HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-24 Bill 121 Barabara Powe From: Kona Blue
To: WPCtestimonv
Subject: Urgent Need for Reevaluation of Bill 121"s Impact on Local Communities
Date: Wednesday,April 24,2024 12:45:30 PM
Importance: High
Chairman Dennis Lin Windward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni St. Unit
1502 Hilo, HI 96720
Aloha Chairman Lin,
I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding Hawaii Bill 121 and its potential
impacts on our local communities, particularly in terms of enforceability, inequity, and the
transformation of neighborhoods. As a single family homeowner, I have witnessed
firsthand the positive contributions that short-term rentals bring to our local economy and
the sense of 'ohana they foster among visitors and residents alike. Many local small
business's gain essential and regular income providing services to short-term rentals and
would be significantly negatively impacted financially by the proposed changes. Further,
many current visitors to our Island would not be able to afford to visit Hawaii if short-term
rentals were not an accommodation option as it is families and extended family groups
that frequently choose to stay in short-term rentals to share a special and memorable
Hawaiian experience together as a family and gain a sense of Hawaiian culture and what
the spirit of aloha means.
However, Bill 121, as it currently stands, threatens to disrupt this balance. The bill's
requirements, such as the affidavit requirement and intrusive reporting, pose significant
challenges for property owners and operators, making it difficult for them to comply. This
not only creates an environment of inequity but also places an undue burden on the
Planning Department's staff, diverting resources from other critical areas.
Moreover, the transformation of neighborhoods into exclusive zones, where only certain
types of accommodations are permitted, undermines the spirit of aloha that defines our
island. It restricts the ability of residents to share their homes and the beauty of Hawaii with
visitors, which has long been a tradition in our communities.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully request the Planning Commission to consider the
following recommendations:
Recommend the removal of the affidavit requirement to ease the burden on property
owners and operators.
Recommend streamlining the registration process to make it more accessible and less
invasive for homeowners.
Recommend the removal of intrusive reporting requirements to protect the privacy and
rights of property owners.
These recommendations aim to address the key issues of enforceability, inequity, and the
transformation of neighborhoods, ensuring that the regulations are fair, manageable, and
in line with the values of our community.
I urge the Planning Commission to reconsider the current approach to Bill 121 and to
engage in a more inclusive and comprehensive discussion on how we can regulate short-
term rentals in a way that benefits all stakeholders. Mahalo for your attention to this
matter.
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Barbara Powe
73-4433 Nehiwas Street,
Kailua Kona HI 96740
Mobile; +61408120757