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Nov 2, 2018
Re: Bill 108, Draft 5 c®
Dear Madam Chair Poindexter,Vice Chair Eoff and Members of the Hawaii County Council,
Thank you for all the time and work that you have expended on this bill. While we appreciate many of
the changes and compromises that are in this current Draft 5 of Bill 108, Hawai'i Island REALTORS°feel
that there will be some unintended consequences resulting if this version is passed into law. In
particular,Section 25-4. 1 (b) Evidence of prior use. This section of the bill will prohibit any new
vacation rentals in the majority of Puna, Hamakua Coast and other areas of the island that are zoned Ag.
As we heard in previous testimony,the attrition rate for vacation rentals is approximately 20% per year.
With no new vacation rental properties available to replenish the supply needed for our visitors, where
will they stay? Take Merrie Monarch for example. Merrie Monarch is one of the largest events on our
island, bringing thousands of visitors every year. Every vacation rental on the east side of the island is
usually booked, including all of Kapoho which is no longer there. Our few hotels will not accommodate
this event or the many visitors at other times of the year who desire an authentic local,vacation rental
experience and not a hotel. This provision of the bill will bring increased economic depression to our
island which is already experiencing hardship. We understand that the County is now considering
adding a provision for a Special Use Permit application for new vacation rentals on Ag zoned parcels
created prior to 1976. We strongly support such an amendment and will be happy to assist our Council
Members in any way that we can. We also wish to support an amendment to delay implementation of
this bill in the Puna area. Since the County does not appear to support an economic impact analysis, we
support a 3-5 year grace period for implementation which would give the Puna district needed time to
recover from its loss of a significant number of short term vacation rentals and open lava inundated
roads.
Mahalo for the opportunity to work together for the future of Hawai'i.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joy Dallovv
Joy Dillon
Hawai'i Island REALTORS° Government Affairs Committee Co-Chair
Comm. No 17)4• 4311
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2018
Ref. Date Nov 0I