I am writing in strong support of the passage of Bill 88.
This bill recognizes that Maui has desperately needed clarification of a zoning category that aligns with the existing use of condo communities that were designed, marketed, taxed, and legally operated as transient accommodations for decades.
In passing Bill 88, you are insuring that many local workforce families will continue to be supported in their efforts to remain on island….their beloved home.
To the Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
Aloha Chair and Committee Members,
My name is Glenn Bresllin, and I am an owner of a short-term rental property on Maui. I respectfully ask that you consider the impacts that Bill 88 may have on owners like myself, as well as on Maui’s visitor industry and economy.
My unit was designed and built primarily for short-term visitor accommodations, not long-term residential living. The unit has only one parking space, limited closet and storage space, and a layout that is not practical or adequate for full-time family occupancy. These types of units were intended for transient vacation use and do not realistically meet the needs of many long-term residents.
Short-term rentals provide an important balance for Maui. They allow visitors to come and experience our island while supporting local businesses, restaurants, housekeeping companies, maintenance workers, landscapers, contractors, and many other jobs connected to tourism. Visitors staying in short-term rentals contribute directly to our local economy.
Eliminating or severely restricting these properties may not create the long-term housing solutions many hope for, especially when certain units are not suitable for permanent residential use to begin with. Instead, it could place financial hardship on property owners while also impacting tourism-related employment and county tax revenues.
I understand and support the need for more affordable housing for Maui residents. However, I respectfully believe there must also be reasonable consideration for existing legal short-term rental owners and the unique characteristics of these properties.
I ask the Committee to carefully consider solutions that protect both local housing needs and the economic realities of Maui’s tourism-based community.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and service to our county.
Aloha,
I am in full support of establishing H-3 and H-4 hotel zones. It is imperative that these zones are created and will allow legal short term rental properties to continue operating in compliance of county laws. We desperately need the tax revenue generated from these STR properties.
With Aloha,
Terri Abay-Abay
Please support this bill. Without it the units you will end up with a large number of condos that were built to be short term rentals sitting vacant, with no tax revenue. Residents have already shown they have no desire to rent small 1-bedroom condos with no storage, limited parking, no pets and high rents due to high HOA and mortgage costs. Allowing zoning for short term rentals in areas where it makes sense will also avoid costly litigation and insure future tax revenue and tourism and support jobs for locals.
I am writing in strong support of Bill 88. Establishing proper H3/H4 zoning districts for longstanding, legally operating visitor accommodations is a necessary and fair correction to Maui County's zoning code.
I urge you to pass this bill for three critical reasons:
Protects the Local Economy: Tourism is our economic engine. As UHERO projections show, eliminating legal STRs threatens hundreds of millions in county tax revenue and thousands of local jobs—directly impacting housekeepers, property managers, and small businesses.
Honors Legal Property Rights: These purpose-built resort properties have operated legally for decades. Retroactively stripping these rights from owners who purchased in good faith is fundamentally unfair and invites costly, unnecessary litigation.
Reflects Housing Realities: Targeting legacy visitor accommodations will not solve our affordable housing crisis. Aging oceanfront complexes with exorbitant HOA fees and major maintenance costs will never become affordable workforce housing; they will simply sit vacant or become second homes for the ultra-wealthy.
Bill 88 provides much-needed clarity and protects both our local workforce and legally established property rights. Please vote to support it.
I'm Dan McKenna and I'm testifying in support of Bill 88. I want to thank the members of the TIG, Office of Council Services and Department of the Corporation Counsel for their time and talent attending seven meetings in September 2025. I encourage the passage of Bill 88 on first reading without revisions. Many thanks to the members of the HLU for their consideration of establishment of the H-3 and H-4 hotel districts.
My name is Renee Sullivan, We own a condo in Grand Champions, which is on the Montoya list. I want to thank you for your time. I hope you are aware, but I want to remind you that after the Lahaina fire, FEMA paid short term rental owners approximately 9k per month to allow fire victims to move into condos in South Maui, including Grand Champions. Many of the condos sat vacant, even though the rent was fully paid by FEMA. So, essentially, tens of thousands of all of our tax dollars were paid to owners unnecessarily. In my opinion this proves most people from Lahanina do not want to live in South Maui, particularly in a condo that is 1,000 sqare feet with no garage or land for children to play. I believe certain apartment complexes should be zoned H3-H4 where it is clearly evident locals do not want to live in certain types of condos and certain areas. Not to mention the large revenue that is lost from taxes, business loss and job loss of many locals. Please consider the facts and the potential financial devastation that the full enforcement of Bill 9 will crreate as you deliberate on moving forward with the H3/H4 zoning option. Mahalo for your consideration.
Dear Committee Members,
My name is Sandi Resheske and I own a home (Kula) and 2 vacation condos (Kamaole Sands) here.on Maui. I am asking you to please support Bill 88 and stop this path of destruction to our economy and tourism. Maui needs tourism to sustain the economy and jobs that sustain most of the people who live and work here. Even if you don't directly work in the tourism industry you are most likely affected in some way by tourist generated revenue - even the Mayor is paid with tax dollars which a huge portion comes from taxes paid by STR revenue. This witch hunt started almost 3 years ago after the wild fires with the claim that "Locals" needed housing - now 3 years later new housing is everywhere - people are settled or have moved off island and Vacation Condos are sitting empty - our real estate values are almost in half, only distress sales are being sold but not to Locals to live in, but to off shore investors. In the meantime, housekeepers have little work and are being laid off, we are all struggling to keep our payments and HOA fees paid. I live here and built my home so not to take away from a Local family needing housing - as a matter of fact, we built a smaller home so that we could add an ohana to help provide affordable housing for another Maui family, but to help offset my monthly expenses and cost of living in retirement I depend on the income of my two Vacation Rentals. I am almost 70 and my future and livelihood now lie in the Councils hands. This is scary at this age and time of my life. I, along with countless other STR Owners, bought condos that were "Legal" and supposedly PROTECTED under the Minatoya List. We have paid taxes and followed the laws. We are not large corporations, most STR's are vacation homes that help serve visitors whenever the owners are not occupying them themselves. We do not need MORE rentals, we need to support what we have. Kamaole Sands is 440 units with a freestanding front office with uniformed staff that operates 24/7/365. Let's stop the BS and get Maui, her people and the economy back on the right track. Mahalo Council - Respectfully, Sandi Resheske
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Eric Detwiler, I am a full-time resident of Maui Kamaole and I respectfully support Bill 88 and the creation of the proposed H3/H4 zoning framework for lawful vacation rental properties on Maui.
Vacation rentals on a Minatoya list are small, responsibly managed properties owned by individuals that have long operated as visitor accommodations and contribute directly to Maui’s economy, tourism infrastructure, and local workforce. These properties were purchased, financed, insured, taxed, and operated under longstanding lawful visitor-use expectations.
I support zoning modernization efforts that create clarity, consistency, and proper alignment between actual historical use and county zoning designations. Establishing H3/H4 districts provides an opportunity for Maui County to modernize outdated zoning classifications while recognizing the longstanding reality of visitor accommodations in appropriate areas.
I also appreciate that the discussion surrounding potential future rezoning criteria includes consideration of factors such as historical visitor use, leasehold structures, economic realities, and sea level rise exposure areas. Many properties impacted by Bill 9 were never realistically part of workforce housing inventory and have functioned as visitor accommodations for decades.
Vacation rentals also support many local jobs and small businesses, including cleaners, maintenance workers, landscapers, contractors, property managers, restaurants, activity providers, and countless others who rely on visitor-related income to support their families here on Maui.
I respectfully ask the Council to continue moving forward thoughtfully and constructively with zoning modernization efforts through Bill 88 and future H3/H4 discussions. Creating lawful pathways for appropriately situated visitor accommodations is important not only for property owners, but for the broader Maui community and economy.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and service to Maui County.
Eric Detwiler
Kihei, Hawai‘i
I am born and raised on Maui and mostly dependent on the tourist economy for my income. When Bill 9 was first put out it sent a chill down my spine. When it was approved I began making a 5 year exit strategy. Most of the work I do is in these older south Maui complexes where I like to think I'm one of the first peoeple the owners and the managers contact. I have already seen work slow to a pace like covid and after the fire. I've read that tourist spending is still pretty strong but the uncertainty has property owners and management companies tightening thier wallets. Between annual property tax rate hikes I heara bout all the time and long vacancies in normally busy rentals there is so much uncertainty that work is being put off. My brother works for a realtor and no condos are even selling so people that want out of this crazy sitauation can't get out. And the condos that are moving are not to local buyers. So I ask then what was the point of all this?
Mayor said that they hoped to bring down housing prices and that's been done. He also said that his goal was to force owners to either rent to a local or sell. Well someone with a $1m mortgage on a smal condo can't rent to anyone for the price locals can afford. Now they can't sell their condo without a big financial loss. So locals have lost out and will continue to lose out. STR owners can't rent short term and cant afford to rent long term, and are losing money they worked a lifetime to have just because they mayor thinks what they gain or lose isn't important. Who are the winners here? Locals? No. Condo owners? no. COunty? No.
Bill 88 will get things back on track. it will make things predictable again. If it doesn't then my plan is to head Arizona in 2029. Yeah, a red state. That;s how bad this mayor has made this place What is worst is that he does it all while preaching his love for the people of Maui. Kind of like Trunp's America first and how he pretends to love the rednecks who vote for him. Nobody is staying because of Bissen polcies. but plenty have left or are leaving or going to leave because of them.
I sopport Bill 88 because it can bring back most of what we had before.
As a retired owner at Haleonoloa with very high HOA fees property tax and house payment without short term rental most long term owners will not be able to make payments..I would be looking at forclosure after owning for over twenty years. Since Covid, fires and now this it has been hard to keep property yet unable to sell.Most of us are on fixed income. Property values have fallen 30 percent and so has the short term rental market.
Here's a rewrite that holds your voice and sharpens the frame:
Aloha Chair U‘u-Hodgins, Vice Chair Batangan, and members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Julie Graham. I own a condo affected by this legislation, and I want to speak to you as someone who supports affordable housing on Maui and has serious doubts that this bill achieves it.
I live in my unit half the year. I rarely rent it short-term. But most of my neighbors do — and they are not corporations. They are older adults who bought a modest condo as a retirement asset, following rules that Maui itself established. The Minatoya List was a promise. These owners made financial decisions in good faith based on that promise. Retroactively eliminating their income isn't regulation — it's pulling the rug out from people who followed the law.
I don't believe this helps local families find housing. One-bedroom condos with high HOA fees are not what Maui's workforce needs, and they won't become affordable simply because they go dark. New York tried broad STR restrictions and did not see the housing relief promised. What we're more likely to see is vacancies, owner bankruptcies, and eventually distressed sales to hotel developers who will level the buildings entirely. That helps no one who needs a home on Maui.
The economic consequences are also documented. UHERO projected that a wide-scale phase-out could cost Maui up to $900 million in annual visitor spending, 1,900 lost jobs, and $60 million in annual property tax revenue by 2029 — money that funds the very services local families depend on.
I support the goal. I ask the Council to pursue it through means that actually produce affordable housing — permitting reform, deed-restricted development, targeted construction incentives — rather than through a policy that punishes individual owners while leaving the underlying shortage untouched.
Thousands of condo owners purchased units with legal, codified exemptions that allowed short-term rentals. People will go to court costing Maui hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend against the lawsuits. The lawyers will be the only folks who are happy. It likely won't help Maui or families or retired folks, just the attorneys and waste taxpayer monies. I'm split in two here, I want what is best for Maui and I just don't believe this is. I'm fine with paying taxes, and would rather that we reinvest STR tax revenues and permit fees into the dedicated development of new affordable housing.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Julie Graham
The committees have strung short term vacation rental owners along for over 2 years. The council ignores the results of some very prestigious organizations hired to submit their findings. What more is there to be said.? Short term vacation owners who abide by all the rules, pay their taxes, and voice their opinions...,all ignored by the powers that be in control. When is enough enough? Can't wait to vote the lot out of office
Dear Chair Uʻu-Hodgins, Vice-Chair Batangan, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
We are writing from the heart to express our strong support for Bill 88. As property owners who are deeply committed to Maui and its people, we appreciate the Committee taking up this critical measure. Bill 88 is a common-sense technical correction, but more importantly, it is a vital step toward keeping our island community stable and secure. For over forty years, these properties were structurally and legally designed to welcome visitors, and establishing the H-3 and H-4 districts simply honors that long-standing history.
What worries us most about the alternative is the deeply personal and devastating impact it will have on local families and small businesses. The people who are going to be hurt most by destroying this tax base are the everyday residents who make Maui run. The tax revenues generated by these properties directly fund the public services, parks, and first responders our community relies on daily.
Beyond the county budget, there is a massive human ecosystem that depends on these homes. Our guests directly sustain the local restaurants, mom-and-pop shops, and activity providers that are the lifeblood of our towns. Preserving these visitor uses keeps food on the table for our local cleaners, property managers, handymen, and local trade contractors who are still working hard to find stability and recover.
Bill 88 is a balanced, compassionate tool that preserves Maui’s economic engine while protecting the livelihoods of the families who call this island home. We respectfully urge the Committee to recommend passage of Bill 88 on first reading. Thank you for your leadership, your heart, and your dedication to the people of Maui.
I am writing on behalf of my family, who have owned a condominium at the Noelani Oceanfront Condominium Resort (4095 Lower Honoapiʻilani Road) since 1975. For nearly 50 years, Unit 109 has never been viewed as an investment property. Instead, it has been a place where deep connections were formed—within our family, within the Lahaina community, and with the natural beauty of Maui.
For historical context, Noelani was built in 1974 and has continuously operated as a condo-hotel. The property maintains a staffed lobby with managed check-in during standard operating hours. Rentals are coordinated through the Noelani Rental Association (NRA), not through individual owner advertising. This operational structure clearly distinguishes Noelani from peer-to-peer vacation rental platforms where owners directly market their units. Additionally, including Noelani in Exhibit 2—or pursuing a parallel, council-initiated rezoning to H-3 or H-4—would align with its location within the long-established Honokōwai–Kahana–Nāpilī visitor and resort corridor recognized in County planning efforts.
Our family’s connection to Noelani is deeply personal. Our father passed away in September 2019, and memorial torches on the Noelani property honor the many years of service he dedicated to the area. Just four and a half years later, we lost our mother. Becoming stewards of this condominium has allowed us, their children, to preserve a tangible connection to them. Noelani—Unit 109—is part of our ʻohana. It is a place where loved ones who are no longer with us are remembered, and where we continue to honor our responsibility to care for, uplift, and support the Lahaina community.
With great respect, I ask Mayor Richard Bissen and the Maui County Council consider Noelani Oceanfront Condominium Resort as a candidate for inclusion in the H-2 to H-4 hotel zoning classifications. Doing so would help restore balance and fairness, while recognizing the unique history and function of this property. Addressing this matter thoughtfully would reflect a holistic approach to governance and honor the Hawaiʻi State motto: “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono” — “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Respectfully,
Gary, Scott, and Jennifer Bethell
Family Owners, Unit 109
Noelani Oceanfront Condominium Resort
In Support of Bill 88
Bill 88 is necessary to correct the mistaken assumption, and myth, that “all condos” on the Minatoya List were originally built “as workforce housing.” This is not correct, which is why there now must be adjustments after the passage of Bill 9.
As correctly determined by the TIG convened for this purpose, a prompt and reasonable way to address this is by clarifying and modernizing Maui County’s zoning to classify these visitor focused / resort zone properties in a way that properly recognizes their actual, legal and longstanding (decades long) use as vacation rentals. They represent popular and diverse accommodation that provides important options to visitors, and especially to families who travel.
More importantly, they provide crucial economic benefits to Maui in the form of tax revenue and business patronage (especially to small and medium businesses) which well exceed that generated by neighboring large corporate Hotel / resort properties. I am writing in support of establishing new zoning categories H3/H4 as set forth in Bill 88. My wife and I are owners of condo property in Wailea -- County approved as, built as, and then used as, resort property allowed to be rented short term to Maui visitors.
For these reasons, I ask this commission, and the full Board, to vote in favor of Bill 88 and its creation of H3/H4 zoning.
Thank you.
Phil Trujillo
I respectfully submit this letter in strong support of Bill 88 and the initiative to appropriately recognize and rezone qualifying Minatoya properties under the H-3/H-4 hotel zoning classifications.
I am a Maui property owner whose condominiums have operated legally as short-term rentals for many years pursuant to the long-standing Minatoya interpretation. These properties were purchased, financed, maintained, and taxed in reliance upon the County’s historical recognition that short-term vacation rental use was permissible.
Bill 88 establishes a fair and practical path forward by aligning zoning classifications with the longstanding and established use of these properties. Rather than eliminating lawful visitor accommodations that have existed for decades, the bill acknowledges the realities of current use while providing regulatory clarity and long-term stability for both property owners and the County.
The uncertainty surrounding Minatoya properties has already produced significant consequences. Property values have declined, owners are facing financial instability, and many local residents who rely upon the visitor industry are increasingly concerned about their livelihoods. Vacation rentals support not only property owners, but also cleaners, contractors, landscapers, restaurants, retailers, activity providers, and numerous other small businesses throughout Maui.
Importantly, many Minatoya properties were originally designed, marketed, and operated as visitor accommodations. Reclassifying qualifying units into H-3/H-4 zoning does not create new hotels; rather, it formally recognizes existing visitor inventory that has long been an integral component of Maui’s tourism infrastructure.
I also believe Bill 88 will help prevent unintended consequences. Removing thousands of lawful short-term rentals from the market without realistic replacement accommodations could place additional strain on Maui’s economy, reduce visitor lodging options, increase the prevalence of illegal and unregulated rentals, and create further instability within the housing and real estate markets.
I understand and appreciate the County’s efforts to address Maui’s housing challenges. However, Bill 88 offers a more balanced and measured approach that advances housing objectives while also respecting property rights, longstanding County policy, and the investments made by responsible owners acting in good faith.
Accordingly, I respectfully urge the Council to support Bill 88 and provide a stable and lawful framework for Minatoya properties moving forward.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and dedicated service to the people of Maui.
May 25, 2026
RE: Bill 88 H3/H4 ZONING DISTRICTS
Aloha Maui County Councilmembers,
I have been visiting Maui since the 1970s and have owned condos in Ma‘alaea, Wailea, and Kihei for over 30
years.
Currently, I am the Vice President of Maalaea Banyans AOAO.
Short-term rentals were explicitly allowed in the declaration for Maalaea Banyans, approved by the County when
the property was built almost 50 years ago, and the property has operated with short-term rentals ever since. It
was also grandfathered under the Minatoya List, as were many properties in Wailea and Kihei.
How Mayor Bissen can now contend that if too many owners spend too much time in another ZIP code, they can
and should be deprived of the legal and constitutional property rights they have had and enjoyed since purchasing
their property is difficult to understand.
Although Maalaea Banyans was not included on the TIG E2 list, it shares many of the same reasons these
oceanfront Ma‘alaea properties are not viable candidates for long-term affordable housing: limited storage,
insufficient parking for multiple vehicles per unit, sea level rise concerns, and distance from major employment
centers, schools, and shopping.
Most important, aging infrastructure costs make these properties unrealistic as affordable housing options. Only
because Maalaea Banyans functions successfully as a short-term rental property are owners able to afford the
substantial maintenance and repair costs required to preserve a nearly 50-year-old oceanfront building.
Passing Bill 88 establishes the framework for the potential creation of H3/H4 zoning districts for vacation rentals.
While I understand it does not currently address specific buildings, all Ma‘alaea condominium properties are
facing major future infrastructure costs and likely special assessments simply to maintain these aging oceanfront
communities.
Many owners stay in their condominiums for weeks or months at a time and have done so for decades.
Eliminating the short-term rental option would deprive owners not only of rental income but also of the ability to
continue spending meaningful time in Maui, as they have for many years.
Because of the higher short-term rental tax classification, owners already pay substantial county real property
taxes. In my case, the tiny one-bedroom condominiums generate nearly $10,000 annually in county property
taxes, and my two-bedroom unit generates $13,000.
UHERO projects a loss of approximately $750 million in annual tax revenue if short-term rentals are eliminated.
UHERO also projects that eliminating STRs in apartment-zoned districts could reduce visitor days by 32%,
reduce visitor spending by approximately $900 million annually, and result in the loss of roughly 1,900 jobs.
In return for this staggering loss of tax and visitor revenue, UHERO suggests some units may become available
for long-term rental housing but provides little evidence that these units would become truly affordable or
suitable for local working families.
Thoughtful development of workforce housing near employment centers, schools, and infrastructure̶designed
specifically for local and multigenerational families̶would do far more to address Maui’s housing challenges
without undermining the constitutional rights of thousands of long-time property owners who have supported
Maui for decades.
It would also help avoid lengthy and expensive litigation that benefits no one.
Ma‘alaea condominiums are unique. The oceanfront corridor along Hauoli Street has one road in and one road
out, is surrounded by agricultural and conservation districts, and has already spent years pursuing a regional
wastewater reclamation solution. Those efforts would provide significant environmental and water conservation
benefits for the community.
I appreciate your careful consideration of these issues as you evaluate your next steps.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Terri Zager
Vice President, Maalaea Banyans AOAO
To all concerned
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter
We are owners of a unit at the Paoakea since 2015.
We purchased our property following all the laws including all taxes that are charged to us to this day.
We are a no on the proposed bill that would take our rights as lawful owners away.
Respectfully
Jayne and Warren Grinnell
Aloha HLU committee members,
I am writing in strong support of the passage of Bill 88.
This bill recognizes that Maui has desperately needed clarification of a zoning category that aligns with the existing use of condo communities that were designed, marketed, taxed, and legally operated as transient accommodations for decades.
In passing Bill 88, you are insuring that many local workforce families will continue to be supported in their efforts to remain on island….their beloved home.
Mahalo for your dedication and time,
Karen Weitzel
South Maui
To the Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
Aloha Chair and Committee Members,
My name is Glenn Bresllin, and I am an owner of a short-term rental property on Maui. I respectfully ask that you consider the impacts that Bill 88 may have on owners like myself, as well as on Maui’s visitor industry and economy.
My unit was designed and built primarily for short-term visitor accommodations, not long-term residential living. The unit has only one parking space, limited closet and storage space, and a layout that is not practical or adequate for full-time family occupancy. These types of units were intended for transient vacation use and do not realistically meet the needs of many long-term residents.
Short-term rentals provide an important balance for Maui. They allow visitors to come and experience our island while supporting local businesses, restaurants, housekeeping companies, maintenance workers, landscapers, contractors, and many other jobs connected to tourism. Visitors staying in short-term rentals contribute directly to our local economy.
Eliminating or severely restricting these properties may not create the long-term housing solutions many hope for, especially when certain units are not suitable for permanent residential use to begin with. Instead, it could place financial hardship on property owners while also impacting tourism-related employment and county tax revenues.
I understand and support the need for more affordable housing for Maui residents. However, I respectfully believe there must also be reasonable consideration for existing legal short-term rental owners and the unique characteristics of these properties.
I ask the Committee to carefully consider solutions that protect both local housing needs and the economic realities of Maui’s tourism-based community.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and service to our county.
Sincerely,
Glenn Bresllin
Noelani Owner unit 104
Aloha,
I am in full support of establishing H-3 and H-4 hotel zones. It is imperative that these zones are created and will allow legal short term rental properties to continue operating in compliance of county laws. We desperately need the tax revenue generated from these STR properties.
With Aloha,
Terri Abay-Abay
Please support this bill. Without it the units you will end up with a large number of condos that were built to be short term rentals sitting vacant, with no tax revenue. Residents have already shown they have no desire to rent small 1-bedroom condos with no storage, limited parking, no pets and high rents due to high HOA and mortgage costs. Allowing zoning for short term rentals in areas where it makes sense will also avoid costly litigation and insure future tax revenue and tourism and support jobs for locals.
I am writing in strong support of Bill 88. Establishing proper H3/H4 zoning districts for longstanding, legally operating visitor accommodations is a necessary and fair correction to Maui County's zoning code.
I urge you to pass this bill for three critical reasons:
Protects the Local Economy: Tourism is our economic engine. As UHERO projections show, eliminating legal STRs threatens hundreds of millions in county tax revenue and thousands of local jobs—directly impacting housekeepers, property managers, and small businesses.
Honors Legal Property Rights: These purpose-built resort properties have operated legally for decades. Retroactively stripping these rights from owners who purchased in good faith is fundamentally unfair and invites costly, unnecessary litigation.
Reflects Housing Realities: Targeting legacy visitor accommodations will not solve our affordable housing crisis. Aging oceanfront complexes with exorbitant HOA fees and major maintenance costs will never become affordable workforce housing; they will simply sit vacant or become second homes for the ultra-wealthy.
Bill 88 provides much-needed clarity and protects both our local workforce and legally established property rights. Please vote to support it.
Mahalo for your time and service to Maui County!
I'm Dan McKenna and I'm testifying in support of Bill 88. I want to thank the members of the TIG, Office of Council Services and Department of the Corporation Counsel for their time and talent attending seven meetings in September 2025. I encourage the passage of Bill 88 on first reading without revisions. Many thanks to the members of the HLU for their consideration of establishment of the H-3 and H-4 hotel districts.
My name is Renee Sullivan, We own a condo in Grand Champions, which is on the Montoya list. I want to thank you for your time. I hope you are aware, but I want to remind you that after the Lahaina fire, FEMA paid short term rental owners approximately 9k per month to allow fire victims to move into condos in South Maui, including Grand Champions. Many of the condos sat vacant, even though the rent was fully paid by FEMA. So, essentially, tens of thousands of all of our tax dollars were paid to owners unnecessarily. In my opinion this proves most people from Lahanina do not want to live in South Maui, particularly in a condo that is 1,000 sqare feet with no garage or land for children to play. I believe certain apartment complexes should be zoned H3-H4 where it is clearly evident locals do not want to live in certain types of condos and certain areas. Not to mention the large revenue that is lost from taxes, business loss and job loss of many locals. Please consider the facts and the potential financial devastation that the full enforcement of Bill 9 will crreate as you deliberate on moving forward with the H3/H4 zoning option. Mahalo for your consideration.
Dear Committee Members,
My name is Sandi Resheske and I own a home (Kula) and 2 vacation condos (Kamaole Sands) here.on Maui. I am asking you to please support Bill 88 and stop this path of destruction to our economy and tourism. Maui needs tourism to sustain the economy and jobs that sustain most of the people who live and work here. Even if you don't directly work in the tourism industry you are most likely affected in some way by tourist generated revenue - even the Mayor is paid with tax dollars which a huge portion comes from taxes paid by STR revenue. This witch hunt started almost 3 years ago after the wild fires with the claim that "Locals" needed housing - now 3 years later new housing is everywhere - people are settled or have moved off island and Vacation Condos are sitting empty - our real estate values are almost in half, only distress sales are being sold but not to Locals to live in, but to off shore investors. In the meantime, housekeepers have little work and are being laid off, we are all struggling to keep our payments and HOA fees paid. I live here and built my home so not to take away from a Local family needing housing - as a matter of fact, we built a smaller home so that we could add an ohana to help provide affordable housing for another Maui family, but to help offset my monthly expenses and cost of living in retirement I depend on the income of my two Vacation Rentals. I am almost 70 and my future and livelihood now lie in the Councils hands. This is scary at this age and time of my life. I, along with countless other STR Owners, bought condos that were "Legal" and supposedly PROTECTED under the Minatoya List. We have paid taxes and followed the laws. We are not large corporations, most STR's are vacation homes that help serve visitors whenever the owners are not occupying them themselves. We do not need MORE rentals, we need to support what we have. Kamaole Sands is 440 units with a freestanding front office with uniformed staff that operates 24/7/365. Let's stop the BS and get Maui, her people and the economy back on the right track. Mahalo Council - Respectfully, Sandi Resheske
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Eric Detwiler, I am a full-time resident of Maui Kamaole and I respectfully support Bill 88 and the creation of the proposed H3/H4 zoning framework for lawful vacation rental properties on Maui.
Vacation rentals on a Minatoya list are small, responsibly managed properties owned by individuals that have long operated as visitor accommodations and contribute directly to Maui’s economy, tourism infrastructure, and local workforce. These properties were purchased, financed, insured, taxed, and operated under longstanding lawful visitor-use expectations.
I support zoning modernization efforts that create clarity, consistency, and proper alignment between actual historical use and county zoning designations. Establishing H3/H4 districts provides an opportunity for Maui County to modernize outdated zoning classifications while recognizing the longstanding reality of visitor accommodations in appropriate areas.
I also appreciate that the discussion surrounding potential future rezoning criteria includes consideration of factors such as historical visitor use, leasehold structures, economic realities, and sea level rise exposure areas. Many properties impacted by Bill 9 were never realistically part of workforce housing inventory and have functioned as visitor accommodations for decades.
Vacation rentals also support many local jobs and small businesses, including cleaners, maintenance workers, landscapers, contractors, property managers, restaurants, activity providers, and countless others who rely on visitor-related income to support their families here on Maui.
I respectfully ask the Council to continue moving forward thoughtfully and constructively with zoning modernization efforts through Bill 88 and future H3/H4 discussions. Creating lawful pathways for appropriately situated visitor accommodations is important not only for property owners, but for the broader Maui community and economy.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and service to Maui County.
Eric Detwiler
Kihei, Hawai‘i
I am born and raised on Maui and mostly dependent on the tourist economy for my income. When Bill 9 was first put out it sent a chill down my spine. When it was approved I began making a 5 year exit strategy. Most of the work I do is in these older south Maui complexes where I like to think I'm one of the first peoeple the owners and the managers contact. I have already seen work slow to a pace like covid and after the fire. I've read that tourist spending is still pretty strong but the uncertainty has property owners and management companies tightening thier wallets. Between annual property tax rate hikes I heara bout all the time and long vacancies in normally busy rentals there is so much uncertainty that work is being put off. My brother works for a realtor and no condos are even selling so people that want out of this crazy sitauation can't get out. And the condos that are moving are not to local buyers. So I ask then what was the point of all this?
Mayor said that they hoped to bring down housing prices and that's been done. He also said that his goal was to force owners to either rent to a local or sell. Well someone with a $1m mortgage on a smal condo can't rent to anyone for the price locals can afford. Now they can't sell their condo without a big financial loss. So locals have lost out and will continue to lose out. STR owners can't rent short term and cant afford to rent long term, and are losing money they worked a lifetime to have just because they mayor thinks what they gain or lose isn't important. Who are the winners here? Locals? No. Condo owners? no. COunty? No.
Bill 88 will get things back on track. it will make things predictable again. If it doesn't then my plan is to head Arizona in 2029. Yeah, a red state. That;s how bad this mayor has made this place What is worst is that he does it all while preaching his love for the people of Maui. Kind of like Trunp's America first and how he pretends to love the rednecks who vote for him. Nobody is staying because of Bissen polcies. but plenty have left or are leaving or going to leave because of them.
I sopport Bill 88 because it can bring back most of what we had before.
As a retired owner at Haleonoloa with very high HOA fees property tax and house payment without short term rental most long term owners will not be able to make payments..I would be looking at forclosure after owning for over twenty years. Since Covid, fires and now this it has been hard to keep property yet unable to sell.Most of us are on fixed income. Property values have fallen 30 percent and so has the short term rental market.
Here's a rewrite that holds your voice and sharpens the frame:
Aloha Chair U‘u-Hodgins, Vice Chair Batangan, and members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
My name is Julie Graham. I own a condo affected by this legislation, and I want to speak to you as someone who supports affordable housing on Maui and has serious doubts that this bill achieves it.
I live in my unit half the year. I rarely rent it short-term. But most of my neighbors do — and they are not corporations. They are older adults who bought a modest condo as a retirement asset, following rules that Maui itself established. The Minatoya List was a promise. These owners made financial decisions in good faith based on that promise. Retroactively eliminating their income isn't regulation — it's pulling the rug out from people who followed the law.
I don't believe this helps local families find housing. One-bedroom condos with high HOA fees are not what Maui's workforce needs, and they won't become affordable simply because they go dark. New York tried broad STR restrictions and did not see the housing relief promised. What we're more likely to see is vacancies, owner bankruptcies, and eventually distressed sales to hotel developers who will level the buildings entirely. That helps no one who needs a home on Maui.
The economic consequences are also documented. UHERO projected that a wide-scale phase-out could cost Maui up to $900 million in annual visitor spending, 1,900 lost jobs, and $60 million in annual property tax revenue by 2029 — money that funds the very services local families depend on.
I support the goal. I ask the Council to pursue it through means that actually produce affordable housing — permitting reform, deed-restricted development, targeted construction incentives — rather than through a policy that punishes individual owners while leaving the underlying shortage untouched.
Thousands of condo owners purchased units with legal, codified exemptions that allowed short-term rentals. People will go to court costing Maui hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend against the lawsuits. The lawyers will be the only folks who are happy. It likely won't help Maui or families or retired folks, just the attorneys and waste taxpayer monies. I'm split in two here, I want what is best for Maui and I just don't believe this is. I'm fine with paying taxes, and would rather that we reinvest STR tax revenues and permit fees into the dedicated development of new affordable housing.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Julie Graham
The committees have strung short term vacation rental owners along for over 2 years. The council ignores the results of some very prestigious organizations hired to submit their findings. What more is there to be said.? Short term vacation owners who abide by all the rules, pay their taxes, and voice their opinions...,all ignored by the powers that be in control. When is enough enough? Can't wait to vote the lot out of office
I have been welcoming visitors since 2014. establishing the H-3 and H-4 districts is vital and honors that long-standing history
Dear Chair Uʻu-Hodgins, Vice-Chair Batangan, and Members of the Housing and Land Use Committee,
We are writing from the heart to express our strong support for Bill 88. As property owners who are deeply committed to Maui and its people, we appreciate the Committee taking up this critical measure. Bill 88 is a common-sense technical correction, but more importantly, it is a vital step toward keeping our island community stable and secure. For over forty years, these properties were structurally and legally designed to welcome visitors, and establishing the H-3 and H-4 districts simply honors that long-standing history.
What worries us most about the alternative is the deeply personal and devastating impact it will have on local families and small businesses. The people who are going to be hurt most by destroying this tax base are the everyday residents who make Maui run. The tax revenues generated by these properties directly fund the public services, parks, and first responders our community relies on daily.
Beyond the county budget, there is a massive human ecosystem that depends on these homes. Our guests directly sustain the local restaurants, mom-and-pop shops, and activity providers that are the lifeblood of our towns. Preserving these visitor uses keeps food on the table for our local cleaners, property managers, handymen, and local trade contractors who are still working hard to find stability and recover.
Bill 88 is a balanced, compassionate tool that preserves Maui’s economic engine while protecting the livelihoods of the families who call this island home. We respectfully urge the Committee to recommend passage of Bill 88 on first reading. Thank you for your leadership, your heart, and your dedication to the people of Maui.
Sincerely,
Ryan Stirling & Erica Ryan
Honorable Council Member,
I am writing on behalf of my family, who have owned a condominium at the Noelani Oceanfront Condominium Resort (4095 Lower Honoapiʻilani Road) since 1975. For nearly 50 years, Unit 109 has never been viewed as an investment property. Instead, it has been a place where deep connections were formed—within our family, within the Lahaina community, and with the natural beauty of Maui.
For historical context, Noelani was built in 1974 and has continuously operated as a condo-hotel. The property maintains a staffed lobby with managed check-in during standard operating hours. Rentals are coordinated through the Noelani Rental Association (NRA), not through individual owner advertising. This operational structure clearly distinguishes Noelani from peer-to-peer vacation rental platforms where owners directly market their units. Additionally, including Noelani in Exhibit 2—or pursuing a parallel, council-initiated rezoning to H-3 or H-4—would align with its location within the long-established Honokōwai–Kahana–Nāpilī visitor and resort corridor recognized in County planning efforts.
Our family’s connection to Noelani is deeply personal. Our father passed away in September 2019, and memorial torches on the Noelani property honor the many years of service he dedicated to the area. Just four and a half years later, we lost our mother. Becoming stewards of this condominium has allowed us, their children, to preserve a tangible connection to them. Noelani—Unit 109—is part of our ʻohana. It is a place where loved ones who are no longer with us are remembered, and where we continue to honor our responsibility to care for, uplift, and support the Lahaina community.
With great respect, I ask Mayor Richard Bissen and the Maui County Council consider Noelani Oceanfront Condominium Resort as a candidate for inclusion in the H-2 to H-4 hotel zoning classifications. Doing so would help restore balance and fairness, while recognizing the unique history and function of this property. Addressing this matter thoughtfully would reflect a holistic approach to governance and honor the Hawaiʻi State motto: “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono” — “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Respectfully,
Gary, Scott, and Jennifer Bethell
Family Owners, Unit 109
Noelani Oceanfront Condominium Resort
In Support of Bill 88
Bill 88 is necessary to correct the mistaken assumption, and myth, that “all condos” on the Minatoya List were originally built “as workforce housing.” This is not correct, which is why there now must be adjustments after the passage of Bill 9.
As correctly determined by the TIG convened for this purpose, a prompt and reasonable way to address this is by clarifying and modernizing Maui County’s zoning to classify these visitor focused / resort zone properties in a way that properly recognizes their actual, legal and longstanding (decades long) use as vacation rentals. They represent popular and diverse accommodation that provides important options to visitors, and especially to families who travel.
More importantly, they provide crucial economic benefits to Maui in the form of tax revenue and business patronage (especially to small and medium businesses) which well exceed that generated by neighboring large corporate Hotel / resort properties. I am writing in support of establishing new zoning categories H3/H4 as set forth in Bill 88. My wife and I are owners of condo property in Wailea -- County approved as, built as, and then used as, resort property allowed to be rented short term to Maui visitors.
For these reasons, I ask this commission, and the full Board, to vote in favor of Bill 88 and its creation of H3/H4 zoning.
Thank you.
Phil Trujillo
To the Maui County Council,
I respectfully submit this letter in strong support of Bill 88 and the initiative to appropriately recognize and rezone qualifying Minatoya properties under the H-3/H-4 hotel zoning classifications.
I am a Maui property owner whose condominiums have operated legally as short-term rentals for many years pursuant to the long-standing Minatoya interpretation. These properties were purchased, financed, maintained, and taxed in reliance upon the County’s historical recognition that short-term vacation rental use was permissible.
Bill 88 establishes a fair and practical path forward by aligning zoning classifications with the longstanding and established use of these properties. Rather than eliminating lawful visitor accommodations that have existed for decades, the bill acknowledges the realities of current use while providing regulatory clarity and long-term stability for both property owners and the County.
The uncertainty surrounding Minatoya properties has already produced significant consequences. Property values have declined, owners are facing financial instability, and many local residents who rely upon the visitor industry are increasingly concerned about their livelihoods. Vacation rentals support not only property owners, but also cleaners, contractors, landscapers, restaurants, retailers, activity providers, and numerous other small businesses throughout Maui.
Importantly, many Minatoya properties were originally designed, marketed, and operated as visitor accommodations. Reclassifying qualifying units into H-3/H-4 zoning does not create new hotels; rather, it formally recognizes existing visitor inventory that has long been an integral component of Maui’s tourism infrastructure.
I also believe Bill 88 will help prevent unintended consequences. Removing thousands of lawful short-term rentals from the market without realistic replacement accommodations could place additional strain on Maui’s economy, reduce visitor lodging options, increase the prevalence of illegal and unregulated rentals, and create further instability within the housing and real estate markets.
I understand and appreciate the County’s efforts to address Maui’s housing challenges. However, Bill 88 offers a more balanced and measured approach that advances housing objectives while also respecting property rights, longstanding County policy, and the investments made by responsible owners acting in good faith.
Accordingly, I respectfully urge the Council to support Bill 88 and provide a stable and lawful framework for Minatoya properties moving forward.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and dedicated service to the people of Maui.
Sincerely,
Berglioth “Brie” Mathews
Kihei, Maui
May 25, 2026
RE: Bill 88 H3/H4 ZONING DISTRICTS
Aloha Maui County Councilmembers,
I have been visiting Maui since the 1970s and have owned condos in Ma‘alaea, Wailea, and Kihei for over 30
years.
Currently, I am the Vice President of Maalaea Banyans AOAO.
Short-term rentals were explicitly allowed in the declaration for Maalaea Banyans, approved by the County when
the property was built almost 50 years ago, and the property has operated with short-term rentals ever since. It
was also grandfathered under the Minatoya List, as were many properties in Wailea and Kihei.
How Mayor Bissen can now contend that if too many owners spend too much time in another ZIP code, they can
and should be deprived of the legal and constitutional property rights they have had and enjoyed since purchasing
their property is difficult to understand.
Although Maalaea Banyans was not included on the TIG E2 list, it shares many of the same reasons these
oceanfront Ma‘alaea properties are not viable candidates for long-term affordable housing: limited storage,
insufficient parking for multiple vehicles per unit, sea level rise concerns, and distance from major employment
centers, schools, and shopping.
Most important, aging infrastructure costs make these properties unrealistic as affordable housing options. Only
because Maalaea Banyans functions successfully as a short-term rental property are owners able to afford the
substantial maintenance and repair costs required to preserve a nearly 50-year-old oceanfront building.
Passing Bill 88 establishes the framework for the potential creation of H3/H4 zoning districts for vacation rentals.
While I understand it does not currently address specific buildings, all Ma‘alaea condominium properties are
facing major future infrastructure costs and likely special assessments simply to maintain these aging oceanfront
communities.
Many owners stay in their condominiums for weeks or months at a time and have done so for decades.
Eliminating the short-term rental option would deprive owners not only of rental income but also of the ability to
continue spending meaningful time in Maui, as they have for many years.
Because of the higher short-term rental tax classification, owners already pay substantial county real property
taxes. In my case, the tiny one-bedroom condominiums generate nearly $10,000 annually in county property
taxes, and my two-bedroom unit generates $13,000.
UHERO projects a loss of approximately $750 million in annual tax revenue if short-term rentals are eliminated.
UHERO also projects that eliminating STRs in apartment-zoned districts could reduce visitor days by 32%,
reduce visitor spending by approximately $900 million annually, and result in the loss of roughly 1,900 jobs.
In return for this staggering loss of tax and visitor revenue, UHERO suggests some units may become available
for long-term rental housing but provides little evidence that these units would become truly affordable or
suitable for local working families.
Thoughtful development of workforce housing near employment centers, schools, and infrastructure̶designed
specifically for local and multigenerational families̶would do far more to address Maui’s housing challenges
without undermining the constitutional rights of thousands of long-time property owners who have supported
Maui for decades.
It would also help avoid lengthy and expensive litigation that benefits no one.
Ma‘alaea condominiums are unique. The oceanfront corridor along Hauoli Street has one road in and one road
out, is surrounded by agricultural and conservation districts, and has already spent years pursuing a regional
wastewater reclamation solution. Those efforts would provide significant environmental and water conservation
benefits for the community.
I appreciate your careful consideration of these issues as you evaluate your next steps.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Terri Zager
Vice President, Maalaea Banyans AOAO