HomeMy WebLinkAboutTell, Bo
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Bo Tell <boatelonthewater1@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, August 28, 2026 3:21 PM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:Testimony on Bill 147 For Sept 1 2026 meeting
Aloha Council Members,
We own a small farm in Ocean View/KAU. We operate a short term rental in our small ohana underneath
our main home and have been doing so for many years maintaining 100% 5 star reviews.
We are being asked to register for approval to continue to operate now without knowing what bill 147
may have in store for us regarding potentially heavy fines, zoning issues, if our small ohana will be
approved, any special use permits, etc. We ask that the council suspend the registration until Bill 147 is
approved with clear wording regarding these issues so honest, long time Hawaii residents and Kupuna
are not putting themselves at risk of undue financial harm.
This small amount of rental income is the way many of our small farms supplement our income in order
to keep our farms operating and stay in Hawaii. So, in short, what we are asking is to put a hold on the
registration process until bill 147 is ironed out. I think we can all agree the time to iron this out is BEFORE
honest residents and Kupuna register with unknown consequences, rather than after.
Mahalo Nui Loa in advance for your consideration of my testimony.
1. Who are you?
Where do you live, farm, or operate?
2. What do you do?
Do you rent a room in your home? Operate a small farm? Have a long-standing rental?
3. How would Bill 147 affect you?
What new requirement or process are you being asked to navigate?
4. What questions remain unanswered for you?
For example: Do you need a Special Use Permit? What will it cost? What documents will be required?
How long will it take? Can you continue operating while an application is being processed?
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5. What do you need from Council?
Ask for a clear, affordable, and attainable pathway to compliance before new requirements are
imposed.
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