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From: Patricia Szot <br /> To: LPCtestimonv <br /> Subject: Short term vacation rental changes <br /> Date: Tuesday,April 16,2024 8:00:56 PM <br /> Hawaii Planning Commission, <br /> I am writing to you concerning changes that may be made to Short Term Vacation Rentals <br /> (STVRs). I own a permitted STVR on the Big Island and strongly disagree with any changes <br /> planned by the County or the State. I jumped through all the requests made by the State back <br /> in 2019 to get my STVR licensed and I make all the requirements yearly to keep it licensed. It <br /> seems the state has been trying for several years to get rid of STVR for reasons I can only <br /> believe is pressure from the hotel lobby on the islands because it gives tourist an alternate, <br /> less expensive means of visiting the islands, thereby allowing more people to visit the <br /> islands. My house has had hula dancers staying for the purpose of dancing in this important <br /> festival honoring Prince David Kalakaua. You get rid of STVR, you will negatively impact the <br /> festival in a manner counterintuitive to what it celebrates. During this time of Merrie <br /> Monarch, STVR are the backbone of giving people an option to stay in dwellings that won't <br /> break them financially. <br /> The permitting process which was implemented in 2019 severely impacted and <br /> regulated the STVR; and now YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW AGAIN and do AWAY with <br /> STVRs. Of course the State legislature NEVER OFFERS REASONS for the removal of <br /> STVRs. This bill does NOTHING to fix the housing crisis, though that is sometimes the reason I <br /> hear for these kinds of bills. If you want to fix housing, TRY RAISING WAGES OF THE PEOPLE <br /> WHO WORK HERE or TRY BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. This State has one of the lowest <br /> hourly wages in the country. The permitting process makes sure STVR are properly kept and <br /> managed. Which is more than what the State does to manage long-term rentals. There is a <br /> long-term rental next door to my STVR and the place is disgusting. Mold growing on the <br /> outside of the building and I am told mold growing on the inside. The yard is completely <br /> unkept and the owner just lives a couple of houses down the street. The State could make the <br /> rules even stricter, but give the owners the ability to respond. My STVR receives rave reviews, <br /> guests feel my place offers a wonderful alternative to hotels. These STVR are the backbone of <br /> the small business community in the state of Hawaii, they are owned by local people trying to <br /> supplement their income. The tourist that visit these islands via STVR bring support to local <br /> stores and businesses in the community. Hawaii is a tourist state (there are NO major <br /> industries here), and reducing the number of tourists that can make it to the islands, as this <br /> bill will do, will severely impact the residents of these islands that are trying to make a <br /> living. PLUS, I hire local people to do the housekeeping, yard work and maintenance on the <br /> building. Helping further the economy of the local business people. This bill is a waste of my <br /> tax payer dollars. The state has many REAL problems that the legislature should be working <br /> on to fix. The following are just a few issues plaguing the state: joblessness, effects of global <br /> warming, fixing public schools, fixing roads, reducing business red tape and eliminating the <br /> apparent corruption of the State Legislature. Try focusing on these problems which will help <br />