HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.549 2022-2024From: Marina Kandes
Sent: Monday, September 3l2O24938AK4
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Written testimony --Bill 121
Aloha Councit Member, with specific address to Ms. Kimbatt and Ms. Kierkiewicz,
| write in regards to Biii 121, with request for revisions to maintain ease in continuing houte' ntaL | mnn
a resident of Puna, Hawai'i who is required to spend substantial. time on Oahu due to employment since
2022.Aneirbnbhosted rental permits rnetosupport the KocaKeconomy, specifically women
businesses and workers and tax payments. There are Kimmited employment opportunities, hosted
rental, airbnb, short term rgnteia' provide substantial work. In my area, all "property managers" are
women -owned businesses who employ six to ten women (due the gendered constructs around
housework) to complete the regular cLeaning that occurs after each short term guest, providing
substantial regular income otherwise Un8V8ii8biB in tower Puna. | 8\SO have regular lawn care (another
woman owned buuinaaa\'
The short term nBnt8ialso allows DOyfamily, �including mynow adult children, who were raised On"Red
Road" to maintain our home and be part of the local community. We are able to return for about two
months over the winter hotidays and about three months in the summer. As well some weekends
throughout the year when work oiiovvu.We tried longer term rentals, from 45days to5months. These
types of renters, at least in lower Puna, are never local and are something like "snowbirds" from the West
Coast. It wiKKnmt increase housing awaiKabhKity.Our home also took atot ofwear and tear, unUkeSTVR'
inwhich visitors are inand out, exploring our beautiful area, where affomdabtohoteKmare absent.
Leaving our house empty is also not an option, the geckos, the feral cats, molds, mold, and the
temptation of an empty house (for squatting, etc.) requires regular activity at the house. Our location in
%ehena does not interfere with Hawaiian Home Lands orthe integrity ofthe neighborhood. [)nthe
other hand, a hotel in the area would be a terrible social and environmental intervention.
STVRs'offer an excellent solution (when owned by Hawai'i residents), supporting a more ecologically
effective tourism that may inspire, as Native Hawaiian knowLedge systems do, environmental practice
that vacationers can take with them and allow us to stay in our home, and support the locat economy.
rnahabofor your consideration,
M8[iD@