HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-11 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Anonymous Kona From: warden.chair.0i(abicloud.com
To: LPCtestimony
Subject: Bill 121-for meeting on 4/18/24
Date: Thursday,April 11,2024 4:01:09 PM
Attachments: LetterBill121xdf
Please see attached.
Mahalo
Leeward Planning Commission, April 11, 2024
First off, I want to start with thanking you all for your service to our community. I'm
writing this on behalf of my family, our employees and local business we support,
in opposition of several portions of Bill 121.
1 moved to the island 20 years ago as an African American woman because I fell in
love with the island and the reputation of the islands being more welcoming to
those of mixed race. Our 5 children were born and raised on the island. My
husbands and his family were athletic coaches for local school and we were all
very involved in our community. We have both long term rentals and one short
term rental and several amazing local people who work with us to keep them in
operation. During COVID, like many other people, my husband lost his job in the
hospitality industry due to heavy restrictions placed on the island. Our boys, high
school football players, were also just short of being forced to get the "Mrna jab"
(despite health conditions that prevent us from doing so) in order to play the sport
they loved. We had to make a hard decision, and despite our plan to never leave
the island, our home,friends and family...we were forced to move to the mainland
with just one week notice. We knew we would do everything to keep our forever
home, the one we worked so hard for, that we all put in sweat equity to remodel.
Financially it didn't make sense for us to rent it long term, however, we didn't want
to sell it.That is when we decided to short term rent it. Our tenants who live on
property next door, a local family who have lived there since we purchased it,
agreed to be our on site hosts and property managers. They were able to stay in
their home at an affordable price and we were able to supplement their income in
a declining economy.
We have put in a lot of work to create a nice place for visitors to stay.We have had
zero issues with guest and no complaints. We do not allow large gatherings and
ensure we properly vet who will be staying in our home. We live in an agricultural
zone and chose this when we purchased it to have sustainability. Sustainability
with farming, chickens, and also the space to potentially rent in the future. We
employ 9 people to help support their families at this property, as well as
providing affordable long term housing for 12 people.We pay all GE,TA, HCTAT,
non homeowner exclusion nor cap property taxes, and income taxes...for a total
of 38%to the County and State. Our property taxes have doubled in one year.
Our insurance has increased significantly to cover the cost of short term rentals
and kept it with a local insurance company.We are making just enough to cover
the bills and help us provide a living for our family and supplement several others
on island. We have gone through the process to make our home ADA compliant
and accessible. We, like other hosts, direct many of our guests to several local
restaurants and businesses on the island. We strongly encourage our guests to
participate in several agritourism activities that support the recent state initiative to
promote this.
Being able to have the freedom to short term rent our home has allowed us to
temporarily provide education to our kids while allowing them to play the sport
they have played since they were children. It has allowed my husband to secure a
job so he can provide for our large family, and keep the cost of living affordable.
Our long term plan was to move back to our home, on the Big Island, once our
older children are off to college and we are back on our feet.
According to the most recent bill, we would be grandfathered in, however are
concerned with the County's ability to not renew under extremely vague
circumstances referenced in the bill (i.e. "pertinent violation of the law").We are
also concerned with all the additional costly and timely permitting and registration
requirements.The other issue with under the current bill, we cannot have the
option to move back and live in our guest house while continuing to short term
rent the other on the same property.
Due to all the aforementioned reasons, if this bill passes as is, we feel it would be
best to sell the property. We will not long term rent it due to the expenses versus
rental income and lax landlord rental protections. We would no longer be paying
the taxes to the County and State. We would list it, more than likely it will sell for
cash to someone on the mainland or Asia,thus further increasing the cost of
housing (and requirement for cash offers in the state).We would have to terminate
our long term lease with our on-site hosts who have lived there for the past 8 years
as well as their employment. We would then be forced to sell our other long term
properties or have to increase our rent to be able to afford to keep them to
supplement the loss of short term rental income. We would have to terminate our
9 employees and no longer direct guests to local businesses. The worst part of
this is our family, 5 kids born and raised on island, would probably never return to
the island as we would be priced out of Hawaii like many others before us.
I understand you are hearing lots of testimonies and received several similar
letters. Our family is just one story to you. But this is our life and livelihood. We left
Hawaii and tried our best to bring the feeling of Aloha and Ohana to those we are
in contact with on the mainland. They call us the Hawaii refugees in our town,
knowing that someday our plan is to return. How sad that the message that is
given to the world is that the State of Hawaii pushes hardworking families and
businesses out with unnecessary and ineffective regulations. I understand you
have some valid reasons and intentions for this bill, I just feel it needs some more
thorough research and alignment, including listening to those impacted,to ensure
it is the best for the county and all of the local community.
Thank you for your time and taking our family, and families we support on island,
into consideration.
Sincerely,
Anonymous, Kona