HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-06 Drena Rodrigues Testimony
From: DLR
To: Planning LPC Testimony
Subject: Bill 147
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026 9:49:54 AM
BnB for the local people.
The problem we have had for years have been people buying up properties from the mainland and other countries,
which has raised the price of rentals. The same thing happened with the BnB industry. What needs to be regulated is
people who don’t live here buying these properties. Why penalize the local people who are just trying to make ends
meet?
There are local people who will have to sell their properties if this law goes into effect, and who do you think will
buy up those properties, it isn’t the local people. Properties that have been in families for generations will be lost
because of all the regulations.
We have a property that has been sitting empty for the past 5 years because of the current regulations, if there are
more regulations we will probably have to sell it. With the current regulations you need an owner or care living on
the property or home. It’s hard to rent a property with someone living in there. I live 10 minutes away from this
property and could manage it without having to live there, yet it sits empty because of the regulations.
We don’t want to rent it long term because of all the damages that long term renters do. I managed homes for 24
years and also have a relative who was doing a vacation rental. He had more control over who rented his BnB than I
did with long term renters. He has never had damages to his BnB like I have had with long term renters. The
damages that I have had to fix were major damages. With long term renters you are stuck with them until the lease is
up, and after that, you have to fight to recoup your money for all the damages.
With vacation rentals you must upkeep your property and home to keep it rented out. With long term renters
sometimes you don’t see the property or inside of the home for a year, and by that time it is a mess.
I also, like some of the people writing here, had more complaints from neighbors with long term renters that my
relative has ever had with his BnB.
With local BnB’s more people will visit and put money into our economy than if they have to rent a hotel. The
hotels have priced some families out of visiting Hawai’i, and now they want to monopolize the market where less
people will be able to visit, which means less tourists dollars for the local economy.
I understand that some people have had bad experiences with BnB as neighbors, but try having neighbors who are
bad for years, instead of days.
I just feel like the local people have been told what they can and cannot do with their land and property by the
government for so long, it’s time to start letting the local people have a say. Outsiders have been making a profit off
of us since we became a state, and what they have turned Hawai’i into has not benefited the local people, and neither
will this bill.

If you really want to know what the public thinks, go on Facebook. There have been many comments by local
people, who will probably not write in for various reasons, don’t know how to navigate the internet or even have a
pc, or are so busy living their daily lives.
Mahalo for the opportunity to speak.
Drena Rodrigues
Sent from my iPhone