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)
I am writing to respectfully oppose the proposed Bill 9 legislation to phase out legal Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Zoning Districts in Maui.
I see that part of the justification is the UHERO study, that study has so many flaws it’s embarrassing for a research group.
If anyone believes losing $900 Million in GDP is only 1200 jobs, you don’t understand how the economy works and the numbers for average expenses for these condones is 2/4 times below reality.
I have been coming to Maui since 1991. I was a home owner and full time resident in Lahaina before the fire. I agree that house is an very big issue for us locals. I don't believe this is the right answer and if it passes it will not have the positive impacts the locals believe and will actually have the reverse negative effects.
I am an owner in Papakea. We have owned there for almost 20 years and been renting there prior to owning since 1980. We have visited this complex for decades now and supported your communities and businesses as well. It has become our home away from home.
In order to own part of our unit with our partners we have to do short term rentals.
The costs of owning this unit are extremely high so short term renting is needed to help pay the units expenses. The costs of paying the bills is not doable by an average family or a renter. We also employ many different services from the community of Maui… what is going to happen to all those companies that many families on Maui have built to be able to live on Maui . What is going to happen to all the grocery stores , restaurants , car rentals , clothing shops, yacht clubs and marina businesses and many other companies !! Taking short term rentals out of your community is going to be devastating to the people of Maui who have built their lives around the tourism industry. It will do the tourism industry in ! It will also give the hotels free rein to raise the prices of the hotels pricing them even more out of range for the average tourist. The people of Maui count on tourism to live !! I have talked to many business owners while in Maui and not one person I talked to supports this Bill. They are all very worried about how they are going to live and talking about having to leave the island.
After the Lahaina fire we worked with the Red Cross and FEMA and had a family living in our unit for quite some time , they left in May. Since then the complex has had to replace all the piping in the complex which has been a huge undertaking at a great cost to the owners.
I think that this bill is going to ruin Maui as we know iand love it and the residents of Maui are going to suffer greatly .
My husband and I strongly oppose this bill.
Testimony Opposing Bill 9 – Phase out of Legal TVRs in A-1 & A-2 Zones
I am writing to respectfully oppose the proposed Bill 9 legislation to phase out legal Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Zoning Districts in Maui.
We own a 1-bedroom unit at Maui Kamaole in South Kihei and are deeply invested in the well-being of the Maui community. Our unit supports local jobs—including cleaners, handymen, and service providers—and contributes to the economy through steady, above-average wages and reliable work.
While we respect the intent to address affordable housing, converting legal TVRs to long-term rentals is not a realistic or effective solution. These units are in aging complexes with high operating costs. For example, our unit’s expenses exceed $6,000/month, with over $2,500 going toward HOA fees and taxes alone.
Eliminating TVRs would also create a projected $53M–$91M annual tax revenue shortfall and threaten thousands of local jobs and nearly $1B in visitor spending. These losses would directly impact public services, infrastructure, and the very affordable housing fund this bill intends to support.
This measure offers no incentives or workable paths for owners to rent long-term to locals. The likely result is more vacant units or sales to buyers who may not prioritize local housing needs.
Instead of a blanket ban, we urge the County to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to develop solutions that preserve both housing opportunities and economic stability.
Oppose. This bill kicks the can down the road 5 more years and will fail when challenged, just like Tahoe did, NY is already altering their ban as rents have increased since the ban. This bill is a waste of time and is just politically spicey.
I strongly oppose this bill. This bill would be absolutely devastating to our family who depends on the rental income as our meager wages barely support our cost of living and this helps us tremendously to stay afloat. Without this extra income we would no longer be able to live on Maui. We would need to move. This not only supports our family but all the local businesses that we use their services. Our cleaners, our AC maintenance, Our handy people and all the mom and pop shops around us in Kihei.
I urge you all to please oppose this bill and find a long term, feasible approach that doesn't harm our fragile economy to develop proper affordable housing.
I strongly appose this. I was a resident for over (23) years and still am a current condo owner. Since the county got involved with this idea that it could solve the problem by "taking existing property rights" away from owners, they have crushed the values and the ability to sell their properties. These condos were NOT built for long term rental standards. Parking and unit sizes are not acceptable to most long term renters. These were designed for short term owners or guest to open up the gap the hotels could not provide. This provided the County of Maui with millions in revenue and thousand of jobs, which they took away. Give back the rights to the legal owners. This is not a solution to the short term housing issue.
This testimony is respectfully submitted by Valerie and Philip Storey. We own a property on The Ridge, Kapalua Resort. We strongly oppose the proposed legislation to phase out over 7,000 vacation rentals and urge selective identification of properties that could provide workforce housing.
As responsible owners, we actively support our community by recommending local restaurants and tour guides, employing island service providers, including cleaners, maintenance technicians, and landscapers, for visitors to our property. This directly benefits the small local businesses they patronize.
Kapalua Resort was never designed for workforce housing. For example, our residences have occupancy limits, pet restrictions, and insufficient storage space for long-term residents. However, since the Lahaina fire, we have donated our unit rent-free to displaced persons.
We also face significant financial challenges due to enormous maintenance costs, special assessments, and dramatically increased insurance following the fires. Annual AOAO expenses now exceed $32,000, with upcoming roof and road repairs set to increase this substantially. Without our short-term rental income, we would be unable to meet these current and future outgoings.
This proposed legislation threatens essential island income, local jobs, and housing stability, potentially forcing more Maui residents to leave. We urge the Council to pursue a balanced approach that protects local employment, supports economic recovery, and maintains high STR standards rather than implementing a complete phase-out.
Please exclude Kapalua Resort from any STR ban.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely
Valerie and Philip Storey
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
I would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
I oppose Bill 9.
I have been an owner at Papakea since 2014. Papakea is not a property that converted from workforce housing to transient vacation rental use. Owners purchased at Papakea with the understanding/expectation that short-term rentals were legal based on ordinances. Papakea is zoned A2/H2. Please exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort from this legislation.
Short term rental properties employ local resident employees. Short term rental properties support many local trade professionals such as pest control, HVAC, painting, plumbing, general contractors, tile, and flooring professionals. Additionally, many small business owners such as housekeepers, handymen and on-island agents rely on short term rental properties. Guests support many small businesses on the island such as restaurants, food trucks and tour operators.
In my opinion passage of this bill will negatively impact Maui residents as they will be forced to leave the island to look for employment.
Therefore, for the reasons stated above I oppose Bill 9
Aloha, committee members, thank you for taking the time to read my Ecomment. With respect, I strongly oppose this bill. My family has dedicated our lives to the hospitality industry, particularly in the short-term rental (STR) sector. If this bill is enacted, it will jeopardize the futures of countless hardworking locals who have poured their hearts and souls into our vibrant community. The repercussions for numerous local businesses, contract vendors, and our livelihoods will be devastating. We must protect the foundation of our community and the spirit of those who contribute to it.
Instead of focusing on rezoning STRs, the county could consider leveraging STR tax revenue for affordable housing development.
Sinserly MoMaui
This email is to express strong disapproval of Bill 9. We have owned our unit in The Ridge Villas in Kapalua since 1989. We purchased it at that time understanding that the Kapalua Resort was designed and legally recognized as a community that provided short term rentals for visitors to beautiful West Maui. Throughout the years, the attendant expenses of County and State taxes, Home Owner Association fees, and insurance premiums have grown considerably. While we certainly understand and respect the need for reasonably priced rental housing in West Maui, our unit is a good example of a one bedroom apartment that will not be available with a realistic long term rental price for many families. If our unit is excluded from the short term rental market, the County will lose what we consider to be quite high tax revenues produced by our short term rentals. Even if only the short term rentals on the Minatoya List are phased out, research conducted by the economic consultant company Kloninger & Sims indicates that more than $50 million and possibly up to $92 million will be lost in County tax revenue. This loss will negatively impact the Maui County budget and subsequently all Maui residents by reducing County services and infrastructure support. We have utilized many local service providers and retailers (Lahaina Carpet, Hamai Appliance, Mama’s Ribs and Rotisserie, and so many more) whose businesses will be negatively impacted by the effects of Bill 9. The report by Kloninger & Sims also concluded that phasing out all the short term rentals on the Minatoya List will result in the loss of almost 8000 jobs in Maui County due to the decrease in tourist numbers and related spending. The economic impact of phasing out short term rentals will be devastating to Maui County and it is not a realistic solution to the affordable housing crisis in the County.
Thank you for your service on the Committee with appreciation for your difficult responsibility of making realistic, positive and constructive decisions for the future of Maui County.
Kathy Dick
100 Ridge Road #2224
Lahaina, Hawaii 96761
I strong oppose the attempt to change zoning for the Minatoya condos. We lived on Maui and bought our Kihei STR condo for $375k in 2017. It was on the market for a year. This was a good deal and the prices are much higher now. So why didn't any local purchase this property then? I think the answer is locals don't want to live in the Kihei resort area. We did because we supplemented our income by renting out one bedroom on Airbnb until we moved to Oahu for work during the pandemic.
We have hosted a family through FEMA and support many local businesses. STR's like in Kihei are the lifeblood of the Kihei economy. It would further destroy it by attempting to rezone.
One question that has yet to be answered is how this will survive legal challenges. Nobody supporting this effort has addressed this. As you probably know, a similar lawsuit was settled on Oahu where STR can continue to rent. Nobody has addressed how this effort would be different when the Minatoya list is codified into law.
We should be spending time and money on legal and data-driven initiatives. This won't pass and there should be accountability for the time and money spent trying to rezone when it would never survive a legal challenge.
I am a 30 year long time west maui resident. I strongly oppose this. We need visitors. Converting small condominiums to fit families is not the solution building more affordable houses are. Who wants to squeeze into a small condo. Pay high rent. Not have animals. I sure don’t. I need a hole not a condo. Please do not pass this bill. It is not the solution and will only cause more problems for our community. Less jobs. People leaving. People won’t have jobs to pay rent. Thank you for your consideration to NOT pass this
I am writing to respectfully oppose the proposed Bill 9 legislation to phase out legal Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Zoning Districts in Maui.
I see that part of the justification is the UHERO study, that study has so many flaws it’s embarrassing for a research group.
If anyone believes losing $900 Million in GDP is only 1200 jobs, you don’t understand how the economy works and the numbers for average expenses for these condones is 2/4 times below reality.
I have been coming to Maui since 1991. I was a home owner and full time resident in Lahaina before the fire. I agree that house is an very big issue for us locals. I don't believe this is the right answer and if it passes it will not have the positive impacts the locals believe and will actually have the reverse negative effects.
The most valuable math you can learn is how to calculate the future cost of your current decisions.
I am an owner in Papakea. We have owned there for almost 20 years and been renting there prior to owning since 1980. We have visited this complex for decades now and supported your communities and businesses as well. It has become our home away from home.
In order to own part of our unit with our partners we have to do short term rentals.
The costs of owning this unit are extremely high so short term renting is needed to help pay the units expenses. The costs of paying the bills is not doable by an average family or a renter. We also employ many different services from the community of Maui… what is going to happen to all those companies that many families on Maui have built to be able to live on Maui . What is going to happen to all the grocery stores , restaurants , car rentals , clothing shops, yacht clubs and marina businesses and many other companies !! Taking short term rentals out of your community is going to be devastating to the people of Maui who have built their lives around the tourism industry. It will do the tourism industry in ! It will also give the hotels free rein to raise the prices of the hotels pricing them even more out of range for the average tourist. The people of Maui count on tourism to live !! I have talked to many business owners while in Maui and not one person I talked to supports this Bill. They are all very worried about how they are going to live and talking about having to leave the island.
After the Lahaina fire we worked with the Red Cross and FEMA and had a family living in our unit for quite some time , they left in May. Since then the complex has had to replace all the piping in the complex which has been a huge undertaking at a great cost to the owners.
I think that this bill is going to ruin Maui as we know iand love it and the residents of Maui are going to suffer greatly .
My husband and I strongly oppose this bill.
Testimony Opposing Bill 9 – Phase out of Legal TVRs in A-1 & A-2 Zones
I am writing to respectfully oppose the proposed Bill 9 legislation to phase out legal Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Zoning Districts in Maui.
We own a 1-bedroom unit at Maui Kamaole in South Kihei and are deeply invested in the well-being of the Maui community. Our unit supports local jobs—including cleaners, handymen, and service providers—and contributes to the economy through steady, above-average wages and reliable work.
While we respect the intent to address affordable housing, converting legal TVRs to long-term rentals is not a realistic or effective solution. These units are in aging complexes with high operating costs. For example, our unit’s expenses exceed $6,000/month, with over $2,500 going toward HOA fees and taxes alone.
Eliminating TVRs would also create a projected $53M–$91M annual tax revenue shortfall and threaten thousands of local jobs and nearly $1B in visitor spending. These losses would directly impact public services, infrastructure, and the very affordable housing fund this bill intends to support.
This measure offers no incentives or workable paths for owners to rent long-term to locals. The likely result is more vacant units or sales to buyers who may not prioritize local housing needs.
Instead of a blanket ban, we urge the County to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to develop solutions that preserve both housing opportunities and economic stability.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Spencer
Oppose. This bill kicks the can down the road 5 more years and will fail when challenged, just like Tahoe did, NY is already altering their ban as rents have increased since the ban. This bill is a waste of time and is just politically spicey.
I strongly oppose this bill. This bill would be absolutely devastating to our family who depends on the rental income as our meager wages barely support our cost of living and this helps us tremendously to stay afloat. Without this extra income we would no longer be able to live on Maui. We would need to move. This not only supports our family but all the local businesses that we use their services. Our cleaners, our AC maintenance, Our handy people and all the mom and pop shops around us in Kihei.
I urge you all to please oppose this bill and find a long term, feasible approach that doesn't harm our fragile economy to develop proper affordable housing.
I strongly oppose Bill 9
I strongly appose this. I was a resident for over (23) years and still am a current condo owner. Since the county got involved with this idea that it could solve the problem by "taking existing property rights" away from owners, they have crushed the values and the ability to sell their properties. These condos were NOT built for long term rental standards. Parking and unit sizes are not acceptable to most long term renters. These were designed for short term owners or guest to open up the gap the hotels could not provide. This provided the County of Maui with millions in revenue and thousand of jobs, which they took away. Give back the rights to the legal owners. This is not a solution to the short term housing issue.
Strongly oppose. I was a full time Lahaina resident before the fire.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
This testimony is respectfully submitted by Valerie and Philip Storey. We own a property on The Ridge, Kapalua Resort. We strongly oppose the proposed legislation to phase out over 7,000 vacation rentals and urge selective identification of properties that could provide workforce housing.
As responsible owners, we actively support our community by recommending local restaurants and tour guides, employing island service providers, including cleaners, maintenance technicians, and landscapers, for visitors to our property. This directly benefits the small local businesses they patronize.
Kapalua Resort was never designed for workforce housing. For example, our residences have occupancy limits, pet restrictions, and insufficient storage space for long-term residents. However, since the Lahaina fire, we have donated our unit rent-free to displaced persons.
We also face significant financial challenges due to enormous maintenance costs, special assessments, and dramatically increased insurance following the fires. Annual AOAO expenses now exceed $32,000, with upcoming roof and road repairs set to increase this substantially. Without our short-term rental income, we would be unable to meet these current and future outgoings.
This proposed legislation threatens essential island income, local jobs, and housing stability, potentially forcing more Maui residents to leave. We urge the Council to pursue a balanced approach that protects local employment, supports economic recovery, and maintains high STR standards rather than implementing a complete phase-out.
Please exclude Kapalua Resort from any STR ban.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely
Valerie and Philip Storey
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
I would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
I oppose Bill 9.
I have been an owner at Papakea since 2014. Papakea is not a property that converted from workforce housing to transient vacation rental use. Owners purchased at Papakea with the understanding/expectation that short-term rentals were legal based on ordinances. Papakea is zoned A2/H2. Please exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort from this legislation.
Short term rental properties employ local resident employees. Short term rental properties support many local trade professionals such as pest control, HVAC, painting, plumbing, general contractors, tile, and flooring professionals. Additionally, many small business owners such as housekeepers, handymen and on-island agents rely on short term rental properties. Guests support many small businesses on the island such as restaurants, food trucks and tour operators.
In my opinion passage of this bill will negatively impact Maui residents as they will be forced to leave the island to look for employment.
Therefore, for the reasons stated above I oppose Bill 9
Sincerely,
Jim Onderko
Aloha, committee members, thank you for taking the time to read my Ecomment. With respect, I strongly oppose this bill. My family has dedicated our lives to the hospitality industry, particularly in the short-term rental (STR) sector. If this bill is enacted, it will jeopardize the futures of countless hardworking locals who have poured their hearts and souls into our vibrant community. The repercussions for numerous local businesses, contract vendors, and our livelihoods will be devastating. We must protect the foundation of our community and the spirit of those who contribute to it.
Instead of focusing on rezoning STRs, the county could consider leveraging STR tax revenue for affordable housing development.
Sinserly MoMaui
Dear Committee Members:
This email is to express strong disapproval of Bill 9. We have owned our unit in The Ridge Villas in Kapalua since 1989. We purchased it at that time understanding that the Kapalua Resort was designed and legally recognized as a community that provided short term rentals for visitors to beautiful West Maui. Throughout the years, the attendant expenses of County and State taxes, Home Owner Association fees, and insurance premiums have grown considerably. While we certainly understand and respect the need for reasonably priced rental housing in West Maui, our unit is a good example of a one bedroom apartment that will not be available with a realistic long term rental price for many families. If our unit is excluded from the short term rental market, the County will lose what we consider to be quite high tax revenues produced by our short term rentals. Even if only the short term rentals on the Minatoya List are phased out, research conducted by the economic consultant company Kloninger & Sims indicates that more than $50 million and possibly up to $92 million will be lost in County tax revenue. This loss will negatively impact the Maui County budget and subsequently all Maui residents by reducing County services and infrastructure support. We have utilized many local service providers and retailers (Lahaina Carpet, Hamai Appliance, Mama’s Ribs and Rotisserie, and so many more) whose businesses will be negatively impacted by the effects of Bill 9. The report by Kloninger & Sims also concluded that phasing out all the short term rentals on the Minatoya List will result in the loss of almost 8000 jobs in Maui County due to the decrease in tourist numbers and related spending. The economic impact of phasing out short term rentals will be devastating to Maui County and it is not a realistic solution to the affordable housing crisis in the County.
Thank you for your service on the Committee with appreciation for your difficult responsibility of making realistic, positive and constructive decisions for the future of Maui County.
Kathy Dick
100 Ridge Road #2224
Lahaina, Hawaii 96761
I strong oppose the attempt to change zoning for the Minatoya condos. We lived on Maui and bought our Kihei STR condo for $375k in 2017. It was on the market for a year. This was a good deal and the prices are much higher now. So why didn't any local purchase this property then? I think the answer is locals don't want to live in the Kihei resort area. We did because we supplemented our income by renting out one bedroom on Airbnb until we moved to Oahu for work during the pandemic.
We have hosted a family through FEMA and support many local businesses. STR's like in Kihei are the lifeblood of the Kihei economy. It would further destroy it by attempting to rezone.
One question that has yet to be answered is how this will survive legal challenges. Nobody supporting this effort has addressed this. As you probably know, a similar lawsuit was settled on Oahu where STR can continue to rent. Nobody has addressed how this effort would be different when the Minatoya list is codified into law.
We should be spending time and money on legal and data-driven initiatives. This won't pass and there should be accountability for the time and money spent trying to rezone when it would never survive a legal challenge.
If you pass this bill, you're going to ruin the economy on the island for decades to come!
Oppose
I am a 30 year long time west maui resident. I strongly oppose this. We need visitors. Converting small condominiums to fit families is not the solution building more affordable houses are. Who wants to squeeze into a small condo. Pay high rent. Not have animals. I sure don’t. I need a hole not a condo. Please do not pass this bill. It is not the solution and will only cause more problems for our community. Less jobs. People leaving. People won’t have jobs to pay rent. Thank you for your consideration to NOT pass this
Oppose
I oppose this bill and beg council members to do the same.