HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-01 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Kendall Roberg & Shelley Roberg Testimony From: Kendall Robero
To: WPCtestimonv; Rep.Nicole Lowen;senkanuha(d)capitol.hawaii.aov
Subject: Opposition to Bill 121
Date: Monday,April 1,2024 7:19:32 AM
First it is shocking that after hearing 149 opposition and 1 support from citizens that the
Council voted 8-0 in favor of moving forward with Bill 121.
My family and I are opposed to Bill 121. We own a coffee farm in Holualoa and our Ohana
(which we rent as an Airbnb) is the only way our farm survives. My wife is a teacher at
Holualoa Elementary and we have two kids. Without or Airbnb, we would have to sell our 7
acre farm and live somewhere else. Our house would then probably be bought by a super rich
person would only be on island a few times a year.
Times have changed and if you want teachers and farmers who contribute to the community,
you need to allow them to rent their homes out to subsidize their income.
If you eliminate all the short term vacation rentals, you will loose tons of tax money. In 2023,
I paid $10,935 in TATs & GET for my ohana which I rent out. That is alot of money that the
county & state get to spend. And thats just for my ohana. If am banned from renting this short
term, that money would disappear. There is no tax collected from long term renters.
Has anyone actually done the math on how much tax revenue the county and state will lose if
you ban these Airbnb's? How will you replace this revenue?
We pay our taxes and follow the laws,please don't destroy my family's livelihood with Bill
121.
Kendall Roberg
Owner for Kona Wild Coffee in Holualoa
Shelley Roberg
Teacher at Holualoa Elementary