HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-10-01 KCDP AC Testimony - Bill 147 PCPLUED Oct 6, 2026County of Hawai‘i
KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo,96720
(808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov planning@hawaiicounty
C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D.
John Pelletier, Chair
Raymond Kirchner
Vacant
Shane Palacat-Nelsen
Charles Young
Nancy Pisicchio, Vice Chair
Charla Thompson
Vacant
Roselyn Molina
October 1, 2026
Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair
and Members of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development
25 Aupuni Street
Email: counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov
Dear Chair Kierkiewicz and Members of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and
Economic Development:
SUBJECT: Bill 147 – Transient Accommodations
I am John Pelletier, Chair of the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee,
submitting testimony on behalf of the Action Committee regarding Bill 147.
The Kona CDP Action Committee supports the proposed amendments transmitted through
Communication 806.7 to remove unhosted short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) as an
allowable use in the Neighborhood Commercial (CN) zoning district. The Committee also
supports the proposed amendment to remove unhosted STVRs as an allowable use in the
Multiple-Family Residential (RM) zoning district.
As stated in the Action Committee’s earlier testimony to the Leeward Planning Commission
dated May 14, 2026, allowing unhosted STVRs in RM and CN districts conflicts with key
housing and transportation objectives of the Kona CDP. Section 4.5.2 emphasizes the
importance of affordable housing within the urban core to maintaining a diverse and viable
community. Transportation Strategy 6 likewise recognizes that providing affordable housing
near major employment centers can reduce long-distance commuting and the resulting
pressure on Kona's roadways. The RM and CN districts within the Kona Urban Area are
particularly important locations for resident-serving housing. Converting housing in these
districts to unhosted visitor accommodations works against these objectives.
Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair
and Members of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development
October 1, 2026
Page 2
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov planning@hawaiicounty
Recent housing and vacation rental data further illustrate the importance of preserving and
increasing opportunities for resident housing. The 2025 County-commissioned economic
impact study
The University of Economic Research Organization Housing Factbook
reported that 67.8 percent of condominium purchases on Island were made by out-of-
state buyers, compared with 19.9 . In Kona,
where the 2025 median condominium price was reported at $670,000, compared with $1.195
million for a single-family home, condominiums represent an important segment of the housing
market for local working households. Expanding unhosted STVR use in RM and CN districts
could further reduce the inventory available for long-term residential use.
The Action Committee appreciates the Planning Department, the Windward and Leeward
Planning Commissions, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for their consideration of, and
support for, the proposed amendments addressing unhosted STVRs in residential and
neighborhood-serving districts. We respectfully ask the Council to consider this input together
with the Kona CDP’s housing and transportation objectives as it deliberates on Bill 147.
Mahalo for your thoughtful discussion and consideration of the Action Committee’s testimony
and these proposed amendments.
John Pelletier, Chair
Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee
JH
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