HomeMy WebLinkAboutWilliamson, Andrew
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Andrew Williamson <drewgunda@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, November 3, 2026 7:23 PM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:Reluctant Support for Bill 147, Draft 3 — Protect Resident Hosts
Aloha Chair and Members of the Hawaiʻi County Council,
I am a Kona resident opera?ng two hosted vaca?on rentals, and I submit tes?mony in reluctant support of Bill 147, Dra?
3.
Frankly, I am exhausted by the cri?cism directed at short-term rental operators, especially residents hos?ng in their own
homes to make ends meet. The County’s own commissioned study found that only 4% of surveyed owners would
consider conver?ng to long-term rentals if short-term rentals were prohibited. Why does the discussion con?nue to
place so much blame on us while overlooking those who depend on hos?ng to stay housed ourselves?
I previously earned my living primarily through film and video produc?on. As that work dried up, my hosted rentals
enabled me to remain on this island, afford my home, and pay my bills.
I would not offer these spaces to long-term tenants because I am not comfortable with that arrangement in my home.
Restric?ng my hosted rentals would therefore eliminate essen?al income without crea?ng addi?onal long-term housing.
I support Bill 147 because it expressly permits hosted rentals in several residen?al zoning districts. Leaving the exis?ng
zoning uncertainty unresolved could threaten livelihoods like mine. But that support should not be mistaken for
enthusiasm for more regulatory burdens.
Please ensure that the bill’s opera?ng standards and administra?ve requirements are clear, affordable, and
propor?onate to small hosted businesses. Give exis?ng hosts a reasonable opportunity to comply and correct problems,
and focus enforcement on actual neighborhood impacts.
Keeping residents in their homes must be part of the County’s housing strategy. For people like me, hos?ng is what
makes that possible.
Mahalo for considering my tes?mony.
Sincerely,
Andrew Williamson
Kona, Hawaiʻi
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