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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.056 2016-2018-COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII Written Testimony: Bill 108 Relating to Short -Term Vacation Rentals 1118 APR 24 PN 2; 24 I support Bill 108 as it's currently proposed and written. I feel it's fair and offers balance in regulating Short -Term Vacation Rentals. I think those who oppose Bill 108 and all Short -Term Vacation Rentals have personal agendas or have been targeted with inaccurate and negative information. They truly don't understand the positive and financial trickle down benefits to our community these Short -Term Vacation Rentals bring to Hawaii County. Our family's rentals are in the Agricultural District. We have both long-term and short-term rentals, The "grandfather" aspect of Bill 108 for our existing short-term rentals is the only thing that will allow us to be in compliance by obtaining a nonconforming certificate. Our short-term rentals were well thought out and do not impact the surrounding properties. For these reasons, our families also have long-term rentals that serve their purpose and are better suited for long term tenants. I'm a Duarte, married to an Onaka, and our families have been in Kona for generations. We are not investors coming from the mainland reaping profits and stealing housing as portrayed by those who oppose this Bill 108. We work hard, value family, value education, value our right to vote, and honestly just want to live a good quality of life with our family right here in Kona. It sounds simple but it's very hard! My husband and I have college degrees, we have owned small businesses, we have made real estate investments, we have tried many things to get ahead. I'm not ashamed to say that scrubbing toilets, washing linens and making beds for our vacation rentals is the only thing that is affording us the ability to send our son Kahiau and daughter Hailey to college right now and help make ends meet. My husband is a heavy equipment operator. I'm an assistant to my Mom who has been a successful realtor here in Kona for over 30 years. With both of our incomes we continuously struggle. Planning for our 3 kid s education, we have several rentals and have considerable debt because of them. They are doing really well as short term rentals and would not have the same benefits for our family if forced to long term rent them for some of the following reasons: Family and friends come visit us often, it makes our family happy to be able to block our calendar and offer them a place to stay and spend time with us. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to afford to come and visit. The income is considerably more with short term rentals. It's a lot more work but we willing put in the extra work to support our family, pay or mortgages, property taxes, TA and GE Taxes, Income taxes, property insurances, etc.. The bottom line is the increased income from short term rentals are a necessity to make ends meet for us. We owe money on these rentals and we want to take care of our investment. As short term rentals we have regular access to them. They are very well maintained and kept cleaner than our own house for sure. Our whole family cleans, when I'm too busy with my real job, friends of my kids come and help me clean. They really appreciate the extra money. Our kids clean in the summers and winter breaks allowing them to put money away for college and living expenses. Our son does the yards, my husband does the maintenance, it's truly a family endeavor and everyone helps where they can. My Mom and Aunty have short term rentals and they hire a local landscaper, they hire local cleaners, many jobs are created. The cleaning fees are paid by the guests, so we are able to spread that money around and it benefits many. Comm. No. I Ref. To: Ref. Dote AIPR 2 4 25IR The visitors who seek out vacation rentals are a different class of vacationers than the ones who stay in the resorts and hotels. They want to integrate in to the local community and not be a `tourist." They eat in our local restaurants in town, shop in our stores, buy groceries at KTA and Sac n Save, drink lots of local beer, and enjoy the Big Island and visit with us and experience the Hawaii that we so love. They are local coming from the Hilo side or the outer islands also. These guests support so many of our local business, tours, restaurants, stores and services. They leave raving reviews about their experience and say they can't wait to come back. In a resort setting, those guests spend majority of their time and money at the resort. For that class of visitors it's perfect and they willingly pay a premium to be serviced. Vacation rentals aren't really in competition with the hotels and resorts. These guests would vacation someplace else if a resort was their only option here. The corporate and big name hotels and chain resorts are able to capitalize on Hawaii's tourism taking their profits out of Hawaii. It would be unjust if the local community isn't afforded the same opportunity. Tourism is key to Hawaii's economy, it's outside money coming in to our state and local communities. Local families should be given every opportunity to capitalize on tourism too, it's a constant struggle for our families to make a living here. We pay TA and GE tax. This generates a lot of money for our State. I'm not sure how much of that trickles down to each county. I'm hoping the platforms like VRBO and Airbnb are forced to pay these taxes directly to the Dept. of Taxation on behalf of the host. It will guarantee the taxes are paid and as host we can actually pass those taxes on to the guests and adjust down our nightly rates as needed. Affordable housing here on the Big Island is another issue entirely. The negative stigma that short term rentals are the reason for homelessness and un -affordable housing is unfair. It's a small percentage of homes that are actually being used for short term rentals in comparison to long term rentals. The bigger problem is really affordable housing and an increased population here in Hawaii County! I think the county holds the power to help alleviate this for our local community. We simply have too many regulations, requirements and codes inhibiting the ability to be a homeowner here. Young families become trapped as lifetime renters or simply still live at home with the family to afford the cost of living. The process to build a home here in Hawaii County needs to be made more simple and more building density allowed. Regulations add cost, add time for processing and approvals, and deter people from building or just stop it all together. With the crisis of affordable housing we should be doing the opposite. People are moving here and the shortage of housing is going to get worse. In comparison to the rest of the State, Hawaii County is behind with lower rents and lower property values. I appreciate your time in reading my written testimony. I support Bill 108 as it's currently proposed and written. Sincerely Submitted, Rachelle Onaka PO Box 24 Holualoa, HI 96725 ronaka@earthlink.net