HLU-4 Bill 9 (2025) BILL 9 (2025), AMENDING CHAPTERS 19.12, 19.32, AND 19.37, MAUI COUNTY CODE, RELATING TO TRANSIENT VACATION RENTALS IN APARTMENT DISTRICTS (HLU-4)
Subject: Testimony on Bill 9 (2025) – Strong Opposition; Urge Retention of Timeshare Exemption
Aloha Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9 (2025), which threatens to eliminate long-standing, legally operating short-term rentals—including timeshares—that have supported Maui’s economy and community for decades.
That said, I appreciate the current draft (CD1) amendment exempting validly existing timeshare units and plans from the proposed phase-out. If the Council proceeds with this bill, I urge you to retain this exemption as an essential safeguard to protect owners, workers, and the local economy from unnecessary harm.
I am a timeshare owner at the Kuleana Club. Like hundreds of others, I own just one week per year—not a second home or investment property. I return annually, support local restaurants and shops, and have formed meaningful relationships within the community. Timeshare owners like me are part of a committed, stable group of repeat visitors who care deeply about Maui’s well-being.
Timeshares differ fundamentally from other vacation rentals. Ownership is deeded by the week to hundreds of families, making these properties impractical and legally unworkable to convert into long-term housing. Banning them would not create homes—it would instead eliminate jobs, reduce tax revenue, and penalize law-abiding owners and operators.
Resorts like the Kuleana Club operate legally under Maui County Code 19.37.010, are fully compliant with TAT and GET requirements, and maintain high occupancy rates. Our community continues to contribute steadily to Maui’s economy, even in challenging times.
Crucially, timeshares support stable, long-term employment. Many Kuleana Club employees have been with the property for over 25 years—some of whom lost their homes in the Lahaina fire. Eliminating timeshare use could cost them the last thing they have left: their jobs and security.
Timeshare owners and companies have also shown up in times of crisis—providing millions in wildfire relief funding and donating thousands of room nights for displaced families and first responders. That commitment endures.
In closing:
I respectfully urge you to vote against Bill 9.
But if it moves forward, please retain the CD1 amendment exempting timeshares.
Timeshares are not transient vacation rentals.
This exemption is a reasonable, lawful solution that protects jobs, sustains tax revenue, and aligns with the County’s housing goals—without unintended consequences.
Mahalo for your time, service, and for considering the voices of owners like me.
Sincerely,
Ed Pasqual
San Diego, CA
Kuleana Club Timeshare Owner – Unit 722, Week 20
I oppose this new bill. It would be a detriment to Maui and the hard working people here. These rentals provide many jobs and tax revenue to the island which will be lost. It's unseen if this bill passed it would actually increase the housing available. Many owners will just hold their properties (us being one of these) and neither sell or rent. Maui should look at other solutions to housing such as reducing regulations to build new affordable housing and actually use previously collected funds to start building them.
Ma’alaea Village Association President Tanci Mintz’s $500 cash infusion into a conservative Anchorage political campaign — supported by GOP-big-money firm Axiom, known for backing anti-LGBT politicians like Ted Cruz — makes her a perfect example of an off island STR operator who promotes bigotry. When a human necessity like housing is allowed to be monetized as a commodity, the loophole attracts the worst people. Shut it down! Restore dignity to Ma’alaea.
I cannot understand any attempt by Hawaii and its governor as well as the mayor of Maui to support this proposal at all. I have been to several islands and failed to notice vast fields of sugar cane of pineapples. Your economy, especially Maui's is tourist based ,but your proposal is seen to be more damaging than helpful, timeshares aside. Lehaine is a perfect example. One,the response to the fire was damahged by a fire the same night in Kehie, forcing responents to that location. Then the larger fire in Maui that spread so un quicklu it may ahve incolved arson.
Public Testimony opposing Bill 9, CD1 (2025): Transient Vacation Rental Phase-Out in Apartment Districts
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 to also 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.
I have owned my Kapalua STR for over 20 years. During that time, the unit has generated over $300,000 in tax revenue (property taxes, GET, TAT) for the state and county. What source will make up for that loss revenue?
Testimony Opposing Bill 9, CD1 (2025): Transient Vacation Rental Phase-Out in Apartment Districts
Aloha Chair Kama, Vice-Chair Sugimura, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
I respectfully submit my strong opposition to Bill 9, CD1 (2025), which proposes to phase out all transient vacation rentals (TVRs) in apartment-zoned districts by July 1, 2030.
While I fully recognize and support efforts to address Maui’s housing crisis, this bill is misguided in its approach and will cause significant economic, social, and legal harm to Maui County, its residents, and especially those still recovering from the Lahaina wildfires and Covid.
Loss of Livelihoods and Local Jobs.
Thousands of Maui residents are employed—directly and indirectly—through legal vacation rental operations. This bill would:
• Displace service workers, maintenance workers, cleaners, landscapers, and booking agents—many of whom are local families already struggling due to the initial Mayor’s announcement, Lahaina fires and let's not forget COVID and current global and political situation.
• Further devastate Lahaina families who relied on this industry for income, especially when their primary homes and neighborhoods have been destroyed.
According to the UHERO study (Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaiʻi), vacation rentals contribute substantially to Maui’s economy, providing not only tax revenue but also year-round employment for residents across the island.
Phasing out these units will NOT guarantee housing for locals, but it will guarantee job losses for those currently depending on them.
Legal, Taxpaying Owners Are Being Punished.
This bill targets legally operating TVRs that were grandfathered in under Ordinance 1797 and reinforced by Ordinance 4167 in 2014. These are not illegal operators—they:
• Have paid General Excise Tax (GET) and Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) consistently.
• Comply with all County and State regulations.
• Often provide long-term housing for residents during off-peak seasons. Thank you for that!
Phasing them out after decades of lawful operation sets a dangerous precedent and will result in lawsuits, property devaluation for ALL, and the erosion of trust in the County’s own regulatory framework.
This Will Not Solve the Housing Crisis.
There is no clear evidence that eliminating TVRs in apartment zones will translate into significant long-term housing inventory:
• These units are NOT suitable for local residents due to age with pending assessments, high maintenance fees, lack of schools or services nearby, or restrictions from HOAs.
• UHERO also noted that forced conversion of vacation rentals into long-term housing often fails to increase affordable supply, especially when the units are located in resort zones.
Instead of HELPING displaced Lahaina residents, this bill will reduce overall investment in Maui real estate, weakening the tax base and slowing Lahaina recovery.
Unintended Consequences.
• All including LAHAINA property values will plummet, impacting retirees and working families including Maui families who purchased legally-zoned units as a nest egg or future home.
• Owners may be forced to sell at a loss, many of whom are Maui residents themselves. Many off island bargain hunters will appear!
• The County may lose millions annually in tax revenue from TVR-related income, which helps fund roads, schools, parks, and emergency services.
A Better Way Forward. Let's FIND A WAY!
Rather than a blanket phase-out, the Maui County should BUILD more affordable housing and:
• Focus on illegal operators, not punish those following the rules.
• Create incentives for voluntary conversion of vacation rentals to long-term housing through property tax breaks or infrastructure support.
• Support a balanced tourism strategy that allows TVRs in appropriate while prioritizing local housing needs. And did I mention build more affordable housing by collaborating with local businesses to find solutions!
In closing, Bill 9, CD1 does not offer a realistic or equitable solution to Maui’s housing needs. It unfairly targets long-standing legal businesses, threatens local jobs, and could delay economic recovery—especially for Lahaina families still in crisis.
I urge the Committee to vote NO on Bill 9, CD1 and instead seek collaborative, data-driven alternatives that support both housing and Maui’s economic resilience.
Mahalo for your time and consideration. Maui full-time working resident in service industry, volunteering and tax paying of over 25 years in Maui.
I'm writing to express strong support for bill 9. My name is Shane Albritton, I'm an Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources teacher at Baldwin High School.
I have been asking my students at Baldwin for years how many of them plan to stay on Maui after they graduate. It's heartbreaking to hear how many of them plan to move away, because they cannot foresee any possible future where they can afford to buy a home and build a life here.
Please zoom out from these individual pieces of testimony, and take a moment to think about who supports this bill and who opposes it. The 96% off-island STVR owners get plenty sob stories about how they *NEED* their 6 STVR units to make ends meet. Meanwhile, over half of all Kanaka Maoli already live outside of Hawaii.
Public Testimony in Support of Bill 9 (2025): Reaffirming Zoning, Protecting Housing, and Honoring Maui’s Recovery
Submitted to: Maui County Council – Housing and Land Use Committee
Date: June 9, 2025
Submitted by: Edward Codelia
Role: Maui Resident / Real Estate Professional /
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Hoʻōla: A Call to Restore Integrity
Aloha Chair and Committee Members,
I submit this testimony in full support of Bill 9 (2025) to phase out transient vacation rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned districts across Maui County.
This is not just a technical zoning issue. This is a moment of reckoning—a chance to restore the original intent of our land use laws, to correct decades of policy drift, and to ensure that our island’s recovery from disaster includes the people who live here full-time.
The fire that devastated Lahaina in August 2023 did more than destroy structures—it exposed how fragile and distorted our housing market has become. Bill 9 offers a path forward: lawful, clear, enforceable zoning reform that begins to tip the balance back toward Maui’s working families and kūpuna.
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Ka Moʻolelo o ke Kūlanakauhale: How We Got Here
This bill is not abrupt. It is the result of decades of failed housing policy:
• After the 1990s Gulf War, Maui’s real estate market became increasingly speculative.
• Post-9/11 and through the Great Recession, residential supply was undercut by outside investment.
• COVID further accelerated digital migration and STR conversions.
• And then came Lahaina—our wake-up call.
Apartment districts were originally intended for housing—not hotels in disguise. The so-called “Minatoya list,” often used to justify grandfathered vacation rentals, was never passed as law and never survived formal zoning scrutiny. STRs in these districts were an exception—not a right.
Now, the consequences are clear: displacement of local residents, inflated rents, and an eroded tax base.
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Kuleana: The County’s Legal and Moral Responsibility
Zoning enforcement is not optional—it is the constitutional duty of local government. This is true across the United States and has been upheld in landmark cases.
Bill 9 is legally defensible and modeled after national precedent:
• Santa Monica, California eliminated STRs in residential districts with clear amortization schedules—and won in court.
• New Orleans removed thousands of illegal STRs and returned housing to residents.
• Barcelona froze STR growth and prioritized housing for locals amid tourism saturation.
Like these cities, Maui has the authority—and the responsibility—to correct zoning distortions that have been allowed to grow unchecked.
Bill 9:
• Provides a wind-down period (through January 2026);
• Prevents takings claims through amortization;
• Restores zoning credibility.
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Laulima: The Courage of Volunteers, The Duty of Leadership
This bill was advanced not by elected politicians, but by a volunteer committee of Planning Commissioners—ordinary Maui residents who reviewed the evidence and had the courage to act.
They were not swayed by pressure from lobbyists or fear of short-term economic impacts. They recognized that protecting residential housing for residents is not anti-tourism—it is pro-Maui.
Now, the Council must show the same courage. Will you stand behind our zoning laws? Or continue the loopholes that have priced out our children, elders, and workforce?
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Hoʻokaʻawale: Separating Speculation from Reality
Opponents of this bill argue that it will collapse property values, destroy jobs, and undermine tourism. These arguments are:
• Speculative: No reputable study proves a housing crash will result from ending STRs in apartment zones.
• Contradicted: Tourism will not die if visitors stay in hotels or legally permitted STRs in appropriate districts.
• Convenient: Many of the same voices now crying foul once warned buyers that their use permits were tenuous.
Fact: Maui has an overconcentration of STRs in areas zoned for housing.
Fact: Real estate professionals have long known these units were risky investments.
Fact: Most STRs are owned by non-residents who do not rely on this income for survival.
This bill helps return the housing market to rational ground.
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Hoʻonohonoho ʻAno Hou: Housing for the People
Imagine this future:
• A retired teacher finds a studio in Honokōwai, once reserved for tourists, now priced affordably.
• A young couple rents in Kīhei, able to start a family without moving off-island.
• A nurse at Maui Memorial no longer commutes from Haʻikū because she secured a condo in Wailuku.
These are not pipe dreams—they are possible, if Maui starts treating residential zones as sacred and enforces the law.
Bill 9 does not evict anyone. It sets a clear, legal timeline for STR operations in apartment zones to cease, offering Maui the chance to reclaim housing stock without litigation or chaos.
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Pono: Aligning with State Mandates and Disaster Recovery
Over $200 million has been allocated to help West Maui recover. The Governor explicitly stated that local governments must enforce zoning integrity.
To ignore Bill 9 is to undermine this mandate—accepting recovery funds while allowing continued exploitation of Maui’s housing inventory is morally and politically indefensible.
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Hoʻokupu no ka Lāhui: A Gift of Governance for the Next Generation
Committee Members, your decision today will echo for decades. Will you signal that our laws are flexible for the few, or sacred for all?
Will you affirm the sacrifice and leadership of the Planning Commission volunteers—or show that politics can override courage?
Passage of Bill 9 will not fix everything—but it will stop the bleeding. It will protect renters. It will create clarity. And it will mark a turning point for the people of Maui.
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Finally
Move this bill forward to the full Council. Let the people speak—not through lobbyists or fear campaigns, but through democratic process, grounded law, and shared kuleana.
“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
My name is Ali Miller, I’m a author
and regenerative farmer working to protect Maui’s natural resources. I’m writing in strong support of Bill 9, which is an essential step toward restoring housing for local families and rebalancing our island economy.
Our communities are being hollowed out by the unchecked expansion of vacation rentals in apartment-zoned neighborhoods. Bill 9 provides a fair and reasonable timeline to phase out these operations and return those units to long-term use. Without this action, we will continue to see more displacement, inflated rents, and further erosion of this sacred ʻāina.
This bill doesn’t just address housing—it’s about protecting the fabric of our communities and making sure Maui remains a livable home, not just a playground for visitors.
Mahalo for your time and for prioritizing the people of Maui.
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 know a young surfer from California who just moved here to Maui.
Are you saying that he needs housing and should get one of these condos? What about the Maui-born retired couple who saved their whole lives to legally rent out their condo? Should this surfer from California take their condo from them?
Name: Dr. Kahala Johnson
Position: Testifying in support of Bill 9 without the invasive amendments protecting and exempting timeshares
There can be no amendments, no exemptions to Housing Justice.
My name is Dr. Kahala Johnson, I am a co-director for Maui Medic Healers Hui which is a member of the Maui Grassroots Coalition. Maui Medic Healers Hui was organized as a first response to the 2023 fires which devastated Lahaina.
As Medics and Healers, we know that housing is neither a luxury nor a commodity. Housing is the first aid medicine we need to treat the burns and scars inflicted by centuries of U.S. colonization, occupation, militarization, and imperialism in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
The owning and ruling classes on Maui are waging a Housing War against Kanaka ‘ohana, Worker families, and Unsheltered communities. Lahaina is at the frontlines fighting against a long history of violence and oppression instituted by the occupying state, the plantation camps, and the tourist industries which have made Hawaiʻi unlivable for all but the rich.
Our people are survivors and refugees of a Housing War, there can be no amendments or exemptions to our lives, only Housing Justice for our people.
There are no amendments, no exemptions made for our iwi kupuna being desecrated and removed from our ʻāina, no amendments no exemptions made for the thousands of Kanaka waiting for Hawaiian homesteads, no amendments no exemptions made for the hundreds of thousands of Kanaka living in the diaspora who want to return home.
There are no amendments, no exemptions made for my sakada ancestors forced to sweat blood for plantation masters, no amendments no exemptions for my parents who worked 2-3 jobs just to avoid eviction, no amendments no exemptions for my siblings in Happy Valley who live paycheck to paycheck away from deep poverty.
There are no amendments, no exemptions made for my unsheltered ʻohana who get swept by MPD into cycles of depression, no amendments no exemptions for my houseless Aunty and her kids getting punished by 3-strike policies at the shelter, no amendments no exemptions for my Uncle trying to get EBT benefits without an ID so he can live on the land of his mother.
In a Housing War against the Unsheltered, the Working Class, and Kanaka Maoli, there can be no amendments, no exemptions, only Justice for our people.
The excuses and exemptions end with us. We have collectively suffered the oppressors' strategy of excuse and exempt for over 200 years prior to the fires at Lahaina. The 200 years after the fires must be nothing less than Justice for Lahaina, Justice for our community, and the end of a Housing War that places property and profit over people.
End this war on Kanaka, Workers, and Unsheltered communities. Pass Bill 9 without excuses, exemptions, or carve-outs for timeshares as proposed by the amendments.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Eric Steinberg, and I own a short-term rental property in Maui County. I am writing to express my deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed legislation to phase out more than 7,000 vacation rentals.
I’ve worked hard to be a responsible and community-oriented owner. I recommend local restaurants and tour guides in my welcome guide. I employ local service providers — cleaners, maintenance techs, tradespeople and landscapers. My guests often leave Maui saying they felt more connected to the island because of the personal experience they had in my home.
Owning in this complex has not been easy. We’ve faced huge maintenance costs, special assessments, and massive increases in insurance after the fires. These aren’t luxuries — they’re costs that ensure the property remains safe, functional, and appealing. STR income helps cover those costs while supporting local workers. My monthly costs for HOA and insurance come to almost $2000 per month, that doesn't include property tax and mortgage. Even if the supply of units increases due to this bill, that HOA and insurance cost would not go down.
Maui needs more affordable housing, but this bill is not the solution.
Mahalo
I would like to know two things about the statement by the governor’s staff that 7% of the TVR’s are owner occupied:
1. how many of them have mortgage?
2. how many are retired individuals that own?
This is important information for helping to understand affordability.
Aloha Chair Kama, Vice Chair Cook and members of the committee,
My name is Anne Barber, I am a realtor with Maui International mainly dealing with Upcountry and the North shore of Maui, doing sales and property management and such for the past 20 years. I am also volunteering weekly at Da Store in Makawao, Upcountry Strong food pantry.
I oppose Bill 9 for 3 main reasons
1) I strongly feel that Mayor Bissen instead of acknowledging the failure of the County of Maui to build for the past 20 to 30 years took a very cheap shot at property rights. The reason why Maui does not have enough affordable housing is due to the lack of political will of all our elected officials for the past few decades. Instead of working on a plan and sticking to it to develop affordable housing, the Mayor is creating divisions in our community that will lead nowhere and will not help in any way. Ideas are plenty but they require a will to develop Maui: change zoning laws, allow more ADUs in ag zoning, instead of spending $ on useless reports, hire more employees for the building departments and get a team enforcing illegal rentals. We all know people doing under the table rentals on island. Also, think about going back to leaseholds, the County and the State have lots of unused land all over Maui, build but sell the unit not the land, you will cut values in half.
2) I also do not understand the logic of the Mayor, the math does not add up. If you take for instance the Kuau Plaza in Paia, on the Minetoya list. It is made of 30 1 and 2 bedroom units built in the mid 70s (570sf for the 1 br unit and 797sf for the 2 br unit), 1 parking spot per unit and communal laundry room. A 1 bedroom on the North shore within walking distance to the beach and Mama’s Fish House rents between $2,500 to $3,000/m. Why do you think an owner would rent below market value knowing that his monthly cost for property taxes is $500, his monthly dues are $428 and his mortgage payment if we assume a mortgage for $500,000 (latest sale was for $675,000) at 6.9% is $2,434. Monthly carrying cost is $3,362. Also in order to qualify to rent such a unit, the income requirement is usually 3 times rent, so you have to show 9k in monthly income and a credit score above 700 if possible.
3) Maui is already on its knees as we as a community have not recovered from the Lahaina fires 2 years ago, we are all impacted by the aftermath of the fire. I strongly encourage our elected officials to stand in line at food banks around the island and talk to people and understand why they are in line… they will hear… my hours are getting slashed, the hotels have low occupancy, I do not have the seniority, I got let go first, I get less money on food stamps…
Why on earth do you think it is wise to remove 50% of our short-term vacation rental inventory when tourism is our only industry unless Mayor Bissen is going back to pineapple and sugar cane?
In conclusion, I urge you to:
Vote against Bill 9
Take immediate action to build affordable housing
Focus on solutions that unite our community instead of dividing it
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Anne Barber
Realtor, Broker
Maui International Real Estate Services Inc.
808-870-3481
abarbermaui@gmail.com
www.mauiinternational.com
Aloha HLU Committee Chair Kama and Council Members,
I write to you today in support of Bill 9. I wish to refute claims of the vacation rental industry and individual owners of the so-called Minetoya properties that they are not suitable for long-term occupancy. Anecdotally, I know of at least 12 properties that have historically been used for long-term occupancy. These properties include: Honokowai Palms, Kaanapali Royal, Kahana Reef, Lahaina Roads, Makani Sands, Maui Eldorado, Nohonani, Paki Maui I, II & III, Papakea, Polynesian Shores, and The Spinnaker. Whatever Council ultimately decides, please do not base your considerations on the false premise that these apartments are unsuitable for long-term occupancy.
I support the Mayor's proposed amendment to Bill 9. CD1 version of Bill 9 (2025) proposes the phase-out of Transient Vacation Rental uses in the Apartment Districts by July 1, 2028. This would provide owners of properties on the Minetoya list adequate time to make changes to use or to sell their property. Mahalo.
I strongly oppose Maui County Bill 9 due to the significant and far-reaching consequences it would have on our local economy. I have been a County of Maui resident and tax payer here for over 27 years. Legally permitted short-term rentals, including Minatoya properties, play a major role in supporting Maui’s tourism-driven economy, contributing nearly a billion dollars annually in visitor spending. Eliminating these rentals would put thousands of local jobs at risk—ranging from cleaners and maintenance workers to small business owners and contractors—while also slashing millions in county tax revenue used to fund public services. The proposed phase-out could destabilize the real estate market, reduce property values, and hurt working families who rely on this sector for their livelihoods. We need thoughtful, balanced solutions that address housing needs without undermining the economic foundation that supports so many in our community.
My name is Adrienne, and I am writing in strong support of Bill 9. The diaspora of native Hawaiians, kānaka ʻōiwi, is driven by the skyrocketing cost of living in their homeland. This increase is, in large part, due to out-of-state property owners treating land and housing in our communities as commodities for their own personal wealth-building. This comes at a direct cost to local residents, and if this trend continues, the spirit of these islands, the spirit of aloha, of mālama, will be lost. I urge you to please put a stop to this loss of the community and culture that makes Hawaiʻi such a special place to call home. I am also requesting no carve-outs or special protections for timeshares.
Mahalo,
Adrienne Antonsen
Research Specialist II
Pacific Center for Molecular Biodiversity
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Subject: Testimony on Bill 9 (2025) – Strong Opposition; Urge Retention of Timeshare Exemption
Aloha Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9 (2025), which threatens to eliminate long-standing, legally operating short-term rentals—including timeshares—that have supported Maui’s economy and community for decades.
That said, I appreciate the current draft (CD1) amendment exempting validly existing timeshare units and plans from the proposed phase-out. If the Council proceeds with this bill, I urge you to retain this exemption as an essential safeguard to protect owners, workers, and the local economy from unnecessary harm.
I am a timeshare owner at the Kuleana Club. Like hundreds of others, I own just one week per year—not a second home or investment property. I return annually, support local restaurants and shops, and have formed meaningful relationships within the community. Timeshare owners like me are part of a committed, stable group of repeat visitors who care deeply about Maui’s well-being.
Timeshares differ fundamentally from other vacation rentals. Ownership is deeded by the week to hundreds of families, making these properties impractical and legally unworkable to convert into long-term housing. Banning them would not create homes—it would instead eliminate jobs, reduce tax revenue, and penalize law-abiding owners and operators.
Resorts like the Kuleana Club operate legally under Maui County Code 19.37.010, are fully compliant with TAT and GET requirements, and maintain high occupancy rates. Our community continues to contribute steadily to Maui’s economy, even in challenging times.
Crucially, timeshares support stable, long-term employment. Many Kuleana Club employees have been with the property for over 25 years—some of whom lost their homes in the Lahaina fire. Eliminating timeshare use could cost them the last thing they have left: their jobs and security.
Timeshare owners and companies have also shown up in times of crisis—providing millions in wildfire relief funding and donating thousands of room nights for displaced families and first responders. That commitment endures.
In closing:
I respectfully urge you to vote against Bill 9.
But if it moves forward, please retain the CD1 amendment exempting timeshares.
Timeshares are not transient vacation rentals.
This exemption is a reasonable, lawful solution that protects jobs, sustains tax revenue, and aligns with the County’s housing goals—without unintended consequences.
Mahalo for your time, service, and for considering the voices of owners like me.
Sincerely,
Ed Pasqual
San Diego, CA
Kuleana Club Timeshare Owner – Unit 722, Week 20
Aloha,
I oppose this new bill. It would be a detriment to Maui and the hard working people here. These rentals provide many jobs and tax revenue to the island which will be lost. It's unseen if this bill passed it would actually increase the housing available. Many owners will just hold their properties (us being one of these) and neither sell or rent. Maui should look at other solutions to housing such as reducing regulations to build new affordable housing and actually use previously collected funds to start building them.
Ma’alaea Village Association President Tanci Mintz’s $500 cash infusion into a conservative Anchorage political campaign — supported by GOP-big-money firm Axiom, known for backing anti-LGBT politicians like Ted Cruz — makes her a perfect example of an off island STR operator who promotes bigotry. When a human necessity like housing is allowed to be monetized as a commodity, the loophole attracts the worst people. Shut it down! Restore dignity to Ma’alaea.
I cannot understand any attempt by Hawaii and its governor as well as the mayor of Maui to support this proposal at all. I have been to several islands and failed to notice vast fields of sugar cane of pineapples. Your economy, especially Maui's is tourist based ,but your proposal is seen to be more damaging than helpful, timeshares aside. Lehaine is a perfect example. One,the response to the fire was damahged by a fire the same night in Kehie, forcing responents to that location. Then the larger fire in Maui that spread so un quicklu it may ahve incolved arson.
It is time to prioritize the community.
Public Testimony opposing Bill 9, CD1 (2025): Transient Vacation Rental Phase-Out in Apartment Districts
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 to also 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
I have owned my Kapalua STR for over 20 years. During that time, the unit has generated over $300,000 in tax revenue (property taxes, GET, TAT) for the state and county. What source will make up for that loss revenue?
Testimony Opposing Bill 9, CD1 (2025): Transient Vacation Rental Phase-Out in Apartment Districts
Aloha Chair Kama, Vice-Chair Sugimura, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
I respectfully submit my strong opposition to Bill 9, CD1 (2025), which proposes to phase out all transient vacation rentals (TVRs) in apartment-zoned districts by July 1, 2030.
While I fully recognize and support efforts to address Maui’s housing crisis, this bill is misguided in its approach and will cause significant economic, social, and legal harm to Maui County, its residents, and especially those still recovering from the Lahaina wildfires and Covid.
Loss of Livelihoods and Local Jobs.
Thousands of Maui residents are employed—directly and indirectly—through legal vacation rental operations. This bill would:
• Displace service workers, maintenance workers, cleaners, landscapers, and booking agents—many of whom are local families already struggling due to the initial Mayor’s announcement, Lahaina fires and let's not forget COVID and current global and political situation.
• Further devastate Lahaina families who relied on this industry for income, especially when their primary homes and neighborhoods have been destroyed.
According to the UHERO study (Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaiʻi), vacation rentals contribute substantially to Maui’s economy, providing not only tax revenue but also year-round employment for residents across the island.
Phasing out these units will NOT guarantee housing for locals, but it will guarantee job losses for those currently depending on them.
Legal, Taxpaying Owners Are Being Punished.
This bill targets legally operating TVRs that were grandfathered in under Ordinance 1797 and reinforced by Ordinance 4167 in 2014. These are not illegal operators—they:
• Have paid General Excise Tax (GET) and Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) consistently.
• Comply with all County and State regulations.
• Often provide long-term housing for residents during off-peak seasons. Thank you for that!
Phasing them out after decades of lawful operation sets a dangerous precedent and will result in lawsuits, property devaluation for ALL, and the erosion of trust in the County’s own regulatory framework.
This Will Not Solve the Housing Crisis.
There is no clear evidence that eliminating TVRs in apartment zones will translate into significant long-term housing inventory:
• These units are NOT suitable for local residents due to age with pending assessments, high maintenance fees, lack of schools or services nearby, or restrictions from HOAs.
• UHERO also noted that forced conversion of vacation rentals into long-term housing often fails to increase affordable supply, especially when the units are located in resort zones.
Instead of HELPING displaced Lahaina residents, this bill will reduce overall investment in Maui real estate, weakening the tax base and slowing Lahaina recovery.
Unintended Consequences.
• All including LAHAINA property values will plummet, impacting retirees and working families including Maui families who purchased legally-zoned units as a nest egg or future home.
• Owners may be forced to sell at a loss, many of whom are Maui residents themselves. Many off island bargain hunters will appear!
• The County may lose millions annually in tax revenue from TVR-related income, which helps fund roads, schools, parks, and emergency services.
A Better Way Forward. Let's FIND A WAY!
Rather than a blanket phase-out, the Maui County should BUILD more affordable housing and:
• Focus on illegal operators, not punish those following the rules.
• Create incentives for voluntary conversion of vacation rentals to long-term housing through property tax breaks or infrastructure support.
• Support a balanced tourism strategy that allows TVRs in appropriate while prioritizing local housing needs. And did I mention build more affordable housing by collaborating with local businesses to find solutions!
In closing, Bill 9, CD1 does not offer a realistic or equitable solution to Maui’s housing needs. It unfairly targets long-standing legal businesses, threatens local jobs, and could delay economic recovery—especially for Lahaina families still in crisis.
I urge the Committee to vote NO on Bill 9, CD1 and instead seek collaborative, data-driven alternatives that support both housing and Maui’s economic resilience.
Mahalo for your time and consideration. Maui full-time working resident in service industry, volunteering and tax paying of over 25 years in Maui.
Aloha Council,
I'm writing to express strong support for bill 9. My name is Shane Albritton, I'm an Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources teacher at Baldwin High School.
I have been asking my students at Baldwin for years how many of them plan to stay on Maui after they graduate. It's heartbreaking to hear how many of them plan to move away, because they cannot foresee any possible future where they can afford to buy a home and build a life here.
Please zoom out from these individual pieces of testimony, and take a moment to think about who supports this bill and who opposes it. The 96% off-island STVR owners get plenty sob stories about how they *NEED* their 6 STVR units to make ends meet. Meanwhile, over half of all Kanaka Maoli already live outside of Hawaii.
Mahalo
Public Testimony in Support of Bill 9 (2025): Reaffirming Zoning, Protecting Housing, and Honoring Maui’s Recovery
Submitted to: Maui County Council – Housing and Land Use Committee
Date: June 9, 2025
Submitted by: Edward Codelia
Role: Maui Resident / Real Estate Professional /
⸻
Hoʻōla: A Call to Restore Integrity
Aloha Chair and Committee Members,
I submit this testimony in full support of Bill 9 (2025) to phase out transient vacation rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned districts across Maui County.
This is not just a technical zoning issue. This is a moment of reckoning—a chance to restore the original intent of our land use laws, to correct decades of policy drift, and to ensure that our island’s recovery from disaster includes the people who live here full-time.
The fire that devastated Lahaina in August 2023 did more than destroy structures—it exposed how fragile and distorted our housing market has become. Bill 9 offers a path forward: lawful, clear, enforceable zoning reform that begins to tip the balance back toward Maui’s working families and kūpuna.
⸻
Ka Moʻolelo o ke Kūlanakauhale: How We Got Here
This bill is not abrupt. It is the result of decades of failed housing policy:
• After the 1990s Gulf War, Maui’s real estate market became increasingly speculative.
• Post-9/11 and through the Great Recession, residential supply was undercut by outside investment.
• COVID further accelerated digital migration and STR conversions.
• And then came Lahaina—our wake-up call.
Apartment districts were originally intended for housing—not hotels in disguise. The so-called “Minatoya list,” often used to justify grandfathered vacation rentals, was never passed as law and never survived formal zoning scrutiny. STRs in these districts were an exception—not a right.
Now, the consequences are clear: displacement of local residents, inflated rents, and an eroded tax base.
⸻
Kuleana: The County’s Legal and Moral Responsibility
Zoning enforcement is not optional—it is the constitutional duty of local government. This is true across the United States and has been upheld in landmark cases.
Bill 9 is legally defensible and modeled after national precedent:
• Santa Monica, California eliminated STRs in residential districts with clear amortization schedules—and won in court.
• New Orleans removed thousands of illegal STRs and returned housing to residents.
• Barcelona froze STR growth and prioritized housing for locals amid tourism saturation.
Like these cities, Maui has the authority—and the responsibility—to correct zoning distortions that have been allowed to grow unchecked.
Bill 9:
• Provides a wind-down period (through January 2026);
• Prevents takings claims through amortization;
• Restores zoning credibility.
⸻
Laulima: The Courage of Volunteers, The Duty of Leadership
This bill was advanced not by elected politicians, but by a volunteer committee of Planning Commissioners—ordinary Maui residents who reviewed the evidence and had the courage to act.
They were not swayed by pressure from lobbyists or fear of short-term economic impacts. They recognized that protecting residential housing for residents is not anti-tourism—it is pro-Maui.
Now, the Council must show the same courage. Will you stand behind our zoning laws? Or continue the loopholes that have priced out our children, elders, and workforce?
⸻
Hoʻokaʻawale: Separating Speculation from Reality
Opponents of this bill argue that it will collapse property values, destroy jobs, and undermine tourism. These arguments are:
• Speculative: No reputable study proves a housing crash will result from ending STRs in apartment zones.
• Contradicted: Tourism will not die if visitors stay in hotels or legally permitted STRs in appropriate districts.
• Convenient: Many of the same voices now crying foul once warned buyers that their use permits were tenuous.
Fact: Maui has an overconcentration of STRs in areas zoned for housing.
Fact: Real estate professionals have long known these units were risky investments.
Fact: Most STRs are owned by non-residents who do not rely on this income for survival.
This bill helps return the housing market to rational ground.
⸻
Hoʻonohonoho ʻAno Hou: Housing for the People
Imagine this future:
• A retired teacher finds a studio in Honokōwai, once reserved for tourists, now priced affordably.
• A young couple rents in Kīhei, able to start a family without moving off-island.
• A nurse at Maui Memorial no longer commutes from Haʻikū because she secured a condo in Wailuku.
These are not pipe dreams—they are possible, if Maui starts treating residential zones as sacred and enforces the law.
Bill 9 does not evict anyone. It sets a clear, legal timeline for STR operations in apartment zones to cease, offering Maui the chance to reclaim housing stock without litigation or chaos.
⸻
Pono: Aligning with State Mandates and Disaster Recovery
Governor Josh Green’s Emergency Housing Proclamation (2023–2024) prioritized:
• Affordable housing development;
• Local occupancy;
• Accelerated review processes for disaster recovery zones.
Over $200 million has been allocated to help West Maui recover. The Governor explicitly stated that local governments must enforce zoning integrity.
To ignore Bill 9 is to undermine this mandate—accepting recovery funds while allowing continued exploitation of Maui’s housing inventory is morally and politically indefensible.
⸻
Hoʻokupu no ka Lāhui: A Gift of Governance for the Next Generation
Committee Members, your decision today will echo for decades. Will you signal that our laws are flexible for the few, or sacred for all?
Will you affirm the sacrifice and leadership of the Planning Commission volunteers—or show that politics can override courage?
Passage of Bill 9 will not fix everything—but it will stop the bleeding. It will protect renters. It will create clarity. And it will mark a turning point for the people of Maui.
⸻
Finally
Move this bill forward to the full Council. Let the people speak—not through lobbyists or fear campaigns, but through democratic process, grounded law, and shared kuleana.
“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Mahalo for your time and your service.
Aloha Chair and Planning Commissioners,
My name is Ali Miller, I’m a author
and regenerative farmer working to protect Maui’s natural resources. I’m writing in strong support of Bill 9, which is an essential step toward restoring housing for local families and rebalancing our island economy.
Our communities are being hollowed out by the unchecked expansion of vacation rentals in apartment-zoned neighborhoods. Bill 9 provides a fair and reasonable timeline to phase out these operations and return those units to long-term use. Without this action, we will continue to see more displacement, inflated rents, and further erosion of this sacred ʻāina.
This bill doesn’t just address housing—it’s about protecting the fabric of our communities and making sure Maui remains a livable home, not just a playground for visitors.
Mahalo for your time and for prioritizing the people of Maui.
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 know a young surfer from California who just moved here to Maui.
Are you saying that he needs housing and should get one of these condos? What about the Maui-born retired couple who saved their whole lives to legally rent out their condo? Should this surfer from California take their condo from them?
Name: Dr. Kahala Johnson
Position: Testifying in support of Bill 9 without the invasive amendments protecting and exempting timeshares
There can be no amendments, no exemptions to Housing Justice.
My name is Dr. Kahala Johnson, I am a co-director for Maui Medic Healers Hui which is a member of the Maui Grassroots Coalition. Maui Medic Healers Hui was organized as a first response to the 2023 fires which devastated Lahaina.
As Medics and Healers, we know that housing is neither a luxury nor a commodity. Housing is the first aid medicine we need to treat the burns and scars inflicted by centuries of U.S. colonization, occupation, militarization, and imperialism in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
The owning and ruling classes on Maui are waging a Housing War against Kanaka ‘ohana, Worker families, and Unsheltered communities. Lahaina is at the frontlines fighting against a long history of violence and oppression instituted by the occupying state, the plantation camps, and the tourist industries which have made Hawaiʻi unlivable for all but the rich.
Our people are survivors and refugees of a Housing War, there can be no amendments or exemptions to our lives, only Housing Justice for our people.
There are no amendments, no exemptions made for our iwi kupuna being desecrated and removed from our ʻāina, no amendments no exemptions made for the thousands of Kanaka waiting for Hawaiian homesteads, no amendments no exemptions made for the hundreds of thousands of Kanaka living in the diaspora who want to return home.
There are no amendments, no exemptions made for my sakada ancestors forced to sweat blood for plantation masters, no amendments no exemptions for my parents who worked 2-3 jobs just to avoid eviction, no amendments no exemptions for my siblings in Happy Valley who live paycheck to paycheck away from deep poverty.
There are no amendments, no exemptions made for my unsheltered ʻohana who get swept by MPD into cycles of depression, no amendments no exemptions for my houseless Aunty and her kids getting punished by 3-strike policies at the shelter, no amendments no exemptions for my Uncle trying to get EBT benefits without an ID so he can live on the land of his mother.
In a Housing War against the Unsheltered, the Working Class, and Kanaka Maoli, there can be no amendments, no exemptions, only Justice for our people.
The excuses and exemptions end with us. We have collectively suffered the oppressors' strategy of excuse and exempt for over 200 years prior to the fires at Lahaina. The 200 years after the fires must be nothing less than Justice for Lahaina, Justice for our community, and the end of a Housing War that places property and profit over people.
End this war on Kanaka, Workers, and Unsheltered communities. Pass Bill 9 without excuses, exemptions, or carve-outs for timeshares as proposed by the amendments.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Eric Steinberg, and I own a short-term rental property in Maui County. I am writing to express my deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed legislation to phase out more than 7,000 vacation rentals.
I’ve worked hard to be a responsible and community-oriented owner. I recommend local restaurants and tour guides in my welcome guide. I employ local service providers — cleaners, maintenance techs, tradespeople and landscapers. My guests often leave Maui saying they felt more connected to the island because of the personal experience they had in my home.
Owning in this complex has not been easy. We’ve faced huge maintenance costs, special assessments, and massive increases in insurance after the fires. These aren’t luxuries — they’re costs that ensure the property remains safe, functional, and appealing. STR income helps cover those costs while supporting local workers. My monthly costs for HOA and insurance come to almost $2000 per month, that doesn't include property tax and mortgage. Even if the supply of units increases due to this bill, that HOA and insurance cost would not go down.
Maui needs more affordable housing, but this bill is not the solution.
Mahalo
I would like to know two things about the statement by the governor’s staff that 7% of the TVR’s are owner occupied:
1. how many of them have mortgage?
2. how many are retired individuals that own?
This is important information for helping to understand affordability.
6/9/2025
Aloha Chair Kama, Vice Chair Cook and members of the committee,
My name is Anne Barber, I am a realtor with Maui International mainly dealing with Upcountry and the North shore of Maui, doing sales and property management and such for the past 20 years. I am also volunteering weekly at Da Store in Makawao, Upcountry Strong food pantry.
I oppose Bill 9 for 3 main reasons
1) I strongly feel that Mayor Bissen instead of acknowledging the failure of the County of Maui to build for the past 20 to 30 years took a very cheap shot at property rights. The reason why Maui does not have enough affordable housing is due to the lack of political will of all our elected officials for the past few decades. Instead of working on a plan and sticking to it to develop affordable housing, the Mayor is creating divisions in our community that will lead nowhere and will not help in any way. Ideas are plenty but they require a will to develop Maui: change zoning laws, allow more ADUs in ag zoning, instead of spending $ on useless reports, hire more employees for the building departments and get a team enforcing illegal rentals. We all know people doing under the table rentals on island. Also, think about going back to leaseholds, the County and the State have lots of unused land all over Maui, build but sell the unit not the land, you will cut values in half.
2) I also do not understand the logic of the Mayor, the math does not add up. If you take for instance the Kuau Plaza in Paia, on the Minetoya list. It is made of 30 1 and 2 bedroom units built in the mid 70s (570sf for the 1 br unit and 797sf for the 2 br unit), 1 parking spot per unit and communal laundry room. A 1 bedroom on the North shore within walking distance to the beach and Mama’s Fish House rents between $2,500 to $3,000/m. Why do you think an owner would rent below market value knowing that his monthly cost for property taxes is $500, his monthly dues are $428 and his mortgage payment if we assume a mortgage for $500,000 (latest sale was for $675,000) at 6.9% is $2,434. Monthly carrying cost is $3,362. Also in order to qualify to rent such a unit, the income requirement is usually 3 times rent, so you have to show 9k in monthly income and a credit score above 700 if possible.
3) Maui is already on its knees as we as a community have not recovered from the Lahaina fires 2 years ago, we are all impacted by the aftermath of the fire. I strongly encourage our elected officials to stand in line at food banks around the island and talk to people and understand why they are in line… they will hear… my hours are getting slashed, the hotels have low occupancy, I do not have the seniority, I got let go first, I get less money on food stamps…
Why on earth do you think it is wise to remove 50% of our short-term vacation rental inventory when tourism is our only industry unless Mayor Bissen is going back to pineapple and sugar cane?
In conclusion, I urge you to:
Vote against Bill 9
Take immediate action to build affordable housing
Focus on solutions that unite our community instead of dividing it
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Anne Barber
Realtor, Broker
Maui International Real Estate Services Inc.
808-870-3481
abarbermaui@gmail.com
www.mauiinternational.com
Aloha HLU Committee Chair Kama and Council Members,
I write to you today in support of Bill 9. I wish to refute claims of the vacation rental industry and individual owners of the so-called Minetoya properties that they are not suitable for long-term occupancy. Anecdotally, I know of at least 12 properties that have historically been used for long-term occupancy. These properties include: Honokowai Palms, Kaanapali Royal, Kahana Reef, Lahaina Roads, Makani Sands, Maui Eldorado, Nohonani, Paki Maui I, II & III, Papakea, Polynesian Shores, and The Spinnaker. Whatever Council ultimately decides, please do not base your considerations on the false premise that these apartments are unsuitable for long-term occupancy.
I support the Mayor's proposed amendment to Bill 9. CD1 version of Bill 9 (2025) proposes the phase-out of Transient Vacation Rental uses in the Apartment Districts by July 1, 2028. This would provide owners of properties on the Minetoya list adequate time to make changes to use or to sell their property. Mahalo.
I strongly oppose Maui County Bill 9 due to the significant and far-reaching consequences it would have on our local economy. I have been a County of Maui resident and tax payer here for over 27 years. Legally permitted short-term rentals, including Minatoya properties, play a major role in supporting Maui’s tourism-driven economy, contributing nearly a billion dollars annually in visitor spending. Eliminating these rentals would put thousands of local jobs at risk—ranging from cleaners and maintenance workers to small business owners and contractors—while also slashing millions in county tax revenue used to fund public services. The proposed phase-out could destabilize the real estate market, reduce property values, and hurt working families who rely on this sector for their livelihoods. We need thoughtful, balanced solutions that address housing needs without undermining the economic foundation that supports so many in our community.
Aloha Chair and Councilmembers,
My name is Adrienne, and I am writing in strong support of Bill 9. The diaspora of native Hawaiians, kānaka ʻōiwi, is driven by the skyrocketing cost of living in their homeland. This increase is, in large part, due to out-of-state property owners treating land and housing in our communities as commodities for their own personal wealth-building. This comes at a direct cost to local residents, and if this trend continues, the spirit of these islands, the spirit of aloha, of mālama, will be lost. I urge you to please put a stop to this loss of the community and culture that makes Hawaiʻi such a special place to call home. I am also requesting no carve-outs or special protections for timeshares.
Mahalo,
Adrienne Antonsen
Research Specialist II
Pacific Center for Molecular Biodiversity
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum