HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-16 Bill 121 Patricia Szot From: Patricia Szot
To: LPCtestimonv
Subject: Short term vacation rental changes
Date: Tuesday,April 16,2024 8:00:56 PM
Hawaii Planning Commission,
I am writing to you concerning changes that may be made to Short Term Vacation Rentals
(STVRs). I own a permitted STVR on the Big Island and strongly disagree with any changes
planned by the County or the State. I jumped through all the requests made by the State back
in 2019 to get my STVR licensed and I make all the requirements yearly to keep it licensed. It
seems the state has been trying for several years to get rid of STVR for reasons I can only
believe is pressure from the hotel lobby on the islands because it gives tourist an alternate,
less expensive means of visiting the islands, thereby allowing more people to visit the
islands. My house has had hula dancers staying for the purpose of dancing in this important
festival honoring Prince David Kalakaua. You get rid of STVR, you will negatively impact the
festival in a manner counterintuitive to what it celebrates. During this time of Merrie
Monarch, STVR are the backbone of giving people an option to stay in dwellings that won't
break them financially.
The permitting process which was implemented in 2019 severely impacted and
regulated the STVR; and now YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW AGAIN and do AWAY with
STVRs. Of course the State legislature NEVER OFFERS REASONS for the removal of
STVRs. This bill does NOTHING to fix the housing crisis, though that is sometimes the reason I
hear for these kinds of bills. If you want to fix housing, TRY RAISING WAGES OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WORK HERE or TRY BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. This State has one of the lowest
hourly wages in the country. The permitting process makes sure STVR are properly kept and
managed. Which is more than what the State does to manage long-term rentals. There is a
long-term rental next door to my STVR and the place is disgusting. Mold growing on the
outside of the building and I am told mold growing on the inside. The yard is completely
unkept and the owner just lives a couple of houses down the street. The State could make the
rules even stricter, but give the owners the ability to respond. My STVR receives rave reviews,
guests feel my place offers a wonderful alternative to hotels. These STVR are the backbone of
the small business community in the state of Hawaii, they are owned by local people trying to
supplement their income. The tourist that visit these islands via STVR bring support to local
stores and businesses in the community. Hawaii is a tourist state (there are NO major
industries here), and reducing the number of tourists that can make it to the islands, as this
bill will do, will severely impact the residents of these islands that are trying to make a
living. PLUS, I hire local people to do the housekeeping, yard work and maintenance on the
building. Helping further the economy of the local business people. This bill is a waste of my
tax payer dollars. The state has many REAL problems that the legislature should be working
on to fix. The following are just a few issues plaguing the state: joblessness, effects of global
warming, fixing public schools, fixing roads, reducing business red tape and eliminating the
apparent corruption of the State Legislature. Try focusing on these problems which will help
the residents of the state, which after all is the function of the State Legislature.