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)
Owners in Kapalua Bay. My husband and I strongly oppose terminating our rental rights on our property in Kapalua Bay. We have been visiting Maui for the past consecutive 30 years. We supported the County of Maui for many years before purchasing a home in Maui. We bought with the intention of renting our unit until we can retire. The passive income earned not only helped the County of Maui but helped secure our retirement. The unilateral decision for County of Maui to make a decision of other people’s property without taking into consideration the owner’s input is illegal. We pay mortgage and taxes, County does not!
Not to mention the County will lose millions in revenue from vacation rental . To do this, County of Maui must have millions in surplus that is Not being divulged. In addition, how many local native residents can afford purchasing a home in Kapalua Bay if people sell their homes due to the County taking over homeowner’s rights? The answer is minimal. You’ll not only have lost millions in taxes but you’ll still have locals needing affordable housing, not luxury housing in Kapalua. It’s a lose:lose situation for all!
Therefore, we vehemently oppose losing our right to rent our home!
Aloha,
I was born raised Kaneohe, my mother born in Maui. I am one of the locals affected by this Bill. I am opposed and truly believe it will not address short term housing.
My name is Aaron Rajic, and I am a condo owner in Kihei who relies on short-term rentals to support my family and livelihood. I am submitting this testimony to respectfully oppose the proposed ban on legal short-term rentals in our area.
My family and I have owned our condo in Kihei since 2011. At the time of purchase, the property was zoned and approved for short-term rental use, and it has since been legally recognized under the Montoya List. We purchased this property in good faith, based on the laws and long-established County policy. Now, over a decade later, the County is considering stripping away this legal right—an action that would have serious consequences for our financial well-being and trust in local governance.
I work for Hawaiian Airlines, a company deeply tied to the health of Maui’s visitor industry. This proposed ban doesn’t just affect me as a homeowner—it threatens my employment and the livelihood of countless others who support and depend on Maui tourism. Reducing visitor accommodations means fewer flights, fewer travelers, and less need for airline staff and support services. The ripple effects will be felt across the entire tourism and transportation ecosystem.
We previously lived in Hawai‘i and maintain close ties to the islands. The income from our short-term rental is not just supplemental—it’s essential. It helps us cover our mortgage, taxes, association dues, and maintenance. We also employ local service providers like cleaners and contractors who rely on this steady work. If these legal rentals are eliminated, they will suffer too.
There’s a false narrative suggesting that these condos could simply become affordable long-term housing. In reality, units like ours were never designed or intended for that purpose. They lack the necessary infrastructure and pricing to serve as affordable homes. This approach won't solve the housing crisis—it will simply remove a vital part of Maui’s visitor accommodation network.
Tourism is the economic lifeline of Maui. Visitors who stay in legal short-term rentals support small businesses, restaurants, tour operators, and local workers. Removing these rentals will hurt not just owners like myself, but the entire community that depends on this economic activity.
I respectfully urge the Council to protect legal short-term rentals and not penalize those of us who have followed the rules, invested in good faith, and remain committed to Hawai‘i’s future. Let’s focus on real, targeted solutions for housing—without destroying the industries and families that keep Maui’s economy moving.
Mahalo for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Terri Abay-Abay and I have lived and worked in the West Maui community as a full-time resident for nearly 40 years. My spouse and extended family have lived in Hawaii and Maui for generations. We have always worked 2-3 jobs to reach our family's goals of home ownership, continued education and enjoying life in Maui. Some of us work in the hospitality field in various hotels, resorts, and small businesses, and we are really feeling the impacts of the drop in tourism. I wanted to share what this proposed phase-out of short-term rentals could mean for families like mine and the people we work with every day.
Most small businesses as in our community, depend on visitors who stay in short-term rentals. Many of them come back year after year, and they support local restaurants, shops, and tour companies — not just the big-name spots, but the mom-and-pop places that make Maui special. The Hotels do not promote small local businesses in the same way that many of the vacation rental condos do. If these rentals go away, I worry we’ll lose those repeat visitors, and with them, a huge part of what keeps us going.
This phase-out feels like it’s targeting the very people who are trying to make it here — local families doing their best to stay afloat. I understand there are concerns about housing, and I agree we need real solutions. What happened to the mandate that every new resort, as it was developed, was required to provide a certain percentage of workforce housing for that development? I don't believe the County enforced ANY of the timeshares that have been developed in West Maui to follow through on this mandate. I do believe that the Ritz Carlton Kapalua was the last resort to do so, because we lived in that housing (Poinciana Place Apts - now Maui Lani Terraces) for 10 years, which enabled our family to save enough money for a solid down payment to buy a home. Maui County has allowed the hotels and timeshares to oversaturate Maui, making it too crowded and not enough infrastructure to handle the huge amount of tourism the hotels and timeshares bring in.
We need the County to protect locals on every front — not just in housing, but in employment, education, services, and economic opportunity. We need a balanced approach, not one that removes critical sources of income and support. It does not make sense to enable Corporate America (hotels & timeshares) to control the majority of employment for local residents in West and South Maui.
Please, don’t move forward with this phase-out. Work with us. Listen to us. Let’s find a way that protects our jobs, preserves our communities, and helps Maui thrive.
Mahalo for your time and for listening to our stories.
Terri Abay-Abay
terriabay1@gmail.com
808-280-4296
Dear Chair, Vice Chair and committee members,
My name is Harvey Boyarsky, and I own a short-term rental property in Grand Champions. 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.
I've worked hard to be a responsible and community-oriented owner. I recommend local restaurants and tour guides in my welcome packages for my guests. I employ local service providers-cleaners, maintenance techs and landscapers- many of whom have become like family over the years. My guests often leave Maui saying that they felt more connected to the island because of the personal experience they had in my home.
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. We've faced huge maintenance costs, special assessments and massive increases after the fires. These aren't luxuries- they're costs that ensure the property remains safe, functional and appealing. STR income helps cover those costs while supporting local workers.
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 and holds STR owners to high standards, instead of phasing us out completely.
Again I wish to express my strong opposition to the proposed legislation.
Hello, I strongly opposed Bill 9. My family has owned a one bedroom condo in the Kahana area since 1986. Our condo has no mortgage and we just break even on the cost after renting as a STR. Between the HOA and Taxes we would need to rent the condo for over $4000 a month to just break even. That is not affordable housing. This condo has one parking spot and no storage and was never intended to be residential house.
Thank you for your consideration
Aloha
We write to express our profound opposition to Maui County’s proposed legislation which would prohibit short term rentals by owners of condos which fall on the Minatoya list. This concept is wrong on many counts.
#1 Honest, Ethical, Stable Government
In 2013, my wife and I, newly retired, contemplated finding a refuge from our harsh winters; a place where we could celebrate vacations with our children, and at that time, hoped for grandchildren. We are not wealthy, I am a retired public servant, and my wife a retired nurse. We did, however, have equity in our house, the product of rising property values, which have been experienced around the world. We knew that the only way to purchase a second home was to mortgage our primary residence. This purchase would be one of the biggest financial gambles of our married life. We did our homework.
We looked at many options. There was no question that other jurisdictions and countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, etc. offered far more property value for our dollar, but in the end, we were concerned about the stability and basic honesty of some local governments and their politicians. Ultimately, we decided to avoid the risk and focus on Maui. The additional cost of buying on Maui meant that our purchase would only work if we could rent out our condo on a short-term basis when we weren’t there.
We decided to purchase a condo in South Kihei, but before we purchased, we did more homework to ensure that short term rentals were permitted. We reviewed the prospectus for the then yet to be built Hale Kamaole condo complex. We reviewed the by-laws of the complex’s AOAO from inception to the current date. We reviewed various Maui County Council decisions. We noted that Maui’s property tax office classified our property as “Hotel/Resort”, even though it was on the Minatoya List. (This remained true for a number of years after purchase). It was clear from everything that we viewed that from the outset, our complex was built for vacation rentals, and had always operated as a complex for vacation rentals…with the full knowledge, acquiescence, and approval of Maui County Council.
Turns out that we were incorrect in thinking that Maui would guarantee honest, ethical, and stable government. Mayor Bissen’s motion to renege on previous Councils’ “codified” decisions is not only ill-considered, but should give anyone considering doing business, or investing in the County of Maui substantial doubt.
#2 Allegation that Vacation Rentals Replaced Accommodation Designed for Workers
This argument advanced by the mayor and supporters of his motion, particularly when considering the condominiums in Kihei and Wailea is just plain untrue. That this argument is used by those who know better, or ought, by virtue of their office, to know better, is disgraceful. In the absence of clear apartment zoning in the 1970’s, our Kihei complex was built for vacation rentals. Our unit has never housed a local worker, it has been used as a vacation rental for nearly 50 years…with the full knowledge of County Council(s).
#3 Our Vacation Rental Would Provide an Affordable Housing Option for a Local Resident
The AOAO fees for our condo are currently $1275. per month. In addition, we pay $2500 in special repair assessment and fees each month for a total of $3775 per month. Note that this is before insurance, taxes, electricity, and mortgage fees. Does anyone really think this would provide affordable accommodation?
#4 Vacation Rentals Create Unaffordability
Our property taxes, based on a property assessment which is wildly above any potential selling price, are currently $14,500 annually. Vacation rentals, although a tiny fraction of the number of households in Maui, pay a huge percentage of all property taxes on Maui and are the largest contributor to Maui’s Affordable Housing Fund. Maui Council continues to cut rates for resident homeowners at the expense of vacation rental homeowners. This is understandable, but begs the question as to how resident property owners will react to replacing the revenue and contributions if Council cuts off this source of revenue. Will they want to Council to cut programs or raise their taxes?
#5 Vacation Rental Owners Are “Investors”, And as Such, Should Be Prepared To Lose Their Investment.
Some politicians and advocacy leaders have stated that vacation rental owners are investors, and as such, should be prepared to lose their investments. First of all, what a unique approach to the concept of “aloha”! Is that the way they regard their own homes? We do not regard our condo as an investment; it is our home., We reside there for four months a year and treasure our community and our time spent there. In good times, our rental income barely covers our high expenses. We operated at a substantial loss last year, and this year will be worse. In any event, every single dime that we receive from our rentals is deposited to a bank in Kihei and is spent entirely in Maui. Can the hotels claim the same thing?
#6 Vacation Rentals are Ruining Maui’s Quality of Life.
We have a vested interest in helping to preserve the Maui, its lifestyle, and its people that attracted us to Maui in the first place. We are very careful to tread lightly, treating the land and people with respect. We instruct our guests, at length and in considerable detail, to do the same, to practice aloha and pono. We go to great lengths to buy local and support local businesses over big box stores. We are fanatical recyclers and we donate to local charities. We are happy to provide employment to property management staff, cleaners, landscapers, and all the other tradesmen who maintain and repair our aging complex. We love our local restaurants and provide our guests with a list of recommendations. Our guests don’t confine themselves to hotel grounds; they get out and spend their money in the community, where the money stays in Maui.
In conclusion, we recognize the very real pressures of housing supply and affordability. These are not unique to Maui; they are world wide. We grieve with the people of Lahaina. But Maui Council needs to replace the lost homes, it needs to build additional housing by removing barriers to building homes, to streamline permitting, to address the very real inequities in access to water. It needs to take positive action; not unfair, illogical, and financial ruinous action. Finally, Council needs to work to find ways to rebuild harmony between residents and visitors.
We urge Maui County Council to reject this motion to prohibit vacation rentals in condos on Minatoya list.
Aloha Chair Kama, Vice Chair U’u-Hodgins, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Jen Cox and I write In Support of Bill 9 to phase out short-term rentals in apartment-zoned districts. I have been a resident of Maui for about 14 years, and in that time, I have learned what a privilege it is to be a part of this community. I am disappointed and disturbed by the testifiers who oppose Bill 9 and are centering their own needs before the needs of the Maui County community at large.
I applaud the work of the many housing advocates like Maui Housing Hui who have done the work to prove why it is economically smart, ecologically sound, and culturally imperative for Bill 9 to pass.
Please make it possible for these existing housing units to serve our full-time community members who breathe life into Maui County. It takes much more than dollars alone to build a thriving, resilient community, and the people dedicated to increasing our collective quality of life need to be prioritized in this moment. Converting short-term rentals to long-term housing is a step in that direction.
My name is Matthew Miller, and my wife and I own a short term rental property in Honokowai. I am writing today to express my strong opposition to the proposed phase out of over 7,000 short term rentals on Maui.
We have owned our property for 15 years, purchasing for the sole purpose of creating a home away from home for not only our family, but vacationing families, in the most beautiful place on Earth. We quickly became one with the community, embracing the local people and their culture. We share this feeling of being one with the community with every guest at our property, which helps them have a deeper experience while visiting.
Because of this connection with the community, we solely give our business to the locally owned businesses. From restaurants to stores, cleaners to construction, we want to put money into the pockets of the local families. The recommendations we give to all of our visitors is to the locally owned restaurants, shops, and tours.
Owning in our small oceanfront complex for these last 15 years has been wonderful, but certainly not easy. The extremely high cost of monthly maintenance, large costs of 3 separate assessments for building structural work, and now huge insurance costs have made the short term rental income necessary for offsetting these costs. None of these costs are luxury items, they are purely necessities for safety and upkeep.
We employ several locals that rely on buildings like ours to make a living. Our cleaner, landscapers, and handyman are all reliant on accounts just like ours, in buildings like ours. We strongly support these people and very much want to continue to employ them, though that is only possible because of our short term rental status.
I urge you to rethink this legislation and come up with a better path forward, such as by committing to building new affordable housing. This legislation, as stated by the UHERO study, will cause increased unemployment for the locals and diminish much needed tax revenue for the county and median income for the locals. I strongly urge you to oppose this legislation.
Attn: Maui Planning Commission
Re: Opposition to Bill 9, Proposed Short-Term Rental (STR) Ban
We respectfully urge you to reconsider the proposal to eliminate legal short-term rental (STR) units in Maui County. This measure, though well-intentioned, would result in a cascade of unintended consequences that would severely harm the local economy, displace countless jobs, and significantly reduce county tax revenues.
As STR owners, we directly employ a local onsite manager, housekeepers, and a handyman. We frequently engage Maui-based professionals such as plumbers, HVAC technicians, and general contractors for maintenance and upgrades. We’ve invested heavily in local businesses including Hamai Appliance, HomeWorld Furniture, Ace Hardware, and Sherwin Williams Paint. This level of economic activity would not occur if our unit were converted to a long-term rental. In that case, we would instead reserve it for limited personal use by family and friends — not for permanent housing.
The broader impact on the community would be severe. Many residents in Kihei and throughout Maui rely on STR-related tourism to support their livelihoods — including workers in restaurants, grocery stores, and service industries. It is a misconception to believe that STR guests will simply transition to hotels. These visitors often specifically choose STRs for their affordability, amenities, and neighborhood feel. If STRs are eliminated, many of these tourists will simply stop coming to Maui, diverting their spending to other destinations.
There are also major fiscal implications. In 2023 alone, we paid over $11,500 in General Excise and Transient Accommodations Taxes (GET/TAT), and over $17,000 in property taxes. If STRs are banned, these revenues will vanish almost overnight, with STR property values already declining in anticipation. This would result in a substantial loss of both current and future revenue for the county.
Our building, Hale Kai O’Kihei, was specifically designed and constructed for STR use in 1969–1970 and has operated legally as such for over five decades. Its zoning designation permits both long- and short-term residential use, and this historical legal use cannot be revoked. In fact, under Section 2.2.25, Hale Kai O’Kihei is presumed not to be suitable for long-term residential occupancy, reinforcing its appropriate and intended STR use.
Furthermore, many of these units are simply not viable as full-time residences due to high ownership costs — including nearly $1,000/month in HOA dues and rising insurance expenses. If STRs are banned, we would simply convert the unit to occasional personal use for family and friends, which is what most owners plan to do these units. They will not transition to local housing but will instead sit underused or vacant, contributing neither to housing availability nor the tourist dependent economy.
For the sake of Maui’s working families, small businesses, and fiscal health, we urge you to reject this proposal. It will not achieve its intended goals and will only inflict unnecessary damage to our community.
Fred & Pam Green
Unit #205, Hale Kai O’Kihei
Fredgreen425@gmail.com
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Shaun Sullivan, and I have owned a short-term rental property in Maui County for 8 years. After long discussions with locals working at my resort, discussions with local restaurant and shop owners, I am writing today to express my deep concern and strongly OPPOSE the (proposed) legislation to phase out more than 7,000 vacation rentals.
I feel deeply for those who lost their lives and those who lost their homes in the Lahaina fire. It was terrible. And as in many crisis events throughout America, the local and federal government are huge supports in help the victims of natural disasters. It is almost never other land owners. I believe this legislation will not solve the housing problem, and will create an economic disaster with huge losses of tax revenue, businesses and jobs that will impact maui for decades to come. Once an area of the world adopts and succeeds in a tourist economy, it is very difficult if not impossible to change from a tourist economy, and economy that Maui government planned supported for decades.
I LOVE MAUI and hope one day to live there. As you know, purchasing a condo in Maui is very expensive.The purchase price went entirely to a local…the family that originally established Kamaole Sands. My $10,000 or more in property taxes (for a square footage of 818 ft2) go directly to Maui. I “profit” very little if at all each year, because of the high taxes everywhere you turn. Please use these for those homeless and displaced!
Most importantly, I would love to see real solutions for the homeless and displaced. The government could use the massive tax base to build low income housing. Condos are not long term family dwellings. Continue to tax condo owners and tourists….the combination of taxes that I pay and tourists pay are huge…the combined TAT, GET, County surcharge, and upcoming green fee all add up to an enormous maui county income. Please use this to house our local friends!!!
I’ve worked hard to be a responsible and community-oriented owner. I recommend local restaurants and tour guides in my welcome guide. Every time I go to maui, I spend a lot of money and am happy doing so. I LOVE MAUI! I employ local service providers — cleaners, maintenance techs, and landscapers — many of whom have become like family over the years. My guests often leave Maui saying they felt more connected to the island because of the personal experience they had in my home.
My guests and family often say they wouldn’t have come at all if they didn’t have a vacation rental option that was somewhat affordable. Almost none of them can afford a hotel…owned by large multinational companies that DO take a lot of money out of maui. They love supporting restaurants, small businesses, contractors that have remodeled my condo (Locals!), snorkeling companies, grocery stores, etc.
Owning in this complex has not been easy. We’ve faced huge maintenance costs, special assessments, and massive increases in insurance after the fires. These aren’t luxuries — they’re costs that ensure the property remains safe, functional, and appealing. STR income helps cover those costs while supporting local workers. And nearly 100% of this money spent STAYS IN MAUI!
Please, for the sake of Maui, OPPOSE this legislation and look for other reasonable solutions for those in need.
Thank you and Good Luck for all your work! I know this is a tender issue!
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
I am writing to oppose Bill 9.. I understand the need for more affordable housing for Maui residents, but Bill 9 is not a good way to achieve that goal, as it will do a lot of harm to Maui residents.
I have owned a beachfront condo in Kihei since 2014. I purchased the condo after renting it for a month every year from 2003 - 2013. I use the condo myself about two months a year, and rent it to short-term guests the rest of the time.
Eliminating the Minatoya STR's will cause serious economic harm to Maui and Maui residents. I think you already have plenty of reliable information (statistics, testimony, the UHERO analysis, etc.) showing how the loss of so much property tax and transient accommodation tax revenue will necessitate major cuts in the services that Maui County can provide to residents.
If I can no longer rent my condo to guests, I will not need to employ a housekeeper to regularly clean my condo. I will not need to employ a handyman to regularly repair and maintain the condo, as having rental guests creates most of the need for the handyman's services. Nor will I need to clean and replace the carpeting as often, or buy many of the goods and services from other Maui residents who now do the work necessary to support a short-term rental operation.
I have had the good fortune of renting my condo to the same guests year-after-year for many years. Almost all of those long-term guests reported to me that they will not come to Maui if I can no longer rent them my condo. They have no interest in staying in a hotel. Assuming that many other people who currently rent STR's feel the same way, Maui will lose a tremendous number of tourists. Losing so many tourists will cause tremendous harm to those Maui residents and Maui businesses that rely on short-term rental tourists coming to Maui and spending money.
As you already know, very few of the properties on the Minatoya list were built for long-term resident housing. Like my condo, most were built specifically with short-term tourist rentals in mind. My 2-bedroom/2-bath condo has only one parking space. My building has NO other parking available for residents or guests, nor is there available street parking as we are on South Kihei Road. Nor does my condo have any meaningful storage that a typical long-term renter would need. In addition, the property taxes, HOA fee, utilities and insurance on my condo currently exceed $5,000 per month - not including any mortgage payment. I don't know if many Maui residents would want to pay $5,000/month in rent for a small 2-bdroom/2-bath condo with only one parking space.
Moreover, if I am no longer able to rent my condo to tourist guests, I do not plan on offering the condo to long-term Maui resident renters. I will simply absorb the huge economic losses, and will use the condo more for myself and for my family and friends. Using the condo myself will lower my property taxes, eliminate the need to pay the general excise and transient accommodation taxes, as well as eliminate the need to hire Maui residents to provide the services needed to support a short-term rental.
So, eliminating my ability to rent my condo will not add to Maui's housing stock, but will cause Maui residents to lose work and income, will force a reduction in the services that Maui County can provide to residents, and will reduce the number of tourists visiting Maui. So, in my case, Bill 9 will cause many negative economic consequences for Maui and Maui residents, with no increase in housing. Not a good trade-off.
For the foregoing reasons, I urge you to reject Bill 9 as presently written. There are many other more effective ways to create suitable affordable housing for Maui residents without causing so much harm to those same Maui residents.
Community and culture are what make Maui truly special.
Yes, the island is breathtaking, but its mana, its life force, lives not in resorts, but in our neighborhoods. Yet these very neighborhoods are being dismantled by a housing crisis driven by profit, not need.
This crisis isn’t just about the lack of affordable homes, it’s about the slow erosion of Maui’s soul. It's about the displacement of the very people who are this place: the families, the workers, the kūpuna, and keiki who make Maui home.
We need to live where we work, shop, eat, and raise our children. We need communities, not commodities.The unchecked spread of short-term rentals makes this harder every day.
The people that call Maui home, myself included, have watched neighborhoods disappear; house by house, street by street. Homes that once held local families now sit empty most of the year, occupied by tourists who come and go, while the people who make this island what it is are forced to leave.
This isn’t sustainable.
Short-term rentals have turned our housing into investments instead of shelter. They’ve priced out teachers, nurses, kūpuna, and young families trying to stay rooted here. Getting rid of short-term rentals isn’t about turning away visitors—it’s about making sure there’s still a Maui for them to visit. A Maui with real communities, not just vacation properties.
If we want to preserve Maui’s culture, its people, and way of life, we must take a stand.
Maui is not a commodity—it’s a home. And homes should be for people who live in them.
Aloha Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9 (2025). This bill would eliminate long-standing, legally operating short-term rentals—including timeshare usage—that have contributed positively to Maui’s economy and community for decades.
However, I do appreciate the amendment in the current draft (CD1) that exempts validly existing timeshare units and timeshare plans from the phase-out. If the Council moves forward with Bill 9, I urge you to retain this exemption as a minimum safeguard to prevent serious harm to owners, workers, and the local economy.
My husband and I are timeshare owners at the Kuleana Club. Like hundreds of others, We are blessed to own 2 weeks per year—not a second home, not an investment property. My husband and I return regularly(during COVID we did not as we were asked not to visit until Maui was ready & then with the 2023 fires even though we could have visited - we choose instead to donate our place to a family in need of a place to stay) we support local restaurants, spend at neighborhood shops, we take part in beach cleanups, & always spend time giving back to Maui while we are there.Timeshare owners like us are part of a stable community of repeat visitors who care deeply about Maui’s well-being.
Timeshare properties are fundamentally different from vacation rentals. Units are deeded one week at a time to hundreds of families, which makes them impossible to convert to long-term housing. Including timeshares in a short-term rental ban would not create housing—but it would devastate workers and remove a reliable source of local tax revenue. Properties like Kuleana Club operate legally under Maui County Code 19.37.010, and are fully compliant with TAT and GET tax regulations. Our occupancy rates are high, and our owners consistently contribute to the island’s economy, even in difficult times.
More importantly, timeshares support stable jobs. Many employees at the Kuleana Club have been with the property for over 25 years. Several lost their homes in the Lahaina fire. If timeshare usage is eliminated, these long-standing staff members risk losing the only thing they have left—their livelihood.
Timeshare owners and resorts have also stepped up in times of crisis. The industry has contributed millions to wildfire recovery and donated thousands of room nights to displaced families and first responders. That commitment continues today.
In summary:
I urge you to oppose Bill 9 entirely.
But if it passes, please retain the CD1 amendment exempting timeshares.
Timeshares are not TVRs.
This exemption is a fair, balanced, and lawful solution that protects jobs, housing neutrality, and tax revenue—without compromising the County’s broader goals.
Mahalo for your time, your service, and for considering the perspective of owners like me.
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.
Hello Committee Members,
We are Julie Funke & Jay Goklani and we live in Ferndale, Michigan. We own a condo at Wavecrest Resort on Molokai. We are writing in opposition of the phase-out of short-term rentals in Maui County. Our short-term rental contributes to the local economy of Molokai by our management company hiring local folks & businesses to manage cleaning, pest control & maintenance on the property. We are also committed to Molokai's economy by encouraging our renters to use local Hawaiian-owned businesses for car rentals & tours, to visit the weekly farmer's markets, farms, small businesses & restaurants. Our property is also a key short-term rental for folks visiting friends & family as there are very limited short-term rental options on the island. We have also understood there not a significant market for condo longer term rentals on Molokai.
For these important community reasons, we would respectfully ask that the committee reconsider this measure and seek an alternative solution.
Thank you for your service and giving us this opportunity to express our opposition to this measure.
Take care,
Julie & Jay
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair U’u-Hodgins, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
We oppose Bill 9 as drafted and propose that the Council amend the Bill to exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort, which the County has historically identified as having A2-H2 zoning. As I’m sure you’ve already reviewed from other Papakea owners’ submissions, before any zoning restrictions limited transient vacation rentals in apartment zoned properties, Papakea was initially marketed and sold as a legal vacation rental property. Papakea owners have been operating legal vacation rentals for almost 50 years.
Additionally, Papakea has never been workforce housing, therefore, is not an example of a property that converted from workforce housing to transient vacation rental use. It 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. The majority of units at Papakea are under 600 square feet and the property has limited parking.
Unlike apartment buildings designed for long-term residential use, Papakea has a front desk, an activity concierge, shared activity space, and numerous other common resort amenities.
Owners at Papakea purchased condos 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 rights offensive of each buyer’s investment-backed expectations.
Papakea’s contributions to the Community include providing full-time, benefited employment for 35 local resident employees; some having 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 OWNERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY through using many small businesses owned and operated by local residents from the Maui community that rely on Papakea short-term rentals including housekeepers, handymen, on-island agents, and contractors. These service providers set their own rates and work hours, select their own clients, work conditions and standard operating procedures. Shutting down short-term rentals at Papakea means telling local entrepreneurs that have worked hard to build a small business that they need to find 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 and cultural efforts.
We would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
Stephanie and Randy Schwartz
3543 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Apartment K307
I strongly oppose proposed Bill 9. This is not a fix for our affordable housing issue and will surely create overpriced rentals and cause issues with the rental market. It will 100% not create homes that locals can afford to purchase. The local govt needs to step in and use some of the STR funds to supplement homes purchased by on-island residents. The MCTA tax alone brings in $60-$80 million. The county should work at creating a means of getting a portion of the TA tax allocated back to Maui to help with supplementing housing.
The real issue is proper jobs that pay a living wage in our economy. The average cleaner makes 6 figures and is able to create their own schedule and hours, allowing for less need for costly childcare.
-It has been noted by many reports that the average family needs to make at least $80K-$120K to afford basic living necessities.
*The average entry level job posted online with Maui.gov pays $41K-$70K. Entry level teacher jobs offer $45-$50K with experienced teachers making $75K.
*Entry level medical jobs at the hospital or clinic pays a measly $29K-$45K. That’s $1933/mo- $3K/mo.
**Our local council just received raises. The mayor was approved for a 54% raise from $160K-$245K. Council raises ranged from 23%-39% to be paid between $101K-$240K. Our state minimum wage is currently $14/hr amounting to $29,120 per year (after taxes that would be right around $2K per month). Could any of you imagine living on $2K/month just for your food costs, let alone housing, gas and child care. Even if you doubled that with 2 parents working, it’s still only $4K/month.
The jump to $16 will make that a whopping $33,280/year. Use the TA tax or STR property tax to offset housing costs for low-income folks to be able to better afford housing for those who cannot qualify for HUD, plus, there is not enough HUD housing either.
-Diversify the economy first!! You don’t quit a job and have nothing else planned. We are not New York, we are not Spain and we are not even Oahu. They all have diverse economies with multiple industries that create jobs and income and tax dollars. We have depended on tourism for decades now. Our government needs to find ways to attract other companies and industries to come to Maui. Tech and remote jobs, renewable energy, medical research and healthcare and industrial like Amazon.
-Our local council and government representatives need to take responsibility for the lack of livable wages and then tackle proper affordable housing. QUIT putting this on everyone else to fix. It is not STR owners who need to go bankrupt or suffer foreclosure to create some sort of non-preferred housing. They bought their Maui condos honestly and with hard earned money. They didn’t steal them, they didn’t take them from a local. They should not be made to pay and ruin their futures and finances to fix a serious govt problem.
-What is the point of having a place to rent if you don’t have a job to pay for it? Removing any number of STR units will remove thousands of jobs. Each unit accounts for 1.4 employed people. Most are cleaners, many of which are moms who cannot work a 9-5 due to lack of affordable regular childcare. Plus, they are proud business owners who enjoy what they do and employ other people and often show them the ropes in order to possibly have their own business.
-Once economic diversification is underway, then look at the STR issue and do it fairly and legally. If you want to decrease the # of STR’s. make them non-rentable at time of sale. Still not totally fair as the value of the home will decrease but at least the owner can use it for its highest and best use from when they purchased while they own it.
-Other jobs lost would be management managers, hourly employees who check condos and do guest services, reservationists, accountants, tax practitioners, maintenance men, AC vendors. Shoot, hotel guests don’t stop at Costco on their way in. The loss of revenue there would likely decrease hours for those employees as well. Then the food trucks across from Costco would be less busy. It is all connected.
-Lost tax $$! TA/MCTA taxes and STR property tax $. Huge losses that will have to be made up by residential home owners and/or increased GE for all.
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-Social Media Posts showing how you can make 100s of thousands of dollars on STR. Those are geared toward low cost areas like Tennessee and Virginia, not Hawaii.
- These are not greedy investors. Of the 250 units that I help manage, only 4 were investors who rarely used the unit.
-Majority of owners are folks who love Maui but can not live here full time. All try and come out for at least a week but many for 1-3 months every year. And they spend money on daily needs but also on updates and remodels. Majority have friends and family visit and stay as well.
-Costs of ownership are huge. These are not greedy people. The average 2 bedroom STR is at or over $1 mil. Mortgage on 1 mil is $6K+per month. Add AOAO dues (avg $1,200/mo), insurance (1,200) and taxes (13,000). Average 2 bedroom long term rental rate is between $2800-$3800. $6k+2,300= 8,300. That’s $4,500 short at the highest rate.
-There are currently over 120 units for rent on Zillow in Kihei (16+ on for 60-144 days) and 33 (6 from 59-169 days) units in Lahaina between $1850-$4500. These are not renting quickly or at all and similar STR units would be priced at least $2K more than these to cover basic monthly costs.
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-STR visitors love having a kitchen and buy groceries. They dine out, they rent beach equipment, they buy souvenirs at local shops.
-The Hotels main goal is to do everything to keep guests on campus. They rotate store inventory every few days, they change menus and the concierges work to keep them in house for meals.
-Hotels do not have kitchens and are not affordable for families of 4 or more. Hotel rates limit who can come here and afford to enjoy the island. It shouldn’t just be for the wealthy.
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-How practical is living in an STR? I lived in an STR rentable complex for 8 years, due to lack of better/affordable options, it was miserable. Tiny kitchens, no storage, no linen closets, no board or beach gear storage, no yards, usually only 1 parking space, usually no pets or rarely, one small pet allowed. STRs are all furnished so local families can not settle in and make their rental their own home.
-There has been a lack of affordable housing for over 40 years. The council plans to phase these STR’s out to become high cost, long-term units and pass them to the community as a sort of easy hand out. It feels like it will be a “what more do you want us to do? We gave you 100s of places. Be grateful”
-The govt needs to focus on and create actual affordable HOMES, with yards and parking and maybe even price points that locals could afford to buy. Stop allowing builders to pay their way out of the requirement to have a certain amount of the build be affordable. Use those funds builders have already paid into the affordable housing fund to help create affordable homes and/or help subsidize new builds to add these affordable homes to current projects.
-Reevaluate the permitting process. It should not take years, which causes the cost of many builds to rise by the time they can finally break ground.
Aloha Committee Members: My name is Rick Wood. My wife and I have owned a STR property in the Kapalua Resort for 25 years. My wife and I oppose the proposed Bill to phase out vacation rentals, and we request that the Kapalua Resort be exempted from the prohibition of vacation rentals on Maui.
As a former Mayor and long-time resident of the Town of Mammoth Lakes, a mountain resort located at 8000 feet elevation in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains of California, I am acutely aware of the complex issues related to the availability of workforce housing in our community, which is surrounded on all sides by undevelopable U.S. Forest Service lands. At the same time, I am aware of the need to protect local jobs and promote the local tourist economy by permitting STRs in nearly all areas of our town.
The Lahaina fire tragedy requires thoughtful solutions to the Maui housing crisis. Ownership of property in the Kapalua Resort is extraordinarily expensive to manage, given huge increases in maintenance costs, insurance, and special assessments. It was not intended to serve as workforce housing when it was developed decades ago.
The passage of the Bill without specific areas of exemption will inevitably result in the loss of income, jobs and homes, and ultimately force Maui residents to leave the island. I am hopeful that the effect of a ban will include exemptions that will bolster the economy while addressing the financial needs of Maui's workforce.
Please exclude the Kapalua Resort from the proposed STR ban.
Mahalo.
Rick and Cheryl Wood
I strongly oppose Bill 9, even with its revisions. Why is the County ignoring the results of the UHERO report? This Bill will directly cost the county money in lost transient tax and lower property taxes. The shortfall of these losses will be put on the shoulders of other property owners as we see increased property taxes. We will also see hundreds of jobs lost in the short-term rental-related businesses of property management, housekeeping, and more. The people of this county are struggling post-fire, with the significant drop in tourism hurting so many businesses, the trauma of our residents, the increased costs of property insurance, the increased costs of everyday goods, and the increased property taxes - we need relief - not taking away property owner rights. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS. The majority of the condo buildings on the Minatoya list have incredibly high AOAO monthly fees - some higher than rent for some people. Add the AOAO to the actual rent and utilities, these properties will be out of reach for the many people struggling with housing. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS. The County needs to fast-track the affordable housing developments that have been in the pipeline for decades. The County's failure to keep up with affordable housing projects should not become the responsibility of tax-paying property owners.
Owners in Kapalua Bay. My husband and I strongly oppose terminating our rental rights on our property in Kapalua Bay. We have been visiting Maui for the past consecutive 30 years. We supported the County of Maui for many years before purchasing a home in Maui. We bought with the intention of renting our unit until we can retire. The passive income earned not only helped the County of Maui but helped secure our retirement. The unilateral decision for County of Maui to make a decision of other people’s property without taking into consideration the owner’s input is illegal. We pay mortgage and taxes, County does not!
Not to mention the County will lose millions in revenue from vacation rental . To do this, County of Maui must have millions in surplus that is Not being divulged. In addition, how many local native residents can afford purchasing a home in Kapalua Bay if people sell their homes due to the County taking over homeowner’s rights? The answer is minimal. You’ll not only have lost millions in taxes but you’ll still have locals needing affordable housing, not luxury housing in Kapalua. It’s a lose:lose situation for all!
Therefore, we vehemently oppose losing our right to rent our home!
Aloha,
I was born raised Kaneohe, my mother born in Maui. I am one of the locals affected by this Bill. I am opposed and truly believe it will not address short term housing.
It will have major impact on the Maui’s economy
I oppose this Bill
mahalo
Bob Caires
Aloha Chair and Council Members,
My name is Aaron Rajic, and I am a condo owner in Kihei who relies on short-term rentals to support my family and livelihood. I am submitting this testimony to respectfully oppose the proposed ban on legal short-term rentals in our area.
My family and I have owned our condo in Kihei since 2011. At the time of purchase, the property was zoned and approved for short-term rental use, and it has since been legally recognized under the Montoya List. We purchased this property in good faith, based on the laws and long-established County policy. Now, over a decade later, the County is considering stripping away this legal right—an action that would have serious consequences for our financial well-being and trust in local governance.
I work for Hawaiian Airlines, a company deeply tied to the health of Maui’s visitor industry. This proposed ban doesn’t just affect me as a homeowner—it threatens my employment and the livelihood of countless others who support and depend on Maui tourism. Reducing visitor accommodations means fewer flights, fewer travelers, and less need for airline staff and support services. The ripple effects will be felt across the entire tourism and transportation ecosystem.
We previously lived in Hawai‘i and maintain close ties to the islands. The income from our short-term rental is not just supplemental—it’s essential. It helps us cover our mortgage, taxes, association dues, and maintenance. We also employ local service providers like cleaners and contractors who rely on this steady work. If these legal rentals are eliminated, they will suffer too.
There’s a false narrative suggesting that these condos could simply become affordable long-term housing. In reality, units like ours were never designed or intended for that purpose. They lack the necessary infrastructure and pricing to serve as affordable homes. This approach won't solve the housing crisis—it will simply remove a vital part of Maui’s visitor accommodation network.
Tourism is the economic lifeline of Maui. Visitors who stay in legal short-term rentals support small businesses, restaurants, tour operators, and local workers. Removing these rentals will hurt not just owners like myself, but the entire community that depends on this economic activity.
I respectfully urge the Council to protect legal short-term rentals and not penalize those of us who have followed the rules, invested in good faith, and remain committed to Hawai‘i’s future. Let’s focus on real, targeted solutions for housing—without destroying the industries and families that keep Maui’s economy moving.
Mahalo for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Aaron Rajic
Kihei Condo STR since 2011
Hawaiian Airlines Employee
928-533-1236 elpez930@hotmail.com
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Terri Abay-Abay and I have lived and worked in the West Maui community as a full-time resident for nearly 40 years. My spouse and extended family have lived in Hawaii and Maui for generations. We have always worked 2-3 jobs to reach our family's goals of home ownership, continued education and enjoying life in Maui. Some of us work in the hospitality field in various hotels, resorts, and small businesses, and we are really feeling the impacts of the drop in tourism. I wanted to share what this proposed phase-out of short-term rentals could mean for families like mine and the people we work with every day.
Most small businesses as in our community, depend on visitors who stay in short-term rentals. Many of them come back year after year, and they support local restaurants, shops, and tour companies — not just the big-name spots, but the mom-and-pop places that make Maui special. The Hotels do not promote small local businesses in the same way that many of the vacation rental condos do. If these rentals go away, I worry we’ll lose those repeat visitors, and with them, a huge part of what keeps us going.
This phase-out feels like it’s targeting the very people who are trying to make it here — local families doing their best to stay afloat. I understand there are concerns about housing, and I agree we need real solutions. What happened to the mandate that every new resort, as it was developed, was required to provide a certain percentage of workforce housing for that development? I don't believe the County enforced ANY of the timeshares that have been developed in West Maui to follow through on this mandate. I do believe that the Ritz Carlton Kapalua was the last resort to do so, because we lived in that housing (Poinciana Place Apts - now Maui Lani Terraces) for 10 years, which enabled our family to save enough money for a solid down payment to buy a home. Maui County has allowed the hotels and timeshares to oversaturate Maui, making it too crowded and not enough infrastructure to handle the huge amount of tourism the hotels and timeshares bring in.
We need the County to protect locals on every front — not just in housing, but in employment, education, services, and economic opportunity. We need a balanced approach, not one that removes critical sources of income and support. It does not make sense to enable Corporate America (hotels & timeshares) to control the majority of employment for local residents in West and South Maui.
Please, don’t move forward with this phase-out. Work with us. Listen to us. Let’s find a way that protects our jobs, preserves our communities, and helps Maui thrive.
Mahalo for your time and for listening to our stories.
Terri Abay-Abay
terriabay1@gmail.com
808-280-4296
Dear Chair, Vice Chair and committee members,
My name is Harvey Boyarsky, and I own a short-term rental property in Grand Champions. 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.
I've worked hard to be a responsible and community-oriented owner. I recommend local restaurants and tour guides in my welcome packages for my guests. I employ local service providers-cleaners, maintenance techs and landscapers- many of whom have become like family over the years. My guests often leave Maui saying that they felt more connected to the island because of the personal experience they had in my home.
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. We've faced huge maintenance costs, special assessments and massive increases after the fires. These aren't luxuries- they're costs that ensure the property remains safe, functional and appealing. STR income helps cover those costs while supporting local workers.
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 and holds STR owners to high standards, instead of phasing us out completely.
Again I wish to express my strong opposition to the proposed legislation.
Sincerely,
Harvey Boyarsky
Hello, I strongly opposed Bill 9. My family has owned a one bedroom condo in the Kahana area since 1986. Our condo has no mortgage and we just break even on the cost after renting as a STR. Between the HOA and Taxes we would need to rent the condo for over $4000 a month to just break even. That is not affordable housing. This condo has one parking spot and no storage and was never intended to be residential house.
Thank you for your consideration
Aloha
We write to express our profound opposition to Maui County’s proposed legislation which would prohibit short term rentals by owners of condos which fall on the Minatoya list. This concept is wrong on many counts.
#1 Honest, Ethical, Stable Government
In 2013, my wife and I, newly retired, contemplated finding a refuge from our harsh winters; a place where we could celebrate vacations with our children, and at that time, hoped for grandchildren. We are not wealthy, I am a retired public servant, and my wife a retired nurse. We did, however, have equity in our house, the product of rising property values, which have been experienced around the world. We knew that the only way to purchase a second home was to mortgage our primary residence. This purchase would be one of the biggest financial gambles of our married life. We did our homework.
We looked at many options. There was no question that other jurisdictions and countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, etc. offered far more property value for our dollar, but in the end, we were concerned about the stability and basic honesty of some local governments and their politicians. Ultimately, we decided to avoid the risk and focus on Maui. The additional cost of buying on Maui meant that our purchase would only work if we could rent out our condo on a short-term basis when we weren’t there.
We decided to purchase a condo in South Kihei, but before we purchased, we did more homework to ensure that short term rentals were permitted. We reviewed the prospectus for the then yet to be built Hale Kamaole condo complex. We reviewed the by-laws of the complex’s AOAO from inception to the current date. We reviewed various Maui County Council decisions. We noted that Maui’s property tax office classified our property as “Hotel/Resort”, even though it was on the Minatoya List. (This remained true for a number of years after purchase). It was clear from everything that we viewed that from the outset, our complex was built for vacation rentals, and had always operated as a complex for vacation rentals…with the full knowledge, acquiescence, and approval of Maui County Council.
Turns out that we were incorrect in thinking that Maui would guarantee honest, ethical, and stable government. Mayor Bissen’s motion to renege on previous Councils’ “codified” decisions is not only ill-considered, but should give anyone considering doing business, or investing in the County of Maui substantial doubt.
#2 Allegation that Vacation Rentals Replaced Accommodation Designed for Workers
This argument advanced by the mayor and supporters of his motion, particularly when considering the condominiums in Kihei and Wailea is just plain untrue. That this argument is used by those who know better, or ought, by virtue of their office, to know better, is disgraceful. In the absence of clear apartment zoning in the 1970’s, our Kihei complex was built for vacation rentals. Our unit has never housed a local worker, it has been used as a vacation rental for nearly 50 years…with the full knowledge of County Council(s).
#3 Our Vacation Rental Would Provide an Affordable Housing Option for a Local Resident
The AOAO fees for our condo are currently $1275. per month. In addition, we pay $2500 in special repair assessment and fees each month for a total of $3775 per month. Note that this is before insurance, taxes, electricity, and mortgage fees. Does anyone really think this would provide affordable accommodation?
#4 Vacation Rentals Create Unaffordability
Our property taxes, based on a property assessment which is wildly above any potential selling price, are currently $14,500 annually. Vacation rentals, although a tiny fraction of the number of households in Maui, pay a huge percentage of all property taxes on Maui and are the largest contributor to Maui’s Affordable Housing Fund. Maui Council continues to cut rates for resident homeowners at the expense of vacation rental homeowners. This is understandable, but begs the question as to how resident property owners will react to replacing the revenue and contributions if Council cuts off this source of revenue. Will they want to Council to cut programs or raise their taxes?
#5 Vacation Rental Owners Are “Investors”, And as Such, Should Be Prepared To Lose Their Investment.
Some politicians and advocacy leaders have stated that vacation rental owners are investors, and as such, should be prepared to lose their investments. First of all, what a unique approach to the concept of “aloha”! Is that the way they regard their own homes? We do not regard our condo as an investment; it is our home., We reside there for four months a year and treasure our community and our time spent there. In good times, our rental income barely covers our high expenses. We operated at a substantial loss last year, and this year will be worse. In any event, every single dime that we receive from our rentals is deposited to a bank in Kihei and is spent entirely in Maui. Can the hotels claim the same thing?
#6 Vacation Rentals are Ruining Maui’s Quality of Life.
We have a vested interest in helping to preserve the Maui, its lifestyle, and its people that attracted us to Maui in the first place. We are very careful to tread lightly, treating the land and people with respect. We instruct our guests, at length and in considerable detail, to do the same, to practice aloha and pono. We go to great lengths to buy local and support local businesses over big box stores. We are fanatical recyclers and we donate to local charities. We are happy to provide employment to property management staff, cleaners, landscapers, and all the other tradesmen who maintain and repair our aging complex. We love our local restaurants and provide our guests with a list of recommendations. Our guests don’t confine themselves to hotel grounds; they get out and spend their money in the community, where the money stays in Maui.
In conclusion, we recognize the very real pressures of housing supply and affordability. These are not unique to Maui; they are world wide. We grieve with the people of Lahaina. But Maui Council needs to replace the lost homes, it needs to build additional housing by removing barriers to building homes, to streamline permitting, to address the very real inequities in access to water. It needs to take positive action; not unfair, illogical, and financial ruinous action. Finally, Council needs to work to find ways to rebuild harmony between residents and visitors.
We urge Maui County Council to reject this motion to prohibit vacation rentals in condos on Minatoya list.
Chris and Sheila Vondette
Hale Kamaole #333
Aloha Chair Kama, Vice Chair U’u-Hodgins, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Jen Cox and I write In Support of Bill 9 to phase out short-term rentals in apartment-zoned districts. I have been a resident of Maui for about 14 years, and in that time, I have learned what a privilege it is to be a part of this community. I am disappointed and disturbed by the testifiers who oppose Bill 9 and are centering their own needs before the needs of the Maui County community at large.
I applaud the work of the many housing advocates like Maui Housing Hui who have done the work to prove why it is economically smart, ecologically sound, and culturally imperative for Bill 9 to pass.
Please make it possible for these existing housing units to serve our full-time community members who breathe life into Maui County. It takes much more than dollars alone to build a thriving, resilient community, and the people dedicated to increasing our collective quality of life need to be prioritized in this moment. Converting short-term rentals to long-term housing is a step in that direction.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jen Cox
Haiku 96708
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Matthew Miller, and my wife and I own a short term rental property in Honokowai. I am writing today to express my strong opposition to the proposed phase out of over 7,000 short term rentals on Maui.
We have owned our property for 15 years, purchasing for the sole purpose of creating a home away from home for not only our family, but vacationing families, in the most beautiful place on Earth. We quickly became one with the community, embracing the local people and their culture. We share this feeling of being one with the community with every guest at our property, which helps them have a deeper experience while visiting.
Because of this connection with the community, we solely give our business to the locally owned businesses. From restaurants to stores, cleaners to construction, we want to put money into the pockets of the local families. The recommendations we give to all of our visitors is to the locally owned restaurants, shops, and tours.
Owning in our small oceanfront complex for these last 15 years has been wonderful, but certainly not easy. The extremely high cost of monthly maintenance, large costs of 3 separate assessments for building structural work, and now huge insurance costs have made the short term rental income necessary for offsetting these costs. None of these costs are luxury items, they are purely necessities for safety and upkeep.
We employ several locals that rely on buildings like ours to make a living. Our cleaner, landscapers, and handyman are all reliant on accounts just like ours, in buildings like ours. We strongly support these people and very much want to continue to employ them, though that is only possible because of our short term rental status.
I urge you to rethink this legislation and come up with a better path forward, such as by committing to building new affordable housing. This legislation, as stated by the UHERO study, will cause increased unemployment for the locals and diminish much needed tax revenue for the county and median income for the locals. I strongly urge you to oppose this legislation.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Matthew Miller
Attn: Maui Planning Commission
Re: Opposition to Bill 9, Proposed Short-Term Rental (STR) Ban
We respectfully urge you to reconsider the proposal to eliminate legal short-term rental (STR) units in Maui County. This measure, though well-intentioned, would result in a cascade of unintended consequences that would severely harm the local economy, displace countless jobs, and significantly reduce county tax revenues.
As STR owners, we directly employ a local onsite manager, housekeepers, and a handyman. We frequently engage Maui-based professionals such as plumbers, HVAC technicians, and general contractors for maintenance and upgrades. We’ve invested heavily in local businesses including Hamai Appliance, HomeWorld Furniture, Ace Hardware, and Sherwin Williams Paint. This level of economic activity would not occur if our unit were converted to a long-term rental. In that case, we would instead reserve it for limited personal use by family and friends — not for permanent housing.
The broader impact on the community would be severe. Many residents in Kihei and throughout Maui rely on STR-related tourism to support their livelihoods — including workers in restaurants, grocery stores, and service industries. It is a misconception to believe that STR guests will simply transition to hotels. These visitors often specifically choose STRs for their affordability, amenities, and neighborhood feel. If STRs are eliminated, many of these tourists will simply stop coming to Maui, diverting their spending to other destinations.
There are also major fiscal implications. In 2023 alone, we paid over $11,500 in General Excise and Transient Accommodations Taxes (GET/TAT), and over $17,000 in property taxes. If STRs are banned, these revenues will vanish almost overnight, with STR property values already declining in anticipation. This would result in a substantial loss of both current and future revenue for the county.
Our building, Hale Kai O’Kihei, was specifically designed and constructed for STR use in 1969–1970 and has operated legally as such for over five decades. Its zoning designation permits both long- and short-term residential use, and this historical legal use cannot be revoked. In fact, under Section 2.2.25, Hale Kai O’Kihei is presumed not to be suitable for long-term residential occupancy, reinforcing its appropriate and intended STR use.
Furthermore, many of these units are simply not viable as full-time residences due to high ownership costs — including nearly $1,000/month in HOA dues and rising insurance expenses. If STRs are banned, we would simply convert the unit to occasional personal use for family and friends, which is what most owners plan to do these units. They will not transition to local housing but will instead sit underused or vacant, contributing neither to housing availability nor the tourist dependent economy.
For the sake of Maui’s working families, small businesses, and fiscal health, we urge you to reject this proposal. It will not achieve its intended goals and will only inflict unnecessary damage to our community.
Fred & Pam Green
Unit #205, Hale Kai O’Kihei
Fredgreen425@gmail.com
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Members,
My name is Shaun Sullivan, and I have owned a short-term rental property in Maui County for 8 years. After long discussions with locals working at my resort, discussions with local restaurant and shop owners, I am writing today to express my deep concern and strongly OPPOSE the (proposed) legislation to phase out more than 7,000 vacation rentals.
I feel deeply for those who lost their lives and those who lost their homes in the Lahaina fire. It was terrible. And as in many crisis events throughout America, the local and federal government are huge supports in help the victims of natural disasters. It is almost never other land owners. I believe this legislation will not solve the housing problem, and will create an economic disaster with huge losses of tax revenue, businesses and jobs that will impact maui for decades to come. Once an area of the world adopts and succeeds in a tourist economy, it is very difficult if not impossible to change from a tourist economy, and economy that Maui government planned supported for decades.
I LOVE MAUI and hope one day to live there. As you know, purchasing a condo in Maui is very expensive.The purchase price went entirely to a local…the family that originally established Kamaole Sands. My $10,000 or more in property taxes (for a square footage of 818 ft2) go directly to Maui. I “profit” very little if at all each year, because of the high taxes everywhere you turn. Please use these for those homeless and displaced!
Most importantly, I would love to see real solutions for the homeless and displaced. The government could use the massive tax base to build low income housing. Condos are not long term family dwellings. Continue to tax condo owners and tourists….the combination of taxes that I pay and tourists pay are huge…the combined TAT, GET, County surcharge, and upcoming green fee all add up to an enormous maui county income. Please use this to house our local friends!!!
I’ve worked hard to be a responsible and community-oriented owner. I recommend local restaurants and tour guides in my welcome guide. Every time I go to maui, I spend a lot of money and am happy doing so. I LOVE MAUI! I employ local service providers — cleaners, maintenance techs, and landscapers — many of whom have become like family over the years. My guests often leave Maui saying they felt more connected to the island because of the personal experience they had in my home.
My guests and family often say they wouldn’t have come at all if they didn’t have a vacation rental option that was somewhat affordable. Almost none of them can afford a hotel…owned by large multinational companies that DO take a lot of money out of maui. They love supporting restaurants, small businesses, contractors that have remodeled my condo (Locals!), snorkeling companies, grocery stores, etc.
Owning in this complex has not been easy. We’ve faced huge maintenance costs, special assessments, and massive increases in insurance after the fires. These aren’t luxuries — they’re costs that ensure the property remains safe, functional, and appealing. STR income helps cover those costs while supporting local workers. And nearly 100% of this money spent STAYS IN MAUI!
Please, for the sake of Maui, OPPOSE this legislation and look for other reasonable solutions for those in need.
Thank you and Good Luck for all your work! I know this is a tender issue!
Shaun Sullivan, MD
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair Uʻu-Hodgins and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
I am writing to oppose Bill 9.. I understand the need for more affordable housing for Maui residents, but Bill 9 is not a good way to achieve that goal, as it will do a lot of harm to Maui residents.
I have owned a beachfront condo in Kihei since 2014. I purchased the condo after renting it for a month every year from 2003 - 2013. I use the condo myself about two months a year, and rent it to short-term guests the rest of the time.
Eliminating the Minatoya STR's will cause serious economic harm to Maui and Maui residents. I think you already have plenty of reliable information (statistics, testimony, the UHERO analysis, etc.) showing how the loss of so much property tax and transient accommodation tax revenue will necessitate major cuts in the services that Maui County can provide to residents.
If I can no longer rent my condo to guests, I will not need to employ a housekeeper to regularly clean my condo. I will not need to employ a handyman to regularly repair and maintain the condo, as having rental guests creates most of the need for the handyman's services. Nor will I need to clean and replace the carpeting as often, or buy many of the goods and services from other Maui residents who now do the work necessary to support a short-term rental operation.
I have had the good fortune of renting my condo to the same guests year-after-year for many years. Almost all of those long-term guests reported to me that they will not come to Maui if I can no longer rent them my condo. They have no interest in staying in a hotel. Assuming that many other people who currently rent STR's feel the same way, Maui will lose a tremendous number of tourists. Losing so many tourists will cause tremendous harm to those Maui residents and Maui businesses that rely on short-term rental tourists coming to Maui and spending money.
As you already know, very few of the properties on the Minatoya list were built for long-term resident housing. Like my condo, most were built specifically with short-term tourist rentals in mind. My 2-bedroom/2-bath condo has only one parking space. My building has NO other parking available for residents or guests, nor is there available street parking as we are on South Kihei Road. Nor does my condo have any meaningful storage that a typical long-term renter would need. In addition, the property taxes, HOA fee, utilities and insurance on my condo currently exceed $5,000 per month - not including any mortgage payment. I don't know if many Maui residents would want to pay $5,000/month in rent for a small 2-bdroom/2-bath condo with only one parking space.
Moreover, if I am no longer able to rent my condo to tourist guests, I do not plan on offering the condo to long-term Maui resident renters. I will simply absorb the huge economic losses, and will use the condo more for myself and for my family and friends. Using the condo myself will lower my property taxes, eliminate the need to pay the general excise and transient accommodation taxes, as well as eliminate the need to hire Maui residents to provide the services needed to support a short-term rental.
So, eliminating my ability to rent my condo will not add to Maui's housing stock, but will cause Maui residents to lose work and income, will force a reduction in the services that Maui County can provide to residents, and will reduce the number of tourists visiting Maui. So, in my case, Bill 9 will cause many negative economic consequences for Maui and Maui residents, with no increase in housing. Not a good trade-off.
For the foregoing reasons, I urge you to reject Bill 9 as presently written. There are many other more effective ways to create suitable affordable housing for Maui residents without causing so much harm to those same Maui residents.
Mahalo for your time and service to Maui.
Respectfully,
Brian G. Roskam
Community and culture are what make Maui truly special.
Yes, the island is breathtaking, but its mana, its life force, lives not in resorts, but in our neighborhoods. Yet these very neighborhoods are being dismantled by a housing crisis driven by profit, not need.
This crisis isn’t just about the lack of affordable homes, it’s about the slow erosion of Maui’s soul. It's about the displacement of the very people who are this place: the families, the workers, the kūpuna, and keiki who make Maui home.
We need to live where we work, shop, eat, and raise our children. We need communities, not commodities.The unchecked spread of short-term rentals makes this harder every day.
The people that call Maui home, myself included, have watched neighborhoods disappear; house by house, street by street. Homes that once held local families now sit empty most of the year, occupied by tourists who come and go, while the people who make this island what it is are forced to leave.
This isn’t sustainable.
Short-term rentals have turned our housing into investments instead of shelter. They’ve priced out teachers, nurses, kūpuna, and young families trying to stay rooted here. Getting rid of short-term rentals isn’t about turning away visitors—it’s about making sure there’s still a Maui for them to visit. A Maui with real communities, not just vacation properties.
If we want to preserve Maui’s culture, its people, and way of life, we must take a stand.
Maui is not a commodity—it’s a home. And homes should be for people who live in them.
Aloha Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9 (2025). This bill would eliminate long-standing, legally operating short-term rentals—including timeshare usage—that have contributed positively to Maui’s economy and community for decades.
However, I do appreciate the amendment in the current draft (CD1) that exempts validly existing timeshare units and timeshare plans from the phase-out. If the Council moves forward with Bill 9, I urge you to retain this exemption as a minimum safeguard to prevent serious harm to owners, workers, and the local economy.
My husband and I are timeshare owners at the Kuleana Club. Like hundreds of others, We are blessed to own 2 weeks per year—not a second home, not an investment property. My husband and I return regularly(during COVID we did not as we were asked not to visit until Maui was ready & then with the 2023 fires even though we could have visited - we choose instead to donate our place to a family in need of a place to stay) we support local restaurants, spend at neighborhood shops, we take part in beach cleanups, & always spend time giving back to Maui while we are there.Timeshare owners like us are part of a stable community of repeat visitors who care deeply about Maui’s well-being.
Timeshare properties are fundamentally different from vacation rentals. Units are deeded one week at a time to hundreds of families, which makes them impossible to convert to long-term housing. Including timeshares in a short-term rental ban would not create housing—but it would devastate workers and remove a reliable source of local tax revenue. Properties like Kuleana Club operate legally under Maui County Code 19.37.010, and are fully compliant with TAT and GET tax regulations. Our occupancy rates are high, and our owners consistently contribute to the island’s economy, even in difficult times.
More importantly, timeshares support stable jobs. Many employees at the Kuleana Club have been with the property for over 25 years. Several lost their homes in the Lahaina fire. If timeshare usage is eliminated, these long-standing staff members risk losing the only thing they have left—their livelihood.
Timeshare owners and resorts have also stepped up in times of crisis. The industry has contributed millions to wildfire recovery and donated thousands of room nights to displaced families and first responders. That commitment continues today.
In summary:
I urge you to oppose Bill 9 entirely.
But if it passes, please retain the CD1 amendment exempting timeshares.
Timeshares are not TVRs.
This exemption is a fair, balanced, and lawful solution that protects jobs, housing neutrality, and tax revenue—without compromising the County’s broader goals.
Mahalo for your time, your service, and for considering the perspective of owners like me.
Kuleana Club Timeshare Owner – Unit 509
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.
Hello Committee Members,
We are Julie Funke & Jay Goklani and we live in Ferndale, Michigan. We own a condo at Wavecrest Resort on Molokai. We are writing in opposition of the phase-out of short-term rentals in Maui County. Our short-term rental contributes to the local economy of Molokai by our management company hiring local folks & businesses to manage cleaning, pest control & maintenance on the property. We are also committed to Molokai's economy by encouraging our renters to use local Hawaiian-owned businesses for car rentals & tours, to visit the weekly farmer's markets, farms, small businesses & restaurants. Our property is also a key short-term rental for folks visiting friends & family as there are very limited short-term rental options on the island. We have also understood there not a significant market for condo longer term rentals on Molokai.
For these important community reasons, we would respectfully ask that the committee reconsider this measure and seek an alternative solution.
Thank you for your service and giving us this opportunity to express our opposition to this measure.
Take care,
Julie & Jay
Dear Chair Kama, Vice Chair U’u-Hodgins, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee:
We oppose Bill 9 as drafted and propose that the Council amend the Bill to exclude Papakea Oceanfront Resort, which the County has historically identified as having A2-H2 zoning. As I’m sure you’ve already reviewed from other Papakea owners’ submissions, before any zoning restrictions limited transient vacation rentals in apartment zoned properties, Papakea was initially marketed and sold as a legal vacation rental property. Papakea owners have been operating legal vacation rentals for almost 50 years.
Additionally, Papakea has never been workforce housing, therefore, is not an example of a property that converted from workforce housing to transient vacation rental use. It 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. The majority of units at Papakea are under 600 square feet and the property has limited parking.
Unlike apartment buildings designed for long-term residential use, Papakea has a front desk, an activity concierge, shared activity space, and numerous other common resort amenities.
Owners at Papakea purchased condos 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 rights offensive of each buyer’s investment-backed expectations.
Papakea’s contributions to the Community include providing full-time, benefited employment for 35 local resident employees; some having 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 OWNERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY through using many small businesses owned and operated by local residents from the Maui community that rely on Papakea short-term rentals including housekeepers, handymen, on-island agents, and contractors. These service providers set their own rates and work hours, select their own clients, work conditions and standard operating procedures. Shutting down short-term rentals at Papakea means telling local entrepreneurs that have worked hard to build a small business that they need to find 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 and cultural efforts.
We would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
Stephanie and Randy Schwartz
3543 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Apartment K307
I strongly oppose proposed Bill 9. This is not a fix for our affordable housing issue and will surely create overpriced rentals and cause issues with the rental market. It will 100% not create homes that locals can afford to purchase. The local govt needs to step in and use some of the STR funds to supplement homes purchased by on-island residents. The MCTA tax alone brings in $60-$80 million. The county should work at creating a means of getting a portion of the TA tax allocated back to Maui to help with supplementing housing.
The real issue is proper jobs that pay a living wage in our economy. The average cleaner makes 6 figures and is able to create their own schedule and hours, allowing for less need for costly childcare.
-It has been noted by many reports that the average family needs to make at least $80K-$120K to afford basic living necessities.
*The average entry level job posted online with Maui.gov pays $41K-$70K. Entry level teacher jobs offer $45-$50K with experienced teachers making $75K.
*Entry level medical jobs at the hospital or clinic pays a measly $29K-$45K. That’s $1933/mo- $3K/mo.
**Our local council just received raises. The mayor was approved for a 54% raise from $160K-$245K. Council raises ranged from 23%-39% to be paid between $101K-$240K. Our state minimum wage is currently $14/hr amounting to $29,120 per year (after taxes that would be right around $2K per month). Could any of you imagine living on $2K/month just for your food costs, let alone housing, gas and child care. Even if you doubled that with 2 parents working, it’s still only $4K/month.
The jump to $16 will make that a whopping $33,280/year. Use the TA tax or STR property tax to offset housing costs for low-income folks to be able to better afford housing for those who cannot qualify for HUD, plus, there is not enough HUD housing either.
-Diversify the economy first!! You don’t quit a job and have nothing else planned. We are not New York, we are not Spain and we are not even Oahu. They all have diverse economies with multiple industries that create jobs and income and tax dollars. We have depended on tourism for decades now. Our government needs to find ways to attract other companies and industries to come to Maui. Tech and remote jobs, renewable energy, medical research and healthcare and industrial like Amazon.
-Our local council and government representatives need to take responsibility for the lack of livable wages and then tackle proper affordable housing. QUIT putting this on everyone else to fix. It is not STR owners who need to go bankrupt or suffer foreclosure to create some sort of non-preferred housing. They bought their Maui condos honestly and with hard earned money. They didn’t steal them, they didn’t take them from a local. They should not be made to pay and ruin their futures and finances to fix a serious govt problem.
-What is the point of having a place to rent if you don’t have a job to pay for it? Removing any number of STR units will remove thousands of jobs. Each unit accounts for 1.4 employed people. Most are cleaners, many of which are moms who cannot work a 9-5 due to lack of affordable regular childcare. Plus, they are proud business owners who enjoy what they do and employ other people and often show them the ropes in order to possibly have their own business.
-Once economic diversification is underway, then look at the STR issue and do it fairly and legally. If you want to decrease the # of STR’s. make them non-rentable at time of sale. Still not totally fair as the value of the home will decrease but at least the owner can use it for its highest and best use from when they purchased while they own it.
-Other jobs lost would be management managers, hourly employees who check condos and do guest services, reservationists, accountants, tax practitioners, maintenance men, AC vendors. Shoot, hotel guests don’t stop at Costco on their way in. The loss of revenue there would likely decrease hours for those employees as well. Then the food trucks across from Costco would be less busy. It is all connected.
-Lost tax $$! TA/MCTA taxes and STR property tax $. Huge losses that will have to be made up by residential home owners and/or increased GE for all.
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-Social Media Posts showing how you can make 100s of thousands of dollars on STR. Those are geared toward low cost areas like Tennessee and Virginia, not Hawaii.
- These are not greedy investors. Of the 250 units that I help manage, only 4 were investors who rarely used the unit.
-Majority of owners are folks who love Maui but can not live here full time. All try and come out for at least a week but many for 1-3 months every year. And they spend money on daily needs but also on updates and remodels. Majority have friends and family visit and stay as well.
-Costs of ownership are huge. These are not greedy people. The average 2 bedroom STR is at or over $1 mil. Mortgage on 1 mil is $6K+per month. Add AOAO dues (avg $1,200/mo), insurance (1,200) and taxes (13,000). Average 2 bedroom long term rental rate is between $2800-$3800. $6k+2,300= 8,300. That’s $4,500 short at the highest rate.
-There are currently over 120 units for rent on Zillow in Kihei (16+ on for 60-144 days) and 33 (6 from 59-169 days) units in Lahaina between $1850-$4500. These are not renting quickly or at all and similar STR units would be priced at least $2K more than these to cover basic monthly costs.
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-STR visitors love having a kitchen and buy groceries. They dine out, they rent beach equipment, they buy souvenirs at local shops.
-The Hotels main goal is to do everything to keep guests on campus. They rotate store inventory every few days, they change menus and the concierges work to keep them in house for meals.
-Hotels do not have kitchens and are not affordable for families of 4 or more. Hotel rates limit who can come here and afford to enjoy the island. It shouldn’t just be for the wealthy.
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-How practical is living in an STR? I lived in an STR rentable complex for 8 years, due to lack of better/affordable options, it was miserable. Tiny kitchens, no storage, no linen closets, no board or beach gear storage, no yards, usually only 1 parking space, usually no pets or rarely, one small pet allowed. STRs are all furnished so local families can not settle in and make their rental their own home.
-There has been a lack of affordable housing for over 40 years. The council plans to phase these STR’s out to become high cost, long-term units and pass them to the community as a sort of easy hand out. It feels like it will be a “what more do you want us to do? We gave you 100s of places. Be grateful”
-The govt needs to focus on and create actual affordable HOMES, with yards and parking and maybe even price points that locals could afford to buy. Stop allowing builders to pay their way out of the requirement to have a certain amount of the build be affordable. Use those funds builders have already paid into the affordable housing fund to help create affordable homes and/or help subsidize new builds to add these affordable homes to current projects.
-Reevaluate the permitting process. It should not take years, which causes the cost of many builds to rise by the time they can finally break ground.
Aloha Committee Members: My name is Rick Wood. My wife and I have owned a STR property in the Kapalua Resort for 25 years. My wife and I oppose the proposed Bill to phase out vacation rentals, and we request that the Kapalua Resort be exempted from the prohibition of vacation rentals on Maui.
As a former Mayor and long-time resident of the Town of Mammoth Lakes, a mountain resort located at 8000 feet elevation in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains of California, I am acutely aware of the complex issues related to the availability of workforce housing in our community, which is surrounded on all sides by undevelopable U.S. Forest Service lands. At the same time, I am aware of the need to protect local jobs and promote the local tourist economy by permitting STRs in nearly all areas of our town.
The Lahaina fire tragedy requires thoughtful solutions to the Maui housing crisis. Ownership of property in the Kapalua Resort is extraordinarily expensive to manage, given huge increases in maintenance costs, insurance, and special assessments. It was not intended to serve as workforce housing when it was developed decades ago.
The passage of the Bill without specific areas of exemption will inevitably result in the loss of income, jobs and homes, and ultimately force Maui residents to leave the island. I am hopeful that the effect of a ban will include exemptions that will bolster the economy while addressing the financial needs of Maui's workforce.
Please exclude the Kapalua Resort from the proposed STR ban.
Mahalo.
Rick and Cheryl Wood
I strongly oppose Bill 9, even with its revisions. Why is the County ignoring the results of the UHERO report? This Bill will directly cost the county money in lost transient tax and lower property taxes. The shortfall of these losses will be put on the shoulders of other property owners as we see increased property taxes. We will also see hundreds of jobs lost in the short-term rental-related businesses of property management, housekeeping, and more. The people of this county are struggling post-fire, with the significant drop in tourism hurting so many businesses, the trauma of our residents, the increased costs of property insurance, the increased costs of everyday goods, and the increased property taxes - we need relief - not taking away property owner rights. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS. The majority of the condo buildings on the Minatoya list have incredibly high AOAO monthly fees - some higher than rent for some people. Add the AOAO to the actual rent and utilities, these properties will be out of reach for the many people struggling with housing. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS. The County needs to fast-track the affordable housing developments that have been in the pipeline for decades. The County's failure to keep up with affordable housing projects should not become the responsibility of tax-paying property owners.