This proposal is an attempt to put a band aid on decades of mismanagement of housing development in Maui as well as the more recent failure to rebuild the homes that people lost to the 2023 Lahaina fires. This proposal would hurt the value of legal rental property by regulating us out of business without compensation to the value of the property being taken away. You're not hurting big businesses or the very wealthy who can afford it. Most units are owned by individual investors like me, who put hard gained life savings into the property.
I own at Maui Vista. Our founding documents show that we were built as a tennis resort (condo hotel) not as long term housing for workers. My unit is 600 square feet with one parking spot. It's one bedroom and one bathroom. My monthly association dues are around $900 a month and that doesn't also include my own property taxes ($9200) and insurance that I carry above and beyond what my association provides. These are not the kind of costs that leads someone to affordable housing. Just to make my mortgage, property taxes, insurance and association fees, my costs are $3500 a month.
We play by the rules, collect and pay taxes and aren't asking for anything from Maui County other than to not change the rules after the game has been played for so long. The County is still approving hotels and expensive housing in Wailea. You need to focus on affordable workforce housing for people, rebuilding Lahaina and not going after people like me. Thank you!
Aloha. We strongly oppose Bill 9 and its amendments.
In March 2024, we listed our condo for sale at $ 721,000.00, and when the Bill was introduced, the market crashed. We lowered the price to 575,000.00 in September of 2024 - still no offers. If Mayor Bisen believes this Bill and the subsequent real estate price drops will aid in housing for locals, he's mistaken. There are units in our building for as low as 425,000. No locals are grabbing them up. The local families that stayed in the building through FEMA left, even when it was free. They are too small and don't offer the amenities that a growing family wants.
The monthly overhead (around $2,500.00) isn't achievable for anyone, except as a short-term rental (STR).
Sure, there may be a few local families that would consider it, but is that rare occasion going to aid in the housing crisis?
Do the benefits of finding homes for a few outweigh the job and financial loss to the Maui community?
The county has the responsibility to act in the best interests of all Maui families, property owners and taxpayers.
Please find a more feasible solution that has lasting benefits for everyone. Mahalo!
Deb Vanderkemp
Maalaea Bay
I strongly oppose Bill 9. The county should be more concerned about the loss of tourism that this fiasco is creating for the legitimate owners of properties on the Minatoya list. Most of these properties are ill suited for long term rentals and have huge HOA fees as well as being of the age where there have been multiple assessments against them for deferred and upcoming maintenance issues. Maui would be better off spending resources on building new affordable housing for the residents.
I am an upcountry resident. I absolutely oppose the elimination of any vacation rentals. The economy of our island depends on tourism. Eliminating these TVR's will be devastating for local residents and tourists.. Stop favoring the hotels. Thousands of residents and others from other states have invested in our island in these properties and it would be unlawful to take away their ability to utilize their properties. Please do the right thing. We need affordable housing but this is not a solution to that problem. These condominiums are not affordable.
Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee
June 9, 2025
MPS Testimony
My name is Isa Shipley. Before I get started, I want to personally thank you, the Maui County Council and the Mayor for working tirelessly to seek opportunities to address the housing crisis here in Maui. Raised on Maui, where I’ve raised my children and now have a granddaughter, this island is deeply personal to me—it's our home and the heart of our family’s story. The recent fires devastated our community, impacting our lives and livelihoods, but they also revealed the strength and unity of our people. In the aftermath, short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) have played a crucial role in our recovery—providing housing for displaced families and relief workers, and sustaining local jobs and small businesses that depend on this industry. For many local families, including mine, STVRs are a source of stability and resilience. With thoughtful regulation, they can continue to be a vital part of Maui’s economic and community recovery.
I have over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and have been with My Perfect Stays for just under a year. At My Perfect Stays, we are committed to sustainable tourism and to being active, responsible partners in our community. As a locally rooted company, we take pride in supporting other local businesses and view that support as an essential extension of our own mission.
We have been long-standing and active members of the Maui Chamber of Commerce as well as their Professional Rental Management Association Trade Council. Maui is our home, and we believe there is a long-term solution to the affordable housing issues, but Bill 9 in current form is not it. We are very concerned this bill could have greater financial implications with future job losses, loss County revenue needed for public safety, and potential tax increases.
Currently we have 25% of properties that would be affected by the phase outs drafted in Bill 9. This phase out would mean a dramatic decrease in staff, local vendor services, and to local businesses we partner with. I am fearful the estimated 1900 jobs lost will be dramatically more. It has been mentioned that there is an ongoing effort to diversify the economy, in sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, or technology to but will these positions even be available and keep pace with the job hospitality losses. Even more so, will they meet the financial and skill requirements of those who stand to lose their jobs?
I also have concerns about future tax implications. There are estimates of a $60 million loss annually from property taxes and additional GET and TAT revenue losses. These revenue sources are vital for public safety, infrastructure, and community programs including affordable housing construction. How and where would the County recover these funds? If there are increased taxes to TVRs these costs will trickle down to visitors at a time with high inflation and economic uncertainties. This change will continue to decrease visitors, visitor spending, and generate more job loss to Maui with less taxes collected. If increased taxes are distributed to residents this will create more economic burdens.
I ask that you please consider another solution. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak my concerns today and for your time on this very serious bill. I speak for myself, and on behalf of My Perfect Stays, that we are committed to working with you all to provide resolutions that benefit all Maui residents now and in the future.
I strongly oppose bill 9 because of these reasons; any complex on the minatoya list has expenses that far exceed affordability for long term renters; even if the unit is completely paid off the HOA, insurance and special assessments exceed almost all practical rental rates.
The transient tax revenue and jobs provided by the short term rental business income in these complexes far exceed the potential benefits that come from designating the properties as long term rentals.
A true solution to housing on Maui would require two things, primarily a truly expedited permitting process for new construction, and subsidies to lower interest rates for owner occupied housing. Use the millions in affordable housing slush fund to pay for both of these items.
Aloha and mahalo for the chance to share my strong support for Bill 9.
I live on Maui, raised my kids and now grandkids, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard it’s become for regular folks to find a place to live. After the fires last August, the housing situation went from bad to worse. So many people lost their homes, and now, even more are struggling to stay here. Our communities are being hollowed out.
That’s why I support Bill 9. It’s a powerful way to bring thousands of homes back into the long-term housing market. These apartment-zoned properties were never meant to be full-time vacation rentals, and we just can’t afford to lose them anymore.
I understand this won’t be easy. Some people and businesses may be affected financially, and that’s not something to ignore. But we can’t keep prioritizing tourism over the well-being of our own residents. It’s time we put our people first.
This bill gives us a real chance to shift things. It doesn’t solve everything overnight, but it’s a strong, necessary step toward restoring balance, and making Maui a place where locals can actually afford to live and raise their families.
Please pass Bill 9. Maui needs housing for residents.
Mahalo for listening and for your leadership during this time of great change.
Aloha, I am the owner of a small cleaning business that specializes in condos only. We have been in business since 2018. I have a team of 4 cleaners and 2 Inspector’s. Everyone of my team members including myself depend on our cleaning business to support our family as none of us have another source of income. We have been very blessed because although condo cleaning business went down during Covid and then again after the Lahaina fires, tourism picked up a bit and it has been steady enough to help us support our families. Of course it has been much slower than it used to be when we first opened in 2018, sadly from talking to clients and friends in the industry, many tourists are avoiding coming to Maui as they are not feeling welcomed and we have taken a hit for that. I have friends in the restaurant, maintenance, cleaning and condo management services that will be highly impacted if tourism goes down, which is going to happen if there’s no condos to rent short-term as many prefer condos over hotels especially families. Condos are more affordable and convenient when it comes to a vacation. We understand that eliminating short-term rentals could mean additional homes for locals however in my experience in living in condos in Maui since 2009, it is not ideal for a single family let alone a bigger family. Many local friends have shared that they would prefer to have a home with additional space for their families, with a garage and storage, unfortunately condos can’t provide this. Living in a condo has been very frustrating, I was blessed to be able to buy a home this year and it was extremely difficult. We are a family of five just had a baby and a condo was just not big enough for everything we needed. It was sad to see that there were barely any homes to purchase and had to relocate to Wailuku to find an affordable home, condos with a high association fee was not an option for us. It was extremely expensive for such little space. Families in Maui want and deserve a true home. We hope you understand how many people will be out of work if STR are taken away. Thank you for your time and understanding. We pray that you make the right choice for the well being of our families.
I am a new STR owner in a Hotel Zoned property. The amount of loss revenue from destroying the tourism in Maui will create mass homelessness, poverty and job loss. I strongly oppose the phasing out of Vacation Rentals. Protect the people. Protect their ability to make a living and out food on their table.
The county should have done something about providing more affordable housing decades ago. Now, it’s time to play catch up. However, I strongly oppose this bill as this isn’t the right way for the county to catch up on something that should have never happened to begin with.
As a 25 year Maui Resident who relies on tourism to support my family and employees, I STRONGLY opposed bill 9. This is a horrible proposal that will devistate the local economy. Not just fore but for all locals regardless of the industry you work in.
After the Carvalho and Tavares Administrations, no affordable homes have been created by direct County of Maui action and developers have said repeatedly that they cannot build an affordable home because it does not pencil out. With this situation, the Maui County Council spent $300,000 to create and affordable housing plan, which was completed in 2021. That plan had a goal of building 5000 homes at a cost of one billion dollars. The Maui Comprehensive Housing Plan is still sitting on your shelves.
If the rental of apartments in apartment zoned areas continued to be used by visitors and the cost of building affordable homes are too expensive, we will continue to see our local kids leaving to find a better life for their families on the US mainland. I am ashamed to admit that as a kupuna (an 81 year old born and raised resident) I have failed my children and the many generations that will follow them. We can only bring affordable homes to our residents by passing Bill 9 and again make apartment zoned areas for local living. Thanks for listening.
Banning STR's is a bad idea, do the Math. We own a 2-bed, 2-bath ocean-front condo in West Maui. A blue-collar family cannot afford to buy it as we would not sell it for less than $1 million dollars; we will not be selling it any time in the next 10 years. The condo would rent for more than $6000 per month as a long-term rental which is also not affordable; we will not be renting it as a long-term rental. (Just under 700 sq ft with only one parking space, it is not well-suited for a family.)
We have owned our condo for 6 years and I have been retired for 2 years now. For the last 2 years, we used our condo for 2 months each year and it is an STR for the rest of the year. Every month, we provide HI with thousands of dollars form GE & TAT tax on the visitors that stay in our condo, along with our property tax. The county and the state will lose out on thousands of dollars in taxation and put jobs at risk. (Those guests also spend thousands of dollars for food & water sports, supporting the local economy.) Property managers and maids will lose their jobs from a sudden loss of STR's to manage and clean. These locals, our Maui ohana, are the ones who will be impacted and hurt by a ban on STR's. Banning STR's on properties that will not become affordable housing is not the solution here. Banning STR's is a bad idea, do the Math.
I am a 30 year resident of Maui who lives in Haiku. I do not own a vacation rental property nor does anyone in my family. Therefore this is not for my personal advantage that I oppose this bill. While I am favor of money being spent to help with housing for the community, I do not agree that phasing out vacation rentals is the answer which was also the conclusion of the independent study that was done? Living on the north shore there is nowhere for friends, family or visitors to stay here on vacation without these rentals. We also sometimes want to take a "staycation" and will rent one on other parts of the island. Hotels are too expensive and not what we are interested in staying in. There is no doubt that the tourism industry is already suffering and this will definitely have a very large negative impact on the county as a whole. So many people work in the tourism industry or benefit from it. This is very short sighted to think that if we take away short term vacation rentals to give housing to people that will solve the problem. It will give housing but take away a good proportion of income sources for these same people.
We own a small one bedroom condo in Kihei, the cost to live in the complex is:
HOA. $836.00 per mon
Mortgage & Property Ins. $1,827 per Mon
Homeowner Ins. $889.00 per year
For all the condo needs, repairs, replacements are from Maui Businesses.
We pay GET and TAT about $9,000.00 per year.
The complex was built as a resort, there is little storage and one parking space making it hard to be a long term rental for more than 2 people.
Why aren't you asking why the county hasn't invested in workforce housing over the last decade or more?
Reducing legal STR's isn't going to solve the housing needs
Re: Opposition to Bill 9 (2025), Amending Chapters 19.12, 19.32, and 19.37 Relating to Transient Vacation Rentals in Apartment Districts (HLU-4)
Aloha Chair and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9 (2025), which proposes amendments to Chapters 19.12, 19.32, and 19.37 of the Maui County Code regarding transient vacation rentals (TVRs) in apartment districts.
As a former resident and long-time visitor to the island of Maui, I have a deep and lasting connection to this community. I was married on Maui, have owned and operated a business there, and my wife continues to support the local economy through her work as a destination wedding and event planner. We are proud to continue sharing this beautiful land and culture by hosting friends, family, and guests at our place at Haleakalā Shores in Kihei, a home that has been a peaceful and respectful part of the neighborhood for years.
Today, I still return for extended stays—ranging from two to six weeks—often with my now four-year-old son, who lovingly refers to our condo as his “Maui home.” When we are away, we rent our unit to visitors. This is not a vacation property or speculative investment—it is our family’s primary residence and a vital part of our ability to stay connected to Maui. Without the option to rent our home short-term, we simply could not afford to cover our mortgage and rising HOA fees, which have doubled since the fires. This bill puts that in serious jeopardy.
Our son has been enjoying Maui since he was a baby, growing up with the island’s natural beauty and aloha spirit as part of his earliest memories. This place means the world to our family—not just as visitors, but as people who honor and respect the land, its people, and its traditions.
Bill 9, as currently written, puts in jeopardy the rights of many who have invested in Maui in good faith, complying with county regulations, paying taxes, and contributing to the economic and cultural vibrancy of the island. The proposed changes threaten to retroactively eliminate legal, long-standing uses—a move that not only raises serious fairness and legal concerns, but also destabilizes livelihoods and undercuts community trust.
While I fully support the County’s efforts to promote sustainable tourism and address the affordable housing crisis, this bill does not strike the right balance. Instead of targeting bad actors or illegal operations, it sweeps up responsible owners and small businesses in a way that will cause unnecessary harm without providing meaningful solutions to the challenges facing Maui.
I urge you to oppose Bill 9 (2025) and instead work toward collaborative, well-reasoned policies that protect Maui’s communities while honoring the contributions of those who have built respectful and lasting ties to the island.
Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to Maui’s future.
We strongly oppose the current bill aimed at restricting vacation rentals in South and West Maui. We operate 2 rental condos, owned for over 5 years, and have accommodated many island visitors who come and support the economy of Maui. Loss of this is economic sustainable, loss of the tax revenue our condos generate for the county, and putting our housekeepers and service personnel out of work would devastate Maui’s current working population. This industry should not be targeted. Instead, apportion some of the tax revenue to supporting more long term housing projects and construction. Thank you.
This proposal is an attempt to put a band aid on decades of mismanagement of housing development in Maui as well as the more recent failure to rebuild the homes that people lost to the 2023 Lahaina fires. This proposal would hurt the value of legal rental property by regulating us out of business without compensation to the value of the property being taken away. You're not hurting big businesses or the very wealthy who can afford it. Most units are owned by individual investors like me, who put hard gained life savings into the property.
I own at Maui Vista. Our founding documents show that we were built as a tennis resort (condo hotel) not as long term housing for workers. My unit is 600 square feet with one parking spot. It's one bedroom and one bathroom. My monthly association dues are around $900 a month and that doesn't also include my own property taxes ($9200) and insurance that I carry above and beyond what my association provides. These are not the kind of costs that leads someone to affordable housing. Just to make my mortgage, property taxes, insurance and association fees, my costs are $3500 a month.
We play by the rules, collect and pay taxes and aren't asking for anything from Maui County other than to not change the rules after the game has been played for so long. The County is still approving hotels and expensive housing in Wailea. You need to focus on affordable workforce housing for people, rebuilding Lahaina and not going after people like me. Thank you!
Aloha. We strongly oppose Bill 9 and its amendments.
In March 2024, we listed our condo for sale at $ 721,000.00, and when the Bill was introduced, the market crashed. We lowered the price to 575,000.00 in September of 2024 - still no offers. If Mayor Bisen believes this Bill and the subsequent real estate price drops will aid in housing for locals, he's mistaken. There are units in our building for as low as 425,000. No locals are grabbing them up. The local families that stayed in the building through FEMA left, even when it was free. They are too small and don't offer the amenities that a growing family wants.
The monthly overhead (around $2,500.00) isn't achievable for anyone, except as a short-term rental (STR).
Sure, there may be a few local families that would consider it, but is that rare occasion going to aid in the housing crisis?
Do the benefits of finding homes for a few outweigh the job and financial loss to the Maui community?
The county has the responsibility to act in the best interests of all Maui families, property owners and taxpayers.
Please find a more feasible solution that has lasting benefits for everyone. Mahalo!
Deb Vanderkemp
Maalaea Bay
I strongly oppose Bill 9. The county should be more concerned about the loss of tourism that this fiasco is creating for the legitimate owners of properties on the Minatoya list. Most of these properties are ill suited for long term rentals and have huge HOA fees as well as being of the age where there have been multiple assessments against them for deferred and upcoming maintenance issues. Maui would be better off spending resources on building new affordable housing for the residents.
I am an upcountry resident. I absolutely oppose the elimination of any vacation rentals. The economy of our island depends on tourism. Eliminating these TVR's will be devastating for local residents and tourists.. Stop favoring the hotels. Thousands of residents and others from other states have invested in our island in these properties and it would be unlawful to take away their ability to utilize their properties. Please do the right thing. We need affordable housing but this is not a solution to that problem. These condominiums are not affordable.
Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee
June 9, 2025
MPS Testimony
My name is Isa Shipley. Before I get started, I want to personally thank you, the Maui County Council and the Mayor for working tirelessly to seek opportunities to address the housing crisis here in Maui. Raised on Maui, where I’ve raised my children and now have a granddaughter, this island is deeply personal to me—it's our home and the heart of our family’s story. The recent fires devastated our community, impacting our lives and livelihoods, but they also revealed the strength and unity of our people. In the aftermath, short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) have played a crucial role in our recovery—providing housing for displaced families and relief workers, and sustaining local jobs and small businesses that depend on this industry. For many local families, including mine, STVRs are a source of stability and resilience. With thoughtful regulation, they can continue to be a vital part of Maui’s economic and community recovery.
I have over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and have been with My Perfect Stays for just under a year. At My Perfect Stays, we are committed to sustainable tourism and to being active, responsible partners in our community. As a locally rooted company, we take pride in supporting other local businesses and view that support as an essential extension of our own mission.
We have been long-standing and active members of the Maui Chamber of Commerce as well as their Professional Rental Management Association Trade Council. Maui is our home, and we believe there is a long-term solution to the affordable housing issues, but Bill 9 in current form is not it. We are very concerned this bill could have greater financial implications with future job losses, loss County revenue needed for public safety, and potential tax increases.
Currently we have 25% of properties that would be affected by the phase outs drafted in Bill 9. This phase out would mean a dramatic decrease in staff, local vendor services, and to local businesses we partner with. I am fearful the estimated 1900 jobs lost will be dramatically more. It has been mentioned that there is an ongoing effort to diversify the economy, in sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, or technology to but will these positions even be available and keep pace with the job hospitality losses. Even more so, will they meet the financial and skill requirements of those who stand to lose their jobs?
I also have concerns about future tax implications. There are estimates of a $60 million loss annually from property taxes and additional GET and TAT revenue losses. These revenue sources are vital for public safety, infrastructure, and community programs including affordable housing construction. How and where would the County recover these funds? If there are increased taxes to TVRs these costs will trickle down to visitors at a time with high inflation and economic uncertainties. This change will continue to decrease visitors, visitor spending, and generate more job loss to Maui with less taxes collected. If increased taxes are distributed to residents this will create more economic burdens.
I ask that you please consider another solution. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak my concerns today and for your time on this very serious bill. I speak for myself, and on behalf of My Perfect Stays, that we are committed to working with you all to provide resolutions that benefit all Maui residents now and in the future.
I support Bill 9. Sincerely, a Native Hawaiian Millennial trying to afford to stay on her home island.
I strongly oppose bill 9 because of these reasons; any complex on the minatoya list has expenses that far exceed affordability for long term renters; even if the unit is completely paid off the HOA, insurance and special assessments exceed almost all practical rental rates.
The transient tax revenue and jobs provided by the short term rental business income in these complexes far exceed the potential benefits that come from designating the properties as long term rentals.
A true solution to housing on Maui would require two things, primarily a truly expedited permitting process for new construction, and subsidies to lower interest rates for owner occupied housing. Use the millions in affordable housing slush fund to pay for both of these items.
NO in bill 9
Aloha and mahalo for the chance to share my strong support for Bill 9.
I live on Maui, raised my kids and now grandkids, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard it’s become for regular folks to find a place to live. After the fires last August, the housing situation went from bad to worse. So many people lost their homes, and now, even more are struggling to stay here. Our communities are being hollowed out.
That’s why I support Bill 9. It’s a powerful way to bring thousands of homes back into the long-term housing market. These apartment-zoned properties were never meant to be full-time vacation rentals, and we just can’t afford to lose them anymore.
I understand this won’t be easy. Some people and businesses may be affected financially, and that’s not something to ignore. But we can’t keep prioritizing tourism over the well-being of our own residents. It’s time we put our people first.
This bill gives us a real chance to shift things. It doesn’t solve everything overnight, but it’s a strong, necessary step toward restoring balance, and making Maui a place where locals can actually afford to live and raise their families.
Please pass Bill 9. Maui needs housing for residents.
Mahalo for listening and for your leadership during this time of great change.
With respect,
Kris Statler
Aloha, I am the owner of a small cleaning business that specializes in condos only. We have been in business since 2018. I have a team of 4 cleaners and 2 Inspector’s. Everyone of my team members including myself depend on our cleaning business to support our family as none of us have another source of income. We have been very blessed because although condo cleaning business went down during Covid and then again after the Lahaina fires, tourism picked up a bit and it has been steady enough to help us support our families. Of course it has been much slower than it used to be when we first opened in 2018, sadly from talking to clients and friends in the industry, many tourists are avoiding coming to Maui as they are not feeling welcomed and we have taken a hit for that. I have friends in the restaurant, maintenance, cleaning and condo management services that will be highly impacted if tourism goes down, which is going to happen if there’s no condos to rent short-term as many prefer condos over hotels especially families. Condos are more affordable and convenient when it comes to a vacation. We understand that eliminating short-term rentals could mean additional homes for locals however in my experience in living in condos in Maui since 2009, it is not ideal for a single family let alone a bigger family. Many local friends have shared that they would prefer to have a home with additional space for their families, with a garage and storage, unfortunately condos can’t provide this. Living in a condo has been very frustrating, I was blessed to be able to buy a home this year and it was extremely difficult. We are a family of five just had a baby and a condo was just not big enough for everything we needed. It was sad to see that there were barely any homes to purchase and had to relocate to Wailuku to find an affordable home, condos with a high association fee was not an option for us. It was extremely expensive for such little space. Families in Maui want and deserve a true home. We hope you understand how many people will be out of work if STR are taken away. Thank you for your time and understanding. We pray that you make the right choice for the well being of our families.
I am a new STR owner in a Hotel Zoned property. The amount of loss revenue from destroying the tourism in Maui will create mass homelessness, poverty and job loss. I strongly oppose the phasing out of Vacation Rentals. Protect the people. Protect their ability to make a living and out food on their table.
The county should have done something about providing more affordable housing decades ago. Now, it’s time to play catch up. However, I strongly oppose this bill as this isn’t the right way for the county to catch up on something that should have never happened to begin with.
As a 25 year Maui Resident who relies on tourism to support my family and employees, I STRONGLY opposed bill 9. This is a horrible proposal that will devistate the local economy. Not just fore but for all locals regardless of the industry you work in.
Today will be similar to Kill Haole Day! Wear red everyone!
After the Carvalho and Tavares Administrations, no affordable homes have been created by direct County of Maui action and developers have said repeatedly that they cannot build an affordable home because it does not pencil out. With this situation, the Maui County Council spent $300,000 to create and affordable housing plan, which was completed in 2021. That plan had a goal of building 5000 homes at a cost of one billion dollars. The Maui Comprehensive Housing Plan is still sitting on your shelves.
If the rental of apartments in apartment zoned areas continued to be used by visitors and the cost of building affordable homes are too expensive, we will continue to see our local kids leaving to find a better life for their families on the US mainland. I am ashamed to admit that as a kupuna (an 81 year old born and raised resident) I have failed my children and the many generations that will follow them. We can only bring affordable homes to our residents by passing Bill 9 and again make apartment zoned areas for local living. Thanks for listening.
Stan Franco
Haiku, Maui
Banning STR's is a bad idea, do the Math. We own a 2-bed, 2-bath ocean-front condo in West Maui. A blue-collar family cannot afford to buy it as we would not sell it for less than $1 million dollars; we will not be selling it any time in the next 10 years. The condo would rent for more than $6000 per month as a long-term rental which is also not affordable; we will not be renting it as a long-term rental. (Just under 700 sq ft with only one parking space, it is not well-suited for a family.)
We have owned our condo for 6 years and I have been retired for 2 years now. For the last 2 years, we used our condo for 2 months each year and it is an STR for the rest of the year. Every month, we provide HI with thousands of dollars form GE & TAT tax on the visitors that stay in our condo, along with our property tax. The county and the state will lose out on thousands of dollars in taxation and put jobs at risk. (Those guests also spend thousands of dollars for food & water sports, supporting the local economy.) Property managers and maids will lose their jobs from a sudden loss of STR's to manage and clean. These locals, our Maui ohana, are the ones who will be impacted and hurt by a ban on STR's. Banning STR's on properties that will not become affordable housing is not the solution here. Banning STR's is a bad idea, do the Math.
I am a 30 year resident of Maui who lives in Haiku. I do not own a vacation rental property nor does anyone in my family. Therefore this is not for my personal advantage that I oppose this bill. While I am favor of money being spent to help with housing for the community, I do not agree that phasing out vacation rentals is the answer which was also the conclusion of the independent study that was done? Living on the north shore there is nowhere for friends, family or visitors to stay here on vacation without these rentals. We also sometimes want to take a "staycation" and will rent one on other parts of the island. Hotels are too expensive and not what we are interested in staying in. There is no doubt that the tourism industry is already suffering and this will definitely have a very large negative impact on the county as a whole. So many people work in the tourism industry or benefit from it. This is very short sighted to think that if we take away short term vacation rentals to give housing to people that will solve the problem. It will give housing but take away a good proportion of income sources for these same people.
We own a small one bedroom condo in Kihei, the cost to live in the complex is:
HOA. $836.00 per mon
Mortgage & Property Ins. $1,827 per Mon
Homeowner Ins. $889.00 per year
For all the condo needs, repairs, replacements are from Maui Businesses.
We pay GET and TAT about $9,000.00 per year.
The complex was built as a resort, there is little storage and one parking space making it hard to be a long term rental for more than 2 people.
Why aren't you asking why the county hasn't invested in workforce housing over the last decade or more?
Reducing legal STR's isn't going to solve the housing needs
June 09, 2025
Re: Opposition to Bill 9 (2025), Amending Chapters 19.12, 19.32, and 19.37 Relating to Transient Vacation Rentals in Apartment Districts (HLU-4)
Aloha Chair and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9 (2025), which proposes amendments to Chapters 19.12, 19.32, and 19.37 of the Maui County Code regarding transient vacation rentals (TVRs) in apartment districts.
As a former resident and long-time visitor to the island of Maui, I have a deep and lasting connection to this community. I was married on Maui, have owned and operated a business there, and my wife continues to support the local economy through her work as a destination wedding and event planner. We are proud to continue sharing this beautiful land and culture by hosting friends, family, and guests at our place at Haleakalā Shores in Kihei, a home that has been a peaceful and respectful part of the neighborhood for years.
Today, I still return for extended stays—ranging from two to six weeks—often with my now four-year-old son, who lovingly refers to our condo as his “Maui home.” When we are away, we rent our unit to visitors. This is not a vacation property or speculative investment—it is our family’s primary residence and a vital part of our ability to stay connected to Maui. Without the option to rent our home short-term, we simply could not afford to cover our mortgage and rising HOA fees, which have doubled since the fires. This bill puts that in serious jeopardy.
Our son has been enjoying Maui since he was a baby, growing up with the island’s natural beauty and aloha spirit as part of his earliest memories. This place means the world to our family—not just as visitors, but as people who honor and respect the land, its people, and its traditions.
Bill 9, as currently written, puts in jeopardy the rights of many who have invested in Maui in good faith, complying with county regulations, paying taxes, and contributing to the economic and cultural vibrancy of the island. The proposed changes threaten to retroactively eliminate legal, long-standing uses—a move that not only raises serious fairness and legal concerns, but also destabilizes livelihoods and undercuts community trust.
While I fully support the County’s efforts to promote sustainable tourism and address the affordable housing crisis, this bill does not strike the right balance. Instead of targeting bad actors or illegal operations, it sweeps up responsible owners and small businesses in a way that will cause unnecessary harm without providing meaningful solutions to the challenges facing Maui.
I urge you to oppose Bill 9 (2025) and instead work toward collaborative, well-reasoned policies that protect Maui’s communities while honoring the contributions of those who have built respectful and lasting ties to the island.
Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to Maui’s future.
With deepest respect,
Dane Gergovich
We strongly oppose the current bill aimed at restricting vacation rentals in South and West Maui. We operate 2 rental condos, owned for over 5 years, and have accommodated many island visitors who come and support the economy of Maui. Loss of this is economic sustainable, loss of the tax revenue our condos generate for the county, and putting our housekeepers and service personnel out of work would devastate Maui’s current working population. This industry should not be targeted. Instead, apportion some of the tax revenue to supporting more long term housing projects and construction. Thank you.
This proposal to take away property rights without compensation is unconstitutional