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From: Sandy Davis <br /> To: LPCtestimony <br /> Subject: STVR owners and homes benefit the community <br /> Date: Friday,April 12, 2024 2:47:51 AM <br /> Ladies and Gentlemen. <br /> I am writing to express my opposition to additional road blocks and regulation for Short Term Vacation Rental <br /> properties and owners in Hawaii County.I am opposed to Bill-]21,Bill-122,and Bill-123. <br /> My partner and I have owned one short term vacation property in Pahoa since 2012. We purchased the property as a <br /> future retirement home and rent to about 24 guests per year who otherwise would not be able to experience a stay in <br /> the beautiful rainforest area of the East side of Hawaii Island.From the very beginning we have followed every rile <br /> and regulation set before us. We paid our TAT and GET taxes quarterly and made every effort to be good neighbors <br /> in our community.When Hawaii County adopted its first set of STVR rules,we were"grandfathered"in and did all <br /> the work of publication and forms that were required to register with the county,obtain a conditional use permit and <br /> an STVR license.The process for the October renewal each year begins in July as we gather information and <br /> prepare to comply with all the County requirements for renewal.The county provides no help,such as notifications <br /> or assistance with forms so we contract that to an outside provider since it is too difficult to meet all the <br /> requirements by ourselves. <br /> Our home provides employment for a maintenance person and housekeepers.We purchase all supplies locally.The <br /> people who stay at our home also shop,dine and purchase goods and services locally and contribute much needed <br /> dollars to the Pahoa area and Hawaii Island. <br /> We feel that we are continuously under threat of losing the ability to rent our home,which should be our right as <br /> property owners without question or restriction. If the regulations remove our conditional user permit or otherwise <br /> keep us from renting on a short term basis we will leave our home empty and not rent it at all. The idea that short <br /> term rentals will magically turn into long term rentals if restrictions are tough enough is a myth. Our home is our <br /> home and we want to be able to use is when we come to the island which we could not do if we rent it long term. <br /> Please support the people who bring revenue to Puna and don't keep punishing them by adding to the regulation and <br /> restriction of short term rentals. We love Hawaii Island and we hope to see it grow and flourish in the future. <br /> Mahalo. <br /> Sandy Davis <br /> Lezarde Travel, LLC,a Hawaii Company <br />