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From: Todd Marohnic <br /> To: LPCtestimony <br /> Subject: Oppose Bill 121 <br /> Date: Monday,April 15,2024 10:52:49 AM <br /> Aloha, <br /> As a 25 year operator/owner of vacation rentals in Volcano I'd like to object to the constant threat to what is our <br /> self-made family business. We've jumped through every one of the hoops that you've made us do in the past to <br /> conform to new rules. While others have not and continue to operate. I believe your first bill and all of the new fees <br /> were supposed to address this? <br /> Just some points in favor of vacation rentals: <br /> To large part and certainly in our case,the money we generate supports our family and all of our money is spent <br /> locally. We buy our soaps home made from a Farmer's Market and any other products that we can to support our <br /> local community. <br /> Vacation rentals in Volcano at least make the best neighbors,occupied 1/2 the time,the guests all have new(quiet) <br /> cars,no barking dogs etc...,the stereo that comes with the rental(no loud music),the houses and lawns are always <br /> kept up providing more jobs for cleaners,painters,carpenters,lawn care persons,etc........ <br /> I believe there are more pressing concerns than this to be addressed before we worry about more long term <br /> housing. Traffic is becoming absurd! There should be much more being done to address this,acquiring land(while <br /> still possible)to make new routes,for example...a road to connect Stainback to Saddle without going through Hilo. <br /> Resurfacing Stainback is great but about 5 years overdue. Obviously,another route into Puna. <br /> We built our business up over the years and would like to pass it on to our daughter who now works for us. We <br /> managed to put her through UH Manoa without burdening her with student loans by ramping up our business. It <br /> hasn't been an easy road with Covid,the 2018 eruption and the varying ups and downs of tourism. Please don't <br /> create another obstacle for us in what had been a self-made business with MANY happy guests and neighbors that <br /> are more than OK with what we do. BTW,we live on the same street as our rentals and would NOT tolerate unruly <br /> guests. I also live next to a vacation rental that is not ours and love it for the above mentioned reasons. <br /> Mahalo, <br /> Todd <br /> Todd Marohnic <br /> Owner/operator <br />