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From: <br />Rachelle Onaka <br />To: <br />LPCtestimony <br />Subject: <br />I STRONGLY OPPOSE BILL 121 <br />Date: <br />Tuesday, April 16, 2024 3:03:49 PM <br />The Hawaii County Council's presentation of Bill 121 TAR Legislation is <br />intentionally misleading. They do not give the full facts on the impact of this <br />Bill: <br />1) Very limited availability of short term rentals for traveling Hawaii residents. <br />Local residents use short term rentals for medical stays, family sporting events, <br />visiting family and friends, family events, educational stays, cultural stays, <br />family time and vacations to enjoy all of Hawaii Island. Hotel stays are not an <br />affordable alternative for local residents and families can not cook their own <br />meals to save some money. <br />2) The current Draft of Bill 121 changes the minimum stay from 30 days to 180 <br />days. This is very detrimental to needed work force housing, professionals, <br />specialists, remote workers. At the very least this bill should be revised back to <br />the current wording allowing 30 day minimum stays. <br />3) The council's statement that "everyone who operates a "legal" short term <br />rental will be able to continue to operate"; This is false!!!! <br />Hosted rentals are legal under the current STVR legislation. Many hosted <br />rentals will become "illegal" under Bill 121 and the restrictions it imposes. <br />4) According to State Land Use §205-4.5 Permissible uses within the <br />agricultural districts. Both Short term and Long Term rentals are <br />"illegal" uses of farm dwellings. However, Bill 121 specifically notes <br />the "illegal" use as short term rental but does nothing to enforce the <br />"illegal" use as long term rental housing for tenants that do not earn <br />income from agriculture. <br />I strongly oppose Bill 121! <br />This may forever limit opportunities for future generations! <br />Thank you, <br />Rachelle Onaka <br />