HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-02 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Deborah Roberts Testimony From: DEBORAH SHARP
To: WPCtestimonv
Subject: Written testimony opposing Bill 121
Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 4:29:08 PM
I am opposed to Bill 121 for many reasons.This bill violates the private property rights and economic rights of our
people. We all pay taxes and are valuable members to the County of Hawai'i.I have lived here 46 years.My five
children were born here and so were my six grandchildren.I am a retired,professional and live on Social Security.
There's no way I could pay my mortgage so I rented out a portion of my house as a hosted rental.It was the only
way I could survive but finally I sold the property and now I am living in a Ohana in Puako.
The county says they want to do away with Vacation Rentals because we need housing.Yet my affordable housing,
an Ohana unit is being taken away from me.The planning department made the owner remove the stove from the
unit and change it from a Ohana dwelling to a fourth detached bedroom. It makes no sense! There are two electric
meters and there have always been a main house and a little one bedroom Ohana.The tax record shows that for the
past 50 years.
I am able to afford this Ohana because I perform host duties for the Vacation Rental in the main house.The draft of
this bill states that the host must live in the main house which is ridiculous. That would not be a vacation rental,that
would be called couch surfing,and not a viable economic solution.
In order to survive here,the local people,and the kamaianas need a cottage industry in order to survive.Hosting
people on vacation is the perfect solution.The tourists want this Aloha spirit that we offer.They do not want to stay
in a hotel.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Roberts
69-1798 Puako Beach Drive,
Kamuela HI 96743
808-989-7773