HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.024 2022-2024 From: Nicki Conti
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2024 11:00 AM
To: Council Testimony c,
Subject: Bill 121
I am writing in hopes that you will reconsider some of the provisions in Bill 121. —
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It is my belief that this bill is not going to increase affordable housing on our Island especially in ral
areas where many of the vacation rentals are located . Did bill 108 adopted by the council in 2016 ;
increase housing in any measurable way ?
There are a number of problems with this bill.
First, how will the county enforce it ? Right now there a numerous vacation rentals in my area that do not
have tax registration numbers and are not paying their taxes , but the county does not seem to have the
personnel available to enforce even this .
Second, if you do start enforcing this bill how will you ensure the enforcement is equal to all who are not
abiding by the new laws . As far as I can tell this will be along the same lines as current unpermitted
housing enforcement ,whereas only those who have neighbors complain will be subject to the law.
Third , There are many rural areas on the Island where there are no hotels, places where people want to
come to experience, nature ,the jungle, or stay on a farm. The people who are providing these types
of vacation rentals are not making huge amounts of money , most are just supplementing their incomes and
trying to get by. Example; If you charge $150 a night and have an have an occupancy of 80 % , which is
very high, after paying the GET, TAT etc the income would be around $36,000 not including cost like toilet
paper, sope,etc. That$36,000 is then being put back into the local economy , not being sent off Island to
large hotel corporations. If you take away the ability of already low income residence to supplement their
income and to host vacationers and share their knowledge and Aloha , you are hurting both the locals and
the visitors.
Forth , Many host of vacation rentals that will be prohibited to rent short term will not switch over to long
term rentals. For various reason including , besides using their rentals for guest they also host their
friends and family and want the space to be available for that use. The rental is not set up for long term as
it does not provide a full kitchen or other infrastructure . They want the choice of having privacy at the
property and not always have someone there. The rental in is a remote area with insufficient roads , water,
and electricity to support long term rentals and is not a desirable location for long term living
for people commuting to jobs who are seeking housing.
This bill seems to be written with a one size fits all approach and on our Island this just does not work . A
vacation rental in Puna is not the same as a house in Hilo or a condo in Kailua Kona .
The changes I would like to see in this bill include; Comm. N .
Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date JAN 2 3 2024
Allowing residents in rural areas on acreage where there are no hotels rent their Ohanas and farm dwelling
,not just their bedrooms and guest houses .
Allow residents with larger properties to provide vacation rentals that are camping as long as they
have adequate sanitation ,water. how about a camping building code? There are many visitors to the
island that want to camp either for the experience or to save expenses and there are very
few official camping locations and hard to get permits . Currently there is only one place to legally camp in
all of lower Puna. FYI they are going to do it anyway , the county might as well get the tax revenue .
The registration fees are too high for someone already paying 17.75% rental taxes and higher
property taxes for the rental portion of their property , how is this making Hawaii more affordable for
residents?
The fines are higher then some criminal fines on the island .
Not allowing an owner of a hosted rental to live in the attached guest house or bedroom and rent the main
house will primarily hurt those who are older and want to downsize without leaving their home .To be able
to continue to supplement their social security income and have less house to take care of. Imagine a new
widow or widower who has been using vacation rentals for many years as income and now alone wants to
continue to make that income but move into the smaller portion of their home without having someone live
in their home full time. This should not only be a choice they have , it should be their right.
I can see the County of Hawaii wanting to have some control over vacation rentals but this new bill
is completely over the top in restrictions and reads like a military bill .
Lastly as a resident of lower Puna who has lived here for 24 years through many many changes, including
losing my home in 2018; I have written numerous letters over the years on various bills, and while writing
this one , I ask myself why I bother. I know there are plenty of residents who also feel this same way. I
have always followed the county and state rules , I pay my taxes , my house is permitted , I have a
business license etc but I have to say, I have never really felt represented by the county council.
Thank you Nicki Conti
PO Box 2084 Pahoa Hi
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