HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – After hours of testimony and debate, the city council approved a measure Wednesday aimed at banning short-term holiday rentals outside resort areas.
Bill 41 was passed by a vote of 8 to 1. Council member Andria Tupola was the only vote against.
More than 100 people have signed up to testify on the hotly debated proposal, which is now being sent to the mayor’s office.
The bill will ban all rents in residential areas for less than 90 days. He is currently 30 days old.
Short-term rents would be OK in resort areas and nearby places in Waikiki, near Ko Olina and Turtle Bay. The measure also aims to strengthen law enforcement against illegal operators.
The hotel industry strongly supports the proposal.
“It’s not just about hotels,” said Mufi Hahnemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Accommodation and Tourism Association. “We are not against remote short-term rentals. But the fact is that some of them are not following the rules. “
Some say rents have taken away accommodation and tranquility from locals.
“We’ve allowed short-term vacation rentals, Airbnb, to just keep growing,” said Jerry Agrusa, a travel professor at UH who has written numerous articles on Bill 41. “We already have a housing shortage.”
But residents and operators expressed their views on both sides.
“All the economic benefits of opening up our residential areas to tourism far outweigh the negative impacts on our neighborhoods and locals,” said Thomas Sestare of Lanikai.
Gloria Wong testified against the measure, saying it was in favor of hotels. She is also a local and a teacher.
“Be fair to us owners,” Wong said. “We just choose to have our own small business, to make some money.”
With a 90-day minimum, prospective tenants are worried about affordable travel to Hawaii.
The World Surf League does not know where surfers and judges will be placed.
“We need international judges around the world,” said Robin Erb, WSL’s regional director. “So 90 days is just impossible for our surfers and our workers.”
Tupola’s council member was the only one with no. She expressed concern that the implementation of illegal rents had previously failed and was worried that the implementation would fail again.
“I hope that as a body we continue to decide how much law we want to put in the books that do not apply,” Tupola said. “We all want to see action. We want to see change. And that comes when we take seriously the application of the laws in force in the books. “
Council President Tommy Waters voted in favor of the bill.
“I understand that it is expensive to live in Hawaii. And when you rent a room, it helps pay the mortgage and the bills, ”Waters said.
“But I see tourists in our local neighborhoods. And people are upset. “
It is unclear whether Mayor Rick Blanghiardi will sign the bill, but the administration has presented the original version of the bill.
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