Subject: Proposed Legislation Regarding Short Term Vacation Rentals on Maui
I am an owner of a condominium unit in Kapalua Ridge Villas since 1995. Being aware of the proposed action, and cognizant of studies that predict potential negative economic consequences that would impact every stakeholder in Maui, I urge your Commission to exclude Kapalua Ridge condominium units from any ordinance that bans short-term rentals.
For over 30 years, we have enjoyed all that Maui has to offer to visitors and part-time residents. In our case, we have family and friendships that bring us back to Maui several times per year. Our brother (45+ years small business owner), nephew (born & raised on Maui), and his young family continue to make Maui their home. Just as we have appreciated the relaxing, enjoyable Maui lifestyle, the owners and employees of restaurants, retail stores, sightseeing and cultural activities have benefited by being among the most popular vacation destinations.
Even the pending legislation has already resulted in radical disruption in all aspects of the economic environment. Friends and family, to whom we have recommended Maui lodging, dining, and sightseeing activities for years, now are reacting to a new negative reputation for Maui. Online and real world feedback is characterizing Maui as too expensive, less available by air, spotty service levels, and suffering an undercurrent of unfriendliness toward visitors.
The new Maui environment seems like the start of a domino effect. Increased hotel/ STVR nightly taxes just passed as new legislation. Higher property tax rates for Maui owners have entered into the county budget. Visitation rates are slowing. Employment reduction and reduced sales tax collection are likely to follow.
This disruption has been caused in the name of increasing the supply of long term rental units. The Kapalua Resort was never designed for long term rentals or workforce housing. It is optimized as a vacation destination. Factors include: Expensive Property & Casualty insurance, high annual Home Association (HOA) dues, high mandatory capital maintenance funding to address deferred repairs to roofing, premium landscape and pool maintenance, minimal parking spaces, and generally limited interior living space that is poorly suited for ongoing family living.
The equilibrium that existed before the Lahaina fire tragedy may not have been ideal. But it could be managed by incremental changes to financial factors, public sector investment, and more gradual rule changes. However, the proposed legislation is not gradual. This would be self-infliction of massive disruption. The unintended consequences could have drastic long-term negative outcomes: a spiral of reduced visitor rental, increased tax rates, and need for more social support services based on low employment.
Please urge the County of Maui leadership to limit the impact of this STVR legislation. Properties like Kapalua Ridge Villas are unsuited for long term apartment rental use and should be excluded from any STVR ban rulings.
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Gary Williams, and I am a proud owner of a short-term rental property here in Maui County. I am reaching out to express my strong opposition to the proposed legislation aiming to phase out most short-term vacation rentals.
I purchased my unit in 2000. Operating in this environment has not been easy. From COVID to escalating maintenance costs to special assessments and skyrocketing insurance premiums in the wake of the fires, I’ve faced financial strain. Our HOA fees have increased nearly 100% to $2,650 a month. The revenue from short-term rentals helps cover these ongoing expenses while also supporting a network of local workers. In 2024 our short-term rental revenue just covered our total expenses. In 2025, because of increased costs and decreased occupancy we expect to lose money.
As a property owner, I take great pride in ensuring that my rental contributes positively to the local community. From recommending local restaurants and tour companies in my guest guide to employing a dedicated team of local cleaners, landscapers, and maintenance workers — I’ve built meaningful relationships with many of these individuals. Over the years, many of these individuals have become like family to me. I was heartbroken when one of them, a good friend, lost his life in the Lahaina fire.
In my humble opinion the proposed legislation is taking a machete to a real problem when a scalpel would accomplish the Council’s goals and wouldn’t damage so much of the community. I respectfully urge the Council to engage with property owners to find a more balanced solution that preserves local jobs, rather than phasing out an entire sector that benefits so many.
My name is Jaydeep Ranade and we have owned a condo in Kapalua since 2021. We live on the mainland but visit our little piece of paradise often and regularly. I would like to respectfully indicate our strong opposition to the proposed phase out of STRs in apartment-zoned areas of Maui.
We believe that our beautiful island cannot sustain the severe negative economic impact of this ordnance adversely affecting people's ability to visit and stay on our beautiful piece of paradise. It'll affect our local merchants, small business owners, artisans, tradesmen, and ultimately our neighbors and friends. We pride ourselves in taking care of our home with love, diligence, and devotion and being able to share our home with the thousands of people across the world who respectfully want to experience what we do frequently is a joy beyond compare.
Please do not destroy this economic engine with such short term fixes. The right thing to do would be to build more affordable, modern, sustainable, and up-to-date housing for our local brothers and sisters using the economic benefits generated by the millions of visitors who want to visit and experience our island.
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
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.
Background on Papakea
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 owners have been operating legal vacation rentals for almost fifty years.
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.
The majority of units at Papakea are under 600 square feet and the property has limited parking.
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.
Owners purchased condos at Papakea with the reasonable expectation that short-term rentals were legal based on ordinances as far back as 1989, and as recent as 2022. In reliance on the Maui County ordinances and published documents, Hawaii state law, and constitutional protections, owners invested in costly renovations, furnishings, and long-term financial commitments such as mortgages that make any phase out of short-term rental right offensive of each buyer’s investment-backed expectations.
Papakea’s Contributions to the Community
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.
Individual Owner Contributions to the Community
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 STRs support the State of Hawaii and County of Maui through payment of property taxes (many at the short-term rental rate), Transient Accommodations Tax, General Excise Tax, and Maui County Transient Accommodations Tax.
Papakea guests support many small businesses on the island including restaurants, food trucks, tour operators, activities, state parks, the national park, and shops. Papakea owners and guests regularly participate in community activities including volunteering at beach cleanups, Maui Humane Society, the hospital, and many other local organizations, and contribute to local philanthropic nd cultural efforts.
I would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
My husband and I have been owners of a condo at Maui Sands Seaside since 2010. We live on the mainland, but we and the two couples who partner with us spend part of every year onsite. Since we are all now retired, this has been typically one - two months residence per couple each year. We have completely renovated our unit, participated in its maintenance and upkeep, participated in our homeowners' association, and basically resided in Maui for 1/4 to 1/3 of each year. Obviously, during that time, we spend lots of money eating, recreating, and living in Maui, We all feel that Maui is a second home. None of us is wealthy, but we prioritize our time in Maui to afford this lifestyle.
Therefore, it is a bitter pill to swallow to hear and read and see that we are now pariahs, leeches, opportunists who don't deserve to consider ourselves kama'ainas. To have this threat of our legal and hard-earned place seized by the government is devastating. We are Americans; and we know in our state, Washington, we similarly have seasonal, out-of-state residents on our lakes, beaches, and saltwater waterways. And, yes, they do contribute to increasingly high cost of living and housing.
Our little condo is virtually unusable as permanent housing, it has one bedroom and limited parking. We think we do more good than harm with all the money we ourselves pay into Maui's coffers, but the STR guests we host definitely contribute greatly to Maui's yearly income--individuals, businesse, and county government.
As a concerned renter and member of our community, I urge you to support the Minatoya short-term rental (STR) phase-out. This policy is a necessary step toward restoring housing affordability and availability for residents.
Research shows that phasing out short-term rentals can reduce local rents by 6–14%, making a real difference for working families and individuals struggling with the high cost of living. In addition, it would free up much-needed housing inventory currently tied up in the STR market—units that could otherwise provide stable homes for long-term residents.
Renters are being priced out of the communities we work in and contribute to. Prioritizing housing for residents over tourists is a matter of fairness, sustainability, and economic stability.
Please stand with local residents and take action to support the Minatoya STR phase-out. Our community can’t afford to wait.
Thank you for your SUPPORT of this bill.
Mahalo,
Ella Upton
My name is Misty Early, and I am the owner of a local cleaning company on Maui. I am writing to strongly oppose Bill 9, which would shut down legally operating short-term rentals. This bill would have a devastating financial impact not just on property owners, but also on service providers like myself who rely on this industry to make a living.
A large portion of my company's work comes from short-term rental clients. These jobs provide consistent income that allows me to pay my employees, cover business expenses, and support my family. If Bill 9 passes and these rentals are shut down, I will lose a significant part - if not the majority of my business. That means I may have to lay off staff, reduce services, and struggle to stay afloat.
This bill doesn't just impact property owners, it hurts all the local workers and small businesses who are part of the broader ecosystem. Cleaners, landscapers, handymen, laundry services, and many others depend on these rentals for work.
Many of us are Maui residents who have built our livelihoods around supporting this industry legally and responsibly.
I understand the concerns around housing, but eliminating short-term rentals will not automatically result in affordable homes — and it comes at the cost of real, hardworking local people losing their income. Instead of taking away our jobs, l urge you to consider solutions that address the housing crisis without destroying the local small businesses that help keep our economy alive.
Please vote no on Bill 9, and help protect the families and workers who are already struggling to make ends meet.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Misty Early
Dirty Hands Clean Money LLC
808-344-4944
Misdallas101411@gmail.com
It is clear that the Council has an enormous task to accomplish. First and foremost, your role in governance is to support the entirety of the public need. Please don't respond to the emotion of any given situation that has the potential to adversely affect Maui County as a whole. Economic stability is the key to long term recovery and housing. Short term PERCIEVED solutions are nothing but band-aids. There is absolutely no guarantee that this Bill will serve to accomplish the intended goals. PLEASE consider these points and vote to OPPOSE this proposed legislation. With much respect, Mike Giannini
I oppose Bill 9 and would appreciate it if the council members would take the time to read my comments, that would be greatly appreciated.
The impact of this bill has already taken a serious toll on the mental health of myself and husband and therefore children.
Due to the constant worry and unknowns of this bill passing our daily lives are filled with constant stress, angst and uncertainty of our future. We did everything we were supposed to do. We followed our legal rights to invest our life's savings into buying legal short term rental properties. Our mortgages are so high that we will never be able to recoup our losses by renting long term. Rent will barely cover the monthly dues, never mind our mortgage payments. We will likely lose our home and our rental properties. Our cleaners and repair people will also lose their jobs. We will be forced into bankruptcy and likely become homeless. If you pass this bill, we will become destitute. In essence, the attempt to create affordable housing will be at the expense of every other owner and small business in our community.
We desperately urge you to put a stop to this bill.
My name is Michael Collier. I am writing today as a STR owner. I’m also a past resident, past employee on Maui, and longtime visitor. These various relationships to Maui span more than 4 decades. From all of these perspectives, I strongly oppose the proposal to phase out 7,000 vacation rentals.
My past residency in Wailuku would not have been viable without employment supported by the vacation rental visitors staying in Kihei. I developed a deep affinity for Maui while living and working on the island, but I would have never returned as a visitor if staying in a STR was not an option. I’ve only wanted to stay in places that provided a more rich and authentic Maui experience than hotels and resorts would.
As an owner of a STR property, I am essentially a small business owner. My customers all patronize local businesses for dining out, purchasing necessities and souvenirs, partaking in activities, etc. My customers, spending money at all of these various other businesses, support the employment of a great number of people. This proposal will cost many of them their livelihoods.
Facilitating a quality experience for visitors is the objective of my STR business. This means providing a clean, updated, aesthetic and comfortable space for their vacation. The team of local employees and businesses I rely on to accomplish this is quite large. Just as my customers are spending money on dining, shopping, activities, etc., I spend money locally on cleaning, repairs, maintenance, locally produced art and furnishings, etc. Everything from a service call to repair an appliance, to having sunscreen steam cleaned out of furniture, is done by a Maui based small business. I also rely on a Maui based small business to manage the bookings, coordinate repairs, cleaning, etc.
Another significant financial contribution of my STR business, is all of the tax revenue generated. This proposal kills all of the local spending by me, my customers, and the tax revenue, multiplied by 7,000.
In terms of a ripple effect, this proposal is a Tsunami. Everything on Maui is interconnected, everyone will be impacted. Multitudes of people will be forced to leave the island because their employment was terminated directly, or by the ripple effects of this proposal. Some of the ripples of damage may have been anticipated in the economic studies, but did they anticipate how the negative impacts will be compounded by current events, such as tariffs and trade wars? International visitors, from Canada and elsewhere, are choosing other destinations, putting an unanticipated strain on businesses already hurting after COVID and the fires.
I respectfully ask you all to carefully weigh the negative impacts of this decision. I realize my voice in this matter is small, but I believe the effects of this will be profoundly negative. Please work to find a solution to the housing crisis that doesn’t swap one set of problems for another, potentially worse set of problems. I strongly oppose this proposal.
We oppose this bill. This bill is the wrong solution for the housing problem. If it really wanted to solve the housing problem, Maui could build beautiful homes for all its residents from the taxes these vacation rentals generate. While we are not economists, We believe the loss in tax revenue, loss in jobs, and loss in general revenue from vacationers' spending will cause even more problems for Maui. Rex and Heather Daines.
My name is Alan Weverstad . My wife and I own a unit at Maui Kamaole, 2777 S Kihei Road, Kihei. We bought from the original developer and previously owned a unit at Kihei Akahi. In all we have owned and paid taxes for over 30 years in Maui. I oppose this bill because it is taking away our right to vacation rent while we are not on Maui. We employ house cleaners, handy men , repair specialists and on island rental service. We have purchased new vehicles on island and tried to be a part of our community by volunteering at various island organizations. Our unit is our home for a large part of the year. Having rental guests keeps our unit in good repair in order to rent. It provides jobs on island for our workers and suppliers. It also provides accommodations at less cost than hotels. When we purchased both units no discussion of a Minatoya list was ever discussed but were told that our unit could be rented for vacations. Part of the value of our unit is the ability to STR. Please Don’t take that ability away from us.
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
I propose that the Council amend Bill 9 to exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort which the County has historically identified as having A2-H2 zoning.
Papakea is uniquely different than other condo units referenced in Bill 9:
-Unlike other complexes listed, Papakea was never workforce housing that was converted to transient vacation rental use and has been legally running as vacation rentals for over 50 years.
- It is not designed for permanent resident use: there is limited parking, most are under 600 square feet, and there is limited storage. Like hotels, it has a front desk, a concierge desk and hosts resort amenities and activities.
Papakea is located along a stretch of hotel zoned properties and many commercially zoned properties…not residential neightborhoods
Marketed and run as a resort Papakea’s resort operations supports the workforce
- 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 that will be reduced if no longer considered a resort: pest control, HVAC, painting, plumbing, electrical, general contracting, masonry, tile and flooring, fitness instructors, entertainers, and tree trimming.
Shutting down short-term rentals at Papakea will affect local small businesses
- Our house cleaner, a small family business owner, has a significant number of units she cleans at Papakea and the loss of income will affect her ability to support her family. She has worked for us and the previous owners of our unit for over 10 years. It will be hard for her and her employees to make up the loss of income.
I would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
We vehemently oppose bill Bill 9.
The economic impact of this bill will destroy our small restaurant business. We rely on tourists dollar to keep our restaurant afloat. We have seen a great decline in customers over the past year and we can see this is a direct result of all negative publicity on visitors not being welcomed into our state. We don't see many clients coming from the resorts to come and eat here in our little space. From my previous work experience at the Grand Wailea, many guests stay and eat at the hotels. Passing this bill will sadly results in the closure of our restaurant and the loss of many jobs including family. It also affects our fishermen, our produce company and many more.
We strongly urge you to stop this bill.
Mahalo!
Aloha, my name is Wendy and I wish to oppose this bill. I manage a housekeeping business that employs 6 full-time cleaners and maintenance/handymen in the west side. Owners of these STRs hire my company to look after their units (currently at 22), do cleaning, maintain household items and miscellaneous work. My employees are paid much better than if they were to work at hotels, and don't require them to look for 2nd jobs. Because of the uncertainty of the Mayor's bill and the confusion surrounding Maui's messaging that the island is NOT welcoming, bookings on STRs have dramatically slowed 40%. Though I am trying to maintain my company and keep my employees paid, the current environment in Maui right now for visitors is not good..in fact it's worse now than after the lockdowns.
I oppose this bill as this will NOT provide housing for residents. The units we look after may be old but they are very, very expensive to maintain. A studio alone in the west side (multi-zoned as H1-A2) already has an HOA monthly fee of over $1200!
I ask the county to bring this bill down and bring some level of stability to the island. The mayor and those people are Lahaina Strong are well-paid and funded, but we are NOT.
This will devastate the Kihei economy for decades. Please end this bill quickly and decisively to avoid yet another disaster for Maui residents. This is not the way to make affordable housing.
Aloha Mayor Bissen & Maui County Councilors,
We oppose Bill 9. Recent studies have shown & actions in other communities have demonstrated that attempting to transition tourist based condo's to residential condo would be be an economic, small business & tax revenue failure. We have family living on Maui, friends running businesses in Kihei, we live part time in Kihei & have worked on all the islands. We are now retired. Move forward constructively.
Make a decision now to oppose Bill 9. Dragging on a decision hurts everyone. Make decisions how to lessen the burden on the ineffective building and permitting process. Create incentives for builders to build affordable, livable housing and multigenerational housing to meet cultural needs & resident needs. Tourism IS Hawaii's economy which supports the tax base, jobs and the economy of Maui. Please do not approve Bill 9 & move forward to supporting residents through economic growth, encouraging tourism and use rhetoric that communicates "The Aloha Spirit" to visitors and residents. Mahalo for your time.
I strongly oppose the measure to eliminate TVR/STR rights for all properties in apartment districts and appreciate the opportunity to be heard. I sincerely understand and support the urgency with which the county is seeking solutions for affordable housing options in West Maui. However, I believe there has to be a better solution than eliminating TVR/STR rights and eliminating local jobs and hurting the economy.
Memo to the Maui Planning Commission June 6, 2025
Subject: Proposed Legislation Regarding Short Term Vacation Rentals on Maui
I am an owner of a condominium unit in Kapalua Ridge Villas since 1995. Being aware of the proposed action, and cognizant of studies that predict potential negative economic consequences that would impact every stakeholder in Maui, I urge your Commission to exclude Kapalua Ridge condominium units from any ordinance that bans short-term rentals.
For over 30 years, we have enjoyed all that Maui has to offer to visitors and part-time residents. In our case, we have family and friendships that bring us back to Maui several times per year. Our brother (45+ years small business owner), nephew (born & raised on Maui), and his young family continue to make Maui their home. Just as we have appreciated the relaxing, enjoyable Maui lifestyle, the owners and employees of restaurants, retail stores, sightseeing and cultural activities have benefited by being among the most popular vacation destinations.
Even the pending legislation has already resulted in radical disruption in all aspects of the economic environment. Friends and family, to whom we have recommended Maui lodging, dining, and sightseeing activities for years, now are reacting to a new negative reputation for Maui. Online and real world feedback is characterizing Maui as too expensive, less available by air, spotty service levels, and suffering an undercurrent of unfriendliness toward visitors.
The new Maui environment seems like the start of a domino effect. Increased hotel/ STVR nightly taxes just passed as new legislation. Higher property tax rates for Maui owners have entered into the county budget. Visitation rates are slowing. Employment reduction and reduced sales tax collection are likely to follow.
This disruption has been caused in the name of increasing the supply of long term rental units. The Kapalua Resort was never designed for long term rentals or workforce housing. It is optimized as a vacation destination. Factors include: Expensive Property & Casualty insurance, high annual Home Association (HOA) dues, high mandatory capital maintenance funding to address deferred repairs to roofing, premium landscape and pool maintenance, minimal parking spaces, and generally limited interior living space that is poorly suited for ongoing family living.
The equilibrium that existed before the Lahaina fire tragedy may not have been ideal. But it could be managed by incremental changes to financial factors, public sector investment, and more gradual rule changes. However, the proposed legislation is not gradual. This would be self-infliction of massive disruption. The unintended consequences could have drastic long-term negative outcomes: a spiral of reduced visitor rental, increased tax rates, and need for more social support services based on low employment.
Please urge the County of Maui leadership to limit the impact of this STVR legislation. Properties like Kapalua Ridge Villas are unsuited for long term apartment rental use and should be excluded from any STVR ban rulings.
James L. McGlothlin
Kapalua Ridge Villa #823
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Gary Williams, and I am a proud owner of a short-term rental property here in Maui County. I am reaching out to express my strong opposition to the proposed legislation aiming to phase out most short-term vacation rentals.
I purchased my unit in 2000. Operating in this environment has not been easy. From COVID to escalating maintenance costs to special assessments and skyrocketing insurance premiums in the wake of the fires, I’ve faced financial strain. Our HOA fees have increased nearly 100% to $2,650 a month. The revenue from short-term rentals helps cover these ongoing expenses while also supporting a network of local workers. In 2024 our short-term rental revenue just covered our total expenses. In 2025, because of increased costs and decreased occupancy we expect to lose money.
As a property owner, I take great pride in ensuring that my rental contributes positively to the local community. From recommending local restaurants and tour companies in my guest guide to employing a dedicated team of local cleaners, landscapers, and maintenance workers — I’ve built meaningful relationships with many of these individuals. Over the years, many of these individuals have become like family to me. I was heartbroken when one of them, a good friend, lost his life in the Lahaina fire.
In my humble opinion the proposed legislation is taking a machete to a real problem when a scalpel would accomplish the Council’s goals and wouldn’t damage so much of the community. I respectfully urge the Council to engage with property owners to find a more balanced solution that preserves local jobs, rather than phasing out an entire sector that benefits so many.
Thank you for considering my perspective
Mahalo,
Gary Williams
My name is Jaydeep Ranade and we have owned a condo in Kapalua since 2021. We live on the mainland but visit our little piece of paradise often and regularly. I would like to respectfully indicate our strong opposition to the proposed phase out of STRs in apartment-zoned areas of Maui.
We believe that our beautiful island cannot sustain the severe negative economic impact of this ordnance adversely affecting people's ability to visit and stay on our beautiful piece of paradise. It'll affect our local merchants, small business owners, artisans, tradesmen, and ultimately our neighbors and friends. We pride ourselves in taking care of our home with love, diligence, and devotion and being able to share our home with the thousands of people across the world who respectfully want to experience what we do frequently is a joy beyond compare.
Please do not destroy this economic engine with such short term fixes. The right thing to do would be to build more affordable, modern, sustainable, and up-to-date housing for our local brothers and sisters using the economic benefits generated by the millions of visitors who want to visit and experience our island.
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
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.
Background on Papakea
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 owners have been operating legal vacation rentals for almost fifty years.
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.
The majority of units at Papakea are under 600 square feet and the property has limited parking.
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.
Owners purchased condos at Papakea with the reasonable expectation that short-term rentals were legal based on ordinances as far back as 1989, and as recent as 2022. In reliance on the Maui County ordinances and published documents, Hawaii state law, and constitutional protections, owners invested in costly renovations, furnishings, and long-term financial commitments such as mortgages that make any phase out of short-term rental right offensive of each buyer’s investment-backed expectations.
Papakea’s Contributions to the Community
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.
Individual Owner Contributions to the Community
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 STRs support the State of Hawaii and County of Maui through payment of property taxes (many at the short-term rental rate), Transient Accommodations Tax, General Excise Tax, and Maui County Transient Accommodations Tax.
Papakea guests support many small businesses on the island including restaurants, food trucks, tour operators, activities, state parks, the national park, and shops. Papakea owners and guests regularly participate in community activities including volunteering at beach cleanups, Maui Humane Society, the hospital, and many other local organizations, and contribute to local philanthropic nd cultural efforts.
I would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
Melanie Hyde
3543 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Apartment H206
My husband and I have been owners of a condo at Maui Sands Seaside since 2010. We live on the mainland, but we and the two couples who partner with us spend part of every year onsite. Since we are all now retired, this has been typically one - two months residence per couple each year. We have completely renovated our unit, participated in its maintenance and upkeep, participated in our homeowners' association, and basically resided in Maui for 1/4 to 1/3 of each year. Obviously, during that time, we spend lots of money eating, recreating, and living in Maui, We all feel that Maui is a second home. None of us is wealthy, but we prioritize our time in Maui to afford this lifestyle.
Therefore, it is a bitter pill to swallow to hear and read and see that we are now pariahs, leeches, opportunists who don't deserve to consider ourselves kama'ainas. To have this threat of our legal and hard-earned place seized by the government is devastating. We are Americans; and we know in our state, Washington, we similarly have seasonal, out-of-state residents on our lakes, beaches, and saltwater waterways. And, yes, they do contribute to increasingly high cost of living and housing.
Our little condo is virtually unusable as permanent housing, it has one bedroom and limited parking. We think we do more good than harm with all the money we ourselves pay into Maui's coffers, but the STR guests we host definitely contribute greatly to Maui's yearly income--individuals, businesse, and county government.
Aloha,
As a concerned renter and member of our community, I urge you to support the Minatoya short-term rental (STR) phase-out. This policy is a necessary step toward restoring housing affordability and availability for residents.
Research shows that phasing out short-term rentals can reduce local rents by 6–14%, making a real difference for working families and individuals struggling with the high cost of living. In addition, it would free up much-needed housing inventory currently tied up in the STR market—units that could otherwise provide stable homes for long-term residents.
Renters are being priced out of the communities we work in and contribute to. Prioritizing housing for residents over tourists is a matter of fairness, sustainability, and economic stability.
Please stand with local residents and take action to support the Minatoya STR phase-out. Our community can’t afford to wait.
Thank you for your SUPPORT of this bill.
Mahalo,
Ella Upton
Aloha Chair and Council Members,
My name is Misty Early, and I am the owner of a local cleaning company on Maui. I am writing to strongly oppose Bill 9, which would shut down legally operating short-term rentals. This bill would have a devastating financial impact not just on property owners, but also on service providers like myself who rely on this industry to make a living.
A large portion of my company's work comes from short-term rental clients. These jobs provide consistent income that allows me to pay my employees, cover business expenses, and support my family. If Bill 9 passes and these rentals are shut down, I will lose a significant part - if not the majority of my business. That means I may have to lay off staff, reduce services, and struggle to stay afloat.
This bill doesn't just impact property owners, it hurts all the local workers and small businesses who are part of the broader ecosystem. Cleaners, landscapers, handymen, laundry services, and many others depend on these rentals for work.
Many of us are Maui residents who have built our livelihoods around supporting this industry legally and responsibly.
I understand the concerns around housing, but eliminating short-term rentals will not automatically result in affordable homes — and it comes at the cost of real, hardworking local people losing their income. Instead of taking away our jobs, l urge you to consider solutions that address the housing crisis without destroying the local small businesses that help keep our economy alive.
Please vote no on Bill 9, and help protect the families and workers who are already struggling to make ends meet.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Misty Early
Dirty Hands Clean Money LLC
808-344-4944
Misdallas101411@gmail.com
It is clear that the Council has an enormous task to accomplish. First and foremost, your role in governance is to support the entirety of the public need. Please don't respond to the emotion of any given situation that has the potential to adversely affect Maui County as a whole. Economic stability is the key to long term recovery and housing. Short term PERCIEVED solutions are nothing but band-aids. There is absolutely no guarantee that this Bill will serve to accomplish the intended goals. PLEASE consider these points and vote to OPPOSE this proposed legislation. With much respect, Mike Giannini
I oppose
I oppose Bill 9 and would appreciate it if the council members would take the time to read my comments, that would be greatly appreciated.
The impact of this bill has already taken a serious toll on the mental health of myself and husband and therefore children.
Due to the constant worry and unknowns of this bill passing our daily lives are filled with constant stress, angst and uncertainty of our future. We did everything we were supposed to do. We followed our legal rights to invest our life's savings into buying legal short term rental properties. Our mortgages are so high that we will never be able to recoup our losses by renting long term. Rent will barely cover the monthly dues, never mind our mortgage payments. We will likely lose our home and our rental properties. Our cleaners and repair people will also lose their jobs. We will be forced into bankruptcy and likely become homeless. If you pass this bill, we will become destitute. In essence, the attempt to create affordable housing will be at the expense of every other owner and small business in our community.
We desperately urge you to put a stop to this bill.
Thank you for your time
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Michael Collier. I am writing today as a STR owner. I’m also a past resident, past employee on Maui, and longtime visitor. These various relationships to Maui span more than 4 decades. From all of these perspectives, I strongly oppose the proposal to phase out 7,000 vacation rentals.
My past residency in Wailuku would not have been viable without employment supported by the vacation rental visitors staying in Kihei. I developed a deep affinity for Maui while living and working on the island, but I would have never returned as a visitor if staying in a STR was not an option. I’ve only wanted to stay in places that provided a more rich and authentic Maui experience than hotels and resorts would.
As an owner of a STR property, I am essentially a small business owner. My customers all patronize local businesses for dining out, purchasing necessities and souvenirs, partaking in activities, etc. My customers, spending money at all of these various other businesses, support the employment of a great number of people. This proposal will cost many of them their livelihoods.
Facilitating a quality experience for visitors is the objective of my STR business. This means providing a clean, updated, aesthetic and comfortable space for their vacation. The team of local employees and businesses I rely on to accomplish this is quite large. Just as my customers are spending money on dining, shopping, activities, etc., I spend money locally on cleaning, repairs, maintenance, locally produced art and furnishings, etc. Everything from a service call to repair an appliance, to having sunscreen steam cleaned out of furniture, is done by a Maui based small business. I also rely on a Maui based small business to manage the bookings, coordinate repairs, cleaning, etc.
Another significant financial contribution of my STR business, is all of the tax revenue generated. This proposal kills all of the local spending by me, my customers, and the tax revenue, multiplied by 7,000.
In terms of a ripple effect, this proposal is a Tsunami. Everything on Maui is interconnected, everyone will be impacted. Multitudes of people will be forced to leave the island because their employment was terminated directly, or by the ripple effects of this proposal. Some of the ripples of damage may have been anticipated in the economic studies, but did they anticipate how the negative impacts will be compounded by current events, such as tariffs and trade wars? International visitors, from Canada and elsewhere, are choosing other destinations, putting an unanticipated strain on businesses already hurting after COVID and the fires.
I respectfully ask you all to carefully weigh the negative impacts of this decision. I realize my voice in this matter is small, but I believe the effects of this will be profoundly negative. Please work to find a solution to the housing crisis that doesn’t swap one set of problems for another, potentially worse set of problems. I strongly oppose this proposal.
With Aloha,
Michael Collier
We oppose this bill. This bill is the wrong solution for the housing problem. If it really wanted to solve the housing problem, Maui could build beautiful homes for all its residents from the taxes these vacation rentals generate. While we are not economists, We believe the loss in tax revenue, loss in jobs, and loss in general revenue from vacationers' spending will cause even more problems for Maui. Rex and Heather Daines.
Dearest Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
My Name is Richard Nakama and I strongly oppose this bill.
My name is Alan Weverstad . My wife and I own a unit at Maui Kamaole, 2777 S Kihei Road, Kihei. We bought from the original developer and previously owned a unit at Kihei Akahi. In all we have owned and paid taxes for over 30 years in Maui. I oppose this bill because it is taking away our right to vacation rent while we are not on Maui. We employ house cleaners, handy men , repair specialists and on island rental service. We have purchased new vehicles on island and tried to be a part of our community by volunteering at various island organizations. Our unit is our home for a large part of the year. Having rental guests keeps our unit in good repair in order to rent. It provides jobs on island for our workers and suppliers. It also provides accommodations at less cost than hotels. When we purchased both units no discussion of a Minatoya list was ever discussed but were told that our unit could be rented for vacations. Part of the value of our unit is the ability to STR. Please Don’t take that ability away from us.
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
I propose that the Council amend Bill 9 to exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort which the County has historically identified as having A2-H2 zoning.
Papakea is uniquely different than other condo units referenced in Bill 9:
-Unlike other complexes listed, Papakea was never workforce housing that was converted to transient vacation rental use and has been legally running as vacation rentals for over 50 years.
- It is not designed for permanent resident use: there is limited parking, most are under 600 square feet, and there is limited storage. Like hotels, it has a front desk, a concierge desk and hosts resort amenities and activities.
Papakea is located along a stretch of hotel zoned properties and many commercially zoned properties…not residential neightborhoods
Marketed and run as a resort Papakea’s resort operations supports the workforce
- 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 that will be reduced if no longer considered a resort: pest control, HVAC, painting, plumbing, electrical, general contracting, masonry, tile and flooring, fitness instructors, entertainers, and tree trimming.
Shutting down short-term rentals at Papakea will affect local small businesses
- Our house cleaner, a small family business owner, has a significant number of units she cleans at Papakea and the loss of income will affect her ability to support her family. She has worked for us and the previous owners of our unit for over 10 years. It will be hard for her and her employees to make up the loss of income.
I would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
Marielle Cammarata
Papakea Resort
3543 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Apartment G108
We vehemently oppose bill Bill 9.
The economic impact of this bill will destroy our small restaurant business. We rely on tourists dollar to keep our restaurant afloat. We have seen a great decline in customers over the past year and we can see this is a direct result of all negative publicity on visitors not being welcomed into our state. We don't see many clients coming from the resorts to come and eat here in our little space. From my previous work experience at the Grand Wailea, many guests stay and eat at the hotels. Passing this bill will sadly results in the closure of our restaurant and the loss of many jobs including family. It also affects our fishermen, our produce company and many more.
We strongly urge you to stop this bill.
Mahalo!
Aloha, my name is Wendy and I wish to oppose this bill. I manage a housekeeping business that employs 6 full-time cleaners and maintenance/handymen in the west side. Owners of these STRs hire my company to look after their units (currently at 22), do cleaning, maintain household items and miscellaneous work. My employees are paid much better than if they were to work at hotels, and don't require them to look for 2nd jobs. Because of the uncertainty of the Mayor's bill and the confusion surrounding Maui's messaging that the island is NOT welcoming, bookings on STRs have dramatically slowed 40%. Though I am trying to maintain my company and keep my employees paid, the current environment in Maui right now for visitors is not good..in fact it's worse now than after the lockdowns.
I oppose this bill as this will NOT provide housing for residents. The units we look after may be old but they are very, very expensive to maintain. A studio alone in the west side (multi-zoned as H1-A2) already has an HOA monthly fee of over $1200!
I ask the county to bring this bill down and bring some level of stability to the island. The mayor and those people are Lahaina Strong are well-paid and funded, but we are NOT.
This will devastate the Kihei economy for decades. Please end this bill quickly and decisively to avoid yet another disaster for Maui residents. This is not the way to make affordable housing.
Aloha Mayor Bissen & Maui County Councilors,
We oppose Bill 9. Recent studies have shown & actions in other communities have demonstrated that attempting to transition tourist based condo's to residential condo would be be an economic, small business & tax revenue failure. We have family living on Maui, friends running businesses in Kihei, we live part time in Kihei & have worked on all the islands. We are now retired. Move forward constructively.
Make a decision now to oppose Bill 9. Dragging on a decision hurts everyone. Make decisions how to lessen the burden on the ineffective building and permitting process. Create incentives for builders to build affordable, livable housing and multigenerational housing to meet cultural needs & resident needs. Tourism IS Hawaii's economy which supports the tax base, jobs and the economy of Maui. Please do not approve Bill 9 & move forward to supporting residents through economic growth, encouraging tourism and use rhetoric that communicates "The Aloha Spirit" to visitors and residents. Mahalo for your time.
I strongly oppose the measure to eliminate TVR/STR rights for all properties in apartment districts and appreciate the opportunity to be heard. I sincerely understand and support the urgency with which the county is seeking solutions for affordable housing options in West Maui. However, I believe there has to be a better solution than eliminating TVR/STR rights and eliminating local jobs and hurting the economy.