HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.432 2022-2024From: Julie Eliason
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2024 12:57 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Request for Economic Impact Study Before Proceeding with Bill 121
Chairperson Heather Kimball
Hawaii County Council
County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Aloha Chairperson Kimball,
I am writing to express my opposition to Hawaii Bill 121 and to request that the County
Council wait for the outcome of the economic impact study before proceeding with this
legislation. It is not clear to me why you would agree to do an economic impact study and
then proceed with passing Bill 121 before that study has been completed.
Anyone currently renting unhosted for 30 to 180 days will immediately become illegal. As
Honolulu found in 2023 when Bill 41 was overturned, this change is an unconstitutional
taking and will result in expensive litigation, which Hawaii County will lose.
Anyone who rents a home long term to an on -site host and rents an attached ohana short
term will immediately become illegal and will have no path to register for a permit. Only
homeowners will have the right to rent an ohana to help make ends meet.
Additionally, anyone renting a tiny home, yurt, tent, treehouse, camper, or other unique
structure will immediately become illegal. If they are caught renting in the future, they will
be fined up to $10,000 and forced to shut down.
Finally, let's remember that there continue to be no compelling reasons for this legislation.
The County Council has yet to identify a significant number of complaints or adverse
impacts on neighborhoods from hosted rentals (where the owner lives on the building
site).
In light of these concerns, I urge you to wait for the economic impact study's results before
moving forward with Bill 121.
Mahalo,
Julie Eliason and Robert Bojorquez
59-123 Ka Nani Drive
lilt
mum
bob. b6org uezo_qmaii.com