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)
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.
Thank you for your time and concern for Maui residents who lost their homes in the devastating fires and helping with the housing shortage. We are opposed to the measure to eliminate Legal Transient Vacation Rentals in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Zoning Districts. We believe this will harm the local economy, local residents, and local businesses. We wanted to present information regarding what the current status of Papakea Resort, 3543 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, Lahaina, which is listed as A2/H2 on the Minatoya List.
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, service animals only.
• 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.
• We and other 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,
Susan and Robert Ward
3543 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Apartment H207
I am writing with a heavy heart and a deep sense of urgency regarding Bill 9, which proposes the elimination of approximately 7,000 legally permitted short-term rentals (STRs) in Maui by January 2026. As a property owner, business supporter, and someone who considers Maui a second home, I urge you to reconsider the long-term consequences of this legislation—not only on the island’s economy but on the very heart and soul of its communities.
When we purchased our STR in Maui in 2019, it wasn’t merely a financial investment—it was a personal one. We fell in love with the island’s beauty, yes—but more than that, we fell in love with its people and culture. Maui is a place of deep aloha, where the warmth of its residents, the stories passed down through generations, and the land itself create something truly irreplaceable. We wanted to be part of that in a respectful and sustainable way. We chose to invest in a permitted, regulated short-term rental—not to take from the island, but to contribute to it.
We’ve built relationships with local businesses, hired Maui-based service providers, and ensured that every dollar spent managing our property recirculates in the local economy. Our guests frequent local restaurants, surf schools, cultural tours, and shops owned by Maui families. These businesses rely heavily on the kind of visitors STRs bring—those looking for authentic, community-rooted experiences.
Phasing out these rentals threatens to unravel a delicate economic balance. According to recent studies, Maui could lose close to $1 billion annually in visitor spending, thousands of local jobs, and over $90 million in tax revenue that supports schools, infrastructure, and emergency services. This doesn’t just hurt visitors and property owners—it devastates working families, local entrepreneurs, and service workers who depend on tourism to survive.
We understand and respect the need to address the housing crisis. But Bill 9 is not a surgical tool—it’s a sledgehammer. Many STRs are in areas not zoned for long-term family housing or priced well above what most local residents can afford. Simply removing them from the vacation rental market does not magically create affordable homes.
Instead of dismantling an industry that supports thousands, let’s explore real solutions: encourage STR owners to convert to long-term rentals with meaningful incentives, prioritize enforcement against illegal operations, and focus development in a way that serves local families without crippling the tourism-based economy.
We invested in Maui because we love it. We want to see it thrive—not just for visitors, but for the Kama Aina who make the island what it is. Bill 9 threatens to divide instead of unite, to displace rather than protect. I urge you to reconsider, to listen to all sides, and to lead with both wisdom and aloha.
Chad Sayn
Chad.sayn@gmail.com
I am vehemently opposed to this bill. I do understand the need for affordable housing but there are several reasons why this bill is filled with problems:
1) It does not consider the rent that would have to be charged for these vacation rentals especially with the increased insurance costs. Will owners of vacation rentals be willing to lower their income from $4,000 to $6,000 and more per month for a one bedroom to $2,500 for a long-term renter? I doubt that very much.
2) This bill does not consider the jobs loss from house cleaners, restaurants and activities that will all lose business with less tourists coming in.
3) This bill does not consider the high likelihood of a class action lawsuit from companies like Airbnb and management companies that are sure to sue. Why go down this road.
I am a 69 year old investor in Maui. I have owned my one bedroom in Honokowaii for 25 years. It is my second home and I love it but I depend on its income while I'm not there. How will I manage if I am unable to rent it short term. I won't rent it long term because I use it. It would be a real hardship for my family. And is a family going to be comfortable in a 500 sq ft condo? What would they be able to pay?
This is an ill conceived bill that doesn't actually address the issue of a solution to long term housing on west Maui. I also question the number of residents that are currently looking for housing. Has there been any studies on this? I will tell you that I do have a long term apartment in Honokowaii and it was sitting, available for rent for well over a month and even then I only had one inquiry. I seriously doubt there are so many residents in need of long term housing.
Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.
Dear Maui County Council,
I understand the need for more affordable housing in Maui and commend the decision to look into ways to help those who are struggling with this need.
However, after significant research I do not believe the answer lies in eliminating or even reducing those short-term rental properties already functioning on the island for one simple reason – tourism dollars.
Having read extensively about a similar situation, which took place in Telluride, Colorado in 2021, I think the people of Maui would – if they took the same route – experience the same regrets.
An article from the Colorado Sun in 2023 (https://coloradosun.com/2023/09/25/telluride-short-term-rental-cap/) said it best when councilwoman Adrienne Christy – a previous supporter of the bill that put a cap on short-term rentals – said, “The only way we are going to solve this problem is to build affordable housing and in order to do that we need to make money…I am not in favor of a cap. I’m ready to make some money — more money — and put it in our affordable housing fund from licenses and fees.”
Like Councilwoman Christy, I believe there is a way forward that includes both short-term rentals that bolster tourism in Maui and contribute to the economic well-being of those who live there and affordable housing, which could also be funded by taxation on those accommodations.
Maui County is one of many counties in the country dealing attempting to find a way forward. My hope is that the Council can work creatively with short-term rental owners, with tourist dollars and with the people of Maui to find a solution that works well for everyone.
Thank you for your consideration of my opinion.
Melissa Wagoner
Writing on behalf of my parents Maui Vista Condominium owners David and Debbie Zimmer
I am writing to express my strong and urgent support for maintaining legal short-term rentals (STRs) in Maui. While I deeply respect the county’s efforts to address the housing crisis, eliminating or severely restricting STRs would have unintended and far-reaching negative consequences for Maui’s economy, local businesses, and workforce.
Tourism is the economic backbone of Maui. Short-term rentals play a critical role in sustaining that backbone. They provide the lodging diversity needed to accommodate modern travelers—families, remote workers, repeat visitors, and those who seek a more residential, community-centered experience. Many visitors specifically seek out STRs for affordability, flexibility, and the ability to stay in areas outside of large resort zones. Removing these options could drive them to other destinations altogether.
The economic ripple effect of STRs cannot be overstated. Every STR supports dozens of local jobs—cleaners, landscapers, maintenance workers, contractors, and property managers. Visitors who stay in these rentals dine at local restaurants, book excursions with local guides, buy groceries, shop at farmers markets, and support cultural experiences. Cutting off STRs would shrink the visitor economy and hurt the very families we aim to support through affordable housing efforts.
Moreover, many local residents and families depend on STR income to afford living in Maui. For some, renting out a portion of their home or an ʻohana unit is the only way they can remain on island. These are not large corporations exploiting our land, but rather community members who are trying to make ends meet.
Rather than eliminating STRs, I encourage the County to pursue targeted regulation—such as strict permitting, caps in certain areas, and enforcement against illegal or noncompliant operators. This approach protects housing stock and communities without undermining the broader economy.
Maui needs housing, yes—but it also needs jobs, income, and visitor support to fund the services and infrastructure our residents rely on. Removing short-term rentals outright is not the solution.
Thank you for your time, and for considering a balanced, economically responsible approach.
Dear Maui County Council (Housing and Land Use Committee),
I am opposed to the proposal to phase out of LEGAL Transient Vacation rentals in A-1 and A-2 Apartment zoning districts. The economic fallout will be devastating to the local Maui economy and to my family as Hawaii residents as well as many other Maui residents.
We are full time Hawaii residents. . We purchased a condo in Kihei about 5 years ago that specifically allows short term rentals (on the Minatoya list) so we could stay in the condo during the week while at work in Maui and then short term rent it when we not there on the weekends to help off set the costs. We also own a house in Kona and commute between islands.
The change of allowed use would have a devastating effect on my family and that of our housekeeper ( from a "local legacy" Maui family), and the staff in our Maui business financially. For example, our house keeper is a single mom of 4 and she often brings her youngest child to work with her and is able to pick up her other children from school with the flexibility working for herself as a housekeeper for short term rentals allows. Our office manager at our business also needs flexibility as she has a physical disability and to care for her school age child. We, as small business owners, are able to accommodate both of these circumstances in a way large corporations do not offer. The closure of our Maui businesses will have a direct and negative impact on these families.
There have been many estimates that if the short term rentals were eliminated as outlined by this proposal, there would be 10,000 direct jobs lost and an additional 5,000 plus auxiliary job losses. I can imagine the devastation of the small local run mom and pop business in our area of North Kihei. There has already been a significant loss in business in our local area because of the bad PR for tourism in Hawaii over the last few years, in addition to the serious economic downturn currently. Affordable housing is only useful if there are jobs...no jobs, no affordable housing needed.
Our STR currently costs us about 4K (1K is in HOA fees alone) per month for a studio unit in an ocean front resort style complex built as a resort type property. The original condo documents from the early 70’s clearly state that the intended permitted use includes “transient” or “hotel” type stays. Our complex would not help with "affordable" housing for locals in my opinion. FEMA/Charlie Lima was not even able to find a taker for our condo when we offered it. The other two rental agencies never even got back with us when we reached out to them.
Please think about the legal costs that the county will incur with this proposed "take". Please think about the loss of revenue to the county tax rolls. Please think about the many, many unintended consequences to local families that rely on the tourism industry for their livelihoods.
I am concerned that the 2030 phase out date really only “passes the buck” to a time when the current elected officials will likely be out of office. There will be legal challenges filed if this were to pass and then the properties will be tangled up in the courts for years to come, further hurting locals while not providing any immediate relief.
There are many other ways Maui county could provide appropriate housing to local families with out crippling the income that comes with tourism.
The government could purchase, using the affordable housing fund, homes on the free market ( more than 900 homes or condos are on the market currently under 2 million) and then provide them to the displaced from the fire for free or low rent for as long as needed or deemed appropriate. Also offer those families an opportunity to purchase the homes for subsidized cost to "compensate" them for their loss in the fire. If they are not able or willing to purchase after a period of time, the house could be resold at market price or continue as a deed restricted to offer affordable housing. This would be a win for all stakeholders in Maui.
Looking forward, why not require the hotels to provide workforce housing close to the resort areas? Maybe the county could donate land with the specific conditions that affordable housing long term use only is built on the land? There must be some way to streamline the permit process and get new affordable housing built faster? Where is Hawaiian Homelands in this problem? I am all for requiring FUTURE building to be for long term affordable housing to meet the needs of the community and using our tax dollars to pay for affordable housing.
As long as Hawaii is a desirable place to live there will always be a shortage of affordable housing. Taking away existing property uses and rights is not the answer. Maui needs better long term solutions than elimination of the "taking of property rights" Minatoya list.
My name is Greg Harlow and together with my wife, Leslie, we own a two bedroom two bath condominium in Maalaea. We have owned this short-term rental property for five years. I am writing today to express my deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed legislation to phase out more than 7,000 vacation rentals.
We work really hard to be responsible and community-oriented owners. Our condo is maintained by a local property management company, Maui Paradise Properties, that employs many local residents. Their concierge service offers free excursions on local tours and tour guides. We employ local service providers including cleaners, maintenance teams, and local contractors; all our furniture has been purchased on Island as well as a new AC system and all of our supplies. We have come to enjoy getting to know and working with several of these services providers over the years and have recommended them to other people we know who own property in Maui County.
Some of my guests have even said they wouldn’t have come at all if they didn’t have a vacation rental option. That matters; not just to me, but to all the small businesses they supported during their stay.
Owning in this complex has not been easy. Due to the age of the building, we face huge maintenance costs, many repair costs and large increases in insurance after the fires. These aren’t luxuries as these costs merely ensure the property remains safe, functional, and appealing. STR income helps cover these costs while supporting local workers.
We personally financially support the Maalaea Village Association, which provides beautification projects of the neighborhood where our condo is located. We have also become members of the Maui Ocean Center so we can support the work and activities that they do for the community. We enjoy many local restaurants and shopping opportunities that are part of the Maalaea Harbor Shops and elsewhere around Maui. The Maalaea Harbor Shops and Harbor have been helpful in creating spaces for Lahaina shop owners and businesses that were destroyed during the fires in 2023. It has been amazing seeing this Maalaea community develop and being able to be a part of that growth.
After the devastating fires in Lahaina, we immediately went into action to donate money and time to the community foundation and others thus sharing our responsibility and concern for the people of Maui.
Our daughter, who is on the executive committee for her sorority at Washington State University, ran a fund-raising drive just days after the fire in Lahaina. She secured donations of over 40 dresses, shoes, and accessories as well as monetary donations that went to King Kekaulike High School. We were able to physically help out a community that had an immediate need which brought both communities from WA state and Maui together. It was amazing to meet Madison Strand, a senior at King Kekaulike High School. She had sent out a request for these dresses since the fires had damaged the storehouse where Becca’s Closet had stored dresses for prom, homecoming, and other functions. When we delivered the dresses, we were welcomed with much appreciation by Madison and the Principal and staff at the High School.
We have supported the Sierra Club on Maui through their historical walking tours and have recommended this activity to others. It is a great way to learn about the history of the Island from locals who have studied it and want to share their knowledge with others, and an important way to better understand the importance of Hawaiian history. Being on Maalaea Bay, we have enjoyed the beauty of the whales right outside of our Condo and have also supported the Pacific Whale Foundation. All of these activities show a strong sense of community that we bring to our ownership of an STR.
This legislation feels rushed and one-sided. I urge the Council to work with owners like me to find a fair and balanced path forward; one that protects local jobs, supports the economy, supports the overall community, and holds STR owners to high standards, instead of phasing us out completely.
We are Gerald and Meredith Johnson and we are opposed to Bill 9 that Mayor Bissen has put forth to phase out our condo that is on the Minatoya list. We have had our condo in Moloka'i since 2015 which we have enjoyed, as well as guests, and our Hawaiian local friends and their families have gotten to enjoy. The passage of this bill will not only put us out of small business, but it will end employment for the people we employ to care for our condo and keep it maintained. In addition to our condo we are licensed with the state of Hawaii to rent our car to guests. The money the state receives from us for daily Hawaiian road fees and Hawaiian taxes for that will come to an end. We keep our Automotive Mechanic very busy maintaining our car, also. That will end. The impact that Mayor Bissen has already had on tourism has already taken effect. He has made guest feel that Hawaii has lost it's Aloha and guests are no longer welcome. We think that was his intent. The Real Estate property taxes we now pay would change to be lower. The Transient tax, General excise tax and the Maui County taxes would no longer be received by the state for our condo. In addition, Rental Vehicle Taxes from us would be nonexistent. Our cleaners are shocked at how business has slowed down already and have said they don't want to see our condo go to Long-Term rental. We think more focus should be on bringing tourism back to Hawaii and building affordable homes for the folks who lost their homes in the Lahaina fires, as well as Hawaiian locals who need affordable housing. Amending the dates to further in the future to ban the short term rentals won't help the Hawaiians who need homes now.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Dear chair KAMA, and members of housing.. As resident and owner of Condo facilities in Papakea
resort, i oppose bill 9 as drafted…and propose that counsil amend bill 9 to exclude PAPAKEA ocean
front resort..in which county has historically identified property as having A2-H2 zoning.. our
property initially sold as legal vacation rental property..for almost 50 years we have been operating
legal vacation rental properties in the hotel and commercially owned central maui areas.our units
have never been workforce housing units.we have minimal parking, minimal living space, and very
minimal condo storage space.. as these condo/hotel units were not built for long term
living..PAPAKEA has a front desk check in and activity concierge and many other commonly shared
guest amenities.as far back as 1989,our condos were purchased with the full expectation of short
term rental as a legal short term rental based area approved by local ordinance as far back as 1989
and as recent as 2022..as mentioned in the full reliance of our maui county ordinances ,and
approval, large amounts of investment, furnishings and long time financial commitments were
made to establish our properties to make maui a great experience .., especially in the central maui
commercial area…over the years we have seen hundreds of jobs and services provided to our local
community.. not only that, seeing the smiles and amazement of visitors leaving our hotel base
facility with an experience of a lifetime....many of our papakea condo guests enjoy walks to local
markets.. just to mention a few of the many things to do not to mention moped rentals within 500
ft of our guest check in desk...kaanapali shores restaurants and shops are within walking
distance... including ABC STORE WITHIN 300 ft from check in office... PAPAKEA IS SET centrally
located in the middle of west maui commercial traffic and moped shops.. travelers are always
looking for a vacant papakea hotel stay.. centered in commercial activity and traveler walking
traffic...
i would like to greatly thank you for an opportunity to comment.. regarding Bill 9....
As owner, my family, and my friends love maui... we also want everyone to thrive.. this has been a
difficult time also for my wife and i who opened our condos along lower honoapiilani... we opened
our condos up to red cross immedietely on aug 10th.. to local displaced families, restaurant
waiters and paramedics(locals)…we were active community servants in maui at the time... we
worked often on front street and surrounding areas... as time has passed, we love to see the
progress being made . its painful knowing things wont be exactly like they were but hoping for
something great ahead.… papakea is an established short term legal condo /hotel resort in central
commercialized maui... we look forward to continuance, and the maui hospitality and at the same
time continuing to provide community opportunity and employment for our local residents.. thank
you again and the consideration to ammend bill 9 and exclude papakea hotel/condo resort for the
future and the experiences of our great and beautiful maui…...Mahalo.....
owner, BRIAN PINA
President BSP PROPERTY LLC.. hawaii
PAPAKEA E109
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT-STUDY AND COMMENT
My name is Jason Leadley, my wife and I own unit number 208 at Hale Ono Loa.
We purchased our condo shortly after getting married in 2015, when my wife immigrated down from Canada. This has been our longtime dream to retire and stay in Lahaina. My family has always stayed here since post world war 2 when my grandfather served in the Navy. We have been blessed to be able to own and rent our unit as a short term rental. We don’t have much and we are by no means able to buy anything today. After Covid after the fires, it’s been a struggle for all. I constantly hear about the struggle. And no one forgets the struggle of growing up and seeing changes . This is our dream like locals as the mayor has stated. I have never thought there to be a difference or divide, removing the ability for us to rent our unit, only hurts the people we have been blessed to employ to maintain our unit. We love our local community. And I have made many friends in the area. Over the years. I hear the words of the bigger picture and keeping the ability to stay and grow together. This bill will and is already hurting everyone involved In one way or another. It’s not about money it’s about the spirit of aloha for everyone
Aloha, and thank you for taking the time to read and consider my testimony.
I am an owner at the Grand Champions Villas (GCV) in Wailea, and I am against the elimination of STR condos.
Wailea was designed and built as a "Master Planned Resort Community". Being a resort community means that it has amenities that cater to visitors seeking a resort experience, and not those seeking a residential/neighborhood/family/child-rearing life. There are no schools, no playgrounds, no gas stations, no grocery stores and very few non-tourism related workplaces. There are however, many expensive restaurants, several golf courses, a half dozen luxury hotels, well over a thousand LEGAL short-term rentals, as well as hundreds of multi-million dollar luxury homes. These legal short term rentals have operated for over 30 years with the full approval of the government. The TAT and GET have generated over a billion dollars in that period of time. The loss of these taxes and money not spent by tourists staying at STRs would devastatingly affect every business in South Maui. Grand Champions Villas is located in the heart of Wailea, a master planned resort community. There are 7 Hotels located within a 5 minute drive from GCV.
I am 100% in support of increasing Maui's affordable housing inventory and like knowing that a portion of the taxes collected from my short-term rental are earmarked for the Affordable Housing Fund. Short term rentals are the largest contributor to this fund.
But if the goal of phasing out short-term rentals in the apartment district is to make condo units available to local residents for long-term occupancy, then it doesn't seem reasonable to phase out condos in a renowned resort community, surrounded by hotels, hotel zoned STRs, thousands of tourists, and devoid of the amenities that simplify daily living.
My maintenance man has told me he had to delay buying a house because tourism has dropped dramatically resulting in a drop in his income, and he wouldn’t be able to make monthly mortgage payments. My housekeeper cleans my condo once or twice a month now instead of 3 or 4 times. Eliminating STRs hurts the earning capacity of everyday people and therefore hurts the economy.
Mayor Bissen's bold approach to solving the housing crisis on Maui is admirable, but he, along with our esteemed council, are individuals who are capable of a more nuanced and surgical approach to this phase-out. It is my hope that the 4 complexes in the resort of Wailea be excluded from the phase-out and are permitted to continue to rent on a short-term basis in perpituity. By doing so, these prohibitively expensive condos can continue to employ local workers at high wages, continue to bring in high net-worth travelers who spend disproportionately high amounts while on vacation, and most of all, will continue to collect taxes which will yield positive outcomes through developments paid to the Affordable Housing Fund.
Mahalo for listening to me.
Arthur Schneider
Email-artschneider86@gmail.com
My wife and I own a unit in the Kapalua Golf Villas complex. I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed legislation to phase out 7,000 vacation rentals.
Owning our unit has been financially challenging. Our costs have risen dramatically in the last few years. We’ve faced tax increases, special assessments, and huge increases in insurance premiums. We count on STR income to cover some of these costs. (Lately, the income hasn’t even come close to covering these costs.)
We try to be responsible owners. We’ve established relationships with many local businesses and service providers: property managers, appliance repair technicians, air conditioning service companies, carpet cleaners, electricians, etc. We’ve gotten to know many of the people who provide these services and have learned a deep respect for their professionalism. We couldn’t afford to pay for all their services if we didn’t have STR income from our unit. I suspect many of them will lose their jobs if the proposed legislation becomes law.
We're well aware that lack of housing is a serious problem for Maui. But this legislation seems like a rushed, one-sided attempt that will cause a lot of collateral damage. I urge the Council to devise a balanced solution — one that protects local jobs and supports the economy while respecting the financial burdens of vacation rental owners.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jim Olness
jolness@gmail.com
Kapalua Golf Villas, #21V1
415-987-5867
We own a short term rental property on Maui and are writing to respectfully share our opposition to phase out short term rentals on Maui. We first met in Hawaii and have made Maui a key part of our life for over 30 years. About 8 years ago we decided ago to invest in our favorite place in the world. Since then we have become closer to the community by living there part of the year and also renting when we are not there.
Short term rentals like ours are what allowed us to visit Maui for so many years. They provided a more affordable accommodation vs hotels and allowed us to spend more discretionary money in the local economy. It seems this proposal would have major impacts to a variety of tax streams and especially to local businesses, jobs and the taxes those generate. Not only do those who utilize our rental spend lots of money, but we spend over $2,000 a month on quality maintenance, improvements (all with large variety of local businesses) and taxes, etc. This value would drop dramatically if we were not able to rent short term.
We are likely not capturing many of the economic downstream impacts by this proposed change, but it seems there would be many job losses, businesses going under and a large drop in tax revenue for the local government to utilize. This may be followed by a continuation of impact beyond the initial effect. For example we have already had people ask us if Maui just doesn’t want visitors and if they should stay away. The world will take notice with a large change like this and the unintended message may amplify the impacts.
We certainly understand the affordability of the housing challenge on Maui and in many parts of our country. We have no community planning experience so cannot offer any expert solutions. However we do wonder if there is a more balanced approach. Maybe there can be certain provisions for local residents of so many years that provide a break on everything from all types of taxes to subsidized housing to lower permitting hurdles. Maybe we could form a working group representing all those vested in the community to come up with creative solutions. There are so many good, intelligent people out there that likely have all kinds of ideas that could be culled through to a solid long term balanced approach. Similar to other areas in the US, this is a long term challenge and will require a well thought out plan.
We believe the current proposed action, while well intended, is not a good solution with many negative impacts to all parties, some of which we may not know yet. We do thank you very much for allowing us to express our thoughts and look forward to working together on a path forward.
We oppose Bill 9 and respectfully request the proposed legislation be put to a much higher level of public debate, scrutany and voiced opinion prior to any action, and only at that point, once presented properly, it then be put to vote in order for ALL people and citizens of Maui (and Hawaii) can finally decide its direction and only then possibly, it fully understood and determined what may be best for Maui's future.
We are all headed toward new technological and societal directions (AI, world politics, et al) that will massively alter all our daily lives, and travel/tourism itself may be disrupted or at least minimally, modified to such an extent that it may be unlike what is commonplace today. We don't fully know, appreciate or understand what may be the future for all of us and how we/you should proceed in and for the County of Maui. What's happening now matters. These forthcoming decisions could harm much more than it may help, especially the poorest people of Maui and Hawaii. We/you should start there.
Build affordable housing now. Do this first, not last.
We can't vote. We wish we could. We do know that most people everywhere cares for and respects Maui and wants more Hawaiian culture in Hawaii. Educate people. And yes, our family has held/holds a small titled property in Maui for the past half a century. We love Maui and Hawaii and have held it close to our hearts as long or longer than that short amount of time. It is sad what has happened and is happening. Aloha is suffering from how these challenges have been responded to, played out and approached. We can solve these challenges but it will take us all coming together and truly developing a plan around affordable housing, education, respecting the Hawaiian/Polynesian culture and maintaining our Aloha Spirit which should grow and further take root and grow within all of us. Can't that be possible? We should try. We can all do better. We all have something we can contribute. Aloha Matters.
My husband and I have owned a unit at Lokelani for the past fifteen years. We employ a local rental agency to manage our rentals and also local housekeepers and maintenance personnel. Our monthly AOAO fee is nearly $1700 and electricity is on average $400. Lokelani has a seawall that needs to be continually maintained as well as the 50 year old building. In addition, our property insurance doubled in the last year due to the fire in Lahaina. Ours is a labor of love and not greed. We don't make any money on our unit as we are continually upgrading furniture, electronics and mattresses. Plus our property taxes have also doubled in the last few years.
There is currently a similar two bedroom unit for sale at our property. It is listed for $1.4M and has sat on the market for over two months now.
It is available for a local family, yet it sits on the market. With the AOAO fee of $1700, electricity of $400, property taxes and then a mortgage this makes Lokelani out of reach for local families. I support affordable housing as a better alternative than trying to force these aging properties into long term rentals. We will simply keep our unit for our use and lend it to family and friends. And the county and state will lose all the tax revenue we generate as well as all the people we employ.
Please do not try to solve Maui's housing crisis by limiting the Minatoya STRs. It will be a costly mistake that will not increase housing, Instead it will drastically reduce the County's revenue and result in costly legal bills.
Respectfully,
Laura Hansen
I strongly oppose this bill. Our family purchased a condo on the Minatoya list when the prices were high. If this bill passes, we will be one of the many people that will be forced to declare bankruptcy as we cannot rent it long term for enough to cover the costs, and we cannot sell the condo to cover the mortgage balance. We will lose our home. We have a 4 year old child and my wife has been battling cancer.
If this bill passes, there is no guarantee it will create any new affordable housing. The vast majority of owners surveyed say they will not rent long term, and the HOA fees and mortgage costs are over $6000/month just to break even for a long term rental. It doesn’t make any sense.
Instead, why doesn’t the committee recommend the County purchase units from owners willing to sell and rent them as affordable housing. There are many units up for sale now. This would guarantee that the units purchased could be kept for affordable housing forever, at prices that the County could regulate. Each year the County could purchase more condos using the tax collected from existing STR’s
This way the County could achieve its goal while not hurting so many people.
In addition, our cleaners have a business, and they rely on Minatoya STR’s. They will also suffer and are talking about leaving the Island if this bill passes.
I do not own a STR but strongly oppose this bill. It will hurt my Kihei business that relies on tourism and will devastate our economy. The only effect this bill would produce is a shakeup of condo ownership where the new owners who buy at distressed prices and plan on leaving the condo empty while they are off island! The locals who can only afford to pay $2000 a month for housing can’t afford these high carrying cost units that will only get more expensive to maintain as they age and require major repairs. No owner will long term rent these units because it does not pencil out to lose money and nobody on Maui would be able to afford the high rent to cover the fixed costs. These Minatoya condos apace been short term renting for decades and are not in residential neighborhoods. Without the income from STR these buildings would fall into disrepair and Kihei will become a run down place to avoid. This taking will not solve the problem and just make affordability worse by taking away jobs and income from the residents. Respected council, please vote no on this bill to avoid another man made disaster on Maui!
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.
Thank you for your time and concern for Maui residents who lost their homes in the devastating fires and helping with the housing shortage. We are opposed to the measure to eliminate Legal Transient Vacation Rentals in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Zoning Districts. We believe this will harm the local economy, local residents, and local businesses. We wanted to present information regarding what the current status of Papakea Resort, 3543 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, Lahaina, which is listed as A2/H2 on the Minatoya List.
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, service animals only.
• 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.
• We and other 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,
Susan and Robert Ward
3543 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Apartment H207
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing with a heavy heart and a deep sense of urgency regarding Bill 9, which proposes the elimination of approximately 7,000 legally permitted short-term rentals (STRs) in Maui by January 2026. As a property owner, business supporter, and someone who considers Maui a second home, I urge you to reconsider the long-term consequences of this legislation—not only on the island’s economy but on the very heart and soul of its communities.
When we purchased our STR in Maui in 2019, it wasn’t merely a financial investment—it was a personal one. We fell in love with the island’s beauty, yes—but more than that, we fell in love with its people and culture. Maui is a place of deep aloha, where the warmth of its residents, the stories passed down through generations, and the land itself create something truly irreplaceable. We wanted to be part of that in a respectful and sustainable way. We chose to invest in a permitted, regulated short-term rental—not to take from the island, but to contribute to it.
We’ve built relationships with local businesses, hired Maui-based service providers, and ensured that every dollar spent managing our property recirculates in the local economy. Our guests frequent local restaurants, surf schools, cultural tours, and shops owned by Maui families. These businesses rely heavily on the kind of visitors STRs bring—those looking for authentic, community-rooted experiences.
Phasing out these rentals threatens to unravel a delicate economic balance. According to recent studies, Maui could lose close to $1 billion annually in visitor spending, thousands of local jobs, and over $90 million in tax revenue that supports schools, infrastructure, and emergency services. This doesn’t just hurt visitors and property owners—it devastates working families, local entrepreneurs, and service workers who depend on tourism to survive.
We understand and respect the need to address the housing crisis. But Bill 9 is not a surgical tool—it’s a sledgehammer. Many STRs are in areas not zoned for long-term family housing or priced well above what most local residents can afford. Simply removing them from the vacation rental market does not magically create affordable homes.
Instead of dismantling an industry that supports thousands, let’s explore real solutions: encourage STR owners to convert to long-term rentals with meaningful incentives, prioritize enforcement against illegal operations, and focus development in a way that serves local families without crippling the tourism-based economy.
We invested in Maui because we love it. We want to see it thrive—not just for visitors, but for the Kama Aina who make the island what it is. Bill 9 threatens to divide instead of unite, to displace rather than protect. I urge you to reconsider, to listen to all sides, and to lead with both wisdom and aloha.
Chad Sayn
Chad.sayn@gmail.com
Napili Ridge
K16 Hui F Rd
Lahaina Hi
96761
Dear Maui County Council,
I am vehemently opposed to this bill. I do understand the need for affordable housing but there are several reasons why this bill is filled with problems:
1) It does not consider the rent that would have to be charged for these vacation rentals especially with the increased insurance costs. Will owners of vacation rentals be willing to lower their income from $4,000 to $6,000 and more per month for a one bedroom to $2,500 for a long-term renter? I doubt that very much.
2) This bill does not consider the jobs loss from house cleaners, restaurants and activities that will all lose business with less tourists coming in.
3) This bill does not consider the high likelihood of a class action lawsuit from companies like Airbnb and management companies that are sure to sue. Why go down this road.
I am a 69 year old investor in Maui. I have owned my one bedroom in Honokowaii for 25 years. It is my second home and I love it but I depend on its income while I'm not there. How will I manage if I am unable to rent it short term. I won't rent it long term because I use it. It would be a real hardship for my family. And is a family going to be comfortable in a 500 sq ft condo? What would they be able to pay?
This is an ill conceived bill that doesn't actually address the issue of a solution to long term housing on west Maui. I also question the number of residents that are currently looking for housing. Has there been any studies on this? I will tell you that I do have a long term apartment in Honokowaii and it was sitting, available for rent for well over a month and even then I only had one inquiry. I seriously doubt there are so many residents in need of long term housing.
Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.
Please see attached comments from Joe Kent.
I oppose this bill adamantly.
Dear Maui County Council,
I understand the need for more affordable housing in Maui and commend the decision to look into ways to help those who are struggling with this need.
However, after significant research I do not believe the answer lies in eliminating or even reducing those short-term rental properties already functioning on the island for one simple reason – tourism dollars.
Having read extensively about a similar situation, which took place in Telluride, Colorado in 2021, I think the people of Maui would – if they took the same route – experience the same regrets.
An article from the Colorado Sun in 2023 (https://coloradosun.com/2023/09/25/telluride-short-term-rental-cap/) said it best when councilwoman Adrienne Christy – a previous supporter of the bill that put a cap on short-term rentals – said, “The only way we are going to solve this problem is to build affordable housing and in order to do that we need to make money…I am not in favor of a cap. I’m ready to make some money — more money — and put it in our affordable housing fund from licenses and fees.”
Like Councilwoman Christy, I believe there is a way forward that includes both short-term rentals that bolster tourism in Maui and contribute to the economic well-being of those who live there and affordable housing, which could also be funded by taxation on those accommodations.
Maui County is one of many counties in the country dealing attempting to find a way forward. My hope is that the Council can work creatively with short-term rental owners, with tourist dollars and with the people of Maui to find a solution that works well for everyone.
Thank you for your consideration of my opinion.
Melissa Wagoner
Writing on behalf of my parents Maui Vista Condominium owners David and Debbie Zimmer
Dear Maui Housing Officials,
I am writing to express my strong and urgent support for maintaining legal short-term rentals (STRs) in Maui. While I deeply respect the county’s efforts to address the housing crisis, eliminating or severely restricting STRs would have unintended and far-reaching negative consequences for Maui’s economy, local businesses, and workforce.
Tourism is the economic backbone of Maui. Short-term rentals play a critical role in sustaining that backbone. They provide the lodging diversity needed to accommodate modern travelers—families, remote workers, repeat visitors, and those who seek a more residential, community-centered experience. Many visitors specifically seek out STRs for affordability, flexibility, and the ability to stay in areas outside of large resort zones. Removing these options could drive them to other destinations altogether.
The economic ripple effect of STRs cannot be overstated. Every STR supports dozens of local jobs—cleaners, landscapers, maintenance workers, contractors, and property managers. Visitors who stay in these rentals dine at local restaurants, book excursions with local guides, buy groceries, shop at farmers markets, and support cultural experiences. Cutting off STRs would shrink the visitor economy and hurt the very families we aim to support through affordable housing efforts.
Moreover, many local residents and families depend on STR income to afford living in Maui. For some, renting out a portion of their home or an ʻohana unit is the only way they can remain on island. These are not large corporations exploiting our land, but rather community members who are trying to make ends meet.
Rather than eliminating STRs, I encourage the County to pursue targeted regulation—such as strict permitting, caps in certain areas, and enforcement against illegal or noncompliant operators. This approach protects housing stock and communities without undermining the broader economy.
Maui needs housing, yes—but it also needs jobs, income, and visitor support to fund the services and infrastructure our residents rely on. Removing short-term rentals outright is not the solution.
Thank you for your time, and for considering a balanced, economically responsible approach.
Sincerely,
Jarmila Kim
June 5, 2025
Dear Maui County Council (Housing and Land Use Committee),
I am opposed to the proposal to phase out of LEGAL Transient Vacation rentals in A-1 and A-2 Apartment zoning districts. The economic fallout will be devastating to the local Maui economy and to my family as Hawaii residents as well as many other Maui residents.
We are full time Hawaii residents. . We purchased a condo in Kihei about 5 years ago that specifically allows short term rentals (on the Minatoya list) so we could stay in the condo during the week while at work in Maui and then short term rent it when we not there on the weekends to help off set the costs. We also own a house in Kona and commute between islands.
The change of allowed use would have a devastating effect on my family and that of our housekeeper ( from a "local legacy" Maui family), and the staff in our Maui business financially. For example, our house keeper is a single mom of 4 and she often brings her youngest child to work with her and is able to pick up her other children from school with the flexibility working for herself as a housekeeper for short term rentals allows. Our office manager at our business also needs flexibility as she has a physical disability and to care for her school age child. We, as small business owners, are able to accommodate both of these circumstances in a way large corporations do not offer. The closure of our Maui businesses will have a direct and negative impact on these families.
There have been many estimates that if the short term rentals were eliminated as outlined by this proposal, there would be 10,000 direct jobs lost and an additional 5,000 plus auxiliary job losses. I can imagine the devastation of the small local run mom and pop business in our area of North Kihei. There has already been a significant loss in business in our local area because of the bad PR for tourism in Hawaii over the last few years, in addition to the serious economic downturn currently. Affordable housing is only useful if there are jobs...no jobs, no affordable housing needed.
Our STR currently costs us about 4K (1K is in HOA fees alone) per month for a studio unit in an ocean front resort style complex built as a resort type property. The original condo documents from the early 70’s clearly state that the intended permitted use includes “transient” or “hotel” type stays. Our complex would not help with "affordable" housing for locals in my opinion. FEMA/Charlie Lima was not even able to find a taker for our condo when we offered it. The other two rental agencies never even got back with us when we reached out to them.
Please think about the legal costs that the county will incur with this proposed "take". Please think about the loss of revenue to the county tax rolls. Please think about the many, many unintended consequences to local families that rely on the tourism industry for their livelihoods.
I am concerned that the 2030 phase out date really only “passes the buck” to a time when the current elected officials will likely be out of office. There will be legal challenges filed if this were to pass and then the properties will be tangled up in the courts for years to come, further hurting locals while not providing any immediate relief.
There are many other ways Maui county could provide appropriate housing to local families with out crippling the income that comes with tourism.
The government could purchase, using the affordable housing fund, homes on the free market ( more than 900 homes or condos are on the market currently under 2 million) and then provide them to the displaced from the fire for free or low rent for as long as needed or deemed appropriate. Also offer those families an opportunity to purchase the homes for subsidized cost to "compensate" them for their loss in the fire. If they are not able or willing to purchase after a period of time, the house could be resold at market price or continue as a deed restricted to offer affordable housing. This would be a win for all stakeholders in Maui.
Looking forward, why not require the hotels to provide workforce housing close to the resort areas? Maybe the county could donate land with the specific conditions that affordable housing long term use only is built on the land? There must be some way to streamline the permit process and get new affordable housing built faster? Where is Hawaiian Homelands in this problem? I am all for requiring FUTURE building to be for long term affordable housing to meet the needs of the community and using our tax dollars to pay for affordable housing.
As long as Hawaii is a desirable place to live there will always be a shortage of affordable housing. Taking away existing property uses and rights is not the answer. Maui needs better long term solutions than elimination of the "taking of property rights" Minatoya list.
Respectfully,
Liz Lees
Kauhale Makai
Maui
Dear Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Greg Harlow and together with my wife, Leslie, we own a two bedroom two bath condominium in Maalaea. We have owned this short-term rental property for five years. I am writing today to express my deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed legislation to phase out more than 7,000 vacation rentals.
We work really hard to be responsible and community-oriented owners. Our condo is maintained by a local property management company, Maui Paradise Properties, that employs many local residents. Their concierge service offers free excursions on local tours and tour guides. We employ local service providers including cleaners, maintenance teams, and local contractors; all our furniture has been purchased on Island as well as a new AC system and all of our supplies. We have come to enjoy getting to know and working with several of these services providers over the years and have recommended them to other people we know who own property in Maui County.
Some of my guests have even said they wouldn’t have come at all if they didn’t have a vacation rental option. That matters; not just to me, but to all the small businesses they supported during their stay.
Owning in this complex has not been easy. Due to the age of the building, we face huge maintenance costs, many repair costs and large increases in insurance after the fires. These aren’t luxuries as these costs merely ensure the property remains safe, functional, and appealing. STR income helps cover these costs while supporting local workers.
We personally financially support the Maalaea Village Association, which provides beautification projects of the neighborhood where our condo is located. We have also become members of the Maui Ocean Center so we can support the work and activities that they do for the community. We enjoy many local restaurants and shopping opportunities that are part of the Maalaea Harbor Shops and elsewhere around Maui. The Maalaea Harbor Shops and Harbor have been helpful in creating spaces for Lahaina shop owners and businesses that were destroyed during the fires in 2023. It has been amazing seeing this Maalaea community develop and being able to be a part of that growth.
After the devastating fires in Lahaina, we immediately went into action to donate money and time to the community foundation and others thus sharing our responsibility and concern for the people of Maui.
Our daughter, who is on the executive committee for her sorority at Washington State University, ran a fund-raising drive just days after the fire in Lahaina. She secured donations of over 40 dresses, shoes, and accessories as well as monetary donations that went to King Kekaulike High School. We were able to physically help out a community that had an immediate need which brought both communities from WA state and Maui together. It was amazing to meet Madison Strand, a senior at King Kekaulike High School. She had sent out a request for these dresses since the fires had damaged the storehouse where Becca’s Closet had stored dresses for prom, homecoming, and other functions. When we delivered the dresses, we were welcomed with much appreciation by Madison and the Principal and staff at the High School.
We have supported the Sierra Club on Maui through their historical walking tours and have recommended this activity to others. It is a great way to learn about the history of the Island from locals who have studied it and want to share their knowledge with others, and an important way to better understand the importance of Hawaiian history. Being on Maalaea Bay, we have enjoyed the beauty of the whales right outside of our Condo and have also supported the Pacific Whale Foundation. All of these activities show a strong sense of community that we bring to our ownership of an STR.
This legislation feels rushed and one-sided. I urge the Council to work with owners like me to find a fair and balanced path forward; one that protects local jobs, supports the economy, supports the overall community, and holds STR owners to high standards, instead of phasing us out completely.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Greg and Leslie Harlow
206-697-3995
We are Gerald and Meredith Johnson and we are opposed to Bill 9 that Mayor Bissen has put forth to phase out our condo that is on the Minatoya list. We have had our condo in Moloka'i since 2015 which we have enjoyed, as well as guests, and our Hawaiian local friends and their families have gotten to enjoy. The passage of this bill will not only put us out of small business, but it will end employment for the people we employ to care for our condo and keep it maintained. In addition to our condo we are licensed with the state of Hawaii to rent our car to guests. The money the state receives from us for daily Hawaiian road fees and Hawaiian taxes for that will come to an end. We keep our Automotive Mechanic very busy maintaining our car, also. That will end. The impact that Mayor Bissen has already had on tourism has already taken effect. He has made guest feel that Hawaii has lost it's Aloha and guests are no longer welcome. We think that was his intent. The Real Estate property taxes we now pay would change to be lower. The Transient tax, General excise tax and the Maui County taxes would no longer be received by the state for our condo. In addition, Rental Vehicle Taxes from us would be nonexistent. Our cleaners are shocked at how business has slowed down already and have said they don't want to see our condo go to Long-Term rental. We think more focus should be on bringing tourism back to Hawaii and building affordable homes for the folks who lost their homes in the Lahaina fires, as well as Hawaiian locals who need affordable housing. Amending the dates to further in the future to ban the short term rentals won't help the Hawaiians who need homes now.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Dear chair KAMA, and members of housing.. As resident and owner of Condo facilities in Papakea
resort, i oppose bill 9 as drafted…and propose that counsil amend bill 9 to exclude PAPAKEA ocean
front resort..in which county has historically identified property as having A2-H2 zoning.. our
property initially sold as legal vacation rental property..for almost 50 years we have been operating
legal vacation rental properties in the hotel and commercially owned central maui areas.our units
have never been workforce housing units.we have minimal parking, minimal living space, and very
minimal condo storage space.. as these condo/hotel units were not built for long term
living..PAPAKEA has a front desk check in and activity concierge and many other commonly shared
guest amenities.as far back as 1989,our condos were purchased with the full expectation of short
term rental as a legal short term rental based area approved by local ordinance as far back as 1989
and as recent as 2022..as mentioned in the full reliance of our maui county ordinances ,and
approval, large amounts of investment, furnishings and long time financial commitments were
made to establish our properties to make maui a great experience .., especially in the central maui
commercial area…over the years we have seen hundreds of jobs and services provided to our local
community.. not only that, seeing the smiles and amazement of visitors leaving our hotel base
facility with an experience of a lifetime....many of our papakea condo guests enjoy walks to local
markets.. just to mention a few of the many things to do not to mention moped rentals within 500
ft of our guest check in desk...kaanapali shores restaurants and shops are within walking
distance... including ABC STORE WITHIN 300 ft from check in office... PAPAKEA IS SET centrally
located in the middle of west maui commercial traffic and moped shops.. travelers are always
looking for a vacant papakea hotel stay.. centered in commercial activity and traveler walking
traffic...
i would like to greatly thank you for an opportunity to comment.. regarding Bill 9....
As owner, my family, and my friends love maui... we also want everyone to thrive.. this has been a
difficult time also for my wife and i who opened our condos along lower honoapiilani... we opened
our condos up to red cross immedietely on aug 10th.. to local displaced families, restaurant
waiters and paramedics(locals)…we were active community servants in maui at the time... we
worked often on front street and surrounding areas... as time has passed, we love to see the
progress being made . its painful knowing things wont be exactly like they were but hoping for
something great ahead.… papakea is an established short term legal condo /hotel resort in central
commercialized maui... we look forward to continuance, and the maui hospitality and at the same
time continuing to provide community opportunity and employment for our local residents.. thank
you again and the consideration to ammend bill 9 and exclude papakea hotel/condo resort for the
future and the experiences of our great and beautiful maui…...Mahalo.....
owner, BRIAN PINA
President BSP PROPERTY LLC.. hawaii
PAPAKEA E109
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT-STUDY AND COMMENT
My name is Jason Leadley, my wife and I own unit number 208 at Hale Ono Loa.
We purchased our condo shortly after getting married in 2015, when my wife immigrated down from Canada. This has been our longtime dream to retire and stay in Lahaina. My family has always stayed here since post world war 2 when my grandfather served in the Navy. We have been blessed to be able to own and rent our unit as a short term rental. We don’t have much and we are by no means able to buy anything today. After Covid after the fires, it’s been a struggle for all. I constantly hear about the struggle. And no one forgets the struggle of growing up and seeing changes . This is our dream like locals as the mayor has stated. I have never thought there to be a difference or divide, removing the ability for us to rent our unit, only hurts the people we have been blessed to employ to maintain our unit. We love our local community. And I have made many friends in the area. Over the years. I hear the words of the bigger picture and keeping the ability to stay and grow together. This bill will and is already hurting everyone involved In one way or another. It’s not about money it’s about the spirit of aloha for everyone
Oppose
Aloha, and thank you for taking the time to read and consider my testimony.
I am an owner at the Grand Champions Villas (GCV) in Wailea, and I am against the elimination of STR condos.
Wailea was designed and built as a "Master Planned Resort Community". Being a resort community means that it has amenities that cater to visitors seeking a resort experience, and not those seeking a residential/neighborhood/family/child-rearing life. There are no schools, no playgrounds, no gas stations, no grocery stores and very few non-tourism related workplaces. There are however, many expensive restaurants, several golf courses, a half dozen luxury hotels, well over a thousand LEGAL short-term rentals, as well as hundreds of multi-million dollar luxury homes. These legal short term rentals have operated for over 30 years with the full approval of the government. The TAT and GET have generated over a billion dollars in that period of time. The loss of these taxes and money not spent by tourists staying at STRs would devastatingly affect every business in South Maui. Grand Champions Villas is located in the heart of Wailea, a master planned resort community. There are 7 Hotels located within a 5 minute drive from GCV.
I am 100% in support of increasing Maui's affordable housing inventory and like knowing that a portion of the taxes collected from my short-term rental are earmarked for the Affordable Housing Fund. Short term rentals are the largest contributor to this fund.
But if the goal of phasing out short-term rentals in the apartment district is to make condo units available to local residents for long-term occupancy, then it doesn't seem reasonable to phase out condos in a renowned resort community, surrounded by hotels, hotel zoned STRs, thousands of tourists, and devoid of the amenities that simplify daily living.
My maintenance man has told me he had to delay buying a house because tourism has dropped dramatically resulting in a drop in his income, and he wouldn’t be able to make monthly mortgage payments. My housekeeper cleans my condo once or twice a month now instead of 3 or 4 times. Eliminating STRs hurts the earning capacity of everyday people and therefore hurts the economy.
Mayor Bissen's bold approach to solving the housing crisis on Maui is admirable, but he, along with our esteemed council, are individuals who are capable of a more nuanced and surgical approach to this phase-out. It is my hope that the 4 complexes in the resort of Wailea be excluded from the phase-out and are permitted to continue to rent on a short-term basis in perpituity. By doing so, these prohibitively expensive condos can continue to employ local workers at high wages, continue to bring in high net-worth travelers who spend disproportionately high amounts while on vacation, and most of all, will continue to collect taxes which will yield positive outcomes through developments paid to the Affordable Housing Fund.
Mahalo for listening to me.
Arthur Schneider
Email-artschneider86@gmail.com
Dear Committee Members,
My wife and I own a unit in the Kapalua Golf Villas complex. I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed legislation to phase out 7,000 vacation rentals.
Owning our unit has been financially challenging. Our costs have risen dramatically in the last few years. We’ve faced tax increases, special assessments, and huge increases in insurance premiums. We count on STR income to cover some of these costs. (Lately, the income hasn’t even come close to covering these costs.)
We try to be responsible owners. We’ve established relationships with many local businesses and service providers: property managers, appliance repair technicians, air conditioning service companies, carpet cleaners, electricians, etc. We’ve gotten to know many of the people who provide these services and have learned a deep respect for their professionalism. We couldn’t afford to pay for all their services if we didn’t have STR income from our unit. I suspect many of them will lose their jobs if the proposed legislation becomes law.
We're well aware that lack of housing is a serious problem for Maui. But this legislation seems like a rushed, one-sided attempt that will cause a lot of collateral damage. I urge the Council to devise a balanced solution — one that protects local jobs and supports the economy while respecting the financial burdens of vacation rental owners.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jim Olness
jolness@gmail.com
Kapalua Golf Villas, #21V1
415-987-5867
Dear Maui County Council,
We own a short term rental property on Maui and are writing to respectfully share our opposition to phase out short term rentals on Maui. We first met in Hawaii and have made Maui a key part of our life for over 30 years. About 8 years ago we decided ago to invest in our favorite place in the world. Since then we have become closer to the community by living there part of the year and also renting when we are not there.
Short term rentals like ours are what allowed us to visit Maui for so many years. They provided a more affordable accommodation vs hotels and allowed us to spend more discretionary money in the local economy. It seems this proposal would have major impacts to a variety of tax streams and especially to local businesses, jobs and the taxes those generate. Not only do those who utilize our rental spend lots of money, but we spend over $2,000 a month on quality maintenance, improvements (all with large variety of local businesses) and taxes, etc. This value would drop dramatically if we were not able to rent short term.
We are likely not capturing many of the economic downstream impacts by this proposed change, but it seems there would be many job losses, businesses going under and a large drop in tax revenue for the local government to utilize. This may be followed by a continuation of impact beyond the initial effect. For example we have already had people ask us if Maui just doesn’t want visitors and if they should stay away. The world will take notice with a large change like this and the unintended message may amplify the impacts.
We certainly understand the affordability of the housing challenge on Maui and in many parts of our country. We have no community planning experience so cannot offer any expert solutions. However we do wonder if there is a more balanced approach. Maybe there can be certain provisions for local residents of so many years that provide a break on everything from all types of taxes to subsidized housing to lower permitting hurdles. Maybe we could form a working group representing all those vested in the community to come up with creative solutions. There are so many good, intelligent people out there that likely have all kinds of ideas that could be culled through to a solid long term balanced approach. Similar to other areas in the US, this is a long term challenge and will require a well thought out plan.
We believe the current proposed action, while well intended, is not a good solution with many negative impacts to all parties, some of which we may not know yet. We do thank you very much for allowing us to express our thoughts and look forward to working together on a path forward.
Dean and Kathi Jackson.
We oppose Bill 9 and respectfully request the proposed legislation be put to a much higher level of public debate, scrutany and voiced opinion prior to any action, and only at that point, once presented properly, it then be put to vote in order for ALL people and citizens of Maui (and Hawaii) can finally decide its direction and only then possibly, it fully understood and determined what may be best for Maui's future.
We are all headed toward new technological and societal directions (AI, world politics, et al) that will massively alter all our daily lives, and travel/tourism itself may be disrupted or at least minimally, modified to such an extent that it may be unlike what is commonplace today. We don't fully know, appreciate or understand what may be the future for all of us and how we/you should proceed in and for the County of Maui. What's happening now matters. These forthcoming decisions could harm much more than it may help, especially the poorest people of Maui and Hawaii. We/you should start there.
Build affordable housing now. Do this first, not last.
We can't vote. We wish we could. We do know that most people everywhere cares for and respects Maui and wants more Hawaiian culture in Hawaii. Educate people. And yes, our family has held/holds a small titled property in Maui for the past half a century. We love Maui and Hawaii and have held it close to our hearts as long or longer than that short amount of time. It is sad what has happened and is happening. Aloha is suffering from how these challenges have been responded to, played out and approached. We can solve these challenges but it will take us all coming together and truly developing a plan around affordable housing, education, respecting the Hawaiian/Polynesian culture and maintaining our Aloha Spirit which should grow and further take root and grow within all of us. Can't that be possible? We should try. We can all do better. We all have something we can contribute. Aloha Matters.
Mahalo Maui,
Dennis and Leigh Ann Hadick
My husband and I have owned a unit at Lokelani for the past fifteen years. We employ a local rental agency to manage our rentals and also local housekeepers and maintenance personnel. Our monthly AOAO fee is nearly $1700 and electricity is on average $400. Lokelani has a seawall that needs to be continually maintained as well as the 50 year old building. In addition, our property insurance doubled in the last year due to the fire in Lahaina. Ours is a labor of love and not greed. We don't make any money on our unit as we are continually upgrading furniture, electronics and mattresses. Plus our property taxes have also doubled in the last few years.
There is currently a similar two bedroom unit for sale at our property. It is listed for $1.4M and has sat on the market for over two months now.
It is available for a local family, yet it sits on the market. With the AOAO fee of $1700, electricity of $400, property taxes and then a mortgage this makes Lokelani out of reach for local families. I support affordable housing as a better alternative than trying to force these aging properties into long term rentals. We will simply keep our unit for our use and lend it to family and friends. And the county and state will lose all the tax revenue we generate as well as all the people we employ.
Please do not try to solve Maui's housing crisis by limiting the Minatoya STRs. It will be a costly mistake that will not increase housing, Instead it will drastically reduce the County's revenue and result in costly legal bills.
Respectfully,
Laura Hansen
Dear committee members,
I strongly oppose this bill. Our family purchased a condo on the Minatoya list when the prices were high. If this bill passes, we will be one of the many people that will be forced to declare bankruptcy as we cannot rent it long term for enough to cover the costs, and we cannot sell the condo to cover the mortgage balance. We will lose our home. We have a 4 year old child and my wife has been battling cancer.
If this bill passes, there is no guarantee it will create any new affordable housing. The vast majority of owners surveyed say they will not rent long term, and the HOA fees and mortgage costs are over $6000/month just to break even for a long term rental. It doesn’t make any sense.
Instead, why doesn’t the committee recommend the County purchase units from owners willing to sell and rent them as affordable housing. There are many units up for sale now. This would guarantee that the units purchased could be kept for affordable housing forever, at prices that the County could regulate. Each year the County could purchase more condos using the tax collected from existing STR’s
This way the County could achieve its goal while not hurting so many people.
In addition, our cleaners have a business, and they rely on Minatoya STR’s. They will also suffer and are talking about leaving the Island if this bill passes.
Thank you
I do not own a STR but strongly oppose this bill. It will hurt my Kihei business that relies on tourism and will devastate our economy. The only effect this bill would produce is a shakeup of condo ownership where the new owners who buy at distressed prices and plan on leaving the condo empty while they are off island! The locals who can only afford to pay $2000 a month for housing can’t afford these high carrying cost units that will only get more expensive to maintain as they age and require major repairs. No owner will long term rent these units because it does not pencil out to lose money and nobody on Maui would be able to afford the high rent to cover the fixed costs. These Minatoya condos apace been short term renting for decades and are not in residential neighborhoods. Without the income from STR these buildings would fall into disrepair and Kihei will become a run down place to avoid. This taking will not solve the problem and just make affordability worse by taking away jobs and income from the residents. Respected council, please vote no on this bill to avoid another man made disaster on Maui!