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RA R T ,�50 Bisk,op Sr. #50$ <br /> GHonolulu, HI 96913 <br /> 808-8 +-1776 <br /> inf grassrootinstitute.org <br /> Removing barriers to Hawaii's prosperity <br /> April 4, 2024, 9 a.m. <br /> Hawaii County Council Chambers in Hilo <br /> To: Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission <br /> Dennis Lin, Chair <br /> Louis Daniele III, Vice-Chair <br /> From:Joe Kent, Executive vice president <br /> Grassroot Institute of Hawaii <br /> RE: Agenda item no. 5 — Bill 121 <br /> Aloha Chair Lin, Vice-Chair Daniele III and other members of the Commission, <br /> The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its comments in opposition to the proposed draft of Bill <br /> 121, which would replace the existing regulations on short-term rentals with a new set of regulations covering <br /> owner-hosted, operator-hosted and unhosted STRs. <br /> We are concerned about the effect that this measure might have on existing STR operators, small businesses <br /> and the broader Hawaii Island economy. <br /> Regarding its potential effect on the broader Hawaii Island economy, a 2020 study commissioned by the Hawaii <br /> Tourism Authority discovered that STRs are generally less expensive than hotels and that "30% respondents <br /> reported that if there was not a home and vacation rental option during their recent stay in Hawaii, they would <br /> not have made the trip."' <br /> Thus, these regulations could have a cascading effect, causing damage to other tourist-focused businesses, <br /> such as car rental agencies, restaurants and tour operators, as well grocery and other retail outlets and <br /> workers employed in cleaning, repairing and maintaining the STR units. <br /> 1"Hawaii's Home and Vacation Rental Market: Impact and Outlook,' prepared for the Hawaii Tourism Authority by Rus Hotels& <br /> Hospitality Group,April 20,2020,p. 10. <br /> 1050 Bishop St.#508 Honolulu,HI 96813 808-864-1776 info@grassrootinstitute.org <br /> 1 <br />