HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.030 2016-2018covcaTx cLExx - C— QO92I FC
COUNTY OF HAWAII
From: Tara Frazier RECEIVED
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To: Council Testimony �
Subject: Bill 108 - Ad Hoc Committee Needed! Date o?�{- �}'�'/��Z- a�
Date: Monday, April 23, 2018 11:48:30 AM
Dear Hawaii County Council Members,
I am a 14+ year resident of the Puna district and have worked for a transient accommodations
(vacation rental) company for the entire time I have lived here. I received an email about Bill
108, which aims to cripple the vacation rental industry in our district, and a meeting tomorrow
in Kona that addresses it. Since this business is a 7 -day a week, 24 hour a day commitment, I
am not able to make it to the meeting on such short notice. I am asking for your help in this
regard.
I strongly feel that the local government needs to do more research before making any rash
decisions on this important matter. Every single person I know works in the vacation rental /
visitor / tourism industry. Without the revenue generated by visitors, our already financially
challenged area risks falling into abject poverty.
Last year the company I work for 1099'd out almost two million dollars to over a hundred hard working,
tax paying small businesses in the Hilo, Puna and Hamakua districts. If the vacation rental industry is
hobbled, hundreds of workers will need to go on the dole. It's not like there are a lot of job
options here.
To make matters worse, our clients are second home owners who will be forced to sell their
Hawaii homes if they can't supplement their mortgages and taxes with this income. Without
the travel trade, our restaurants, farmers' markets, tour operators and so many more will risk
losing their businesses.
The professionals in this industry welcome common sense regulations that will promote the
health, safety, and economy of this amazing area. There'are compromises and restrictions that
will benefit guests and local residents alike, encourage growth, protect the aina, and contribute
to the health and sustainability. We need to find those compromises and create legislation to
bolster them.
I have been working full time in this industry since I moved here in 2004, and have been
peripherally involved in it since 1993. I am confident in calling myself an expert in this field. I
have a lot of ideas and am eager to contribute to the conversation. Please let me know if I can
do anything to help create common sense legislation that contributes to the common good and
protects the jobs of literally everyone I know.
Mahalo nui for your consideration.
Warmest Aloha,
Tara Frazier, Reservations Manager
& The Team at Hawaii Holiday Vacation Rentals
808-965-0400
Vacation Rentals on the Big Island and Maui
maui-vacation-rentals.com
bigislandvacationrentals.com
PJ M. 3 ®
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