HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-25 Bob & Debi Cary Testimony
From: Debi
To: Planning LPC Testimony
Subject: Bill 147
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 3:50:31 PM
Dear Leeward Planning Commission,
My name is Debi Cary and my family has been in Hawaii
since the late 1800’s and has paid taxes here for over 100
years.
I have may beefs as to how our government uses them but that
is not why I am writing.
Hawaii has been home for my family and has been good to us.
We are very grateful.
My husband, Bob and I are now retired at 79 and 74 and have
created a farm on 5 acres in Ho’omalu on Alii where we
reside.
He managed the Field Operation for Kona Queen Co. in Kona
for almost 35 years, raising queen bees to export all over the
world.
I wish I could say farming was a moneymaker for us here, and
most farmers just make ends meet, we don’t at farming. We
raise sheep for meat for our own consumption, to keep the
grassland managed, and as a fire protection. We actually do
agriculture on Ag land.
We raise chickens and use all our eggs for ourselves and our
guests.I used to breed Labrador Retrievers and Labradoodles.
Not a moneymaker unfortuntely! I make beeswax candles and
we used to selll honey.
We have 2 nice separated room suites a part of our house we
use for airbnb. Bob loves to be hospitable and meet people
from all over the world here.
Airbnb has been our income for our retirement and we have
put a lot into it to make it special for us and others.
HOUSING SHORTAGES created by airbnb? No, as was
shown in the recent TAR impact study. We have several
rentals in town and have wonderful longterm renters but that
was not always so.
We have had terrible renters that did not pay and welfare
would not disclose where they moved to when I finally got
them out! I was out 3 months rent and had lots of damage to
repair. I will not rent out my home for that to happen to anyone
long term now!!!!
The laws have changed to make it almost stupid to rent since
the renters have you over the barrel to collect rent or kick them
out, and then the damage that costs thousands to repair!
It is not vacation rentals that have made rents so high it is real
estate cost and the building dept. process's red tape! Our kids
growing up here cannot afford to buy their own home!
Land taxes keep going up as well as insurances and utilities
making living on a fixed income harder and harder.
People who live here are being priced out of their inheritances
and legislatures just vote themselves raises.
We are a mom and pop bussiness and need to have the income
from sharing our home with visitors.
VACATION RENTALS pay state and county a lot of tax
revenue now!!! Then they get penalized with higher land tax
too! Why would you want to destroy the cash cow? Hotel
bussiness in on it? We have paid taxes on our airbnb for about
ten years now faithfully. I am not real happy how you are
spending those tax dollars! Why don't we have a say on it?
We employ gardeners, plumbers, electricians, pool cleaners,
house cleaners in our little bussiness and our guests eat at
restaurants, buy groceries, rent cars, do the tourist things.
Do you really think it is a good idea to stop it by over
regulationing? Now there is another registration cost! Please
give us a break from killing us slowly with taxations!
Yes, stop the vacation party houses in rural family areas where
people need quiet by 10:00. Yes, give farmers a break to have
a farm experience for visitors to stay in. Yes, give kamaaina a
break. No, to managed vacation rental in residential areas by
non resident owners. No, to hiring more gov. workers to
monitor all this instead of building low income housing with
all that tax money. Yes, to simple registration to weed out the
bad eggs.
Don’t penalize the residents who just trying to get ahead.
There are too few places that take care of old people here. Let
us take care of ourselves.
Thank you,
Bob & Debi Cary