HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolden, Robert
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Robert Golden <rgolden46@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, November 4, 2026 4:45 PM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:Opposition to Bill 147, Draft 3
November 4, 2026
TO: Chair Inaba and Members of the Hawai ʻ i County Council
Aloha Chair Inaba and Council Members,
I live in Lower Puna and co-founded Puna Rising ʻ Ohana. I support clear vacation rental rules and
enforcement that protects our neighbors. I ask you to vote no on Bill 147, Draft 3, or defer final action
until the Council can show how the bill will affect small vacation rentals in Lower Puna and how
residents who have followed the rules can continue to operate.
My partner and I operate two small vacation rentals in Leilani Estates. One is in our home. The other is
next door and has a nonconforming use certificate. The income helps us afford to live here and gives me
the time to volunteer with Puna Rising ʻ Ohana. If we lost that income, we would have to move.
In her June 2 written testimony to the Windward Planning Commission, Lower Puna host and small
business owner Jade Chen put it plainly: “LOWER PUNA IS NOT KONA.” We have little resort
infrastructure. Vacation rentals give visitors a place to stay near the businesses they support, including
vendors at Maku ʻ u Farmers Market and local roadside stands. Before voting, ask the Planning
Department to show which Lower Puna rentals would gain or lose eligibility under Draft 3 and consider
what those changes would mean for local households and businesses.
I appreciate that Draft 3 expands eligibility for some hosted rentals. Please show owners how the rules
apply to common situations in Lower Puna, including a rental in the owner’s home, an unhosted rental
with an existing certificate, and a rental on an agricultural lot. The ordinance should make clear which
existing approvals carry forward, what records owners can use to document a previously lawful rental,
and how they can appeal a denial.
At first reading on October 21, Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz raised a question of trust. The County
had asked people to register with the understanding that operating rules would come after registration
was complete. Give owners clear guidance and reasonable time to comply once the rules are settled. A
warning before fines is a good step. Owners should also know what violation the County found, how long
they have to correct it, and how to contest a penalty.
Please vote no on Draft 3 or defer it until the Council can explain how responsible small vacation rentals
can continue to operate in Lower Puna. For my household, the ability to keep hosting helps determine
whether we can keep living and contributing here.
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Mahalo for considering my testimony.
Robert Golden
Lower Puna resident and co-founder of Puna Rising ʻ Ohana
Robert Golden
President
Puna Rising Ohana
T: (917) 447-3700
E: rgolden46@gmail.com
PunaRising.com
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