HomeMy WebLinkAboutKualaau, Teresa
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:TERESA KUALAAU <wttbk@aol.com>
Sent:Thursday, November 5, 2026 11:42 AM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:Bill 147, Draft 3
Aloha Council Members,
I am wri?ng today to share my personal story. I re?red a?er thirty five and a half years in banking to help babysit our
grandchildren, giving our children peace of mind. My late husband's words, “no one is going to take care of them like us”.
We knew my income would come to a screaming hold, but we took a leap of faith. I have wri?en previous le?ers
regarding this subject on April 17, 2024 and November 6, 2024. We have been hos?ng for nearly 9 years. Since then, my
situa?on has changed. I am now widowed and having to rely on this income even more. I have three grown children and
I don’t want to rely on them to support me. They have families of their own and should be saving for their future
re?rement. They should not have to withhold savings for their future financially or rob from their future to take care of
me. I want to be independent.
I am kama'aina, born and raised in the islands. I am kupuna taking care of my mom and help care for my grandchildren.
We are a mul? genera?onal ohana trying to survive in a place we we're born and raised, a place we call home. My
children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren are all Kanaka Maoli. Please, please help the people who truly call
Hawaii their home. Please keep us here.
My situa?on does not create housing for local people. I rent a room in my home where I live full ?me. I don’t want a
long term renter in my room. I like having it available for when ohana or friends visit. I enjoy the company when they
visit.
As kama'aina, born and raised in the islands, we should have preference. We should not be placed on the same hos?ng
pla?orm as investors who purchase en?re houses. I am an ordinary person with an ordinary home. This is my one and
only home. As a now widow, I need to take care of my home and need the income from this industry to upkeep my
home. I use it to pay the outrageous hurricane and home owners insurance. We rent not to make hundreds of
thousands of dollars but simply to survive financially in our State where we are born and raised. So really, I don’t make a
lot of money for leisure.
In closing, please, please keep it simple. Separate kamaaina from investor. Separate a room rental from an en?re house.
We ran this business legally from the very beginning. Spend your ?me and money going a?er the illegal STRVs.
Thank you for listening. If you have ques?ons, please feel free to call me at (808) 640-6773.
Malama pono,
Teresa Kualaau
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