We couldn’t find anything affordable in Lahaina at the time. Despite our deep ties to the community and our desire to stay, the rising rents made it impossible.
Our family’s social network and friends are all in Lahaina, and being forced to move away has left a void in our lives. We miss our home, our friends, and the sense of belonging that comes with being in the community we grew up in. We were lucky to find a place in Wailuku due to a good deal, but had it not been for that, we would have had nowhere to go. While it is heartbreaking to see what has happened to Lahaina, it is equally tragic to see those indirectly affected—like us—being displaced from the only place we’ve ever known.
I currently work in Lahaina, and every day I am reminded of the community we had and how far we have been forced to move. The lack of affordable housing options is tearing apart our community. We must return to community-oriented policies, and it is crucial to protect those who have been indirectly impacted by the fire. This is why I strongly support rent stabilization. It would allow us and others like us to return home and reconnect with our families, friends, and neighbors.
Please help us get back to Lahaina, where we belong. Stabilizing rents will ensure that more families aren’t driven out of the area and will allow us to rebuild our lives together, rather than scattering us across the island. I urge you to take action to support rent stabilization, so that families like mine can return to their roots and continue contributing to the place we call home.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Keshia-Ann S. Dela Cruz, I’ve been a resident in Kahului for 6 years.
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in my area and all over Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being. I’ve personally experienced rent increases and it’s getting harder to save money and take care my family needs everyday. Especially having to worried about next increases. It really makes my mental health worse thinking how you gonna take care your family. If you’re gonna have to live in your car. It’s a really hard struggle. Rent stability would really help the families and they can remain in their homes together. For the sake of our community’s future, I urge you to support rent stabilization.
I appreciate the time in reading this letter.
Sincerely,
Keshia-Ann S. Dela Cruz
keshandy2606@gmail.com
Please find attached the Realtors Association of Maui Testimony on HLU-3(20) - Relating to Rent Stabilization. Please let me know if the committee needs any additional information.
I am writing to express my support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in Maui Hawaii now. As a resident of this Community, I believe rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right, but a determinant of mental health, economic success and overall well being.
I’ve been a resident of Kihei Maui for 30 plus years and have witnessed firsthand the challenges of finding affordable housing.
I’m here in support of rent stabilization as a necessary step towards protecting our community.
In recent years friends, families and neighbors leave their (rental home) due to unaffordable rent hikes. This instability disrupts families, affects children’s education and creates stress that impacts mental health.
By stabilizing rent, we can ensure that people remain in their homes, preserving the social fabric of our neighborhoods.
Rent stabilization would help maintain economic diversity in our community/city allowing services workers, first responders to live near their place of work.
While some may argue that rent control could discourage new construction, evidence show that a well design policies can protect tenants without stifling development.
For the sake of our community’s future. I urge you to support rent stabilization.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Dear Maui County Housing and Land use Committee. I am reaching out to you in regards to rent stabilization for Maui Hawaii. Specifically Lahaina HI.
Rent stabilization is crucial for our community especially at this time. After what the people of Lahaina have endured this last year, extreme rent increases has created more stress and instability for our local families.
I am a single mother who has resided in Lahaina for the last 16 years. My son went to Kam third. Lahaina intermediate and Lahaina Luna High school. I paddled for our local canoe team Napili, lead westside run groups, help women in recovery and worked at Fleetwoods’s on Front street for the last 11 years. I feel whole heartedly like a contributing member of the Westside community.
I am saying goodbye to friends and family who had to move off island due to rent increases. Hard working families who can no longer keep up with the cost of living here.
My own son and his father had to relocate to Alaska after losing everything in the fire. My only hope to have him move back is to find a rental for us both. The harsh reality is I am unable to obtain that even while working three jobs.
I’ve seen rent double if not triple since August 8th while the island is lacking the tourism it once had. Business is down, rent is up and workers are left without any other option but to move.
If we can put in place rent stabilization our community can get some much needed relief. Lahaina needs their workforce but the workforce needs secure housing.
This is a critical issue that weighs heavy on our community and it needs to be addressed.
I’d like to thank you for your time and consideration.
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in upcountry maui now. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall
well-being. I have been a resident of Haiku for 15 years and
have witnessed firsthand the challenges of finding affordable housing.
I am here to support rent stabilization as a necessary step
toward protecting our community.
In recent years, I have seen friends and neighbors forced to leave their homes due to unaffordable rent hikes. This instability disrupts families, affects children's education, and creates stress that impacts mental health.
By stabilizing rent, we can ensure that people can remain in their homes, preserving the social fabric of our neighborhoods.
Rent stabilization would help maintain economic diversity in our town, allowing teachers, first responders, and service workers to live near their places of work.
While some argue that rent control could
discourage new construction, evidence shows that well-designed policies can protect tenants without stifling development.
For the sake of our community's future, I urge you to support rent stabilization.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Testimonies received from HLU Committee
My name is Keshia-Ann S. Dela Cruz, I’ve been a Maui Resident for 35 years, Born n Raised
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in my area and all over Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being. I live at Kahului Town Terrace and have been experienced rent increases twice in one year, maintenance fees which there not even fixing anything and now I’m hearing a third time because they made an mistake and it’s getting harder to save money to buy a home and take care my family, Especially having to worried about next increases. Its really messing with our mental health thinking how you gonna take care your family. If you’re gonna have to live in your car. It’s a really hard struggle. Rent stability would really help the families and they can remain in their homes together. For the sake of our community’s future, I urge you to support rent stabilization.
I appreciate the time in reading to my testimony
keshandy2606@gmail.com
Aloha and good evening chair and members.
My name is Carol Lee Kamekona as you all know.
I am here to say I am in support of providing affordable housing for our residents. Something that truly does not exist at this time due to stock deficiency.
Our housing situation has been severely exacerbated since the fires of 2023. We need major reform in order for this issue to subside. And it starts with livable wages! Our families should not be expected to work 2-3 jobs just to survive. We need them to
Thrive! The decision to begin that reform lies with the powers to be which is this body. It is your decision that will make or break our Community!
Aloha and good evening chair and members.
My name is Carol Lee Kamekona as you all know.
I am here to say I am in support of providing affordable housing for our residents. Something that truly does not exist at this time due to stock deficiency.
Our housing situation has been severely exacerbated since the fires of 2023. We need major reform in order for this issue to subside. And it starts with livable wages! Our families should not be expected to work 2-3 jobs just to survive. We need them to Thrive! The decision to begin that reform lies with the powers to be which is this body. It is your decision that will make or break our Community!
Mahalo! 💜
The housing market on Maui has reached a critical point, exacerbated by the fires of 2023, which destroyed over 6,000 units and displaced at least four thousand local residents who have moved off-island. Rent hyperinflation, driven by a dysfunctional market and speculative investor practices, has destabilized Maui’s economy and its community, with many essential and community workers and families forced to leave the island. The Rent Stabilization Bill introduced by the Maui Tenants and Workers Association offers an essential corrective measure to stabilize rents, protect our full-time residents, and foster economic and community resilience. This document provides a 30,000 foot view of the economic and societal arguments in favor of rent stabilization, addresses the opposition’s concerns about rent stabilization, and counters the self-interested arguments of those profiting from the broken housing market.
Economic Arguments in Favor of Rent Stabilization
Stabilizing the Local Workforce:
Predictable rents allow workers to stay on the island, maintaining stability in businesses, schools, healthcare, and essential services. Rent stabilization prevents further population decline and displacement of the workforce.
Mitigating Hyperinflation:
Hyperinflated rents, worsened by FEMA’s above-market-rate payments, have destabilized the rental market. Rent stabilization will bring predictability, reducing price speculation and calming rent increases.
Community Resilience:
Housing stability leads to a stronger local economy, as residents are able to spend and invest in their communities. With rents stabilized, families can plan for the future, contributing to Maui’s long-term sustainability.
Addressing Market Failure:
The housing market was already broken before the fires, as evidenced by a five-year net loss in housing units. Market-driven solutions have consistently failed to provide sufficient affordable housing, and rent stabilization is necessary to prevent further displacement.
Addressing Infrastructure Issues:
With developers and private ownership interests withholding constitutional water rights and water resources and has prevented housing development.
Countering Opposition’s Economic Arguments
Economic Decline Argument:
Opponents claim that rent stabilization will reduce market value and hurt property owners. However, rent stabilization policies still allow landlords to receive fair returns, preventing price gouging while maintaining a functional and profitable market for property owners.
Job Loss Argument:
Critics suggest that rent stabilization will deter development. In fact, cities with moderate rent control, like those in California, have maintained high levels of new construction. Furthermore, the proposed bill exempts new multi-family developments, preserving incentives for growth.
Market-Driven Solutions Argument:
Simply building new housing will not resolve the affordability crisis, especially when many units are purchased by investors for short-term rentals. Rent stabilization ensures that existing housing remains accessible to local families, complementing the development of new units.
Encouraging New Construction Argument:
The argument that rent stabilization will halt new development is unfounded. Many modern rent stabilization policies, like the one proposed, exempt new constructions from restrictions, ensuring that developers still have incentives to build new housing. Please refer to the Exemptions Section L. on page -7- as follows:
"New multi-family construction completed, as verified by the county, after this bill takes effect, shall not be covered under this ordinance"
Property Rights Argument:
Opponents argue that rent stabilization infringes on property ownerʻs rights to set rents freely and undermines the financial autonomy of landlords. However, property rights are not absolute and they must be balanced against the public good, especially in times of crisis like Maui County is experiencing now. This rent stabilization measure ensures fair returns while protecting tenants from price gouging in a broken market.
Property Tax Revenue Argument:
Critics argue that the rent stabilization will lower property values and reduce tax revenues, thus harming public services. Modern rent stabilization properties actually enhance economic stability by reducing speculative buying bubbles and ensuring a stable population base which keeps both property assessed values stable and tax revenues steady.
Cost of Enforcement:
The argument that administrative challenges and costs involved in enforcing rent stabilization policy will be too difficult and too costly to manage does not take into consideration the societal costs of displacement, population reduction, and homelessness due to rent hyperinflation. Some societal costs of housing displacement are:
increased strain on public services like healthcare, mental health, public hospitals, and chronic illnesses
Increasing demand for homelessness services like shelters, transitional housing, social services, and more that stretch public resources
educational disruption on children with displaced families moving frequently or becoming houseless, leading to missed school and unstable learning environments. This affects overall academic performance and long-term educational attainment
houseless and housing insecure children are more likely to drp out of school which limits their future economic opportunities and increases the likelihood of continuing cycles of poverty and homelessness
displacement leads to a loss of local workforce as people move off-island or become homeless, further destabilizing local businesses, reducing productivity, and harming essential services (healthcare, education, and retail) that depend on a steady workforce
displaced individuals and families spend less on local goods and services, causing diminished revenue for small businesses and the local economy, which leads to reduced tax revenues for the County
displacement breaks apart social and familial support networks, weakening community cohesion, increasing social isolation, and reducing the effectiveness of community-based support systems and mutual aid networks
particularly in Maui County, displacement due to rent hyperinflation threatens the unique cultural identity here by pushing Native Hawaiiand, local families, and long-term residents out of their ancestral lands
displacement contributes directly to the homeless population, thus compounding the housing crisis. AS more residents become homeless due to rising rents, it becomes harder for the County to address both homelessness and affordable housing shortages
displacement of working families and low-income residents increases the overall demand for affordable housing. Without rent stabilization and other interventions, this demand remains unmet and exacerbates the overall crisis
In summary, rent hyperinflation creates a cascading set of challenges, increasing taxpayer costs and pressures on public services, while eroding the social fabric, economy, and health of those directly impacted.
Addressing the Opposition's Conflict of Interest
Commission-Driven Opposition:
Conflict of Interest: Realtors opposing the bill profit directly from hyperinflated housing prices, earning 3%-6% commissions on each property sold to off-island investors. With the median home price in Maui exceeding $1.2 million, realtors are profiting significantly each time a unit is sold to off-island investors. Their opposition is financially motivated, seeking to maintain a broken market that benefits them at the expense of local residents.
Stabilizing Rental Prices Is Good For The Local Economy:
Keeping Workers on Island: When workers are forced to leave due to unaffordable rents, local businesses and services suffer. Rent stabilization helps keep workers on the island, ensuring a healthy local economy and reducing displacement.
The Market Has Been Failing For Nearly A Decade:
Rent Stabilization is Necessary Intervention: The housing market in Maui County is already deeply dysfunctional, as evidenced by the housing shortage and hyperinflation, which existed long before the 2023 fires. We already had a net loss of housing over the past five years before losing over 6,000 units in the fires last year. RAMʻs argument for the past 10 years to let the market resolve the issue ignores its decades long failure to provide adequate affordable housing. Free-market solutions have not worked, and rent stabilization is a necessary intervention to protect local residents.
Societal Costs of Displacement and Homelessness Due to Rent Hyperinflation
Rent hyperinflation and displacement create widespread societal costs, including increased strain on public services, such as shelters and healthcare, destabilized schools, and a shrinking local workforce. Displacement breaks apart social networks and cultural ties, leading to community fragmentation and higher crime rates. The emotional and mental health impacts of displacement are severe, creating long-term trauma for families, especially children. Rent stabilization is a necessary measure to mitigate these costs and prevent the continued breakdown of Maui’s social and economic fabric.
Karen Dixon
Kihei, HI 96753
09/16/2024
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in Maui County and the state of Hawaii now.
As a resident of the Kihei community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being.
On Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, King Kamehameha III proclaimed the phrase "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono," which translates to "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness". This phrase is now the Hawaiian state motto. Do you think that forcing those off island for private interest and personal gains are what was meant by this?
Please note that those who are in opposition of this measure will refer to this as Rent Control, while also note that those who are in favor and strongly support this measure refer to this as Rent Stabilization. There is a difference and it makes a difference that the community understands how and why. Also, most who are opposed are in Real Estate and Property Management industries, so they have a vested interest as their industries are tied to rents increasing for profit in order to acquire more and more properties, it is their business models.
Mind you those who are opposed are not your traumatized , victimized, marginalized, aging, disabled, single parent, or essential worker. The concern I hear over and over again is in respect to the loss of property taxes and money the county will receive but then please explain why there are a multitude of banks that are under construction or recently built in just about every neighborhood of Maui? Banks do no invest in communities they do not believe in, this is certain.
Affordability and Stability Rent control can make housing more affordable and stable for low-income and marginalized communities. By limiting rent increases, rent control can prevent displacement and ensure that tenants can continue to afford their homes. Reducing Inequality Rent control can help reduce income inequality by preventing landlords from exploiting tenants and charging exorbitant rents. This can help ensure that the benefits of economic growth are shared more equitably among all members of society.
Encouraging Investment in Affordable Housing Rent stabilization can encourage investment in affordable housing by providing a stable and predictable revenue stream for developers and landlords. This can help increase the supply of affordable housing and reduce the shortage of affordable units. Rent control and rent stabilization are two related but distinct concepts in the context of rent regulation.
Rent control typically refers to a stricter form of regulation, where the rent is capped at a specific amount, and any increases are severely limited or prohibited. This is often implemented in response to a housing crisis, such as a shortage of affordable housing or rapidly rising rent prices. On the other hand, rent stabilization is a form of rent regulation that aims to protect tenants from excessive rent increases while also allowing landlords to earn a fair return on their investment. Under rent stabilization, landlords are allowed to increase the rent by a certain amount each year, as determined by a government agency or rent board.
The key differences between rent control and rent stabilization are:
Rent cap: Rent control typically has a stricter rent cap, while rent stabilization allows for annual increases.
Applicability: Rent control is often applied to specific units or buildings, while rent stabilization may cover a larger number of units or even an entire city or region.
Landlord rights: Rent control often limits a landlord's ability to evict tenants, while rent stabilization may allow for evictions under certain circumstances.
It's worth noting that rent control and rent stabilization regulations and laws vary widely from one location to another. Some cities or states may have rent control laws that apply to certain types of units or buildings, while others may have rent stabilization laws that apply to a larger number of units. ect tenants' rights by preventing landlords from engaging in unfair and deceptive practices, such as sudden and excessive rent increases. This can help ensure that tenants are treated fairly and with dignity.
Addressing the Housing Crisis Rent Stabilization can help address the housing crisis by reducing the pressure on the housing market and preventing rapid gentrification. This can help ensure that communities remain diverse and inclusive, and that low-income and marginalized communities are not priced out of their homes. It is not that I disagree that the government needs to do more, especially with the staffing crisis the county is experiencing, but we are all here to make this community work and work well for everyone who lives in it.
In Conclusion, I urge the County of Maui to seriously push for the support towards rent stabilization in Hawaii, starting here and now with Maui County.
Much Mahalo to the Maui County HLUC for all your time and consideration and your attention to this critical issue at this critical time.
Karen Dixon
Good evening esteemed members of the Maui County Council Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Alejandra Mosqueda, and I have had the privilege of calling Maui County home for the past three years. During this time, I have worked in various roles within social services, dedicating myself to providing essential support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Today, I come before you to share my personal experience and to advocate for a change that is crucial for the well-being of our community.
I am preparing to relocate to California, and while there are multiple factors influencing this decision, a significant one is the escalating cost of living here in Maui. Despite my deep commitment to this community and my efforts to serve those in need, the rising cost of housing has made it increasingly difficult to sustain my residence in the place I have called home.
My experience as a social service worker has granted me the opportunity to listen to and understand the struggles faced by many individuals and families in our community. I have heard countless stories from our Kupuna and others who are teetering on the brink of homelessness. Many of these individuals are living on limited social security incomes and are unable to keep up with the escalating rents. The lack of affordable housing options is not just an inconvenience—it is a crisis that threatens the stability and dignity of our most vulnerable residents.
It is truly disheartening to witness a situation where those who serve and support our community are driven away due to unaffordable living costs. This is a stark reminder that our community's well-being is inextricably linked to the affordability of housing. Without rent stabilization, we risk further deepening the divide between those who can afford to stay and those who are forced to leave.
Rent stabilization is not merely a policy—it's a lifeline. It represents a commitment to ensuring that the people who provide vital services, like myself, and those who are most in need, like the Kupuna and low-income families, have the opportunity to live with dignity and stability in the community they cherish.
I urge you to consider the pressing need for rent stabilization with the urgency and compassion it deserves. Implementing such measures will not only help retain dedicated professionals but also protect the most vulnerable members of our community from the crushing effects of unaffordable rent.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Alejandra Mosqueda
Written Testimony in Support of Rent Stabilization
Christa Briggs I would like to remain ANONYMOUS, Kihei, HI 96753 9/16/24
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in Kihei, HI now. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a necessity for the future of Maui to thrive.
In my personal opinion Maui needs more policies in place to protect residents from outlandish rent increases that have no cap like other cities do.
Personal Impact:
In my recent experience my rent increased by $300 and I still don’t have a working dryer and my kitchen counter top needs to be replaced.
I really love where I live but rent increases without keeping up with up keep of the rental as far as making sure everything works is egregious and offensive plus downright manipulative because the landlord’s are already aware that it is hard to find a new place.
Rent stabilization would ensure future peace of mind for Maui residents.
Sincerely,
Christa Briggs
I wish to remain ANONYMOUS
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Kristen Heidtke and I am a full-time 14 year resident of Wailuku.
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures on Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being.
Since the fires not a week has gone by where I don’t learn of another friend or family forced to leave the island because of rental prices. If they’re lucky, they can afford to pack up and leave but many can’t. This leaves people with two choices: homelessness or suicide. As someone who is involved with the community I see these two things happen far too often. Housing is suicide prevention! I implore you to please put a cap on the percentage a landlord can increase the rent. We need rent stabilization now!!
Mahalo for your time.
I understand you are discussing rent stabilization/rent control tonight with the long-term goal of creating affordable rental rates and increased housing for residents.
History has shown time and time again rent control is a “false promise” and has NEVER worked. Not one time.
All rent control policies wherever they have been tried result in reduced housing and higher rental rates because builders/investors will not build if there is no incentive for profit – and yes, PROFIT, that horrid term some on the council detest, is responsible for creating tax revenue for county employees past and present to spend on needed infrastructure, county services, police and emergency services, retirement, medical benefits, etc.
Property values go down because of proposals like this which will ultimately cause lower county tax revenue due to lower property values - less money to spend on needed county services.
We already have an increase in condos for sale due to Bissen’s proposed STVR ban proposal and now this unwise proposal. This is a double whammy from which property owners and Maui will not survive.
Rent control also causes deferred maintenance and neighborhood blight. Property owners face financial strain due to loss of needed revenue and defer nonessential maintenance, sometimes walking away from a property because there is no money to make needed repairs.
If Maui County residents want subsidized housing Maui County residents need to pay for it themselves out of county tax revenues.
Facts are facts and cannot be denied. Taking other peoples’ property through rent control or “stabilization” is not the solution.
Rent control/rent stabilization is government control of other peoples’ money/property to give to someone else. This is simply defined as socialism/communism.
If this had ever worked I’d be all for it but history is crystal clear, government control over private sector prices does not work and results in just the opposite of the intended goal.
In the end these naïve, wishful thinking fantasies will cause less affordable housing, ultimately driving up rental prices and stop investment in needed housing stock.
Maui County elected officials need to roll up their sleeves and start thinking outside the box to create affordable housing that is a win/win for every Maui resident, property owner and non property owner alike.
Property owners are not the cause of the housing shortage here and should not be held responsible for fixing the 40 year problem.
Taking other peoples’ property is not the answer.
Thank you
Terry Craven
10 Hoohui Rd, #209
Lahaina, HI. 96761
808-268-1450
terry@kapaluavacations.com
Written Testimony in Support of Rent Stabilization
Mandy Trella
Kihei, HI 96753
September 16, 2024
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures for the County of Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being.
I have personally benefited from living in a city with strong rent control. After graduating from Lahainaluna High School I moved to San Francisco where I received my BS in Business Management. I would not have been able to live and go to school in such an expensive city had I not had rent control protection on my apartment.
Since returning home a decade ago, I have witnessed many family members and childhood friends be forced to leave the islands because of the high cost of housing. I see the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the devastating 2023 Lahaina wild fires forcing more local people to leave their home and island. As a real estate professional on Maui, I have witnessed long time tenants be evicted to prepare a house for sale or even to be replaced with higher paying tenants.
Due the lack of rent control or tenant protections, Maui is a very attractive market for off-island investors. Maui offers relatively low property taxes with the long-term rental exemption, high rents due to a lack of housing inventory and a great return on investment due to increasing home prices. Additionally, many of the investor home states/cities have instituted their own rent stabilization policies.
I do not think a voluntary rent stabilization program will be effective as a small reduction in property tax rates won’t entice landlords to accept lower than market rental rates.
We have failed to build enough affordable housing to keep our residents here. We need to get creative on how to make the existing inventory of housing work for the local people of Maui. I wholeheartedly support rent stabilization as a necessary step toward protecting our community, to ensure residents have access to safe and reliable housing, and ultimately discourage outside investment. For the sake of our community's future, I urge you to support rent stabilization. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Mandy Trella
Dear HLU,
My name is Carolina Davis, and I have been a resident of Hawaii since 2005. When we first moved here, finding housing was challenging due to the low inventory and high rents. Despite these difficulties, we took the leap of faith because of my husband's job, and we are grateful we did.
In the wake of the Lahaina Fire in August 2023, I have witnessed a remarkable outpouring of support from organizations and individuals both within Hawaii and beyond, coming together to aid the fire victims. As a Spanish interpreter, I have had the privilege of assisting Limited English Proficient victims in accessing the available resources. It has been an honor to contribute to the recovery efforts in our community.
However, the impact of the Lahaina Fire has extended beyond the immediate victims and is affecting all of Maui and Hawaii. The rental market has been severely impacted, with rental rates increasing dramatically over the past year. This surge is partly due to the rental assistance FEMA has provided to homeowners to address the housing crisis and move people out of hotel shelters. My own rent has increased by nearly $1,000 per month. Despite having two incomes in our household, the rising rents and cost of living have made it challenging to make ends meet. As a result, my husband and I are now considering the heartbreaking possibility of leaving the island.
Given this situation, I urge you to take action to stabilize rents in Hawaii. It is deeply troubling to think that individuals who grew up here might be forced to leave due to exorbitant rents, high living costs, and low-wage jobs. Hawaii's minimum wage rates, which range from $12.75 to $14.00 per hour, are insufficient to keep pace with the increasing cost of living. We urgently need rent control measures to ensure that people can continue to live in their homeland.
While assistance is being provided to Lahaina Fire victims, many others are facing eviction and hardship as a result of the fire's indirect impact, with no support available to them. I implore you to address this issue and provide the necessary help to stabilize the housing market.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Your prompt action is crucial.
Sincerely, Carolina Davis
Dear HLU committee:
The only way you're going to help the working class of Maui is by rolling back rent studios $800 one bedrooms $1000.02 bedrooms $1200.03 bedrooms $1500. If you adopted these rates and kept them in place for the rest of this decade, you would attract all the blue-collar workers you need on Maui this would also eliminate the mainland nonresident investors, who are responsible for our skyrocketing real estate and rental prices.
Thank you, Robert Hart.
alanlloydlac@gmail.com
Hello, my name is Chivas Ludloff-Ellswick most people call me “Chevy” for short I have been a resident of Kihei for over 14 years.
I am writing to you today to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization in our community.
As a resident, I have seen first hand the challenges many of us face in finding affordable housing after the Lahaina Fire I’ve watched my sister and my nieces and nephews lose everything in the fire including our fathers remains who we had just lost the year prior and my friends who now struggle to find homes they can’t afford, with rents rising ridiculously high.
This instability in rent affects people in different ways mentally, physically, emotionally, and even financially just naming a few its hard to listen to people talk about how many generations of families have lived in there house just for it to disappear overnight literally and now over a year later still waiting for some type if any help at all from anyone and then see rent go so high that they are forced to leave the island just so they can survive which is heartbreaking and very upsetting being a local myself
I myself cant even afford a place of my own let alone with my girlfriend because rent is too high I am lucky to be in the position I am in right now where I have my own room but for me moving out right now is not an option and this frustrates me greatly trying to make a life for me my girlfriend and possible children in the future there’s no way I could afford to live here now if this is what the county of Maui wants to do is push out all of the locals well I’ll tell you something they are on the right track that’s for sure.
So, I end this on a final note that I will always support rent stability because everyone NOT just the elite should enjoy these islands the way I have all my life
Mahalo, Chivas Ludloff-Ellswick
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
My sisters and I were born and raised in Lahaina, and we had lived in the same home in Lahainaluna for 15 years before the devastating fire. Sadly, after the fire, our landlord decided to sell the property, and because we were not protected under the emergency proclamation, we were evicted. We couldn’t find anything affordable in Lahaina at the time. Despite our deep ties to the community and our desire to stay, the rising rents made it impossible.
Our family’s social network and friends are all in Lahaina, and being forced to move away has left a void in our lives. We miss our home, our friends, and the sense of belonging that comes with being in the community we grew up in. We were lucky to find a place in Wailuku due to a good deal, but had it not been for that, we would have had nowhere to go. While it is heartbreaking to see what has happened to Lahaina, it is equally tragic to see those indirectly affected—like us—being displaced from the only place we’ve ever known.
I currently work in Lahaina, and every day I am reminded of the community we had and how far we have been forced to move. The lack of affordable housing options is tearing apart our community. We must return to community-oriented policies, and it is crucial to protect those who have been indirectly impacted by the fire. This is why I strongly support rent stabilization. It would allow us and others like us to return home and reconnect with our families, friends, and neighbors.
Please help us get back to Lahaina, where we belong. Stabilizing rents will ensure that more families aren’t driven out of the area and will allow us to rebuild our lives together, rather than scattering us across the island. I urge you to take action to support rent stabilization, so that families like mine can return to their roots and continue contributing to the place we call home.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Maybel Galace
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Keshia-Ann S. Dela Cruz, I’ve been a resident in Kahului for 6 years.
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in my area and all over Maui. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall well-being. I’ve personally experienced rent increases and it’s getting harder to save money and take care my family needs everyday. Especially having to worried about next increases. It really makes my mental health worse thinking how you gonna take care your family. If you’re gonna have to live in your car. It’s a really hard struggle. Rent stability would really help the families and they can remain in their homes together. For the sake of our community’s future, I urge you to support rent stabilization.
I appreciate the time in reading this letter.
Sincerely,
Keshia-Ann S. Dela Cruz
keshandy2606@gmail.com
Aloha,
Please find attached the Realtors Association of Maui Testimony on HLU-3(20) - Relating to Rent Stabilization. Please let me know if the committee needs any additional information.
Mahalo
Na’Pua Amina
Kihei, HI 96753
9/16/24
Dear Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in Maui Hawaii now. As a resident of this Community, I believe rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right, but a determinant of mental health, economic success and overall well being.
I’ve been a resident of Kihei Maui for 30 plus years and have witnessed firsthand the challenges of finding affordable housing.
I’m here in support of rent stabilization as a necessary step towards protecting our community.
In recent years friends, families and neighbors leave their (rental home) due to unaffordable rent hikes. This instability disrupts families, affects children’s education and creates stress that impacts mental health.
By stabilizing rent, we can ensure that people remain in their homes, preserving the social fabric of our neighborhoods.
Rent stabilization would help maintain economic diversity in our community/city allowing services workers, first responders to live near their place of work.
While some may argue that rent control could discourage new construction, evidence show that a well design policies can protect tenants without stifling development.
For the sake of our community’s future. I urge you to support rent stabilization.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Na’Pua Amina
namina66@gmail.com
Jolene Giles
Lahaina, HI,
September 13th
Dear Maui County Housing and Land use Committee. I am reaching out to you in regards to rent stabilization for Maui Hawaii. Specifically Lahaina HI.
Rent stabilization is crucial for our community especially at this time. After what the people of Lahaina have endured this last year, extreme rent increases has created more stress and instability for our local families.
I am a single mother who has resided in Lahaina for the last 16 years. My son went to Kam third. Lahaina intermediate and Lahaina Luna High school. I paddled for our local canoe team Napili, lead westside run groups, help women in recovery and worked at Fleetwoods’s on Front street for the last 11 years. I feel whole heartedly like a contributing member of the Westside community.
I am saying goodbye to friends and family who had to move off island due to rent increases. Hard working families who can no longer keep up with the cost of living here.
My own son and his father had to relocate to Alaska after losing everything in the fire. My only hope to have him move back is to find a rental for us both. The harsh reality is I am unable to obtain that even while working three jobs.
I’ve seen rent double if not triple since August 8th while the island is lacking the tourism it once had. Business is down, rent is up and workers are left without any other option but to move.
If we can put in place rent stabilization our community can get some much needed relief. Lahaina needs their workforce but the workforce needs secure housing.
This is a critical issue that weighs heavy on our community and it needs to be addressed.
I’d like to thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely, Jolene Giles
jolenecor@icloud.com
aui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong support for mandatory rent stabilization measures in upcountry maui now. As a resident of this community, I believe that rent stabilization is essential to ensuring that all families have access to safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of mental health, economic success, and overall
well-being. I have been a resident of Haiku for 15 years and
have witnessed firsthand the challenges of finding affordable housing.
I am here to support rent stabilization as a necessary step
toward protecting our community.
In recent years, I have seen friends and neighbors forced to leave their homes due to unaffordable rent hikes. This instability disrupts families, affects children's education, and creates stress that impacts mental health.
By stabilizing rent, we can ensure that people can remain in their homes, preserving the social fabric of our neighborhoods.
Rent stabilization would help maintain economic diversity in our town, allowing teachers, first responders, and service workers to live near their places of work.
While some argue that rent control could
discourage new construction, evidence shows that well-designed policies can protect tenants without stifling development.
For the sake of our community's future, I urge you to support rent stabilization.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Susanna