I respectfully request you consider adding the exclusive 10 unit beach front resort, Puunoa Beach Estates to the list of exempted properties.
Each of the individual units are valued at $3-5MM —unattainable for local workforce. A loss of ability to STR would only serve to reduce high paying service jobs. This property was never intended to be local workforce housing.
The gated property has a check in desk, on-site housing for property manager, pool and hot tub, clubhouse with gym and sauna and resort style amenities.
We are shocked to learn this property was not included in Exhibit 2 in the TIG report. We appreciate your time and consideration.
Aloha Chair Kama, Co-Chair Uʻu-Hodgins, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee. Our comments on the TIG's report and recommendations are attached.
Mahalo for this opportunity to comment on the October 14, 2025 Bill 9 T I G report. I praise the efforts of the T I G led by Chair U’u-Hodgins and the commissioners who recommended modifications so condo property owners may continue their law-abiding and government sanctioned businesses.
Let Bill 9 die in Committee due to the T I G’s Report outlining Bill 9’s flaws and continued economic damage to Maui Island.
It is extremely unfortunate Bill 9 was introduced which caused such economic disruption and such a division amongst the people of this beautiful island. Mayor Bissen, who introduced Bill 9, is a smart man and a judge for several years. Bill 9 makes me wonder what has such an undue influence over his sensibilities to cause us to waste the past years, and caused such anguish and heartache. The T I G report confirms Bill 9, as written, fails to support Maui residents and supporters in any way especially absent meeting the goals of Land use Management .
T I G recommendation #1 and #2, is to establish H3 and H4 codes which:
• Requires lengthy legislative process which provides no guarantee of completion.
• increases administrative workload rather than absorbing TVRs into the existing H1 and H2 codes. Referring to 1960 Ordinance No. 286, both hotels and apartments are similar enough to be within the same definition. Both groups perform the same business of providing residential accommodations, one pays more tax than the other.
• Provides a separation between hotel and STR property tax rates assigning the STR owners a significantly higher property tax rate than hotel’s property tax rate.
• directs the South Maui General Plan to accommodate above directions; however, the Plan is already in its final stages.
The T I G’s disclosed barrier to implementation is the length of time for review and approval will extend beyond the current Council term. Where is the urgency in this process? We are over two years out with an expected 7 or 8 more years to go before execution.
Finally, the T I G Report is silent on any comprehensive plans to capture and release the complexes to the residents. The T I G Report fails to include surveys of how many residents are prequalified to purchase and how many would be buyers or tenants. And absent is the population numbers after hearing so many residents left the island for better jobs and homes. Or as a settlement from the 2023 fires. Securing homes is important but this is absolutely not the right way.
Let Bill 9 die in Committee due to the T I G’s Report outlining Bill 9’s flaws and continued economic damage to Maui Island.
Thank you for your attention to our concerns.
Karan and Stephen Marsh
Aloha Council and Chair, Thank you for your investigative work on this. I feel some complexes that should be rezoned are missing from exhibit 2. I oppose Bill 9, as it is divisive and destructive to our community and it will not solve the housing crisis, only make it worse, and hurt so many Maui residents in the process. It is a way for the hotels to create a "need" for hotel rooms in order to build more hotels. Please vote "NO" on this bill. Maybe change some zoning and don't allow any more hotels until more housing is created. Mahalo!
Not all properties in Sea Level rise area at 3.2' exposure were listed in TIG Report Exhibit 2 exclusions. Kahana Reef was not listed but is directly on sea level and Kahana Outrigger and other units just like Kahana Reef were listed. Please put Kahana Reef in Exhibit 2
Not all properties in Sea Level rise area at 3.2' exposure were listed in TIG Report Exhibit 2 exclusions.
Does this mean that council does not really believe that Sea Level is rising? If so, please clarify. If you do believe sea level is rising and are concerned about exposure area, why in the world would you essentially encourage local residents to purchase in the SLR area and set them up for a terrible long-term outcome?
My name is Brian Murphy. As an owner, I am writing to ask you to consider re-zoning Kanai A Nalu from Apartment zoning to Hotel (H-4). This property was not included under Exhibit 2 in the recent TIG report. The property’s economics and shoreline vulnerability make it viable only as visitor accommodation, not long-term housing.
First: the monthly fixed costs are already around $1,000 for HOA dues plus $1,000 lease fee, not including taxes, insurance, utilities, and mortgage costs. Ownership makes sense as short-term, hotel-style accommodations, but it likely isn't affordable as residential housing.
Second: the site is in a high-risk coastal zone with shoreline erosion and seawall maintenance needs, exactly the sort of exposure the TIG report flagged for managed retreat and non-residential use.
Third: neighboring oceanfront properties have similar leasehold structures and hazard exposure and are treated as hotel-zoned in the TIG report (Exhibit 2). Consistent treatment is fair and practical.
In summary, Kanai A Nalu simply cannot pencil out as long-term housing. The H-4 hotel zoning is the realistic path that will continue to support tax and tourism revenue. Re-zoning Kanai A Nalu to Hotel (H-4) does not reduce Maui’s supply of long-term housing; it recognizes that this particular site was never viable for it.
My name is Brian Murphy. As an owner, I am writing to ask you to consider re-zoning Kanai A Nalu from Apartment zoning to Hotel (H-4). This property was not included under Exhibit 2 in the recent TIG report. The property’s economics and shoreline vulnerability make it viable only as visitor accommodation, not long-term housing.
First: the monthly fixed costs are already around $1,000 for HOA dues plus $1,000 lease fee, not including taxes, insurance, utilities, and mortgage costs. Ownership makes sense as short-term, hotel-style accommodations, but it likely isn't affordable as residential housing.
Second: the site is in a high-risk coastal zone with shoreline erosion and seawall maintenance needs, exactly the sort of exposure the TIG report flagged for managed retreat and non-residential use.
Third: neighboring oceanfront properties have similar leasehold structures and hazard exposure and are treated as hotel-zoned in the TIG report (Exhibit 2). Consistent treatment is fair and practical.
In summary, Kanai A Nalu simply cannot pencil out as long-term housing. The H-4 hotel zoning is the realistic path that will continue to support tax and tourism revenue. Re-zoning Kanai A Nalu to Hotel (H-4) does not reduce Maui’s supply of long-term housing; it recognizes that this particular site was never viable for it.
I oppose Bill 9 and certainly hope that the Maui Council will be wise enough to do the same.
Yes, there is a housing situation, but wouldn't it be better to make a housing plan that will actually work without law suits, a broken economy, and unhappiness all the way around? I have heard that it is important for "our people" to be able to stay on the island. I propose that if Bill 9 were to pass, many more of the locals will be forced to leave.
I don't believe Mayor Bissen ever thought for a minute that he should really shut down 7000 STR's. What was he thinking? I don't know, but as an educated man, he had to realize that such a disruption to the people and the economy was not wise. Hotel lobbyists and friends from Lahaina Strong must have been very persuasive.
A plan to change some of the zoning will please some, but how long will that take? Tourism is off, and the economy is already suffering because of the perception that Maui is no longer welcoming. Please, vote "NO" on Bill 9.
In April, 1973, the Maui County Council enacted then numbered Bill 10 which became Ordinance 752. This ordinance created the hotel zone in which my property at Wailea Ekahi is currently located (see 1973 zoning map adopted with Ordinance 752 and available on County website). The zoning at the time the entire Wailea Ekahi property was built in the early 1970s permitted transient vacation rentals through all residential units on the property and without any question, explicitly still permits such use of my hotel zone unit.
In 1973, both the County and the developer of Wailea recognized that the then proposed hotels and low-rise residences in Wailea Ekahi would be part of a “resort destination area, unique in the world." See Statement of Hannibal Tavares on behalf of Wailea Development Company, dated April 3, 1973, available from the County Council's office as a document relating to Ordinance 752.
The TIG proposal to maybe, but not definitely, rezone Wailea Ekahi to permit transient vacation rentals under H2 or He zoning is well intentioned but totally ignores the reason the development originally was built. It further ignores the permissions granted to the owners in 1973, and their subsequent purchasers, regarding the use of their property.
Adoption of Bill 9, without the rights that were granted to the Wailea property owners when their units were originally constructed will be a taking. The TIG proposal will not solve the significant problems created by Bill 9 and until it does, it is at best a sleight of hand.
My property, located in Wavecrest Resort on Moloka'i, is within the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area but was not included on Exhibit 2. Will the Council reconsider these listings before making amendments or changes?
I support the TIG report and the list of units to be rezoned to H3/H4.
Even better would be to table Bill 9 and allow continued short term rentals for all units.
I haven’t seen a single one of these units sell to local working families even after prices have fallen 40%. Ask yourself, why haven’t they been purchased do the last years once prices dropped. It’s because Bill 9 will NOT add any attainable/affordable rentals. Ask yourself why there are affordable apartment communities that have many vacancies. It’s because there isn’t an issue with finding vacant places to live.
Please vote Bill 9 down as soon as it lets to the council.
Aloha, My husband and I purchased our unit at The Ridge in 1988. We have used it as a short-term vacation rental and our home away from home. In doing so we provided jobs to Maui residents, contributed to the county tax coffers and supported the entire economy of Maui. By ending short term rentals , all of that will end. Kapalua will not increase workforce housing because it is unaffordable. This change will only hurt Maui’s employment rate and economy in general. Please vote no.
Please vote no on prop 9.As a condo owner in Kahana I need to short term rent some months to pay high property tax , maintenance fees, mortgage . Even though I have owned for over 20 years It is still a very high monthly payment. Have not been able to sell even at reduced rate. We also have special assessments being on waters edge . Help us keep our properties. Lots of us our retired. Only own one condo. Economy is hurting on Maui. This will create more issues. Thank you.
We support Bill 9.
Since discussion of this bill began I have seen local housing increase in our building by 3% due to sales prices dropping from this turmoil. This has enabled some locals the ability to purchase recently. I have seen long term owners from the mainland now renting to locals in our building. If there are about 100 buildings on the Minatoya list and each building has increased the long term local occupancy by 3% you may have already helped approximately 300 residents.
Our building has already had multiple repair expenses (due to over use and abuse from vacation rentals) and assessments. Some of those repairs are for abusing the delicate septic system along the ocean. It is a fact that owners respect the building and its structure more than visitors.
Please vote No to Bill 9.
Our economy is already suffering and in dire needs just from the decline in tourism, Every person that I talk to that actually “works” here is suffering and barely making it. Employees of Costco, Safeway, Gas stations, Home Depot, Walmart, restaurants, small businesses.
It’s a trickle down affect on all businesses when you have less tourists, it hits everyone’s pocket. It will hit our county workers too as a lot less money would come in, so after the big raises our government gave themselves, it will have to sacrifice other county jobs.
I have worked as an RN for over 30 years taking care of our kapuna, as well as many other jobs my wife and I have done to make ends meet over the last 50 years.
Passing Bill 9 would be putting the nail in the coffin for almost every Maui worker.
Why not take the 3% Maui TAT from those 7000 units and use that money to buy affordable housing for new neighborhoods, where people have a garage, a yard for their pets or kids, and NO HOA fees. That’s what we need. Like they did in the 90s and early 2000.
Please make the right move and unite our residents with building affordable housing and get our economy back on track by actually encouraging visitors to come and spend money at all of our businesses.
Thank You,
John Phillips
When our condo at Wailea Ekolu was built in 1979, the zoning at the time allowed for short term rentals.
- These units were built solely for the purpose of renting short term.
- They have no built in storage.
- There is only enough parking for one car.
- At the time of purchase, there was no discloser to us that short term rentals might be disallowed.
- Our break-even monthly expenses (mortgage, property taxes, association fees, insurance, utilities) runs $6,00 per month.
Please consider the H3/H4 zoning recommended by the TIG.
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9, which proposes a phased ban on temporary vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts across Maui. While I understand the urgency of addressing Maui’s housing crisis, I believe this bill will have unintended and deeply harmful consequences for our community, economy, and coastline.
1. Economic Devastation for Small Businesses Temporary vacation rentals are a cornerstone of Maui’s tourism ecosystem. Thousands of small businesses—ranging from local cafes and tour operators to cleaning services and maintenance crews—depend on the steady flow of visitors who choose these rentals for their stays. Eliminating this option will drastically reduce tourism spending in affected areas, threatening the livelihoods of countless residents.
2. Significant Loss of Tax Revenue According to recent studies and reports presented to this committee, the county stands to lose millions in tax revenue if Bill 9 is enacted. These funds currently support essential public services, infrastructure, and disaster recovery efforts. In a time when Maui is still healing from the Lahaina wildfires and facing mounting fiscal pressures, this loss would be especially damaging.
3. Risk of Coastal Blight and Property Neglect Vacation rentals require regular upkeep and investment to remain attractive and safe for guests. If owners are prohibited from renting their properties, many will no longer have the financial incentive—or ability—to maintain them. This will likely lead to widespread disrepair, particularly in coastal zones, creating visual blight and environmental hazards that could further degrade Maui’s natural beauty and property values.
4. Displacement Without Viable Alternatives While the intent of Bill 9 is to free up long-term housing, many of the affected units are not realistically affordable or suitable for local residents. A temporary investigative group has already recommended carving out exceptions for over 4,000 units in West and South Maui due to their market value and vulnerability to sea level rise. This underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for a more nuanced approach.
5. Community Division and Legal Uncertainty The bill has already sparked confusion and concern among property owners, renters, and business operators. The proposed phase-out timeline and zoning reclassifications raise legal questions and could lead to costly litigation, further straining county resources.
I urge the committee to reconsider the scope and impact of Bill 9. Rather than a blanket ban, we need targeted solutions that balance housing needs with economic sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community cohesion.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Gary Mariegard
3543 Lower Honoapi’ilani Road c-106
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761-
Aloha,
I respectfully request you consider adding the exclusive 10 unit beach front resort, Puunoa Beach Estates to the list of exempted properties.
Each of the individual units are valued at $3-5MM —unattainable for local workforce. A loss of ability to STR would only serve to reduce high paying service jobs. This property was never intended to be local workforce housing.
The gated property has a check in desk, on-site housing for property manager, pool and hot tub, clubhouse with gym and sauna and resort style amenities.
We are shocked to learn this property was not included in Exhibit 2 in the TIG report. We appreciate your time and consideration.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Caleb Medefind
Aloha Chair Kama, Co-Chair Uʻu-Hodgins, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee. Our comments on the TIG's report and recommendations are attached.
Mahalo for this opportunity to comment on the October 14, 2025 Bill 9 T I G report. I praise the efforts of the T I G led by Chair U’u-Hodgins and the commissioners who recommended modifications so condo property owners may continue their law-abiding and government sanctioned businesses.
Let Bill 9 die in Committee due to the T I G’s Report outlining Bill 9’s flaws and continued economic damage to Maui Island.
It is extremely unfortunate Bill 9 was introduced which caused such economic disruption and such a division amongst the people of this beautiful island. Mayor Bissen, who introduced Bill 9, is a smart man and a judge for several years. Bill 9 makes me wonder what has such an undue influence over his sensibilities to cause us to waste the past years, and caused such anguish and heartache. The T I G report confirms Bill 9, as written, fails to support Maui residents and supporters in any way especially absent meeting the goals of Land use Management .
T I G recommendation #1 and #2, is to establish H3 and H4 codes which:
• Requires lengthy legislative process which provides no guarantee of completion.
• increases administrative workload rather than absorbing TVRs into the existing H1 and H2 codes. Referring to 1960 Ordinance No. 286, both hotels and apartments are similar enough to be within the same definition. Both groups perform the same business of providing residential accommodations, one pays more tax than the other.
• Provides a separation between hotel and STR property tax rates assigning the STR owners a significantly higher property tax rate than hotel’s property tax rate.
• directs the South Maui General Plan to accommodate above directions; however, the Plan is already in its final stages.
The T I G’s disclosed barrier to implementation is the length of time for review and approval will extend beyond the current Council term. Where is the urgency in this process? We are over two years out with an expected 7 or 8 more years to go before execution.
Finally, the T I G Report is silent on any comprehensive plans to capture and release the complexes to the residents. The T I G Report fails to include surveys of how many residents are prequalified to purchase and how many would be buyers or tenants. And absent is the population numbers after hearing so many residents left the island for better jobs and homes. Or as a settlement from the 2023 fires. Securing homes is important but this is absolutely not the right way.
Let Bill 9 die in Committee due to the T I G’s Report outlining Bill 9’s flaws and continued economic damage to Maui Island.
Thank you for your attention to our concerns.
Karan and Stephen Marsh
Aloha Council and Chair, Thank you for your investigative work on this. I feel some complexes that should be rezoned are missing from exhibit 2. I oppose Bill 9, as it is divisive and destructive to our community and it will not solve the housing crisis, only make it worse, and hurt so many Maui residents in the process. It is a way for the hotels to create a "need" for hotel rooms in order to build more hotels. Please vote "NO" on this bill. Maybe change some zoning and don't allow any more hotels until more housing is created. Mahalo!
Not all properties in Sea Level rise area at 3.2' exposure were listed in TIG Report Exhibit 2 exclusions. Kahana Reef was not listed but is directly on sea level and Kahana Outrigger and other units just like Kahana Reef were listed. Please put Kahana Reef in Exhibit 2
Opposition to Current Form of TIG Report
Not all properties in Sea Level rise area at 3.2' exposure were listed in TIG Report Exhibit 2 exclusions.
Does this mean that council does not really believe that Sea Level is rising? If so, please clarify. If you do believe sea level is rising and are concerned about exposure area, why in the world would you essentially encourage local residents to purchase in the SLR area and set them up for a terrible long-term outcome?
Questions for the “TIG” committee: Under existing law how could Maui Sunset be included on Exhibit 2 but NOT Kauhale Makai?
Aloha Members of the Committee,
My name is Brian Murphy. As an owner, I am writing to ask you to consider re-zoning Kanai A Nalu from Apartment zoning to Hotel (H-4). This property was not included under Exhibit 2 in the recent TIG report. The property’s economics and shoreline vulnerability make it viable only as visitor accommodation, not long-term housing.
First: the monthly fixed costs are already around $1,000 for HOA dues plus $1,000 lease fee, not including taxes, insurance, utilities, and mortgage costs. Ownership makes sense as short-term, hotel-style accommodations, but it likely isn't affordable as residential housing.
Second: the site is in a high-risk coastal zone with shoreline erosion and seawall maintenance needs, exactly the sort of exposure the TIG report flagged for managed retreat and non-residential use.
Third: neighboring oceanfront properties have similar leasehold structures and hazard exposure and are treated as hotel-zoned in the TIG report (Exhibit 2). Consistent treatment is fair and practical.
In summary, Kanai A Nalu simply cannot pencil out as long-term housing. The H-4 hotel zoning is the realistic path that will continue to support tax and tourism revenue. Re-zoning Kanai A Nalu to Hotel (H-4) does not reduce Maui’s supply of long-term housing; it recognizes that this particular site was never viable for it.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mahalo,
Brian Murphy
Aloha Members of the Committee,
My name is Brian Murphy. As an owner, I am writing to ask you to consider re-zoning Kanai A Nalu from Apartment zoning to Hotel (H-4). This property was not included under Exhibit 2 in the recent TIG report. The property’s economics and shoreline vulnerability make it viable only as visitor accommodation, not long-term housing.
First: the monthly fixed costs are already around $1,000 for HOA dues plus $1,000 lease fee, not including taxes, insurance, utilities, and mortgage costs. Ownership makes sense as short-term, hotel-style accommodations, but it likely isn't affordable as residential housing.
Second: the site is in a high-risk coastal zone with shoreline erosion and seawall maintenance needs, exactly the sort of exposure the TIG report flagged for managed retreat and non-residential use.
Third: neighboring oceanfront properties have similar leasehold structures and hazard exposure and are treated as hotel-zoned in the TIG report (Exhibit 2). Consistent treatment is fair and practical.
In summary, Kanai A Nalu simply cannot pencil out as long-term housing. The H-4 hotel zoning is the realistic path that will continue to support tax and tourism revenue. Re-zoning Kanai A Nalu to Hotel (H-4) does not reduce Maui’s supply of long-term housing; it recognizes that this particular site was never viable for it.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mahalo,
Brian Murphy
I oppose Bill 9 and certainly hope that the Maui Council will be wise enough to do the same.
Yes, there is a housing situation, but wouldn't it be better to make a housing plan that will actually work without law suits, a broken economy, and unhappiness all the way around? I have heard that it is important for "our people" to be able to stay on the island. I propose that if Bill 9 were to pass, many more of the locals will be forced to leave.
I don't believe Mayor Bissen ever thought for a minute that he should really shut down 7000 STR's. What was he thinking? I don't know, but as an educated man, he had to realize that such a disruption to the people and the economy was not wise. Hotel lobbyists and friends from Lahaina Strong must have been very persuasive.
A plan to change some of the zoning will please some, but how long will that take? Tourism is off, and the economy is already suffering because of the perception that Maui is no longer welcoming. Please, vote "NO" on Bill 9.
In April, 1973, the Maui County Council enacted then numbered Bill 10 which became Ordinance 752. This ordinance created the hotel zone in which my property at Wailea Ekahi is currently located (see 1973 zoning map adopted with Ordinance 752 and available on County website). The zoning at the time the entire Wailea Ekahi property was built in the early 1970s permitted transient vacation rentals through all residential units on the property and without any question, explicitly still permits such use of my hotel zone unit.
In 1973, both the County and the developer of Wailea recognized that the then proposed hotels and low-rise residences in Wailea Ekahi would be part of a “resort destination area, unique in the world." See Statement of Hannibal Tavares on behalf of Wailea Development Company, dated April 3, 1973, available from the County Council's office as a document relating to Ordinance 752.
The TIG proposal to maybe, but not definitely, rezone Wailea Ekahi to permit transient vacation rentals under H2 or He zoning is well intentioned but totally ignores the reason the development originally was built. It further ignores the permissions granted to the owners in 1973, and their subsequent purchasers, regarding the use of their property.
Adoption of Bill 9, without the rights that were granted to the Wailea property owners when their units were originally constructed will be a taking. The TIG proposal will not solve the significant problems created by Bill 9 and until it does, it is at best a sleight of hand.
My property, located in Wavecrest Resort on Moloka'i, is within the Sea Level Rise Exposure Area but was not included on Exhibit 2. Will the Council reconsider these listings before making amendments or changes?
Bob McCann - Wavecrest Resort HOA Vice President
I support the TIG report and the list of units to be rezoned to H3/H4.
Even better would be to table Bill 9 and allow continued short term rentals for all units.
I haven’t seen a single one of these units sell to local working families even after prices have fallen 40%. Ask yourself, why haven’t they been purchased do the last years once prices dropped. It’s because Bill 9 will NOT add any attainable/affordable rentals. Ask yourself why there are affordable apartment communities that have many vacancies. It’s because there isn’t an issue with finding vacant places to live.
Please vote Bill 9 down as soon as it lets to the council.
Support 9
Aloha, My husband and I purchased our unit at The Ridge in 1988. We have used it as a short-term vacation rental and our home away from home. In doing so we provided jobs to Maui residents, contributed to the county tax coffers and supported the entire economy of Maui. By ending short term rentals , all of that will end. Kapalua will not increase workforce housing because it is unaffordable. This change will only hurt Maui’s employment rate and economy in general. Please vote no.
Please vote no on prop 9.As a condo owner in Kahana I need to short term rent some months to pay high property tax , maintenance fees, mortgage . Even though I have owned for over 20 years It is still a very high monthly payment. Have not been able to sell even at reduced rate. We also have special assessments being on waters edge . Help us keep our properties. Lots of us our retired. Only own one condo. Economy is hurting on Maui. This will create more issues. Thank you.
We support Bill 9.
Since discussion of this bill began I have seen local housing increase in our building by 3% due to sales prices dropping from this turmoil. This has enabled some locals the ability to purchase recently. I have seen long term owners from the mainland now renting to locals in our building. If there are about 100 buildings on the Minatoya list and each building has increased the long term local occupancy by 3% you may have already helped approximately 300 residents.
Our building has already had multiple repair expenses (due to over use and abuse from vacation rentals) and assessments. Some of those repairs are for abusing the delicate septic system along the ocean. It is a fact that owners respect the building and its structure more than visitors.
Please vote No to Bill 9.
Our economy is already suffering and in dire needs just from the decline in tourism, Every person that I talk to that actually “works” here is suffering and barely making it. Employees of Costco, Safeway, Gas stations, Home Depot, Walmart, restaurants, small businesses.
It’s a trickle down affect on all businesses when you have less tourists, it hits everyone’s pocket. It will hit our county workers too as a lot less money would come in, so after the big raises our government gave themselves, it will have to sacrifice other county jobs.
I have worked as an RN for over 30 years taking care of our kapuna, as well as many other jobs my wife and I have done to make ends meet over the last 50 years.
Passing Bill 9 would be putting the nail in the coffin for almost every Maui worker.
Why not take the 3% Maui TAT from those 7000 units and use that money to buy affordable housing for new neighborhoods, where people have a garage, a yard for their pets or kids, and NO HOA fees. That’s what we need. Like they did in the 90s and early 2000.
Please make the right move and unite our residents with building affordable housing and get our economy back on track by actually encouraging visitors to come and spend money at all of our businesses.
Thank You,
John Phillips
When our condo at Wailea Ekolu was built in 1979, the zoning at the time allowed for short term rentals.
- These units were built solely for the purpose of renting short term.
- They have no built in storage.
- There is only enough parking for one car.
- At the time of purchase, there was no discloser to us that short term rentals might be disallowed.
- Our break-even monthly expenses (mortgage, property taxes, association fees, insurance, utilities) runs $6,00 per month.
Please consider the H3/H4 zoning recommended by the TIG.
Thank you,
David Ezzy
Haiku
Dear Committee Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 9, which proposes a phased ban on temporary vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts across Maui. While I understand the urgency of addressing Maui’s housing crisis, I believe this bill will have unintended and deeply harmful consequences for our community, economy, and coastline.
1. Economic Devastation for Small Businesses Temporary vacation rentals are a cornerstone of Maui’s tourism ecosystem. Thousands of small businesses—ranging from local cafes and tour operators to cleaning services and maintenance crews—depend on the steady flow of visitors who choose these rentals for their stays. Eliminating this option will drastically reduce tourism spending in affected areas, threatening the livelihoods of countless residents.
2. Significant Loss of Tax Revenue According to recent studies and reports presented to this committee, the county stands to lose millions in tax revenue if Bill 9 is enacted. These funds currently support essential public services, infrastructure, and disaster recovery efforts. In a time when Maui is still healing from the Lahaina wildfires and facing mounting fiscal pressures, this loss would be especially damaging.
3. Risk of Coastal Blight and Property Neglect Vacation rentals require regular upkeep and investment to remain attractive and safe for guests. If owners are prohibited from renting their properties, many will no longer have the financial incentive—or ability—to maintain them. This will likely lead to widespread disrepair, particularly in coastal zones, creating visual blight and environmental hazards that could further degrade Maui’s natural beauty and property values.
4. Displacement Without Viable Alternatives While the intent of Bill 9 is to free up long-term housing, many of the affected units are not realistically affordable or suitable for local residents. A temporary investigative group has already recommended carving out exceptions for over 4,000 units in West and South Maui due to their market value and vulnerability to sea level rise. This underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for a more nuanced approach.
5. Community Division and Legal Uncertainty The bill has already sparked confusion and concern among property owners, renters, and business operators. The proposed phase-out timeline and zoning reclassifications raise legal questions and could lead to costly litigation, further straining county resources.
I urge the committee to reconsider the scope and impact of Bill 9. Rather than a blanket ban, we need targeted solutions that balance housing needs with economic sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community cohesion.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Gary Mariegard
3543 Lower Honoapi’ilani Road c-106
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761-