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)
Please vote against Bill 9. Why? Because the county has just received $1.6 Billion dollars of federal money to be used for affordable housing.
This $1.6 billion will not only address affordable housing issues, it will also address water issues.
The STR ban is no longer relevant. Homeowners who are financially supporting the Maui government through their taxes on vacation rentals should not be financially obligated to solve the affordable housing crisis when the county has received federal funding specifically for that purpose.
A county vote banning short term vacation rentals will be met by thousands of lawsuits from existing homeowners being deprived of their property rights and will force the county to spend far more than it is currently making from the vacation rental taxes paid by existing homeowners.
In fact, the ban would not further affordable housing but impede affordable housing and benefit only hotels, not regular people, and certainly not the county coffers that support services for residents.
Do the right thing economically, legally, and morally—vote against Bill 9.
This would not be the “fastest solution” to solve the housing issue as the mayor says.
We know it’ll end up in courts, for years, if passed.
Use funds collected from legal STR’s to build more affordable housing.
I strongly oppose the bill for one reason more than any. No one can confirm that passing this bill will create affordable housing. Before passing a bill that will have such a profound impact on so many, we must be certain that it will achieve the positive outcome the council is seeking, of creating more affordable housing. And there is not a single person who can say it will.
I also suggest the council look within Maui County for other ways to create affordable housing. As a long-time general contractor, it is well known that the permitting and approval process for construction and development on Maui, whether affordable housing or not, take years longer than anywhere else in the country. Why is this? Look to streamline processes, making it less difficult, less costly, and more timely. This will have a huge impact on affordability and the markets ability to create more affordable housing. As I was taught in sports and business, before you look to others to solve your problems, make sure you have done everything about you and your business first, and I think this would be a prime time for the County to look inward rather than outward to help develop affordable housing.
But at the end of the day, are we willing to risk so much without any confirmation that this bill will create affordable housing (which I believe it will not)? We are all aware of the negative impact this will have (lost jobs, lower tourism and tax receipts, lower property tax receipts, to name a few). But there is no confirmation whatsoever that this will create affordable housing.
There is only one guaranteed winner should this bill pass, and that is the hotel industry.
For the sake of all of Maui, please reject this bill and look for other solutions that will create real affordable housing without doing so much damage to so many.
Please consider using modular homes for the housing crisis. Put modular homes on home owner properties and then it creates housing and income for both parties
If this legislation passes it's going to be detrimental to an already struggling population on Maui. So many people make a living off of servicing legal STVRs, and after both COVID and the Lahaina fire we have seen what happens when we remove a huge sector of the island's employment. Yes, there needs to be more affordable housing on Maui and Lahaina needs to be rebuilt so families can go back home. I can see going after STVRs that are not licensed and not paying the lodge taxes back to Maui County, however how are all the families going to make ends meet if so many jobs are eliminated?
I am a proud resident of Maui who works directly in the short-term rental industry. I’m writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed ban on short-term rentals. While I understand the concerns regarding housing and community integrity, I urge you to also consider the very real and immediate impact this decision would have on everyday citizens like myself, and on the small businesses that rely on this sector to survive.
The short-term rental industry is not just a business; it is a lifeline for thousands of Maui residents. From property managers, cleaners, landscapers, and maintenance workers to local artisans, restaurants, and tour companies, a wide range of individuals and businesses depend on the consistent flow of visitors that short-term rentals bring. Eliminating this avenue of tourism threatens to dismantle a vital economic ecosystem that supports local families.
Many of us who work in this industry do so because it provides flexibility, fair wages, and year-round opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. This ban would not only take away our jobs, but also diminish our ability to provide for our families, pay rent, buy groceries, and live with dignity in the place we call home.
Short-term rentals have also allowed many residents to afford their own homes by renting part of their property. These are not faceless corporations—these are our neighbors trying to make ends meet in one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
Rather than an outright ban, I encourage the council to consider fair regulation—ones that target bad actors, preserve residential character, and protect the rights of local homeowners who are operating responsibly and contributing positively to our community.
Please do not take away our livelihoods to solve one issue by creating another. We need balanced, thoughtful solutions that support both housing and economic sustainability.
Aloha - Thank you chair and members. My Name is Bonnie and I am against Bill 9 as I do not believe it will result in more affordable housing for residents. Instead it is dividing the community. I have been coming to Maui since 1979 and an owner since 1999. For the last 20 years it has also been my second home for 4 moths every year. If I do make a profit on my rentals (which hasn’t happend at all in the last 6 years) it goes back into the property - updates, appliance replacements etc.
I have dealt with many different housekeepers in my 25+ years owning a STR in Wailea resort. They are all small business owners who provide cleaning services as well as act as on island contact for many of us in a similar situation. No, we don’t provide insurance for them. They are a business, paid 3 to 4 times the hourly rate of a hotel cleaner. WIth this type of income they can easily buy insurance if they are not covered by other family members. They decide how they want to spend their income.
Many are responsible for training others who have gone on to move from battered women shelters to business owner status themselves. Why should they loose their jobs and homes so another resident can have one? They have planned and worked hard to get where they are. Many have small children, others have children whom they are helping put thru college. Some have been on island for generations, a few are native and others transplants.
It is argued that new construction will take too long and residents don’t want to live among tourists but rather near by in a community setting of like families. Pick one or two resorts - use some of the Millions and Billions Lahaina Strong and Maui County have collected and offer options to those owners, even subsidize them to rent long term or even sell to a trust which has been set up to insure affordable housing will be a long-term option. Offer enough so owners there can purchase in other locations if they so desire. Don’t put the county thru a financial disaster by trying to remove vested property rights that have actually been codified. Is that not what people really want - a chance to create community? not live among tourists?
Salaries island wide - even for those employeed by hotels will go down - Housekeepers, handymen, even plumbers, landscape workers and electricians will be forced into pay cuts when availability of workers far out numbers the jobs available. Only the hotels benefit. Don’t be responsible for inadvertent consequences.
For those who don’t believe the large, off island hotel chains are not the primary driver here, take a look at how the STR tax rate is now 2% or more higher than the Hotel rate. For those who believe hotels will pick up the slack and traveler demand will not fall much, think again. Tourism has changed. Demand has shifted to wanting kitchens, a separate bedroom and living area. Travelers still eat out - many at small local owned restaurants we have recommended.
Thank you. I urge you to vote against Bill 9 and instead focus on long term solutions and a few shorter term serious efforts to provide community style living experiences . The residents of Maui deserve a chance to live AND WORK together.
My wife and I own a unit at The Palms. When we are not on Maui, we rent it legally through VRBO and a local management company. We have been following the discussion of Bill 9 and have been concerned to see that the issue is being framed as "us versus them," a framing that entirely disregards what non-resident owners of STR units have done for Maui and its residents.
Although we do not live full-time on Maui, we view it as a community to which we belong, we care about it deeply, and we do everything that we can to support it. For example, when Maui lost all tourist income as a result of the COVID shutdown in 2020, we immediately gave $5,000 to the Maui County Food Bank and contributed to various GoFundMe efforts that we became aware of. Given the importance of Maui in our lives, we have continued to give at least the same amount each year to the Maui County Food Bank, and even increased the contribution in 2023 following the Lahaina fire. In all, we have contributed over $30,000 to the Maui County Food Bank and other charitable endeavors over the past five years.
We have done this because we care about Maui and its residents, and because we try to keep in Maui the income we receive from renting our unit, and not just by paying property, GET, and TAT taxes and AOAO fees. In addition to charitable contributions, we also keep that income in Maui when we hire local contractors and tradespeople to work in our unit as well as local artists to create art for our unit, as we have done multiple times since we bought it in 2013.
Everyone--resident and non-resident--knows that the lack of affordable housing on Maui is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, but Bill 9 has created a narrative pitting "locals" against STR owners relying on the false premise that STR owners are not invested in the community and take all of their STR income off-island. That is simply not true, even those who are not Maui residents invest in Maui, and this division is not helpful to solving the housing issue. Solving the housing crisis requires the County to build more affordable housing, faster, and to make sure that that affordable housing remains affordable indefinitely, and not just for ten years. The County's current system for building affordable housing is broken and needs to be fixed. Going after STR owners is not going to solve that system.
Chair Kama suggested to provide written testimony since I have already testified in front of the committee. One testifier made a comment during yesterdays evening meeting and wanted to make sure the commitee knows that they are not alone in the desire to include planned development. The Minatoya list comprises properties in multiple zones. Clearly any property in the hotel zone has zero issue with TVR use and in fact, everyone agrees one solution is to re-zone to be hotel. However by failing to also select the planned developments, residential and agricultural properties, is that going to create a problem? Is this a better idea to include all Minatoya properties in planned developments, apartment, residential, agricultural and all other zones where TVRs are currently prohibited? This would be in an effort to eliminate any accusations of bias for the pending lawsuits once Bill 9 passes?
Would the Housing and Land use committee be able to amend the bill as suggested by last nights testifier to include ALL non-hotel zoned Minatoya list properties? As a resident of a non-apartment zone Minatoya list property I would welcome this opportunity to see my community return to a residential neighborhood. We may also want to increase by 50% the number of vacation rental permits to help calm the concerns of current Minatoya property owners. Please include any and all planned developments, outside of hotel zones, in Bill 9.
I am writing in strong support of Bill 9 to phase out the STRs and make those units available for families that need housing, especially those displaced by the Lahaina fires. After reading many testimonials, clearly many by STR owners who stand to benefit from continuing to own these units as STRs, it’s clear they need a history lesson as well as some basic economics. Many say that families in need would not be able to afford rents or purchase these units at their current prices. They are correct in the sense that these prices are out of reach based on its current rental income and current use. What they clearly fail to mention is that these prices are caused by the massive STR rental income over the years in the first place. If they were to rent these units at “fair value” for long term tenants, they would need to charge the same rental prices as many of their neighbors. Therefore, instead of being able to make the amount of rental income they are used to, they would decrease their profit and in turn, also decrease the value of the units. While this seems obviously fair, there’s a reason why they are so adamant about keeping it as STRs…money, and lots of it. All other “reasons” why is smoke and mirrors. The “employment” of cleaners, plumbers, etc are minuscule at best, and also conveniently also a “business expense” for tax benefits. Reasons to keep it an STR because they “live in another state and wouldn’t be able to afford the unit if not for the STR” is exactly the reason why this bill should pass and STRs should get banned. And Councilwoman Kama’s attempt to ban a few words has no effect on facts. Maybe she’s one of those that wanted to change the word “homeless” to “the unhoused” when speaking about the families post-Lahaina fire. These type of distraction tactics are yet another reason why local people get frustrated with local politics. I digress.
Unfortunately, there will be a few cases of some families, even a few local families that will inevitably be hurt by this change. There is no perfect solution. But it’s very obvious that for the collective, especially in this time, and especially for local families, this is a very positive step to healing as well as more affordability. Honestly, this would hurt less if it was done decades ago when it should have been. Now the maui county legislature can finally do something that is positive for local families and is not focused on profits. Do the right thing maui leg and ban these STRs. Maybe in the future there can be new legislation to slowly transition some area back into the STR fold, but now is not that time. Let us not forget that when the local people were in the most need for housing post-fire, these STR owners didn’t step up and show what maui or the people of maui mean to them. Even with the mayor willing to pay top dollar for the housing. That shows two things…one, the profits of the STR heavily outways even the highest of long-term rents, and two, their love for maui and its problem will always come with a price.
Dear Committee Chair and all Council Members,
Please vote against Bill 9. Why? Because the county has just received $1.6 Billion dollars of federal money to be used for affordable housing.
This $1.6 billion will not only address affordable housing issues, it will also address water issues.
The STR ban is no longer relevant. Homeowners who are financially supporting the Maui government through their taxes on vacation rentals should not be financially obligated to solve the affordable housing crisis when the county has received federal funding specifically for that purpose.
A county vote banning short term vacation rentals will be met by thousands of lawsuits from existing homeowners being deprived of their property rights and will force the county to spend far more than it is currently making from the vacation rental taxes paid by existing homeowners.
In fact, the ban would not further affordable housing but impede affordable housing and benefit only hotels, not regular people, and certainly not the county coffers that support services for residents.
Do the right thing economically, legally, and morally—vote against Bill 9.
Thank you.
This would not be the “fastest solution” to solve the housing issue as the mayor says.
We know it’ll end up in courts, for years, if passed.
Use funds collected from legal STR’s to build more affordable housing.
Listen to Stan Franco because:
Stronger
Towns
Are
Nurtured
From
Rooted
Affordable
Neighborhoods
Caring for
Ohana
I strongly oppose the bill for one reason more than any. No one can confirm that passing this bill will create affordable housing. Before passing a bill that will have such a profound impact on so many, we must be certain that it will achieve the positive outcome the council is seeking, of creating more affordable housing. And there is not a single person who can say it will.
I also suggest the council look within Maui County for other ways to create affordable housing. As a long-time general contractor, it is well known that the permitting and approval process for construction and development on Maui, whether affordable housing or not, take years longer than anywhere else in the country. Why is this? Look to streamline processes, making it less difficult, less costly, and more timely. This will have a huge impact on affordability and the markets ability to create more affordable housing. As I was taught in sports and business, before you look to others to solve your problems, make sure you have done everything about you and your business first, and I think this would be a prime time for the County to look inward rather than outward to help develop affordable housing.
But at the end of the day, are we willing to risk so much without any confirmation that this bill will create affordable housing (which I believe it will not)? We are all aware of the negative impact this will have (lost jobs, lower tourism and tax receipts, lower property tax receipts, to name a few). But there is no confirmation whatsoever that this will create affordable housing.
There is only one guaranteed winner should this bill pass, and that is the hotel industry.
For the sake of all of Maui, please reject this bill and look for other solutions that will create real affordable housing without doing so much damage to so many.
Please consider using modular homes for the housing crisis. Put modular homes on home owner properties and then it creates housing and income for both parties
I oppose bill 9. all the STVR should not be taken away.
If this legislation passes it's going to be detrimental to an already struggling population on Maui. So many people make a living off of servicing legal STVRs, and after both COVID and the Lahaina fire we have seen what happens when we remove a huge sector of the island's employment. Yes, there needs to be more affordable housing on Maui and Lahaina needs to be rebuilt so families can go back home. I can see going after STVRs that are not licensed and not paying the lodge taxes back to Maui County, however how are all the families going to make ends meet if so many jobs are eliminated?
Aloha Council Members,
I am a proud resident of Maui who works directly in the short-term rental industry. I’m writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed ban on short-term rentals. While I understand the concerns regarding housing and community integrity, I urge you to also consider the very real and immediate impact this decision would have on everyday citizens like myself, and on the small businesses that rely on this sector to survive.
The short-term rental industry is not just a business; it is a lifeline for thousands of Maui residents. From property managers, cleaners, landscapers, and maintenance workers to local artisans, restaurants, and tour companies, a wide range of individuals and businesses depend on the consistent flow of visitors that short-term rentals bring. Eliminating this avenue of tourism threatens to dismantle a vital economic ecosystem that supports local families.
Many of us who work in this industry do so because it provides flexibility, fair wages, and year-round opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. This ban would not only take away our jobs, but also diminish our ability to provide for our families, pay rent, buy groceries, and live with dignity in the place we call home.
Short-term rentals have also allowed many residents to afford their own homes by renting part of their property. These are not faceless corporations—these are our neighbors trying to make ends meet in one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
Rather than an outright ban, I encourage the council to consider fair regulation—ones that target bad actors, preserve residential character, and protect the rights of local homeowners who are operating responsibly and contributing positively to our community.
Please do not take away our livelihoods to solve one issue by creating another. We need balanced, thoughtful solutions that support both housing and economic sustainability.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Allen
Aloha - Thank you chair and members. My Name is Bonnie and I am against Bill 9 as I do not believe it will result in more affordable housing for residents. Instead it is dividing the community. I have been coming to Maui since 1979 and an owner since 1999. For the last 20 years it has also been my second home for 4 moths every year. If I do make a profit on my rentals (which hasn’t happend at all in the last 6 years) it goes back into the property - updates, appliance replacements etc.
I have dealt with many different housekeepers in my 25+ years owning a STR in Wailea resort. They are all small business owners who provide cleaning services as well as act as on island contact for many of us in a similar situation. No, we don’t provide insurance for them. They are a business, paid 3 to 4 times the hourly rate of a hotel cleaner. WIth this type of income they can easily buy insurance if they are not covered by other family members. They decide how they want to spend their income.
Many are responsible for training others who have gone on to move from battered women shelters to business owner status themselves. Why should they loose their jobs and homes so another resident can have one? They have planned and worked hard to get where they are. Many have small children, others have children whom they are helping put thru college. Some have been on island for generations, a few are native and others transplants.
It is argued that new construction will take too long and residents don’t want to live among tourists but rather near by in a community setting of like families. Pick one or two resorts - use some of the Millions and Billions Lahaina Strong and Maui County have collected and offer options to those owners, even subsidize them to rent long term or even sell to a trust which has been set up to insure affordable housing will be a long-term option. Offer enough so owners there can purchase in other locations if they so desire. Don’t put the county thru a financial disaster by trying to remove vested property rights that have actually been codified. Is that not what people really want - a chance to create community? not live among tourists?
Salaries island wide - even for those employeed by hotels will go down - Housekeepers, handymen, even plumbers, landscape workers and electricians will be forced into pay cuts when availability of workers far out numbers the jobs available. Only the hotels benefit. Don’t be responsible for inadvertent consequences.
For those who don’t believe the large, off island hotel chains are not the primary driver here, take a look at how the STR tax rate is now 2% or more higher than the Hotel rate. For those who believe hotels will pick up the slack and traveler demand will not fall much, think again. Tourism has changed. Demand has shifted to wanting kitchens, a separate bedroom and living area. Travelers still eat out - many at small local owned restaurants we have recommended.
Thank you. I urge you to vote against Bill 9 and instead focus on long term solutions and a few shorter term serious efforts to provide community style living experiences . The residents of Maui deserve a chance to live AND WORK together.
My wife and I own a unit at The Palms. When we are not on Maui, we rent it legally through VRBO and a local management company. We have been following the discussion of Bill 9 and have been concerned to see that the issue is being framed as "us versus them," a framing that entirely disregards what non-resident owners of STR units have done for Maui and its residents.
Although we do not live full-time on Maui, we view it as a community to which we belong, we care about it deeply, and we do everything that we can to support it. For example, when Maui lost all tourist income as a result of the COVID shutdown in 2020, we immediately gave $5,000 to the Maui County Food Bank and contributed to various GoFundMe efforts that we became aware of. Given the importance of Maui in our lives, we have continued to give at least the same amount each year to the Maui County Food Bank, and even increased the contribution in 2023 following the Lahaina fire. In all, we have contributed over $30,000 to the Maui County Food Bank and other charitable endeavors over the past five years.
We have done this because we care about Maui and its residents, and because we try to keep in Maui the income we receive from renting our unit, and not just by paying property, GET, and TAT taxes and AOAO fees. In addition to charitable contributions, we also keep that income in Maui when we hire local contractors and tradespeople to work in our unit as well as local artists to create art for our unit, as we have done multiple times since we bought it in 2013.
Everyone--resident and non-resident--knows that the lack of affordable housing on Maui is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, but Bill 9 has created a narrative pitting "locals" against STR owners relying on the false premise that STR owners are not invested in the community and take all of their STR income off-island. That is simply not true, even those who are not Maui residents invest in Maui, and this division is not helpful to solving the housing issue. Solving the housing crisis requires the County to build more affordable housing, faster, and to make sure that that affordable housing remains affordable indefinitely, and not just for ten years. The County's current system for building affordable housing is broken and needs to be fixed. Going after STR owners is not going to solve that system.
Aloha HLU Committee,
Chair Kama suggested to provide written testimony since I have already testified in front of the committee. One testifier made a comment during yesterdays evening meeting and wanted to make sure the commitee knows that they are not alone in the desire to include planned development. The Minatoya list comprises properties in multiple zones. Clearly any property in the hotel zone has zero issue with TVR use and in fact, everyone agrees one solution is to re-zone to be hotel. However by failing to also select the planned developments, residential and agricultural properties, is that going to create a problem? Is this a better idea to include all Minatoya properties in planned developments, apartment, residential, agricultural and all other zones where TVRs are currently prohibited? This would be in an effort to eliminate any accusations of bias for the pending lawsuits once Bill 9 passes?
Would the Housing and Land use committee be able to amend the bill as suggested by last nights testifier to include ALL non-hotel zoned Minatoya list properties? As a resident of a non-apartment zone Minatoya list property I would welcome this opportunity to see my community return to a residential neighborhood. We may also want to increase by 50% the number of vacation rental permits to help calm the concerns of current Minatoya property owners. Please include any and all planned developments, outside of hotel zones, in Bill 9.
Remove the brackets.
Mahalo!
I am writing in strong support of Bill 9 to phase out the STRs and make those units available for families that need housing, especially those displaced by the Lahaina fires. After reading many testimonials, clearly many by STR owners who stand to benefit from continuing to own these units as STRs, it’s clear they need a history lesson as well as some basic economics. Many say that families in need would not be able to afford rents or purchase these units at their current prices. They are correct in the sense that these prices are out of reach based on its current rental income and current use. What they clearly fail to mention is that these prices are caused by the massive STR rental income over the years in the first place. If they were to rent these units at “fair value” for long term tenants, they would need to charge the same rental prices as many of their neighbors. Therefore, instead of being able to make the amount of rental income they are used to, they would decrease their profit and in turn, also decrease the value of the units. While this seems obviously fair, there’s a reason why they are so adamant about keeping it as STRs…money, and lots of it. All other “reasons” why is smoke and mirrors. The “employment” of cleaners, plumbers, etc are minuscule at best, and also conveniently also a “business expense” for tax benefits. Reasons to keep it an STR because they “live in another state and wouldn’t be able to afford the unit if not for the STR” is exactly the reason why this bill should pass and STRs should get banned. And Councilwoman Kama’s attempt to ban a few words has no effect on facts. Maybe she’s one of those that wanted to change the word “homeless” to “the unhoused” when speaking about the families post-Lahaina fire. These type of distraction tactics are yet another reason why local people get frustrated with local politics. I digress.
Unfortunately, there will be a few cases of some families, even a few local families that will inevitably be hurt by this change. There is no perfect solution. But it’s very obvious that for the collective, especially in this time, and especially for local families, this is a very positive step to healing as well as more affordability. Honestly, this would hurt less if it was done decades ago when it should have been. Now the maui county legislature can finally do something that is positive for local families and is not focused on profits. Do the right thing maui leg and ban these STRs. Maybe in the future there can be new legislation to slowly transition some area back into the STR fold, but now is not that time. Let us not forget that when the local people were in the most need for housing post-fire, these STR owners didn’t step up and show what maui or the people of maui mean to them. Even with the mayor willing to pay top dollar for the housing. That shows two things…one, the profits of the STR heavily outways even the highest of long-term rents, and two, their love for maui and its problem will always come with a price.