My name is Leni Hokoana English. I come from ʻohana with multi-generational connection to Maui.
I support the Bill before the Council.
Appreciate the testimony previously offered by many that cite research and data from those who both support and oppose this legislation. Unable to qualify the information presented by these testifiers, that personally sound speculative in nature; what is clear to me is that those testifying in opposition to this bill are those who come from “plenty” as investors who express entitlement to capitalize on and against those who “have not”…shelter; a basic necessity of humanity for those who make up the fabric of this place we kamaʻaina call home.
It burns my naʻau to hear the opposition speak of caring for Maui, & describe how they contribute or are contributing to Maui, yet quick to threaten litigation, recognizing the adverse implication litigation will have in harming all of Maui. Characteristic and adequate evidence for me that affirm, these eloquent persuaders really donʻt care for the Maui we are trying to protect. For me, and I hope for most is the only evidence we need to affirm why this legislation needs to pass.
No doubt, the decision before this Council, the courageous support of our Mayor is difficult and sensitive. I close by encouraging this body to
lean into the ʻike of one of our most prolific kupuna; our moʻi wahine, Queen Liliʻuokalani who reminds us: “You must remember never cease to act because you fear you may fail. The way to lose any earthly kingdom is to be inflexible, intolerant, and prejudicial. Another way is to be too flexible, tolerant of too many wrongs and without judgment at all. It is a razor’s edge. It is the width of a blade of pili grass. To gain the kingdom of heaven is TO HEAR WHAT IS NOT SAID, TO SEE WHAT CANNOT BE SEEN, AND TO KNOW THE UNKNOWABLE- that is ALOHA.
All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” -Queen Liliʻuokalani
Please let the passage of this bill be the first step to correcting the many wrongs our people and our place we call home, our Maui has endured. Me Ke Aloha Nui, leni english
Thank you, Maui Council. My name is Jack Van Boening and I represent the Blue Isle Group, a not for profit LLC. In 1998 my parents bought a condo at the Ma’alaea Kai and formed a group of ten owners from the mainland made up of family and friends. We do not rent our condo at the Maalaea Kai but we are now taxed as a Short Term Rental. We did not buy this condo in order to make a profit. We bought this condo to come and share and be a part of the Maui community. Our not for profit LLC Document agreement strictly prohibits the renting of our condo and we strictly enforce that. Within the last five years our property taxes have increased from $3,600 a year to now $15,000 annually because we are now in the category of Short Term Rental. Our ten owners come here and continue to contribute greatly to the economy on Maui. We employ people to clean the condo. We eat at restaurants all over Maui. We buy vehicles and new appliances. We support the entertainers who appreciate the income from our owners. After the Lahaina fire two of our owners offered up their assigned time and offered our condo to locals we know who lost their home. We did not charge them a rental fee to stay in our condo. We always have one of our owners at the condo. How do I remove our condo from being defined as a Short Term Rental? I oppose this bill. I know too many people who would be negatively impacted. Thank you and God bless.
I am not a resident of maui, nor do I own any property on maui. I am a long term (15yr) visitor that has stayed in both hotels, hostels, and rental condos. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy staying in accommodations of all price ranges and have enjoyed them all. Many of my friends local to maui, I would now consider family. I was recently in the LA fire and empathize greatly with those also suffered loss.
UHERO's study, the lack of demand for listed rental units, and the contracted economy suggest that this bill has already damaged the the community before it has even been enacted. As I understand, these rental units are legally operating and recognized as well. However, this does not invalidate the housing crisis seen both in maui and shared nationally across america. Friends and peers in academia, real estate, and public policy predicted this outcome at the onset of the bill proposal and were shocked that such an obviously counterproductive decision was made and my friends in the legal field are seeing this as merely a money funnel to lawyers and hotels.
It appears that we, the citizens, are all aware of the need for housing, but we are not provided any effective proposals. This bill appears to have only caused economic harm and deep division within the community. In Los Angeles, we have had similar housing problems and recently experienced a fire that is calculated to be the most damaging natural disaster in american history. We have not encountered the same divisive proposals and harmful political discourse, yet we have almost the exact same issues.
I believe this bill should be changed to redirect the usage of taxes from these rentals along with hotels towards construction of new low cost subsidized housing. Whether you support or oppose it, please take a step back and research what other areas with similar (or the exact same!) problems are doing, and more importantly NOT doing. Housing is clearly an issue, and it appears that other issues and motivations are being conflated with the solution for this problem.
I am a proud resident of Maui who works directly in the short-term rental industry. I’m writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed ban on short-term rentals. While I understand the concerns regarding housing and community integrity, I urge you also to consider the very real and immediate impact this decision would have on everyday citizens like myself—and on the small businesses that rely on this sector to survive.
The short-term rental industry is not just a business; it is a lifeline for thousands of Maui residents. From property managers, cleaners, landscapers, and maintenance workers to local artisans, restaurants, and tour companies, a wide range of individuals and businesses depend on the consistent flow of visitors that short-term rentals bring. Eliminating this avenue of tourism threatens to dismantle a vital economic ecosystem that supports local families.
Many of us who work in this industry do so because it provides flexibility, fair wages, and year-round opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. This ban would not only take away our jobs, but also diminish our ability to provide for our families, pay rent, buy groceries, and live with dignity in the place we call home.
Short-term rentals have also allowed many residents to afford their own homes by renting part of their property. These are not faceless corporations—these are our neighbors trying to make ends meet in one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
Rather than an outright ban, I encourage the council to consider fair regulation—ones that target bad actors, preserve residential character, and protect the rights of local homeowners who are operating responsibly and contributing positively to our community.
Please do not take away our livelihoods in an effort to solve one issue by creating another. We need balanced, thoughtful solutions that support both housing and economic sustainability.
Keep it simple. There is no Maui without its locals and residents. People who truly care about our islands are forced to move away because of the high costs. STRs do not support locals and residents who need an affordable place to live in order to work and survive. The People of Maui need to be put first before the pockets of STR owners, which many do not even live in Hawai’i.
As a 26 year resident of Hana Maui I strongly support the phase out of STRs and feel the priority should be actual residents looking for a place to live instead of non-resident investments. I used to be in favor of STRs but have seen the already small inventory of available long term rentals decrease even further with the abundance of STRs. I have witnessed first hand friends from all over the island who had to move because their rental was going to become an STR. In 2020 I was evicted from my rental of 17 years because the owner's family was coming back from the mainland. I was given nearly 3 months to find a new rental for myself, my wife and my 2 well behaved dogs. In that entire time, I found only one place we could afford and the only reason it was available was that the owner had recently changed it from an STR to a long term rental (for personal reasons). There is no doubt that STRs reduce the availability of long term rentals for permanent residents and drive up rental prices.
I urge you to pass this bill and prioritize local resident housing over the investments of mostly out of state owners. If those owners can't afford to put their STR condo into the long term rental pool, they should sell it to a local resident who will live in it.
Written Testimony in Support of Bill 9 (2025): “Restoring Zoning Integrity and Housing Balance”
Submitted to: Maui County Council – Housing and Land Use Committee
Date: June 9, 2025
Submitted by: Renee P Kaiama
Aloha Committee Members
Please accept this as my written support of Bill 9
⸻
Hoʻōla – To Heal, Revive, and Restore
Bill 9 (2025) is not merely a regulatory update—it is an essential course correction. In the wake of the August 2023 fires that devastated Lahaina and displaced thousands, this legislation represents a restorative step to realign Maui’s zoning laws with their original intent: to house people, not tourists.
This is a legal, ethical, and economic obligation. Healing begins with housing.
⸻
Ka Moʻolelo o ke Kūlanakauhale – The Story of Our Island’s Housing Crisis
The collapse of Maui’s housing system has been decades in the making. From the post-Gulf War economic shift to 9/11, the Great Recession, the COVID pandemic, and now the climate disaster in Lahaina, each crisis has exposed the unsustainability of an economy overly reliant on tourism and speculative short-term rentals (STRs).
Over time, apartment zones—originally designed to support working families, seniors, and long-term residents—were slowly overtaken by illegal or grandfathered STR operations. The so-called “Minatoya list” was never codified by ordinance. It created a de facto loophole, one that undermined housing availability, legality, and transparency.
⸻
Kuleana – The Legal Duty to Govern and Enforce Zoning
Zoning is not discretionary. Under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §46‑4 and long-standing U.S. zoning law, counties have the authority—and obligation—to restrict land use to protect public welfare.
Bill 9 lawfully terminates nonconforming STR use in apartment districts while providing a reasonable amortization period. This is not punitive; it is restorative. Similar legislation has withstood legal scrutiny elsewhere:
• Santa Monica, California: Upheld STR bans and amortization in court.
• New Orleans, Louisiana: Mass-cancellation of STRs not in line with zoning and tax law.
• Barcelona, Spain & Amsterdam: Limited STR saturation to stabilize housing markets.
These municipalities took bold action—and remain economically viable. Maui can and must do the same.
⸻
Laulima – Working Together Toward Equity
This bill reflects the collective effort of County volunteers and professionals who serve on the Planning Commission—not elected, not politically rewarded—who determined that STR activity in apartment zones is inconsistent with both law and community wellbeing.
To ignore their work would not only dismiss their courage and integrity, but would also condone continued zoning violations and economic harm to Maui residents.
⸻
Hoʻokaʻawale – Disentangling Fear from Fact
Bill 9’s opponents offer fear-based arguments: collapse in property values, mass unemployment, tourism decline. But these outcomes are not supported by data:
• Maui County and State governments are understaffed—STR workers can be absorbed into health care, education, infrastructure, and housing sectors.
• Home prices may adjust, but transparency and enforceability restore market confidence.
• Tourism continues in properly zoned hotel areas, as it should.
Relying on STRs in residential zones was never sustainable. It’s time for facts, not fear.
⸻
Hoʻonohonoho ʻAno Hou – Reorganizing for a Resident-First Future
Bill 9 gives the County the tools to transition STR units back into the long-term housing pool through:
• Graceful phase-out deadlines (West Maui by July 1, 2025; rest of Maui by January 1, 2026).
• Tax audits, lien enforcement, and clear violation penalties.
• A foundation for a County-led STR-to-renter transition initiative.
This is an opportunity to correct course—and house residents displaced by fires, rising costs, or predatory land use practices.
⸻
Pono – Justice, Balance, and Responsibility
Governor Josh Green’s Emergency Proclamation on Housing (2023–2024) provided fast-track powers for affordable housing and zoning enforcement in response to the disaster. More than $200 million has been committed to West Maui recovery.
How can the County accept that funding in good faith while allowing illegal STRs to continue in areas meant for homes?
Bill 9 aligns Maui County with the Governor’s directive. It is the legally and morally pono action.
⸻
Nā Ala I Mua – The Paths We Must Choose
The Planning Department volunteers were not elected, but they did what elected officials have struggled to do: they acted in the best interest of the law and the public.
Now it is this Committee’s kuleana to continue that leadership. The public is watching. Residents are leaving. Trust in government is thin.
Bill 9 must be advanced to the full Council for debate, amendment, and passage—not delayed, watered down, or buried.
⸻
Hoʻokupu no ka Lāhui – A Gift for the People and the Land
This bill is a hoʻokupu—a humble offering to future generations. It reaffirms that the people of Maui, not transient investors, are the priority. It affirms that zoning laws are not mere suggestions. And it affirms that this island is not for sale, but for stewardship.
We ask you to be brave, as the Planning Commission was brave.
Move Bill 9 forward. Let the people and the Council complete this healing process together.
⸻
Mahalo for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to pono governance.
Testimony of Paul Katz in opposition to the Phasing Out of Short-Term Rentals in Maui County
I am Paul Katz. My wife and I own the 1-bedroom Condominium (“Condo”) at 3300 Wailea Alanui Drive #53D (Minatoya List 210080650000 Wailea Ekahi III) plus two long-term rental apartment buildings in Santa Monica California. The fixed costs to maintain the properties are different for the short-term and long-term properties, making the rent prohibitively expensive in the Condo for a long-term rental.
Below are the comparative profiles of the short-term Condo fixed costs and the equivalent fixed costs for our long-term 5-unit building.
Wailea Ekahi Unit 53D Short-Term Property Annual Fixed Costs
$18,516 Wailea Ekahi HOA Annual fees for maintenance of the extensive grounds, buildings, pools, water, sewage, trash, barbeques, property insurance and beach access.
$14, 906 Maui County Property Tax.
$1,100 Condo Insurance.
$34,522 is the Total Annual Fixed Cost for this 1-bedroom condo, or $2,876 per month to be covered by part of each month’s rent.
Equivalent annual fixed costs for 2524 5th Street in Santa Monica, California with four 1-bedroom apartments plus one 2-bedroom unit, all used exclusively for long-term rentals.
$5,110 building and grounds maintenance
$5,826 utilities (sewer, water, trash, hot water)
$3,159 insurance
$20,890 City, State, Property Taxes
$1,140 Santa Monica Rent Control Board fee
$36,125 is the Total Annual Fixed Cost for this 5-unit building, similar to the fixed costs for the 1- bedroom Condo. Each long-term rental unit fixed cost is $7,225, and the per unit per month fixed cost is $602, much lower than the $2,876 per month for the 1-bedroom Maui Condo.
Other costs impacting the long-term rent in the Condo is the cost of the existing furnishings (from Ashley, SlumberWorld, and Home Depot all in Kahalui), repairs and maintenance (Solid Painting and CB Island Vacations in Kihei) plus amortization of the original purchase price of the Condo.
In February 2024, we were turned down by the FEMA contractors for use of our 1-bedroom Condo for a Lahaina fire displaced family, most likely because of the high fixed costs. Restricting our Condo to only long-term rental will result in our unit being vacant, denying ourselves and the County income from tourism.
I’m third generation in Maui. Get these apartments back to what they were intended for. It’s unfortunate that some people’s investments will not be as profitable any more but these apartments and condos were not developed for tourist. The tourist have made these areas out of balance. We need residents in these buildings and to attract businesses in the area that are for residents. Not more trinket stores or surfboard rentals, or snorkel rentals, or surf schools, or walking tours or shave ice stands. I had a property next to a vacation rental. The vacation rental was on a 6000 sq ft lot and had 5 bedrooms. The design of the vacation rental’s back yard had a large jacuzzi on one side and a sitting area and bbq on the other side. If you are either neighbor you would have to listen to up to 10 people or more at times partying right next to the fence and playing music and getting drunk. This was in a residential neighborhood. You don’t know who the heck these people are and it’s very frustrating that our government leaders and people who sit on boards and commissions allowed this. These tourist could be criminals or sex offenders next door. The adjacent lots were also 6000 sq ft so you can’t get away from the noise. You have to close your windows tight to be able to sleep or just not to have to hear loud partying tourist 6 feet from your window. You worry for your children. There are always strangers in your neighborhood. Some tourist are just inconsiderate. They would also play heavy base music till late at night at times. I learned that the price was $1000 per night and the place was booked about 95 percent of the year. The owners were earning $300,000 gross profit per year while the neighbors suffer. The owners lived in California. The only worker I saw was a Mexican man that would come to clean for two hours in between checkouts and check ins. Our government allowed vacation rentals in residential areas after converting the Minatoya list for more tourist. Why are we putting tourist ahead of residents and letting vacation rental owners cash in on high profits at the expense of their neighbors and perhaps not even current on paying transient accommodation taxes? Why are they allowed to continue if they are behind on their taxes? Tourist belong in resort areas where they can party and where there is proper security and staffing. We must respect the original zoning of land that was zoned for residents. It’s as simple as that. Anyway, why did Mr. Minatoya have so much influence? He didn’t act alone. Maui needs more housing for residents and those developments got built with the intention of being housing for residents. Many people are afraid of losses in tax revenues. How long has it been since the GET was raised? We will all have to pay for this mistake that has taken the destruction of Lahaina to be looked at seriously. Residents and tourist must pay to keep Maui in balance. It’s never too late. We must not keep going in the wrong direction. Just drive through Wailea and into Makena and realize what our government leaders have been allowing. Maui is unrecognizable. Ask yourself who owns or lives in those developments. Do we keep approving them and building them because it supports cleaning and landscape jobs that cater to the wealthy short term residents? Of course not. This situation must be corrected now or we will destroy Maui and make her more and more dependent on tourist.
I know a young surfer from California who just moved here to Maui.
Should he get one of these condos? What about the Maui-born retired couple who saved their whole lives to afford a LEGAL short term rental condo. Should the surfer from California take their condo?
While I understand that there is a shortage of workforce and affordable housing options for people that live and work in Maui, this proposal is shifting the blame to the wrong parties. The real problem is lack of planning and foresight with the county. Development of workforce housing is something that should have kept pace with demand. Most of these condos are not designed for long-term tenants, particularly those with families due to space and parking limitations. The county's lack of planning and innovation are at the heart of this issue, not people who purchased STR and support the tourism industry on which Maui relies. Trying to shift out of that reliance is unrealistic at this point and, if it is possible, is something that will take years. Why don't you build some dynamic new communities with safeguards to prevent mainland investors and people who are purchasing it as an additional home? Your zoning has been the problem along with lack of enforcement. The problem of AirB&B absorbing housing and displacing locals is not unique to Maui and is certainly not a new issue. Anyone who is paying attention knows this but Maui County seems resistant to innovation, expansion in the appropriate areas, and lacks practicality and overlooks the obvious consequences. Adding tax incentives to STR owners to rent to long-term people might be an idea but to upend people who own these now, is punishing people who could not have known otherwise and purchased in good faith at a time when you were fully supportive of these plans even though they were wrought with issues from the start. You seemed to be all in for the SRT plan when it served you. Now that the real problem has been laid bare, you want to shift the blame and consequences onto the wrong party. The blame falls squarely at your feet. Instead of moving at a snail's pace and being ineffectual, why not look for win-win solutions that won't inadvertently harm the wrong party, addresses the real problem (your lack of approving workforce housing in a way that keeps up with demand & lack of zoning enforcement), and will not disrupt the economy that our county so heavily relies on currently (for better for for worse).
I am very concerned and unhappy with the possibility of losing the right to short-term rent my home in south Kihei Maui. I have been self-employed for many years and as a result I am not able to receive a pension. I am now 70 years old and to plan for my retirement, I purchased my condo home in south Kihei approximately nine years ago, and I have spent a considerable amount on money remodeling and improving the property for my own enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of my guests. I just sold my company and retired April first, 2024. Currently I live in south Kihei in my condo about 25-30 percent of the time. That percentage may increase now that I am no longer working. When I am not staying in my unit, I rent it out to guests. This helps me pay for the HOA fees, taxes, and maintenance. The rest of the income is part of my retirement that I use for living expenses, food, and medical expenses. I have always operated my short-term rental legally, and pay all the TA-1, TA-2, and GET. I am proud as a Kamaaina Kupuna to contribute to the Hawaiian economy and promote Aloha. I shop locally, eat locally, and encourage visitors to come to Maui and enjoy what Maui has to offer. Since my retirement on April first, 2024, I have relied on the income from the short-term rental of my unit to live on.
The kind of guest that rents my home is not the type of guest that is going to rent a Wailea hotel for $1100.00 - $2300.00 a night. Those hotels are beautiful and offer the height of luxury for those who can afford it. If renting my home was no longer an option, those guests that have enjoyed Maui staying in my unit in south Kihei, would just not come at all, and Maui would lose all that income, tax income and business for the people of Maui. I always encourage guests renting my unit to enjoy a Luau at any one of the hotels just south of us as my wife and I do on nearly every visit. I show them how to support local shops, food trucks, restaurants and all the cultural attractions here on Maui.
I believe shutting down 7,100 short term rentals would have a minimum economic impact of a $350 Million shortfall to the state and Maui's $850 Million budget. That $350 Million does not include the additional General Excise Tax that is created by all the businesses that support the vacation rental industry and does not include the decrease in spending by those local Maui residents who will lose their jobs.
Eliminating my ability to rent my unit on a short-term basis will convert my retirement income, that I was counting on, into an expense that will be a drain on my limited retirement income. I will never sell my condo, but I will likely spend more time there. I pray that you will not limit my ability to earn the necessary income in my old age.
Mahalo
John R Taylor
Marguerite G Taylor
Hale Kamaole
2737 S Kihei Rd
Kihei, Maui HI 96753
Unit 241
I support the STR phase out. Too many locals who are the backbone of our community struggle to have adequate, affordable housing. The tourist industry cannot sustain if our workers have no place to live. Free up housing for residents NOW!
People assume cleaning vacation rentals means we’re doing great. But many of us are self-employed cleaners working for STRs — and it’s not as secure as it looks.
Here’s the truth:
✅ We get flexible schedules
✅ Sometimes we make more per job
✅ We can work for multiple clients
BUT…
❌ We have no benefits — no health insurance, no paid sick days, no retirement
❌ We don’t get unemployment if the work dries up
❌ We have to chase payments, buy all our own supplies, pay our own taxes
❌ We carry the wear and tear on our own bodies, cars, and tools
❌ No safety net if we get hurt or can’t work
Compared to a traditional cleaning job (like at a hotel or property company), you might make less per hour — but at least you get:
✔ Steady pay
✔ Medical & dental
✔ Paid time off
✔ Job protections like workers comp and unemployment
⸻
I’m not against cleaning for STRs — but let’s not pretend it’s the same as having a stable, protected job. It’s hustle work. No security. And when the STR market crashes or shifts (like it is now), self-employed workers are left with nothing.
We need better options. More long-term housing = more long-term jobs = more stability for working people like us.
My name is Blossom Naomi Sanborn Perry. I am a lineal descendant of Hawaiian ancestry and own a condo in Kahana. I was born and raised in Lahaina, graduated from Kamehameha School for girls, and have lineage to the Saffery and Paki families of Maui.
In 1998, my husband and I began looking for a home for possible retirement. The idea was to buy a home and rent it until we were ready to retire. Even in 1998 we soon learned that the price for single family homes were exorbitant and beyond our financial means. We then turned to condo ownership and found that the price of the condo was more compatible for our financial means. The arrangement allowed us to keep our home on the continent and gave us a place to call home on Maui.
I cannot tell you how much it has meant to own a piece of the aina of my cultural ancestors. The title document of the condo, said that this land was ceded to Laura Konia. That gave me “chicken skin” because Laura Konia was the mother of Berniece Pauahi Bishop to whom I personally owe a debt of gratitude for an exceptional education at Kamehameha. Our condo is not too far from my grandparents place where we spent holidays, birthdays and summers. Their place was on the beach and our condo has beach access just like the old place. I have always thought of Hawaiians as “au au” people for whom the ocean meant so much. From our condo, I can gaze at magnificent Molokai where we lived for three years while my father was a fireman.
It has been a blessing to bring my mo’opuna to our condo and tell them stories of Lahaina and growing up here. For them, this is as much home to them as it is to me. As owners we have the flexibility to come “home” whenever we want and to offer the condo to family members who want to reconnect with Maui, free of charge. I want to emphasize that this was not just a financial investment, but an investment that honored my Maui roots, my Hawaiian ancestry, and the place I hold dearest in my heart. It is an investment of renewal of ownership of a small piece of our ancestral aina.
Following the Lahaina fires, we contracted with the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement to house a displaced family for one year. This was our kuleana. We responded as quickly as possible to the call for short term rentals housing for displaced families.
I can only speak for myself. Our condo and the short term rental arrangement has enabled me to pass on our family history, offer a physical place to renew our connection to the land, the ocean, the mountains, and the sky. It would break my spirit to lose it in any way. Short term rentals on Maui is a difficult and controversial issue. I do not envy you the deliberations and decisions you must make and wish you careful consideration, introspection, and fairness.
One final thought: Our adult children who live in Honolulu would not be able to purchase the condo at the going market rates and depending on the outcome of your decisions, the forfeiture of short term rentals may well diminish and possibly end my family’s ties to ancestral lands and beloved Maui.
This is my mana’o. Mahalo ia oe. Malama pono!
Blossom Perry
My name is Robin Van Der Mark and I oppose Bill 9 as drafted and propose that the Council amend Bill 9 to exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort which the County has historically identified as having A2-H2 zoning.
Papakea’s resort operations provide full-time, benefited, employment for 35 local resident employees; some have worked at the property for over 17 years; some started in entry-level positions and worked into supervisory roles. Papakea supports a wide variety of local trade professionals including pest control, HVAC, painting, plumbing, electrical, general contracting, masonry, tile and flooring, fitness instructors, entertainers, and tree trimming.
Many small businesses owned and operated by local residents from the Maui community rely on Papakea short-term rentals including housekeepers, handymen, on-island agents, and contractors. These service providers set their own rates, work hours, select their own clients, work conditions and standard operating procedures. Shutting down short-term rentals at Papakea means telling local entrepreneurs that worked hard to build a small business that they need to just go get a job somewhere else to make less money, have less flexibility, and be subject to oppressive corporate policies.
Papakea has never been workforce housing so Papakea is not an example of a property that converted from workforce housing to transient vacation rental use. Papakea was initially marketed and sold as a legal vacation rental property before any zoning restrictions limited transient vacation rentals in apartment zoned properties. Papakea is not in a residential neighborhood and is located alongside a long stretch of hotel-zoned properties and directly adjacent to multiple commercially-zoned properties. Unlike apartment buildings designed for long-term residential use, Papakea has a front desk, an activity concierge, shared activity space, and numerous other common resort amenities
My aunt owns a condo at Wailea Ekolu.
• Wailea Ekolu was built in 1979 and has been used for short term rentals for the past 46 years.
• The Minatoya List was not disclosed to my aunt when she purchased her unit,10 years ago.
• Her expenses (mortgage, prop. tax, assoc. fees, insurance, etc) run about $5,500 per month.
• Renting long term will not cover my aunt's monthly expenses.
Wailea Ekolu is not designed for long term rentals.
• There is limited parking.
• There is no storage space.
The Problem:
• Maui County has not invested in affordable housing and is expecting non-full time residents to foot the bill.
• Would Mr. Bissen attempt to do this if all the Minatoya condos were owned locally by his constituents?
There is no such thing as affordable housing here unless you cram a large family in a house or apartment that is very small. Maui isn’t the only place where it’s hard to live. Don’t change anything. Let people rent their property any way they want. It’s their property, not yours.
There will always be people who can afford something because of misfortune, poor planning or laziness. They should live somewhere where homes are still 150-200 thousand. Many places in the country like that. If they can’t afford a Tesla, they can buy a Toyota used.
I am the owner of Unit #2202 at the Palms of Wailea. I have the following concerns: 1. Property taxes from short-term property owners makes up 37% of property tax revenue and property tax revenue makes up 15% of the County's budget. Also, the Transient Accomodations Tax receipts would be reduced. How does the County plan to replace those funds? 2. Our property is managed by a locally owned company, employing 100+ Maui residents and keeping profits in the community. The passage of this Bill will put a tremendous burden on them. 3. Our professional housekeepers are small business owners who may lose contracts and income if STRs are phased out. 4. Vacation rentals sustain a network of local maintenance vendors, plumbers, electricians, and contractors. How will they replace that business? Please oppose this Bill. Mahalo, Gregory Wolf.
My name is Leni Hokoana English. I come from ʻohana with multi-generational connection to Maui.
I support the Bill before the Council.
Appreciate the testimony previously offered by many that cite research and data from those who both support and oppose this legislation. Unable to qualify the information presented by these testifiers, that personally sound speculative in nature; what is clear to me is that those testifying in opposition to this bill are those who come from “plenty” as investors who express entitlement to capitalize on and against those who “have not”…shelter; a basic necessity of humanity for those who make up the fabric of this place we kamaʻaina call home.
It burns my naʻau to hear the opposition speak of caring for Maui, & describe how they contribute or are contributing to Maui, yet quick to threaten litigation, recognizing the adverse implication litigation will have in harming all of Maui. Characteristic and adequate evidence for me that affirm, these eloquent persuaders really donʻt care for the Maui we are trying to protect. For me, and I hope for most is the only evidence we need to affirm why this legislation needs to pass.
No doubt, the decision before this Council, the courageous support of our Mayor is difficult and sensitive. I close by encouraging this body to
lean into the ʻike of one of our most prolific kupuna; our moʻi wahine, Queen Liliʻuokalani who reminds us: “You must remember never cease to act because you fear you may fail. The way to lose any earthly kingdom is to be inflexible, intolerant, and prejudicial. Another way is to be too flexible, tolerant of too many wrongs and without judgment at all. It is a razor’s edge. It is the width of a blade of pili grass. To gain the kingdom of heaven is TO HEAR WHAT IS NOT SAID, TO SEE WHAT CANNOT BE SEEN, AND TO KNOW THE UNKNOWABLE- that is ALOHA.
All things in this world are two; in heaven there is but One.” -Queen Liliʻuokalani
Please let the passage of this bill be the first step to correcting the many wrongs our people and our place we call home, our Maui has endured. Me Ke Aloha Nui, leni english
Thank you, Maui Council. My name is Jack Van Boening and I represent the Blue Isle Group, a not for profit LLC. In 1998 my parents bought a condo at the Ma’alaea Kai and formed a group of ten owners from the mainland made up of family and friends. We do not rent our condo at the Maalaea Kai but we are now taxed as a Short Term Rental. We did not buy this condo in order to make a profit. We bought this condo to come and share and be a part of the Maui community. Our not for profit LLC Document agreement strictly prohibits the renting of our condo and we strictly enforce that. Within the last five years our property taxes have increased from $3,600 a year to now $15,000 annually because we are now in the category of Short Term Rental. Our ten owners come here and continue to contribute greatly to the economy on Maui. We employ people to clean the condo. We eat at restaurants all over Maui. We buy vehicles and new appliances. We support the entertainers who appreciate the income from our owners. After the Lahaina fire two of our owners offered up their assigned time and offered our condo to locals we know who lost their home. We did not charge them a rental fee to stay in our condo. We always have one of our owners at the condo. How do I remove our condo from being defined as a Short Term Rental? I oppose this bill. I know too many people who would be negatively impacted. Thank you and God bless.
I am not a resident of maui, nor do I own any property on maui. I am a long term (15yr) visitor that has stayed in both hotels, hostels, and rental condos. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy staying in accommodations of all price ranges and have enjoyed them all. Many of my friends local to maui, I would now consider family. I was recently in the LA fire and empathize greatly with those also suffered loss.
UHERO's study, the lack of demand for listed rental units, and the contracted economy suggest that this bill has already damaged the the community before it has even been enacted. As I understand, these rental units are legally operating and recognized as well. However, this does not invalidate the housing crisis seen both in maui and shared nationally across america. Friends and peers in academia, real estate, and public policy predicted this outcome at the onset of the bill proposal and were shocked that such an obviously counterproductive decision was made and my friends in the legal field are seeing this as merely a money funnel to lawyers and hotels.
It appears that we, the citizens, are all aware of the need for housing, but we are not provided any effective proposals. This bill appears to have only caused economic harm and deep division within the community. In Los Angeles, we have had similar housing problems and recently experienced a fire that is calculated to be the most damaging natural disaster in american history. We have not encountered the same divisive proposals and harmful political discourse, yet we have almost the exact same issues.
I believe this bill should be changed to redirect the usage of taxes from these rentals along with hotels towards construction of new low cost subsidized housing. Whether you support or oppose it, please take a step back and research what other areas with similar (or the exact same!) problems are doing, and more importantly NOT doing. Housing is clearly an issue, and it appears that other issues and motivations are being conflated with the solution for this problem.
Aloha Council Members,
I am a proud resident of Maui who works directly in the short-term rental industry. I’m writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed ban on short-term rentals. While I understand the concerns regarding housing and community integrity, I urge you also to consider the very real and immediate impact this decision would have on everyday citizens like myself—and on the small businesses that rely on this sector to survive.
The short-term rental industry is not just a business; it is a lifeline for thousands of Maui residents. From property managers, cleaners, landscapers, and maintenance workers to local artisans, restaurants, and tour companies, a wide range of individuals and businesses depend on the consistent flow of visitors that short-term rentals bring. Eliminating this avenue of tourism threatens to dismantle a vital economic ecosystem that supports local families.
Many of us who work in this industry do so because it provides flexibility, fair wages, and year-round opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. This ban would not only take away our jobs, but also diminish our ability to provide for our families, pay rent, buy groceries, and live with dignity in the place we call home.
Short-term rentals have also allowed many residents to afford their own homes by renting part of their property. These are not faceless corporations—these are our neighbors trying to make ends meet in one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
Rather than an outright ban, I encourage the council to consider fair regulation—ones that target bad actors, preserve residential character, and protect the rights of local homeowners who are operating responsibly and contributing positively to our community.
Please do not take away our livelihoods in an effort to solve one issue by creating another. We need balanced, thoughtful solutions that support both housing and economic sustainability.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Allen Donado
Keep it simple. There is no Maui without its locals and residents. People who truly care about our islands are forced to move away because of the high costs. STRs do not support locals and residents who need an affordable place to live in order to work and survive. The People of Maui need to be put first before the pockets of STR owners, which many do not even live in Hawai’i.
As a 26 year resident of Hana Maui I strongly support the phase out of STRs and feel the priority should be actual residents looking for a place to live instead of non-resident investments. I used to be in favor of STRs but have seen the already small inventory of available long term rentals decrease even further with the abundance of STRs. I have witnessed first hand friends from all over the island who had to move because their rental was going to become an STR. In 2020 I was evicted from my rental of 17 years because the owner's family was coming back from the mainland. I was given nearly 3 months to find a new rental for myself, my wife and my 2 well behaved dogs. In that entire time, I found only one place we could afford and the only reason it was available was that the owner had recently changed it from an STR to a long term rental (for personal reasons). There is no doubt that STRs reduce the availability of long term rentals for permanent residents and drive up rental prices.
I urge you to pass this bill and prioritize local resident housing over the investments of mostly out of state owners. If those owners can't afford to put their STR condo into the long term rental pool, they should sell it to a local resident who will live in it.
Written Testimony in Support of Bill 9 (2025): “Restoring Zoning Integrity and Housing Balance”
Submitted to: Maui County Council – Housing and Land Use Committee
Date: June 9, 2025
Submitted by: Renee P Kaiama
Aloha Committee Members
Please accept this as my written support of Bill 9
⸻
Hoʻōla – To Heal, Revive, and Restore
Bill 9 (2025) is not merely a regulatory update—it is an essential course correction. In the wake of the August 2023 fires that devastated Lahaina and displaced thousands, this legislation represents a restorative step to realign Maui’s zoning laws with their original intent: to house people, not tourists.
This is a legal, ethical, and economic obligation. Healing begins with housing.
⸻
Ka Moʻolelo o ke Kūlanakauhale – The Story of Our Island’s Housing Crisis
The collapse of Maui’s housing system has been decades in the making. From the post-Gulf War economic shift to 9/11, the Great Recession, the COVID pandemic, and now the climate disaster in Lahaina, each crisis has exposed the unsustainability of an economy overly reliant on tourism and speculative short-term rentals (STRs).
Over time, apartment zones—originally designed to support working families, seniors, and long-term residents—were slowly overtaken by illegal or grandfathered STR operations. The so-called “Minatoya list” was never codified by ordinance. It created a de facto loophole, one that undermined housing availability, legality, and transparency.
⸻
Kuleana – The Legal Duty to Govern and Enforce Zoning
Zoning is not discretionary. Under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §46‑4 and long-standing U.S. zoning law, counties have the authority—and obligation—to restrict land use to protect public welfare.
Bill 9 lawfully terminates nonconforming STR use in apartment districts while providing a reasonable amortization period. This is not punitive; it is restorative. Similar legislation has withstood legal scrutiny elsewhere:
• Santa Monica, California: Upheld STR bans and amortization in court.
• New Orleans, Louisiana: Mass-cancellation of STRs not in line with zoning and tax law.
• Barcelona, Spain & Amsterdam: Limited STR saturation to stabilize housing markets.
These municipalities took bold action—and remain economically viable. Maui can and must do the same.
⸻
Laulima – Working Together Toward Equity
This bill reflects the collective effort of County volunteers and professionals who serve on the Planning Commission—not elected, not politically rewarded—who determined that STR activity in apartment zones is inconsistent with both law and community wellbeing.
To ignore their work would not only dismiss their courage and integrity, but would also condone continued zoning violations and economic harm to Maui residents.
⸻
Hoʻokaʻawale – Disentangling Fear from Fact
Bill 9’s opponents offer fear-based arguments: collapse in property values, mass unemployment, tourism decline. But these outcomes are not supported by data:
• Maui County and State governments are understaffed—STR workers can be absorbed into health care, education, infrastructure, and housing sectors.
• Home prices may adjust, but transparency and enforceability restore market confidence.
• Tourism continues in properly zoned hotel areas, as it should.
Relying on STRs in residential zones was never sustainable. It’s time for facts, not fear.
⸻
Hoʻonohonoho ʻAno Hou – Reorganizing for a Resident-First Future
Bill 9 gives the County the tools to transition STR units back into the long-term housing pool through:
• Graceful phase-out deadlines (West Maui by July 1, 2025; rest of Maui by January 1, 2026).
• Tax audits, lien enforcement, and clear violation penalties.
• A foundation for a County-led STR-to-renter transition initiative.
This is an opportunity to correct course—and house residents displaced by fires, rising costs, or predatory land use practices.
⸻
Pono – Justice, Balance, and Responsibility
Governor Josh Green’s Emergency Proclamation on Housing (2023–2024) provided fast-track powers for affordable housing and zoning enforcement in response to the disaster. More than $200 million has been committed to West Maui recovery.
How can the County accept that funding in good faith while allowing illegal STRs to continue in areas meant for homes?
Bill 9 aligns Maui County with the Governor’s directive. It is the legally and morally pono action.
⸻
Nā Ala I Mua – The Paths We Must Choose
The Planning Department volunteers were not elected, but they did what elected officials have struggled to do: they acted in the best interest of the law and the public.
Now it is this Committee’s kuleana to continue that leadership. The public is watching. Residents are leaving. Trust in government is thin.
Bill 9 must be advanced to the full Council for debate, amendment, and passage—not delayed, watered down, or buried.
⸻
Hoʻokupu no ka Lāhui – A Gift for the People and the Land
This bill is a hoʻokupu—a humble offering to future generations. It reaffirms that the people of Maui, not transient investors, are the priority. It affirms that zoning laws are not mere suggestions. And it affirms that this island is not for sale, but for stewardship.
We ask you to be brave, as the Planning Commission was brave.
Move Bill 9 forward. Let the people and the Council complete this healing process together.
⸻
Mahalo for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to pono governance.
Renee P Kaiama
Testimony of Paul Katz in opposition to the Phasing Out of Short-Term Rentals in Maui County
I am Paul Katz. My wife and I own the 1-bedroom Condominium (“Condo”) at 3300 Wailea Alanui Drive #53D (Minatoya List 210080650000 Wailea Ekahi III) plus two long-term rental apartment buildings in Santa Monica California. The fixed costs to maintain the properties are different for the short-term and long-term properties, making the rent prohibitively expensive in the Condo for a long-term rental.
Below are the comparative profiles of the short-term Condo fixed costs and the equivalent fixed costs for our long-term 5-unit building.
Wailea Ekahi Unit 53D Short-Term Property Annual Fixed Costs
$18,516 Wailea Ekahi HOA Annual fees for maintenance of the extensive grounds, buildings, pools, water, sewage, trash, barbeques, property insurance and beach access.
$14, 906 Maui County Property Tax.
$1,100 Condo Insurance.
$34,522 is the Total Annual Fixed Cost for this 1-bedroom condo, or $2,876 per month to be covered by part of each month’s rent.
Equivalent annual fixed costs for 2524 5th Street in Santa Monica, California with four 1-bedroom apartments plus one 2-bedroom unit, all used exclusively for long-term rentals.
$5,110 building and grounds maintenance
$5,826 utilities (sewer, water, trash, hot water)
$3,159 insurance
$20,890 City, State, Property Taxes
$1,140 Santa Monica Rent Control Board fee
$36,125 is the Total Annual Fixed Cost for this 5-unit building, similar to the fixed costs for the 1- bedroom Condo. Each long-term rental unit fixed cost is $7,225, and the per unit per month fixed cost is $602, much lower than the $2,876 per month for the 1-bedroom Maui Condo.
Other costs impacting the long-term rent in the Condo is the cost of the existing furnishings (from Ashley, SlumberWorld, and Home Depot all in Kahalui), repairs and maintenance (Solid Painting and CB Island Vacations in Kihei) plus amortization of the original purchase price of the Condo.
In February 2024, we were turned down by the FEMA contractors for use of our 1-bedroom Condo for a Lahaina fire displaced family, most likely because of the high fixed costs. Restricting our Condo to only long-term rental will result in our unit being vacant, denying ourselves and the County income from tourism.
Band short term rentals us locals can’t afford to live here and there is not future here for our kids if nothing is done to our housing crisis
I’m third generation in Maui. Get these apartments back to what they were intended for. It’s unfortunate that some people’s investments will not be as profitable any more but these apartments and condos were not developed for tourist. The tourist have made these areas out of balance. We need residents in these buildings and to attract businesses in the area that are for residents. Not more trinket stores or surfboard rentals, or snorkel rentals, or surf schools, or walking tours or shave ice stands. I had a property next to a vacation rental. The vacation rental was on a 6000 sq ft lot and had 5 bedrooms. The design of the vacation rental’s back yard had a large jacuzzi on one side and a sitting area and bbq on the other side. If you are either neighbor you would have to listen to up to 10 people or more at times partying right next to the fence and playing music and getting drunk. This was in a residential neighborhood. You don’t know who the heck these people are and it’s very frustrating that our government leaders and people who sit on boards and commissions allowed this. These tourist could be criminals or sex offenders next door. The adjacent lots were also 6000 sq ft so you can’t get away from the noise. You have to close your windows tight to be able to sleep or just not to have to hear loud partying tourist 6 feet from your window. You worry for your children. There are always strangers in your neighborhood. Some tourist are just inconsiderate. They would also play heavy base music till late at night at times. I learned that the price was $1000 per night and the place was booked about 95 percent of the year. The owners were earning $300,000 gross profit per year while the neighbors suffer. The owners lived in California. The only worker I saw was a Mexican man that would come to clean for two hours in between checkouts and check ins. Our government allowed vacation rentals in residential areas after converting the Minatoya list for more tourist. Why are we putting tourist ahead of residents and letting vacation rental owners cash in on high profits at the expense of their neighbors and perhaps not even current on paying transient accommodation taxes? Why are they allowed to continue if they are behind on their taxes? Tourist belong in resort areas where they can party and where there is proper security and staffing. We must respect the original zoning of land that was zoned for residents. It’s as simple as that. Anyway, why did Mr. Minatoya have so much influence? He didn’t act alone. Maui needs more housing for residents and those developments got built with the intention of being housing for residents. Many people are afraid of losses in tax revenues. How long has it been since the GET was raised? We will all have to pay for this mistake that has taken the destruction of Lahaina to be looked at seriously. Residents and tourist must pay to keep Maui in balance. It’s never too late. We must not keep going in the wrong direction. Just drive through Wailea and into Makena and realize what our government leaders have been allowing. Maui is unrecognizable. Ask yourself who owns or lives in those developments. Do we keep approving them and building them because it supports cleaning and landscape jobs that cater to the wealthy short term residents? Of course not. This situation must be corrected now or we will destroy Maui and make her more and more dependent on tourist.
I know a young surfer from California who just moved here to Maui.
Should he get one of these condos? What about the Maui-born retired couple who saved their whole lives to afford a LEGAL short term rental condo. Should the surfer from California take their condo?
While I understand that there is a shortage of workforce and affordable housing options for people that live and work in Maui, this proposal is shifting the blame to the wrong parties. The real problem is lack of planning and foresight with the county. Development of workforce housing is something that should have kept pace with demand. Most of these condos are not designed for long-term tenants, particularly those with families due to space and parking limitations. The county's lack of planning and innovation are at the heart of this issue, not people who purchased STR and support the tourism industry on which Maui relies. Trying to shift out of that reliance is unrealistic at this point and, if it is possible, is something that will take years. Why don't you build some dynamic new communities with safeguards to prevent mainland investors and people who are purchasing it as an additional home? Your zoning has been the problem along with lack of enforcement. The problem of AirB&B absorbing housing and displacing locals is not unique to Maui and is certainly not a new issue. Anyone who is paying attention knows this but Maui County seems resistant to innovation, expansion in the appropriate areas, and lacks practicality and overlooks the obvious consequences. Adding tax incentives to STR owners to rent to long-term people might be an idea but to upend people who own these now, is punishing people who could not have known otherwise and purchased in good faith at a time when you were fully supportive of these plans even though they were wrought with issues from the start. You seemed to be all in for the SRT plan when it served you. Now that the real problem has been laid bare, you want to shift the blame and consequences onto the wrong party. The blame falls squarely at your feet. Instead of moving at a snail's pace and being ineffectual, why not look for win-win solutions that won't inadvertently harm the wrong party, addresses the real problem (your lack of approving workforce housing in a way that keeps up with demand & lack of zoning enforcement), and will not disrupt the economy that our county so heavily relies on currently (for better for for worse).
Aloha,
I am very concerned and unhappy with the possibility of losing the right to short-term rent my home in south Kihei Maui. I have been self-employed for many years and as a result I am not able to receive a pension. I am now 70 years old and to plan for my retirement, I purchased my condo home in south Kihei approximately nine years ago, and I have spent a considerable amount on money remodeling and improving the property for my own enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of my guests. I just sold my company and retired April first, 2024. Currently I live in south Kihei in my condo about 25-30 percent of the time. That percentage may increase now that I am no longer working. When I am not staying in my unit, I rent it out to guests. This helps me pay for the HOA fees, taxes, and maintenance. The rest of the income is part of my retirement that I use for living expenses, food, and medical expenses. I have always operated my short-term rental legally, and pay all the TA-1, TA-2, and GET. I am proud as a Kamaaina Kupuna to contribute to the Hawaiian economy and promote Aloha. I shop locally, eat locally, and encourage visitors to come to Maui and enjoy what Maui has to offer. Since my retirement on April first, 2024, I have relied on the income from the short-term rental of my unit to live on.
The kind of guest that rents my home is not the type of guest that is going to rent a Wailea hotel for $1100.00 - $2300.00 a night. Those hotels are beautiful and offer the height of luxury for those who can afford it. If renting my home was no longer an option, those guests that have enjoyed Maui staying in my unit in south Kihei, would just not come at all, and Maui would lose all that income, tax income and business for the people of Maui. I always encourage guests renting my unit to enjoy a Luau at any one of the hotels just south of us as my wife and I do on nearly every visit. I show them how to support local shops, food trucks, restaurants and all the cultural attractions here on Maui.
I believe shutting down 7,100 short term rentals would have a minimum economic impact of a $350 Million shortfall to the state and Maui's $850 Million budget. That $350 Million does not include the additional General Excise Tax that is created by all the businesses that support the vacation rental industry and does not include the decrease in spending by those local Maui residents who will lose their jobs.
Eliminating my ability to rent my unit on a short-term basis will convert my retirement income, that I was counting on, into an expense that will be a drain on my limited retirement income. I will never sell my condo, but I will likely spend more time there. I pray that you will not limit my ability to earn the necessary income in my old age.
Mahalo
John R Taylor
Marguerite G Taylor
Hale Kamaole
2737 S Kihei Rd
Kihei, Maui HI 96753
Unit 241
I support the STR phase out. Too many locals who are the backbone of our community struggle to have adequate, affordable housing. The tourist industry cannot sustain if our workers have no place to live. Free up housing for residents NOW!
⸻
🧼 Self-Employed STR Cleaner vs. Having a Real Job
People assume cleaning vacation rentals means we’re doing great. But many of us are self-employed cleaners working for STRs — and it’s not as secure as it looks.
Here’s the truth:
✅ We get flexible schedules
✅ Sometimes we make more per job
✅ We can work for multiple clients
BUT…
❌ We have no benefits — no health insurance, no paid sick days, no retirement
❌ We don’t get unemployment if the work dries up
❌ We have to chase payments, buy all our own supplies, pay our own taxes
❌ We carry the wear and tear on our own bodies, cars, and tools
❌ No safety net if we get hurt or can’t work
Compared to a traditional cleaning job (like at a hotel or property company), you might make less per hour — but at least you get:
✔ Steady pay
✔ Medical & dental
✔ Paid time off
✔ Job protections like workers comp and unemployment
⸻
I’m not against cleaning for STRs — but let’s not pretend it’s the same as having a stable, protected job. It’s hustle work. No security. And when the STR market crashes or shifts (like it is now), self-employed workers are left with nothing.
We need better options. More long-term housing = more long-term jobs = more stability for working people like us.
My name is Blossom Naomi Sanborn Perry. I am a lineal descendant of Hawaiian ancestry and own a condo in Kahana. I was born and raised in Lahaina, graduated from Kamehameha School for girls, and have lineage to the Saffery and Paki families of Maui.
In 1998, my husband and I began looking for a home for possible retirement. The idea was to buy a home and rent it until we were ready to retire. Even in 1998 we soon learned that the price for single family homes were exorbitant and beyond our financial means. We then turned to condo ownership and found that the price of the condo was more compatible for our financial means. The arrangement allowed us to keep our home on the continent and gave us a place to call home on Maui.
I cannot tell you how much it has meant to own a piece of the aina of my cultural ancestors. The title document of the condo, said that this land was ceded to Laura Konia. That gave me “chicken skin” because Laura Konia was the mother of Berniece Pauahi Bishop to whom I personally owe a debt of gratitude for an exceptional education at Kamehameha. Our condo is not too far from my grandparents place where we spent holidays, birthdays and summers. Their place was on the beach and our condo has beach access just like the old place. I have always thought of Hawaiians as “au au” people for whom the ocean meant so much. From our condo, I can gaze at magnificent Molokai where we lived for three years while my father was a fireman.
It has been a blessing to bring my mo’opuna to our condo and tell them stories of Lahaina and growing up here. For them, this is as much home to them as it is to me. As owners we have the flexibility to come “home” whenever we want and to offer the condo to family members who want to reconnect with Maui, free of charge. I want to emphasize that this was not just a financial investment, but an investment that honored my Maui roots, my Hawaiian ancestry, and the place I hold dearest in my heart. It is an investment of renewal of ownership of a small piece of our ancestral aina.
Following the Lahaina fires, we contracted with the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement to house a displaced family for one year. This was our kuleana. We responded as quickly as possible to the call for short term rentals housing for displaced families.
I can only speak for myself. Our condo and the short term rental arrangement has enabled me to pass on our family history, offer a physical place to renew our connection to the land, the ocean, the mountains, and the sky. It would break my spirit to lose it in any way. Short term rentals on Maui is a difficult and controversial issue. I do not envy you the deliberations and decisions you must make and wish you careful consideration, introspection, and fairness.
One final thought: Our adult children who live in Honolulu would not be able to purchase the condo at the going market rates and depending on the outcome of your decisions, the forfeiture of short term rentals may well diminish and possibly end my family’s ties to ancestral lands and beloved Maui.
This is my mana’o. Mahalo ia oe. Malama pono!
Blossom Perry
My name is Robin Van Der Mark and I oppose Bill 9 as drafted and propose that the Council amend Bill 9 to exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort which the County has historically identified as having A2-H2 zoning.
Papakea’s resort operations provide full-time, benefited, employment for 35 local resident employees; some have worked at the property for over 17 years; some started in entry-level positions and worked into supervisory roles. Papakea supports a wide variety of local trade professionals including pest control, HVAC, painting, plumbing, electrical, general contracting, masonry, tile and flooring, fitness instructors, entertainers, and tree trimming.
Many small businesses owned and operated by local residents from the Maui community rely on Papakea short-term rentals including housekeepers, handymen, on-island agents, and contractors. These service providers set their own rates, work hours, select their own clients, work conditions and standard operating procedures. Shutting down short-term rentals at Papakea means telling local entrepreneurs that worked hard to build a small business that they need to just go get a job somewhere else to make less money, have less flexibility, and be subject to oppressive corporate policies.
Papakea has never been workforce housing so Papakea is not an example of a property that converted from workforce housing to transient vacation rental use. Papakea was initially marketed and sold as a legal vacation rental property before any zoning restrictions limited transient vacation rentals in apartment zoned properties. Papakea is not in a residential neighborhood and is located alongside a long stretch of hotel-zoned properties and directly adjacent to multiple commercially-zoned properties. Unlike apartment buildings designed for long-term residential use, Papakea has a front desk, an activity concierge, shared activity space, and numerous other common resort amenities
My aunt owns a condo at Wailea Ekolu.
• Wailea Ekolu was built in 1979 and has been used for short term rentals for the past 46 years.
• The Minatoya List was not disclosed to my aunt when she purchased her unit,10 years ago.
• Her expenses (mortgage, prop. tax, assoc. fees, insurance, etc) run about $5,500 per month.
• Renting long term will not cover my aunt's monthly expenses.
Wailea Ekolu is not designed for long term rentals.
• There is limited parking.
• There is no storage space.
The Problem:
• Maui County has not invested in affordable housing and is expecting non-full time residents to foot the bill.
• Would Mr. Bissen attempt to do this if all the Minatoya condos were owned locally by his constituents?
Please vote this down.
Thank you,
David Ezzy
There is no such thing as affordable housing here unless you cram a large family in a house or apartment that is very small. Maui isn’t the only place where it’s hard to live. Don’t change anything. Let people rent their property any way they want. It’s their property, not yours.
There will always be people who can afford something because of misfortune, poor planning or laziness. They should live somewhere where homes are still 150-200 thousand. Many places in the country like that. If they can’t afford a Tesla, they can buy a Toyota used.
I am the owner of Unit #2202 at the Palms of Wailea. I have the following concerns: 1. Property taxes from short-term property owners makes up 37% of property tax revenue and property tax revenue makes up 15% of the County's budget. Also, the Transient Accomodations Tax receipts would be reduced. How does the County plan to replace those funds? 2. Our property is managed by a locally owned company, employing 100+ Maui residents and keeping profits in the community. The passage of this Bill will put a tremendous burden on them. 3. Our professional housekeepers are small business owners who may lose contracts and income if STRs are phased out. 4. Vacation rentals sustain a network of local maintenance vendors, plumbers, electricians, and contractors. How will they replace that business? Please oppose this Bill. Mahalo, Gregory Wolf.