HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0236.044 2024-2026 P/PcPLUEP
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cow.zhi,
Kohala Coast-
RESORT ASSOCIATION
May 2,2025
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Ashley Kierkiewicz,Chair
Policy Committee on Planning,Land Use and Development
Hawaii County Council 72,3
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo,HI 96720 r.
Support for BM 47 Draft 1
Dear Chair Kierkiewicz and Members of the Policy Committee on Planning,Land Use and Development,
The Kohala Coast Resort Association(KCRA)is in full support of Bill 47 Draft 1.We are grateful to
Councilmembers Heather Kimball and Ashley Kierkiewicz,Planning Director Jeff Darrow,and Finance Director
Diane Nakagawa for stewarding this process.
There are several reasons we support this bill:
1) It will create a more equitable playing field in terms of registration,taxation and regulations by addressing all
types of transient accommodations rentals(TAR)—owner-hosted,operator-hosted and un-hosted,
2) It will help us obtain more accurate visitor counts and distribution models island-wide,
3) It will make sure the hosting platforms are transparent and accountable for reporting to the government,and
4) It will provide more comprehensive data,so that economic forecasting can be more accurate,planning for key
infrastructure improvements can be considered,and emergency communications plans can be implemented.
This bill is in alignment with Hawaii County's Destination Management Action Plan(DMAP)2021-2025,which was
completed with community,government and industry stakeholder involvement.Better management of TARs was
identified in the top 10 needs for Hawaii Island and can be found here-HTA Hawaii Island Action Plan
(hawaiitourismauthority.org).
As a board member for the Hawaii Island Safety and Security Professionals Association(HIS SPA),I am grateful that this
bill will help address visitor safety.And as a former executive director and board member of the Visitor Aloha Society of
Hawaii WASH)I am glad this bill will ensure that accommodations offered online are safe,secure,and actually exist, as
during my tenure I had to fmd alternate accommodations for visitors who were the victims of bait-and-switch scams.
The Kohala Coast Resort Association is a collection of master-planned resorts, situated north of the Ellison Onizuka Kona
International Airport at Keahole. KCRA members employ more than 5,500 Hawaii Island residents, supporting more than
17,000 family members, at our hotels, timeshares, golf courses, restaurants, shopping centers and spas. Based on our last
economic impact report,we paid$45 million in GET and$75.7 million in TAT.KCRA's members,as well as the businesses
and residents within the resorts along the Kohala Coast also paid more than $151 million in property taxes to Hawai`i
County last year,accounting for more than one-third of all property taxes collected island wide.
Thank you for your support of Bill 47 Draft 1.
Sincerely,
Comm.
- 1 A Ref. To: )IIJITZ)
Stephanie Donoho Ref. Dale — 6 2025
Administrative Director,Kohala Coast Resort Association
PO Box 6991, Kamuela,HI 96743*(808)747-5762*kohalacoastresortassn(a.gmail.com*www.kohalacoastresorts.com