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From: Jillian Marohnic <br /> To: LPCtestimonv <br /> Subject: Oppose TAR Bill Package April 18 2024 <br /> Date: Monday,April 15,2024 11:53:16 AM <br /> To the County of Hawaii, <br /> Testimony in opposition of TAR Bill Package wherein hosted vacation rentals are now being <br /> targeted and controlled. <br /> It's clear that you are vilifying the vacation rental industry—turning public opinion against us and <br /> trying to drive us out of business by imposing extreme taxes and fees, cumbersome registration <br /> procedures and absurdly high monetary penalties for small violations. Many of us are residents <br /> here, with our vacation rental business being our only means of income. We support our local <br /> economy, as mostly all our earnings are spent here on the island. In preparing and maintaining our <br /> vacation rentals we also buy locally--flowers, home-made soaps, and artworks—as well as hire local <br /> cleaning and yard maintenance people and handymen... Rather than viewing us as removing <br /> housing from a crowded island, you could rather view us as providing necessary accommodations for <br /> the island's most important industry... the tourist industry. We are an important component for <br /> visitors to the island who would go elsewhere if vacation rentals were not available. Our island is <br /> getting crowded... the roads are packed with standstill traffic during school pick-up hours and work <br /> commuting hours... filled with the overwhelming number of people who now live here permanently. <br /> We don't need to move in more families and encourage them to set up residence here when our <br /> infrastructure can't support them. Having houses that instead host tourists for a few days at a time <br /> alleviates some of the stress of overcrowded neighborhoods. Vacation rentals are good neighbors, <br /> with pristine yards and well kept buildings, no barking dogs, roosters or junk cars. Housing problems <br /> will work themselves out... if dwellings are not available, then people will find elsewhere to live. If <br /> there are too many vacation rentals then some will go out of business. We don't need heavy- <br /> handed government interference in what is supposed to be a free economy. All the pendulum of <br /> trends to swing on its own. <br /> We have enough rules in the vacation rental industry already. Why not try to enforce the rules we <br /> already have and gain more permanent housing in that manner? There are plenty of illegal vacation <br /> rentals that you turn a blind eye to. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Jillian Marohnic <br /> Vacation rental owner and host <br /> Sent from Mail for Windows <br />