HomeMy WebLinkAboutMaylath, Lidia
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Lidia Maylath <lmaylath@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, September 14, 2026 10:29 PM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:Lidia Maylath's testimony
TESTIMONY ON BILL 147 — RELATING TO TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Members of the Hawai ʻ i County Council,
My name is Lidia Maylath, I am a realtor and a homeowner on Hawai ʻ i Island. I respectfully submit this
testimony regarding Bill 147.
I support the County’s goal of protecting our communities, maintaining quality housing, and making
sure that vacation rentals operate responsibly. However, I have serious concerns about Bill 147 as
currently written. I respectfully ask the Council to reconsider provisions that could unfairly harm
responsible small homeowners and hosted vacation rentals.
My property is not a large commercial vacation-rental operation. It is my an agricultural land, and my only
home, which I turned it into a small, personal hospitality business by the end of last year due to the
reason that the real estate business is slowing down, and I need more income to pay my property tax and
other life expenses. I have invested years of my life, my savings, and my work into maintaining the
property and creating a peaceful organic orchid. However, in the beginning of this year, the Kona Low
took down all my fruit tree flowers, and Lala again damaged some of them. I do not have any production
in the yard regardless my toils and hard working year after year. Now, I opened up my home for visitors
who can experience the natural beauty and culture of Hawai ʻ i Island.
I believe there is an important distinction between a large investor operating multiple vacation rentals
and a local homeowner who lives on the property and operates one small rental, a shared home to
others.
For small homeowners, vacation-rental income can help pay property taxes, insurance, maintenance,
utilities, and the many costs associated with owning property in Hawai ʻ i. At the same time, responsible
hosts contribute to our local economy. Our guests purchase food, gasoline, groceries, activities, and
services from local businesses. We also collect and pay the applicable state and county taxes.
I am especially concerned about creating rules that unintentionally eliminate legal, responsible
businesses without providing a reasonable path for existing homeowners to comply.
If the County wants stronger regulation, I believe the better approach is to establish clear standards and
enforce them fairly rather than creating regulations that effectively force responsible homeowners out of
the market.
I respectfully ask the Council to consider the following:
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1. Protect existing lawful and responsible operators.
Homeowners who have operated responsibly and complied with applicable laws should have a
reasonable pathway to continue operating.
2. Create a clear grandfathering or nonconforming-use process.
Existing property owners should not lose their ability to operate simply because the County
changes the rules. There should be a fair transition period and a meaningful opportunity to
come into compliance.
3. Distinguish hosted rentals from large commercial vacation rentals.
A homeowner renting a few rooms or a portion of a home while maintaining a personal
connection to the property should not automatically be treated like a commercial operator with
multiple investment properties.
4. Use proportional enforcement.
Minor paperwork or administrative violations should not result in the permanent loss of a
homeowner’s ability to operate. Enforcement should focus on serious problems such as
repeated noise, unsafe conditions, illegal occupancy, or significant neighborhood impacts.
5. Give homeowners clear and predictable rules.
Property owners need to know exactly what is permitted before investing substantial money in
their homes. Regulations should be understandable, consistent, and fairly administered.
6. Recognize the economic contribution of small hosts.
Small vacation rentals bring visitors to areas outside the major resort centers and distribute
tourism spending to local communities and small businesses.
Hawai ʻ i needs housing, but I respectfully believe that eliminating responsible small homeowners from
the visitor economy is not the same thing as creating more affordable housing.
There should be a balanced approach that protects residential communities while also recognizing the
rights and contributions of local homeowners who operate responsibly.
I love Hawai ʻ i Island and want to see our communities remain healthy, safe, and welcoming. I support
reasonable regulation, accountability, and protection of our neighborhoods. I simply ask that the County
create a system that is fair to small local homeowners, provides a reasonable path to compliance,
and does not unnecessarily destroy existing livelihoods and investments.
Thank you for listening to the voices of local homeowners and small businesses.
Mahalo nui loa for your consideration.
P.S. I know that the deadline to submit the testimony is passed. Still, I wish this will reach all of you,
respected committee members. My Real Estate Company will have meeting tomorrow morning at 9:00
am, and that's the time of Hawaii County's hearing. I wish I can attending both, but I have no chance. I
may miss County's hearing. I hope you will have a successful and productive meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Lidia Maylath (R)S
License Number: RS-74872
Real Broker LLC
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