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airbnb
Hawaii County Council Meeting
May 21, 2025 c--)
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Hawaii County Building N) -
25 Aupuni Street-�
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: BILL 47 AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016
EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS
Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and Members of the Council,
Mahalo for the opportunity to provide COMMENTS on Bill 47, relating to transient
vacation rentals (TVRs) and hosting platforms in Hawai'i County.
Airbnb supports a sustainable TVR program that balances the economic benefits of
home sharing with the needs of communities, however, urges caution with certain Bill 47
provisions, which could harm property owners, renters, and the economy.
Bill 47 seeks to define TVRs as those who host 180 or less. This expansion risks
overregulating mid-term rentals. Additionally, provisions relating to platforms are
premature. These provisions should be postponed until there is a determination about
the need for new land use and eligibility legislation.
We respectfully urge the County Council to consider:.
1. Defining TVR as 30 days — The 180-day definition could potentially restrict long
standing uses of stays greater than 30 days and risks eliminating lawful mid-term
rentals and undermining long standing property rights. Honolulu's 90-day
minimum was blocked by injunction in 2023 for similar overreach.
2. Postponing premature platform provisions — Until zoning and eligibility rules are
defined for TVRs, provisions relating to platforms (Sections 6-50 to 6-53) are
premature. We recommend delaying these until the need for any updates to
zoning and hosting rules are determined.
Airbnb supports a sustainable TVR program but urges caution with Bill 47's provisions.
The Council's resolution for an economic impact study on TVRs is critical. We strongly
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urge completing this study before enacting Bill 47 to assess its economic
consequences.
Airbnb is committed to working with local leaders on fair rules that simultaneously
address community concerns and protect the economic benefits of home sharing for
residents and communities that rely on tourism. We look forward to collaborating to
refine Bill 47.
Mahalo,
Janel Cozzens
Sr. Policy Manager, Hawaii
Airbnb