HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.333 2016-2018 P/Pci
GOUN TY CLERK Si 102
From: Trot/Plowman COUNTY OF H AWA I I
To: Council Testimony
Subject: HB 108 Testimony 261E OCT 15 Ali II: 0 0
Date: Monday,October 15,2018 1:33:05 AM
Since when is a Hawaii County and the Hawaii County Council so pro-corporation and anti-people? House Bill 108
is clearly designed as support of major corporations,hotels and is extremely harmful to the citizens,people and local
business of Hawaii.
Research shows that around 20%of tourists would not come to Hawaii if staying in a short-term rental or B&B was
not an option,a substantial economic harm to Hawaii County tourism. Many people do not like staying in hotels.
I have lived in Hawaii for over 22 years in the same neighborhood in Lower Puna.Every home in my neighborhood
at some time or another,most currently,operate as short term,vacation rentals,or Bed and Breakfasts.
When tourists come to Hawaii they shop at grocery stores,local markets,farmers markets,rent cars,hire local tour
guides,buy local arts and crafts and bring substantial income to the local community.Local vacation rental and bed-
and-breakfast owner's hire housekeepers,landscape maintenance people,construction and repair people,and
purchase foods and supplies in the local economy.clearly HB 108 would put many out of jobs and create substantial
financial negative impact in Lower Puna where un-employment is already highest in the county.
During the recent lava eruption in lower Puna,Hawaii County Mayor,Harry Kim,forced vacation rentals to
evacuate their guests and actually stipulated a ban on renting to guests for an extended period of time. When the
mayor's office was informed of the extreme financial hardship to vacation rental and B&B owners the mayor's office
response was that they felt it was their"duty to protect the tourists". What! So the county feels a duty to protect
tourists but not the residents? When asked if there was assistance available to local people who own vacation
rentals and bed and breakfasts the mayor's office said that all funds from federal and state were'government to
government`benefits only and there was no assistance available to the people. The mayor's office recommended
that we apply for a small business administration loan. Many of us did apply.All of us were turned down and
received zero assistance. Local vacation renters and bed and breakfasts in lower Puna lost hundreds of thousands of
dollars with zero assistance from the County of Hawaii nor Hawaii State nor federal governments.Partially due to
the fact that the"mandatory evacuation"was only for tourists and not residents.Financial assistance was predicated
on the government's mandatory evacuation area criteria. Huge financial losses from evacuated and banned guess
and zero financial assistance.
House Bill 108 is not clearly thought out. All of the property in our neighborhood is zoned residential agriculture so
none of the vacation rental and bed and breakfasts would be allowed. This will be financially devastating for all of
the residents in our neighborhood and all the local people they employ for housekeeping,landscaping,repairs,
construction,maintenance and suppliers.
Our community in lower Puna has seen multiple disastrous consequences of requiring"Non Conforming Use"
permits as required in many instances under HB108.
I am hereby demanding an Economic Impact Study to be done prior to a vote on HB 108.If an Economic Impact
Study is not done prior to the vote on FIB 108 the County of Hawaii,including County Council Members will be
held liable for damages and legal action for restitution of financial losses suffered by owners of local vacation
rentals, bed-and-breakfast properties and local businesses will be aggressively pursued.
HB 108 is not well thought out and contains many far-reaching and financially devastating consequences. I am
demanding a NO vote on HB 108.
Comm. No.1N•3��
Ref. To: P SPG
Ref. nate OCT 1 5 2018