I wish to oppose this bill as it is so apparent that it is being driven by the hotel industry and tagging this clueless mayor and that morally corrupt Lahaina Strong group. Money collected by these hotels do not stay in the island, the workers who work in these hotels are similar to slavery, yet this mayor is trying to entice visitors to come and stay in these same hotels. These hotels can afford to not even make their nightly rates reasonable, and their guests do not support local businesses.
Aloha! O Michael ko'u inoa! Ke ku'e loa aha au i keia pila hewa! E ho'onohoho a e ho'oma'ema'e o ka'u hana no mau lumi. Ina paha ho'ole oukou i ka STR status, a'ohe komo in na mea kipa a e naliwale ana o ko'u pa'oihana!
How about we keep the 10 vacation rentals that are rated 4.8 or higher by guests because they truly offer the aloha spirit. The others who just collect money without sharing enough aloha to get the high ratings can stop failing to share aloha
Mahalo for reading our testimony. I am a tradesperson (specifically plumbing) working for a maintenance company that offers repairs on plumbing and electricity to 7 resort complexes in the west side. Taking these units to LTR will not solve the housing problem and most of these units are really unaffordable to rent. Better to use what they pay in property tax to build more housing, which the county should've done years ago.
Subject: Opposition to Bill 9 – We Need Real Solutions, Not Misguided Ones
Aloha,
I’m writing to express my deep concern and opposition to Bill 9. While I agree that there is a serious housing crisis on Maui, this bill presents a solution that is both financially unrealistic and socially divisive.
The idea that converting 7,000 vacation rental properties into long-term housing will solve the affordability crisis is flawed. Maui’s cost of living is extremely high. Many local families—myself included—have found ways to make ends meet by responsibly participating in the visitor economy, including vacation rentals. This income has allowed us to stay here, support our families, and contribute to the community.
I’m curious: what is the real, long-term plan beyond phasing out vacation rentals? Are we truly expecting local families to purchase million-dollar condos? Even if property values drop by half, how will families who struggle to afford $2,000 in rent suddenly be able to buy and maintain these homes? Between mortgage payments and high HOA or maintenance fees, ownership is simply out of reach for many.
The crisis is real. No one wants to see Hawaiians displaced or priced off their ancestral land. But Bill 9 doesn’t solve that—it only offers the illusion of a fix, wrapped in emotionally charged rhetoric. It pits neighbor against neighbor, creating tension rather than addressing the systemic economic challenges we face.
We need thoughtful, data-backed solutions that support local families without eliminating viable livelihoods for others. Let’s focus on building truly affordable housing, improving wages, and curbing speculative investment—not dismantling a sector that many rely on to survive.
I am a full-time resident of Lahaina. I have lived in Hawai‘i for over 30 years, raised my children here, and owned and operated a local salon for 25 years until I lost it in the Lahaina fire. I am writing to express my strong opposition to HLU-Bill 9, which proposes phasing out short-term rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned areas.
I understand and share your concern about the housing shortage and the high cost of living These are serious issues that must be addressed. However, this bill will have unintended consequences that will further hurt local small businesses and working families who are still struggling, especially in the wake of the fire.
Many of us in the business community are barely holding on. STRs help support cleaners, property managers, tradespeople, and others who live and spend their earnings here on island. In contrast, hotel profits often leave the island, and we’ve already seen what happened in places like New York City: similar STR crackdowns failed to create affordable housing and only hurt small operators.
If this bill would truly free up affordable housing for local families, I would support it. But that’s not what we’re seeing. The condos targeted by this bill have already dropped in price, yet local buyers are not purchasing them. Why? Because these units come with extremely high costs, special assessments for aging buildings, soaring insurance rates, and steep maintenance fees. They're simply not realistic or accessible options for the average working family.
I'm sorry, but this bill seems to be driven more by emotion than logic. The housing crisis is real but punishing local residents and small business owners is not the answer.
Please reconsider the wide-reaching and long-term effects this bill will have on our community.
Aloha, my name is David and I live in Kihei. My mau makua bought a small studio in West Maui in hopes to help with their income since my mother has not worked due to health issues. When my father passed away, it was that STR unit that was supporting my mother. The studio is in a resort complex that is zoned both A2 & H2.
I implore the council to vote this bill down as it this will NOT help bring affordable housing. The HOA on that small studio alone is already over $1200 a month. If you were to include utilities, taxes and insurance, that's over $2,000 a month! Even we cannot afford to stay there.
I’m just not sure how the state can support the monopolization of homes owned by non-residents. I believed that the concept of monopolization is generally frowned upon, if not outright illegal. I would describe a singular person or even a company, owning more than the amount of housing needed to house the individuals, at such a scale could be called a monopoly and one that hurts those around it. The displacement of Native Hawaiians and then locals at the hands of these STR owners, their effect on the housing market, and how biased their practices can be seem to be directly linked to the housing problem in Hawai’i. There are people who still have not found permanent housing after the tragedy of Lahaina, yet non-residents, some I’d assume may not even be citizens of the US are allowed to hold multiple properties to rent out, from what we’ve heard, at subpar and dangerous conditions in the short term to random tenants instead of our own residents struggling to survive? I fail to see the morality of it all. I support this bill fully and believe that the properties should be liquidated and redistributed with actual consideration.
I humbly request all of you to please oppose this bill. Everyone needs to understand that there are also Locals who have worked hard and dedicated their lives in the STR business such as housekeepers, maintenance workers, even STR owners themselves for many years. Not everyone is a faceless corporation and this bill has caused a great divide. Why must more people get harmed? What will prevent more outsiders from purchasing these homes at an even lower price? Are some people not "local" enough because of their skin color? A few locals I know in the STR business have kids too that learned the culture and dedicated their lives on the island. Councilmembers I please urge you to do what is right as human beings. Please come up with a better solution for all.
Native Hawaiians deserve to be honored first and foremost in their ancestral lands. Tourism should always come after Native Hawaiian’s rights to land-use and responsibility.
This bill is a necessary to begin addressing the housing crisis that continues to displace Hawaiian and local families from communities that they call home. This bill is not anti-tourism, it is pro-community.
Have you done any studies or asked any property owners what they would do with their STR unit if the ban is passed? Are you confident that all those units will be suddenly available and affordable prices? How can you look your Ohana in the face and really believe that.
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Kekuawela Burgess Tauala. I am from Waiʻanae, Oʻahu. Though I do not reside on Maui, my ancestral roots are grounded in Ulupalakua and Lahaina. My kuleana as a Kānaka Maoli is to protect and advocate for my lāhui. Whether it be the Lāhui Hawaiʻi (Native Hawaiian community) or our local community. I strongly support Bill 9.
This bill is a necessary step toward addressing the housing crisis that continues to displace Hawaiian and local families from communities that they call home. This bill is not anti-tourism, it is pro-community.
I urge the Council to pass Bill 9 and to put our people first. We must make this a turning point where reclaim housing for residents and invest in the long-term health and wellbeing of Maui residents.
My name is Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. I’m from Nuʻuanu Valley on the island of Oʻahu and currently reside in San Diego.
At first glance, you may be wondering what this Oʻahu girl is doing testifying on a Maui issue—especially one that doesn’t directly pertain to her. And I get it. Like many kānaka in the diaspora, I now live far from the islands that raised me. But my connection to Maui runs deep.
During the devastating wildfires, I witnessed firsthand the compounding trauma caused not just by the flames, but by the housing crisis that followed. I did what I could from afar to support emergency relief efforts, but what became undeniably clear to me was this: the crisis in Maui’s housing isn’t simply a byproduct of natural disaster—it is a result of long-standing systems of displacement tied inseparably to settler colonialism.
As I continued to learn, I discovered that my own moʻokūʻauhau traces back to East Maui—from Haʻikū through Hāna. That discovery shifted everything for me. I realized I DO have a kuleana to this ʻāina—one that runs deeper than any vacation home owner or transplant resident who disguises their land acquisition under the justifications of “It’s my right”, “I employ people”, “Maui won’t survive without tourism”, or “I worked hard to retire there.”
And you, members of this Committee, carry kuleana too. Not to profit. Not to those who see Hawaiʻi as a commodity. But to the people of this land—YOUR people—who deserve protection, housing, and the ability to remain in their ancestral home. That kuleana must outweigh any allegiance to wealth or outside interests.
For these reasons, I strongly support Bill 9. It is a necessary and long overdue step to protect our lāhui and ensure that our people—not investors—are prioritized.
My name is Hunter Betts. I am a retired US Coast Guard veteran and have proudly called Maui home for over 20 years. My family and I have raised our children here, and we have built our lives as part of this community. I am writing to urge you to oppose Bill Number Nine, which I believe will have severe unintended consequences for local families and businesses like mine.
I own South Maui Fish Company, a small food truck that is committed to sustainable fishing and supporting our community. Our business employs nine local residents, and we work closely with many local fishermen, boat captains, a social media specialist, and a bookkeeping company. Nearly 80% of our income comes from tourism. If tourism is restricted or discouraged, our business—and the many families who rely on us—will not survive.
We have already faced enormous challenges in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we took out a $100,000 SBA loan just to keep our doors open and to ensure that our employees continued to receive health insurance and paychecks. We did not receive any bailouts beyond this, and the financial strain was immense. Then the fires struck, and the message to visitors was to stay away from Maui. We lost months of income and are still struggling to recover from these back-to-back disasters.
On top of these challenges, the housing crisis has hit us hard. Two of our full-time employees have been forced to leave Maui because they could no longer afford to live here. After 10 years of renting, my own family was threatened illegally by our landlord to either pay more to buy our home or move out. These are not isolated stories—they are the reality for many working families on this island. In all of the cases above each of these property owners were long time Maui residents. Not mainland owners. They were people who didn’t pass along the Aloha we need to see more in our community.
When the fires struck Maui, I didn’t hesitate—we launched the fishing boat and immediately went over to Lahaina. With my background and experience, I was able to assist in any way possible, delivering goods and providing services, as well as helping people who needed to evacuate. Our house became a hub for goods and we raised over $35,000.00 for non-profits and purchased items for our schools here to accommodate for the West Side Keiki. For the many months that followed my wife facilitated truckloads of items for the West Side fire victims. I did this not for recognition, but because we consider Maui our home and our community our family.
We are deeply invested in this island’s future. Our hope is that Maui remains a place where our children can grow up safely, surrounded by a caring community, and have the opportunity to thrive as young adults. We want them to be able to build their own lives here, just as we have, and to give back to this special place we all call home.
If Bill Number Nine passes, it will only make things worse. Small, local businesses like ours will not survive another blow. Our employees and subcontractors represent many local families who depend on us for their livelihoods. There will be no more loans or bailouts—just lost jobs and shuttered businesses.
We all want a sustainable future for Maui, but we must find solutions that support both our environment and our people. I urge you to consider the real-life impacts of this bill on local families and businesses. Please do not take away the lifeline that so many of us depend on.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Hunter Betts
Business Owner, retired Veteran, Father and Husband.
South Maui Fish Company
I strongly support Bill 9 as an important step towards meeting the long-term housing needs of many Maui residents. The conversion of short-term rental units to long term housing may not be the right solution for all people in need of housing on Maui, but it will certainly provide welcome relief for many.
It is also important to note that this bill as written will withstand legal and constitutional scrutiny. Unlike Measure T, which in March 2024 was declared unconstitutional in South Lake Tahoe, California, Bill 9 does not create economic discrimination between classes of people since as written it does not allow any exceptions to the ban on short-term rentals, and it should certainly not be amended to do so.
Moreover, there should not be other exceptions written into the bill for certain types of housing and not others. Finally, the implementation of this bill should not be delayed! As stated by the Mayor, we are facing an urgent housing crisis on Maui, and delaying the implementation will not help the many families who have been waiting for far too long to have their long-term housing needs met.
While listening to the supporters of this bill, I notice they are all extremely angry or emotional for good reason! The loss of industry and the lack of building affordable housing for decades would make anyone angry. While I feel for my community members we have to realize this will hurt more than help. The STR owners will quickly file for an injunction and this will likely die in court, between now and 5 years. If the mayor needs 500 homes as he stated or 2000 he stated used to be Workforce housing then, lets send it back with amendments identifying these properties. I used to be an onsite manager for Honokowai Palms, that property was workforce housing while the Sheraton was being built. You can identify properties that were specifically built for workforce housing like Honokowai Palms, and easily convert them away from TVR. This would significantly reduce the strength of the lawsuit because there wouldn't be backing from Airbnb etc. and larger complexes. Lets look for win - wins
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Wailea Ekahi, I am happy to present this testimony requesting that Wailea Ekahi be excluded from the proposed Bill as suggested by the Planning Commission. My testimony is in addition to that presented via email on June 7, 2025.
Wailea Ekahi, developed in three Phases (TMK 21008064, 21008060, 21008065) and legally merged as each Phase was completed, include the following characteristics as defined in each project’s Land Use Declaration Form and Horizontal Property Regimes (Condominium)Public Report:
• Designated as planned Development (PD)
• Multiple Community Planning designations including Multi-Family Residential, Open Space, PUD
• County Zoning Apartment, Business Resort, Open Space, Active Open Space, Hotel, PUD
• An identical Purpose of Buildings and Restrictions As To Use—“…residential properties hereinabove described shall be at all times used as permanent or temporary residences or as hotel rooms and for no other purpose.”
The Merger Documents, first between Phase I and Phase II, and subsequently between Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III further define the solidity which binds the entire Wailea Ekahi property. For instance, from the Phase I and Phase II merger document:
“Whereas, upon development of Phase II, in one or more increments, the filing of one or more Declarations of Horizontal Property Regime and Bylaws for Phase II, substantially identical to Phase I Declarations except for the project description (said Declarations of Horizontal Property Regime and Bylaws hereinafter called the Phase II Declaration), and fulfillment or other conditions, it is the desire and intention of Owner that the entire Property shall be controlled and administered as a single condominium project.”
At the time of the merger between Phases I and II, forming a unified property, the Phase II project included the land which was subsequently subdivided into Phases II and III. Upon the completion of Phase III, another merger was finalized. This merger thus created the Wailea Ekahi condominium property which exists today.
In conclusion, Wailea Ekahi resulted from the development of three Phases, with designation as a Planned Development, legally approved to share a common purpose, sharing common land with multiple uses, and with an objective to be controlled and administered as a single condominium project.
It is with these unique characteristics and unique background that we request Wailea Ekahi be excluded from the proposed Bill.
Mahalo for your consideration, and for all that you do for the benefit of Maui.
Lynn Peabody
President
Wailea Ekahi Board of Directors
I wish to oppose this bill as it is so apparent that it is being driven by the hotel industry and tagging this clueless mayor and that morally corrupt Lahaina Strong group. Money collected by these hotels do not stay in the island, the workers who work in these hotels are similar to slavery, yet this mayor is trying to entice visitors to come and stay in these same hotels. These hotels can afford to not even make their nightly rates reasonable, and their guests do not support local businesses.
Aloha! O Michael ko'u inoa! Ke ku'e loa aha au i keia pila hewa! E ho'onohoho a e ho'oma'ema'e o ka'u hana no mau lumi. Ina paha ho'ole oukou i ka STR status, a'ohe komo in na mea kipa a e naliwale ana o ko'u pa'oihana!
How about we keep the 10 vacation rentals that are rated 4.8 or higher by guests because they truly offer the aloha spirit. The others who just collect money without sharing enough aloha to get the high ratings can stop failing to share aloha
Mahalo for reading our testimony. I am a tradesperson (specifically plumbing) working for a maintenance company that offers repairs on plumbing and electricity to 7 resort complexes in the west side. Taking these units to LTR will not solve the housing problem and most of these units are really unaffordable to rent. Better to use what they pay in property tax to build more housing, which the county should've done years ago.
STRs need to be limited or banned completely. PERIOD.
Subject: Opposition to Bill 9 – We Need Real Solutions, Not Misguided Ones
Aloha,
I’m writing to express my deep concern and opposition to Bill 9. While I agree that there is a serious housing crisis on Maui, this bill presents a solution that is both financially unrealistic and socially divisive.
The idea that converting 7,000 vacation rental properties into long-term housing will solve the affordability crisis is flawed. Maui’s cost of living is extremely high. Many local families—myself included—have found ways to make ends meet by responsibly participating in the visitor economy, including vacation rentals. This income has allowed us to stay here, support our families, and contribute to the community.
I’m curious: what is the real, long-term plan beyond phasing out vacation rentals? Are we truly expecting local families to purchase million-dollar condos? Even if property values drop by half, how will families who struggle to afford $2,000 in rent suddenly be able to buy and maintain these homes? Between mortgage payments and high HOA or maintenance fees, ownership is simply out of reach for many.
The crisis is real. No one wants to see Hawaiians displaced or priced off their ancestral land. But Bill 9 doesn’t solve that—it only offers the illusion of a fix, wrapped in emotionally charged rhetoric. It pits neighbor against neighbor, creating tension rather than addressing the systemic economic challenges we face.
We need thoughtful, data-backed solutions that support local families without eliminating viable livelihoods for others. Let’s focus on building truly affordable housing, improving wages, and curbing speculative investment—not dismantling a sector that many rely on to survive.
Mahalo for considering this perspective.
Dear Council Members,
I am a full-time resident of Lahaina. I have lived in Hawai‘i for over 30 years, raised my children here, and owned and operated a local salon for 25 years until I lost it in the Lahaina fire. I am writing to express my strong opposition to HLU-Bill 9, which proposes phasing out short-term rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned areas.
I understand and share your concern about the housing shortage and the high cost of living These are serious issues that must be addressed. However, this bill will have unintended consequences that will further hurt local small businesses and working families who are still struggling, especially in the wake of the fire.
Many of us in the business community are barely holding on. STRs help support cleaners, property managers, tradespeople, and others who live and spend their earnings here on island. In contrast, hotel profits often leave the island, and we’ve already seen what happened in places like New York City: similar STR crackdowns failed to create affordable housing and only hurt small operators.
If this bill would truly free up affordable housing for local families, I would support it. But that’s not what we’re seeing. The condos targeted by this bill have already dropped in price, yet local buyers are not purchasing them. Why? Because these units come with extremely high costs, special assessments for aging buildings, soaring insurance rates, and steep maintenance fees. They're simply not realistic or accessible options for the average working family.
I'm sorry, but this bill seems to be driven more by emotion than logic. The housing crisis is real but punishing local residents and small business owners is not the answer.
Please reconsider the wide-reaching and long-term effects this bill will have on our community.
Aloha, my name is David and I live in Kihei. My mau makua bought a small studio in West Maui in hopes to help with their income since my mother has not worked due to health issues. When my father passed away, it was that STR unit that was supporting my mother. The studio is in a resort complex that is zoned both A2 & H2.
I implore the council to vote this bill down as it this will NOT help bring affordable housing. The HOA on that small studio alone is already over $1200 a month. If you were to include utilities, taxes and insurance, that's over $2,000 a month! Even we cannot afford to stay there.
Mahalo!
I’m just not sure how the state can support the monopolization of homes owned by non-residents. I believed that the concept of monopolization is generally frowned upon, if not outright illegal. I would describe a singular person or even a company, owning more than the amount of housing needed to house the individuals, at such a scale could be called a monopoly and one that hurts those around it. The displacement of Native Hawaiians and then locals at the hands of these STR owners, their effect on the housing market, and how biased their practices can be seem to be directly linked to the housing problem in Hawai’i. There are people who still have not found permanent housing after the tragedy of Lahaina, yet non-residents, some I’d assume may not even be citizens of the US are allowed to hold multiple properties to rent out, from what we’ve heard, at subpar and dangerous conditions in the short term to random tenants instead of our own residents struggling to survive? I fail to see the morality of it all. I support this bill fully and believe that the properties should be liquidated and redistributed with actual consideration.
How is this even a question.
Aloha Council Members
I humbly request all of you to please oppose this bill. Everyone needs to understand that there are also Locals who have worked hard and dedicated their lives in the STR business such as housekeepers, maintenance workers, even STR owners themselves for many years. Not everyone is a faceless corporation and this bill has caused a great divide. Why must more people get harmed? What will prevent more outsiders from purchasing these homes at an even lower price? Are some people not "local" enough because of their skin color? A few locals I know in the STR business have kids too that learned the culture and dedicated their lives on the island. Councilmembers I please urge you to do what is right as human beings. Please come up with a better solution for all.
Native Hawaiians deserve to be honored first and foremost in their ancestral lands. Tourism should always come after Native Hawaiian’s rights to land-use and responsibility.
This bill is a necessary to begin addressing the housing crisis that continues to displace Hawaiian and local families from communities that they call home. This bill is not anti-tourism, it is pro-community.
Have you done any studies or asked any property owners what they would do with their STR unit if the ban is passed? Are you confident that all those units will be suddenly available and affordable prices? How can you look your Ohana in the face and really believe that.
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Kekuawela Burgess Tauala. I am from Waiʻanae, Oʻahu. Though I do not reside on Maui, my ancestral roots are grounded in Ulupalakua and Lahaina. My kuleana as a Kānaka Maoli is to protect and advocate for my lāhui. Whether it be the Lāhui Hawaiʻi (Native Hawaiian community) or our local community. I strongly support Bill 9.
This bill is a necessary step toward addressing the housing crisis that continues to displace Hawaiian and local families from communities that they call home. This bill is not anti-tourism, it is pro-community.
I urge the Council to pass Bill 9 and to put our people first. We must make this a turning point where reclaim housing for residents and invest in the long-term health and wellbeing of Maui residents.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Aloha,
My name is Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. I’m from Nuʻuanu Valley on the island of Oʻahu and currently reside in San Diego.
At first glance, you may be wondering what this Oʻahu girl is doing testifying on a Maui issue—especially one that doesn’t directly pertain to her. And I get it. Like many kānaka in the diaspora, I now live far from the islands that raised me. But my connection to Maui runs deep.
During the devastating wildfires, I witnessed firsthand the compounding trauma caused not just by the flames, but by the housing crisis that followed. I did what I could from afar to support emergency relief efforts, but what became undeniably clear to me was this: the crisis in Maui’s housing isn’t simply a byproduct of natural disaster—it is a result of long-standing systems of displacement tied inseparably to settler colonialism.
As I continued to learn, I discovered that my own moʻokūʻauhau traces back to East Maui—from Haʻikū through Hāna. That discovery shifted everything for me. I realized I DO have a kuleana to this ʻāina—one that runs deeper than any vacation home owner or transplant resident who disguises their land acquisition under the justifications of “It’s my right”, “I employ people”, “Maui won’t survive without tourism”, or “I worked hard to retire there.”
And you, members of this Committee, carry kuleana too. Not to profit. Not to those who see Hawaiʻi as a commodity. But to the people of this land—YOUR people—who deserve protection, housing, and the ability to remain in their ancestral home. That kuleana must outweigh any allegiance to wealth or outside interests.
For these reasons, I strongly support Bill 9. It is a necessary and long overdue step to protect our lāhui and ensure that our people—not investors—are prioritized.
Mahalo for your time.
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Hunter Betts. I am a retired US Coast Guard veteran and have proudly called Maui home for over 20 years. My family and I have raised our children here, and we have built our lives as part of this community. I am writing to urge you to oppose Bill Number Nine, which I believe will have severe unintended consequences for local families and businesses like mine.
I own South Maui Fish Company, a small food truck that is committed to sustainable fishing and supporting our community. Our business employs nine local residents, and we work closely with many local fishermen, boat captains, a social media specialist, and a bookkeeping company. Nearly 80% of our income comes from tourism. If tourism is restricted or discouraged, our business—and the many families who rely on us—will not survive.
We have already faced enormous challenges in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we took out a $100,000 SBA loan just to keep our doors open and to ensure that our employees continued to receive health insurance and paychecks. We did not receive any bailouts beyond this, and the financial strain was immense. Then the fires struck, and the message to visitors was to stay away from Maui. We lost months of income and are still struggling to recover from these back-to-back disasters.
On top of these challenges, the housing crisis has hit us hard. Two of our full-time employees have been forced to leave Maui because they could no longer afford to live here. After 10 years of renting, my own family was threatened illegally by our landlord to either pay more to buy our home or move out. These are not isolated stories—they are the reality for many working families on this island. In all of the cases above each of these property owners were long time Maui residents. Not mainland owners. They were people who didn’t pass along the Aloha we need to see more in our community.
When the fires struck Maui, I didn’t hesitate—we launched the fishing boat and immediately went over to Lahaina. With my background and experience, I was able to assist in any way possible, delivering goods and providing services, as well as helping people who needed to evacuate. Our house became a hub for goods and we raised over $35,000.00 for non-profits and purchased items for our schools here to accommodate for the West Side Keiki. For the many months that followed my wife facilitated truckloads of items for the West Side fire victims. I did this not for recognition, but because we consider Maui our home and our community our family.
We are deeply invested in this island’s future. Our hope is that Maui remains a place where our children can grow up safely, surrounded by a caring community, and have the opportunity to thrive as young adults. We want them to be able to build their own lives here, just as we have, and to give back to this special place we all call home.
If Bill Number Nine passes, it will only make things worse. Small, local businesses like ours will not survive another blow. Our employees and subcontractors represent many local families who depend on us for their livelihoods. There will be no more loans or bailouts—just lost jobs and shuttered businesses.
We all want a sustainable future for Maui, but we must find solutions that support both our environment and our people. I urge you to consider the real-life impacts of this bill on local families and businesses. Please do not take away the lifeline that so many of us depend on.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Hunter Betts
Business Owner, retired Veteran, Father and Husband.
South Maui Fish Company
Dear Council Members:
I strongly support Bill 9 as an important step towards meeting the long-term housing needs of many Maui residents. The conversion of short-term rental units to long term housing may not be the right solution for all people in need of housing on Maui, but it will certainly provide welcome relief for many.
It is also important to note that this bill as written will withstand legal and constitutional scrutiny. Unlike Measure T, which in March 2024 was declared unconstitutional in South Lake Tahoe, California, Bill 9 does not create economic discrimination between classes of people since as written it does not allow any exceptions to the ban on short-term rentals, and it should certainly not be amended to do so.
Moreover, there should not be other exceptions written into the bill for certain types of housing and not others. Finally, the implementation of this bill should not be delayed! As stated by the Mayor, we are facing an urgent housing crisis on Maui, and delaying the implementation will not help the many families who have been waiting for far too long to have their long-term housing needs met.
Barry D. Solomon, Ph.D.
Waikapu
While listening to the supporters of this bill, I notice they are all extremely angry or emotional for good reason! The loss of industry and the lack of building affordable housing for decades would make anyone angry. While I feel for my community members we have to realize this will hurt more than help. The STR owners will quickly file for an injunction and this will likely die in court, between now and 5 years. If the mayor needs 500 homes as he stated or 2000 he stated used to be Workforce housing then, lets send it back with amendments identifying these properties. I used to be an onsite manager for Honokowai Palms, that property was workforce housing while the Sheraton was being built. You can identify properties that were specifically built for workforce housing like Honokowai Palms, and easily convert them away from TVR. This would significantly reduce the strength of the lawsuit because there wouldn't be backing from Airbnb etc. and larger complexes. Lets look for win - wins
Aloha Chair Kama:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Wailea Ekahi, I am happy to present this testimony requesting that Wailea Ekahi be excluded from the proposed Bill as suggested by the Planning Commission. My testimony is in addition to that presented via email on June 7, 2025.
Wailea Ekahi, developed in three Phases (TMK 21008064, 21008060, 21008065) and legally merged as each Phase was completed, include the following characteristics as defined in each project’s Land Use Declaration Form and Horizontal Property Regimes (Condominium)Public Report:
• Designated as planned Development (PD)
• Multiple Community Planning designations including Multi-Family Residential, Open Space, PUD
• County Zoning Apartment, Business Resort, Open Space, Active Open Space, Hotel, PUD
• An identical Purpose of Buildings and Restrictions As To Use—“…residential properties hereinabove described shall be at all times used as permanent or temporary residences or as hotel rooms and for no other purpose.”
The Merger Documents, first between Phase I and Phase II, and subsequently between Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III further define the solidity which binds the entire Wailea Ekahi property. For instance, from the Phase I and Phase II merger document:
“Whereas, upon development of Phase II, in one or more increments, the filing of one or more Declarations of Horizontal Property Regime and Bylaws for Phase II, substantially identical to Phase I Declarations except for the project description (said Declarations of Horizontal Property Regime and Bylaws hereinafter called the Phase II Declaration), and fulfillment or other conditions, it is the desire and intention of Owner that the entire Property shall be controlled and administered as a single condominium project.”
At the time of the merger between Phases I and II, forming a unified property, the Phase II project included the land which was subsequently subdivided into Phases II and III. Upon the completion of Phase III, another merger was finalized. This merger thus created the Wailea Ekahi condominium property which exists today.
In conclusion, Wailea Ekahi resulted from the development of three Phases, with designation as a Planned Development, legally approved to share a common purpose, sharing common land with multiple uses, and with an objective to be controlled and administered as a single condominium project.
It is with these unique characteristics and unique background that we request Wailea Ekahi be excluded from the proposed Bill.
Mahalo for your consideration, and for all that you do for the benefit of Maui.
Lynn Peabody
President
Wailea Ekahi Board of Directors