HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.588 2022-2024From: Sabrina Winder
Sent: Monday, September 3U'2U241O:47AK8
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Extra restrictions on STVRs will hurt everyone, especially Hawaiians
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Ab]ho'
I am writing regarding the proposed changes to tighten regulations on vacation rentals and make it
harder for vacation nenteistoexist inlarge areas ofthe island. The current proposed droftofrestrictions
is suggesting that many homeowners would not be allowed to rent to anyone for Less than 180 days
unignothey are owner -hosted. Theme extra vemtrictionsmmuuKd hurt not only the homeowners, but the
peopKewho rely on staying at those properties. VVeask you top\eaaeconsider how this would hurt so
many p8Op\8`and discontinue pursuing this bill.
AGthe owner Of3hosted vacation rental property, Ithought itwould help tOshare some Ofmyinsights
with you with our experiences:
First, more than haUlfmfthe people who rent our home are Hawaiians. Hawaiians who are traveling
from other islands for work, retreats, family gatherings, graduations, sports tournaments, etc. These
Hawaiians benefit a great deal from having a place to stay, particularly when there is a family or group of
people who need to stay together.
Hotekysimply donot provide the same kind ofcomfortable accommodations that homes do, especially
when there isogroup ofpeople traveling together. It's more affordable for ogroup tostay |nalarge home
rather than renting multiple hotel rooms. If you restrict vmcm*ionnmmtaKs amproposed, you are hurting
Hawaiians who rely on having a pKaceto stay with their various needm.
Secondly, our vacation rental - and every other vacation nantai-provides ahuge economic benefit tothe
b]C8i6! Our host who lives there relies on the housing provided to him at a discount. The people who
clean our house between guest stays and our lawn care contractors alt rely on the Mcome from our
vacation rental.
ALI. businesses reLated to tourism rely on people being able to have a ptace to stay, so that they can come
and give business to the Locals. Whether it be car rental. owners, people who sell in the market,
restaurants, or ziptine tours ... all. of these businesses depend on people being able to have a pLace to stay
when travaiingthere tobring business tothe island. These are your neighbors who would benegatively
impacted by the restrictions. When you restrict vacation rentats, you are hurting ALL tocat
businesses that depend on tourism.
There are simply not enough hotels to support the number of people who travel. and need lodging.
Furthermore, the number Ofvacation rentals iSS8tf-[8gUi8tedbased ODhow profitable itis. VV8have 8
neighbor nearby who said he tried renting out part of his home as a vacation rental, and found that it
wasn't making enough money tObOworth it, SOhe gave Upand discontinued renting itout. HOnneovvne[S
wiR figure out on their own if the STVR market is oversaturated and not worth renting out.
There seems to be a common idea that vacation rentals are to be blamed for a housing shortage. Have
you considered the possibility that the difficulty in obtaining building permits might be the biggest factor
inthe housing shortage? | personalty know ofabuilding project ontheBig|aiandthatiocurrentk/faoinge
2 year delay in completion, all due to delays with getting building permits. Myhusband recently spoke
with someone who tried toget his license anabuilding contractor onthe Big Island, and has faced mo
much red tape, that he still hasn't been able toget licensed after years ofpursuing it. This ie
unconscionable.
If the goal is tgprovide more housing on the island, then the most effective solution would be to
make it easier to build homes and get building contractors licensed on the island. |fyou remove
some of the existing barriers that are making it so difficult for developers to build, you will find that the
builders will come, and housing will beavailable 1Oall who are iDneed.
| appreciate the efforts to ensure that housing is available for everyone, but I hope that you will consider
the economic importance of keeping the tourism industry alive and providing housing to those that bring
business tnthe island. Instead, please focus on where the real solutions exist by making it easier for
construction tVtake place.
Thanks onmuch for your time.