HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.103 2022-2024 From: Denise Nakanishi
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2024 1:30 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Written testimony for Tuesday...sorry, I'm waiting for an MRI at Queens so hope this
format works.
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Written testimony regarding proposed legislation, County of Hawaii TAR bills Lkr. , --x;,
My name is Lily. After working most of my life, I was happy to retire. I don't mind being on a fixed inconiie butjt`s'
sure hard to make ends meet in Hawaii. Of course, I didn't count on loosing my husband a few years agg. The=
good new is that my children are doing well and are all out on their own. My 4 bedroom home is paid off which also
helps but even on-going maintenance is expensive. My car is also going to need to be replaced. What is a widow
to do? I'm thinking that renting a few rooms in my home may help. I don't want people here long just in case my
Mo'opuna want to visit. Besides, hosting a vacationer would net much more money, I'll meet people from other
places and I'll have a credit card on file,just in case. I do hope to put away some money so I can travel. I guess I
can ask a friend to stay at my home with the renters when I'm gone. I think being in downtown Hilo will be a big
draw for a visitor. I did hear I'm going to need to pay a fee that will allow me to rent rooms in my house. I'm not
sure how I'll pay the fee and I'm confused about which fee I'm supposed to pay. I guess I'll need to borrow money
to pay the fee...when I figure out what I'm supposed to pay.
The above is a hypothetical that demonstrates one example of the unintended consequences of the proposed
bill(s). I could demonstrate many, many more. Your focus should be health, safety and making life easier for your
constituents. You need to focus on homelessness,fixing the wastewater and solid waste issues and cost of living
issues...of when housing is one. Creating confusing and ineffective rules is creating a problem not a solution.
Real property rights are among the most fundamental bundle of rights we have as citizens. Hawaii is already the
most regulated state in the nation, by far! We don't need more regulations that tell us what we are notable to do
with property we work hard to buy and for which we pay,as in Lily's case,taxes for decades. Much like this
proposal,Act 208 was touted as a vehicle for increasing long term rentals. This has not happened. It was also
meant to regulate issues such as noise abatement for which laws are already in effect. In many parts of the island,
there are not enough accommodations to service travelers not to mention that a vacation rental experience is a
very different experience than a hotel. It's often(at least for my family),family time where meals are prepared and
shared while making memories and bonding.
I'm sorry I could not be there to testify but I do appreciate you re-thinking the layering of highly confusing and
onerous rules upon those of us who just want to be left alone. Perhaps adding a surcharge on the tax bill may be in •
order but,don't forget,the tax burden in this State is also among the highest in the nation. Do we need more.
Respectfully submitted,
Denise S Nakanishi, REALTOR®
Major, US Army(Retired)
Comm. N . 1K
Denise S. Nakanishi, RBro31, CRS, GRI,ABR, ePro Ref. To:
Ref. Date , AN 2 3 2024
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