2024-04-24 Bill 121 Barabara Powe

Home

From: Kona Blue To: WPCtestimonv Subject: Urgent Need for Reevaluation of Bill 121"s Impact on Local Communities Date: Wednesday,April 24,2024 12:45:30 PM Importance: High Chairman Dennis Lin Windward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni St. Unit 1502 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Chairman Lin, I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding Hawaii Bill 121 and its potential impacts on our local communities, particularly in terms of enforceability, inequity, and the transformation of neighborhoods. As a single family homeowner, I have witnessed firsthand the positive contributions that short-term rentals bring to our local economy and the sense of 'ohana they foster among visitors and residents alike. Many local small business's gain essential and regular income providing services to short-term rentals and would be significantly negatively impacted financially by the proposed changes. Further, many current visitors to our Island would not be able to afford to visit Hawaii if short-term rentals were not an accommodation option as it is families and extended family groups that frequently choose to stay in short-term rentals to share a special and memorable Hawaiian experience together as a family and gain a sense of Hawaiian culture and what the spirit of aloha means. However, Bill 121, as it currently stands, threatens to disrupt this balance. The bill's requirements, such as the affidavit requirement and intrusive reporting, pose significant challenges for property owners and operators, making it difficult for them to comply. This not only creates an environment of inequity but also places an undue burden on the Planning Department's staff, diverting resources from other critical areas. Moreover, the transformation of neighborhoods into exclusive zones, where only certain types of accommodations are permitted, undermines the spirit of aloha that defines our island. It restricts the ability of residents to share their homes and the beauty of Hawaii with visitors, which has long been a tradition in our communities. In light of these concerns, I respectfully request the Planning Commission to consider the following recommendations: