Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0236.106 2024-2026P / Cound [ 15M W (',OMM. 2� Kobb CMSt RESORT ASSOCIATION May 20, 2025 a b �a C= Holeka Inaba, Chair Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Vice Chair —` Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 av' Support for Bill 47 and Suggested Amendments in Communication 236.3 Dear Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and Members of the Hawaii County Council, The Kohala Coast Resort Association (KCRA) is in full support of Bill 47 and Councilmember Heather Kimball's suggested amendments, outlined in Communication 236.3. 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 (hawaiitourismautliority. org). As a board member for the Hawaii Island Safety and Security Professionals Association (HISSPA), 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 (VASH) I am glad this bill will ensure that accommodations offered online are safe, secure, and actually exist, as during my tenure I had to find 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 Hawaii County last year, accounting for more than one-third of all property taxes collected island wide. Thank you for your support of Bill 47. Sincerely, Comm UAW Ref.T©• Stephanie Donoho 2 1 2025 Administrative Director, Kohala Coast Resort Association Ref. Date_ PO Box 6991, Kamuela, H196743 *;(808) 747-5762 * kohalacoastresortassnCa)gmail.com *www.kohalacoastresorts.com