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Honolulu can fine Airbnb, Vrbo for illegal vacation rentals. It never has
Affordable Housing Ben Angarone 5/13/25 Affordable Housing Ben Angarone 5/13/25

Honolulu can fine Airbnb, Vrbo for illegal vacation rentals. It never has

Like other tourist destinations, Honolulu passed a law to hold booking platforms accountable for illegal listings. But the city hasn’t cited any company, even as illegal rentals flourish.

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Short term rentals, long term issues for Hawaiʻi County
Affordable Housing Amee Hiʻilawe Neves 9/1/24 Affordable Housing Amee Hiʻilawe Neves 9/1/24

Short term rentals, long term issues for Hawaiʻi County

According to an analysis by the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, one in 24 homes on Hawaiʻi Island are short term rentals – 52% of which are owned by non-Hawaiʻi residents.

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Leeward Planning panel to consider three STVR bills
Affordable Housing Laura Ruminski 4/17/24 Affordable Housing Laura Ruminski 4/17/24

Leeward Planning panel to consider three STVR bills

The Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday will take up three highly controversial bills initiated by the Hawaiʻi County Council related to short-term vacation rentals.

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As Filipinos grapple with high rent, what is the state planning this legislative session?
Affordable Housing Edwin Quinabo 2/4/24 Affordable Housing Edwin Quinabo 2/4/24

As Filipinos grapple with high rent, what is the state planning this legislative session?

Locals and new locals coming together in a limited space have produced the perfect storm for a rental crunch where low supply is lopsided by high demand, and the result is a hefty rental tag.

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Proposed short-term rental rules on Big Island met with overwhelming opposition
Affordable Housing Nathan Christophel 1/26/24 Affordable Housing Nathan Christophel 1/26/24

Proposed short-term rental rules on Big Island met with overwhelming opposition

The county’s first attempt to regulate short-term rentals was in November 2018 with the passage of Bill 108, which included some recommendations from a March 2018 Hawai‘i Appleseed report.

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County Council forwards proposed changes to short-term rental regulations to planning commissions, director
Affordable Housing Nathan Christophel 1/24/24 Affordable Housing Nathan Christophel 1/24/24

County Council forwards proposed changes to short-term rental regulations to planning commissions, director

The county’s first attempt to regulate these short-term rentals included recommendations from a 2018 Hawai‘i Appleseed report that provided an overview of impacts from the rentals on the state’s housing market.

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Big Island lawmakers attempt to rein in short-term vacation rentals
Affordable Housing Paula Dobbyn 1/23/24 Affordable Housing Paula Dobbyn 1/23/24

Big Island lawmakers attempt to rein in short-term vacation rentals

Supporters say new limits are needed to increase the island's affordable housing stock, while opponents fear negative economic consequences.

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Is it unethical to vacation in Hawaiʻi?
Affordable Housing Janet Nguyen 10/11/23 Affordable Housing Janet Nguyen 10/11/23

Is it unethical to vacation in Hawaiʻi?

Despite the economic revenue that the tourism industry generates, Native Hawaiians point out that residents aren’t partaking in those profits.

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Maui looks to crack down on companies selling shares of second homes
Affordable Housing Marina Starleaf Riker 11/3/22 Affordable Housing Marina Starleaf Riker 11/3/22

Maui looks to crack down on companies selling shares of second homes

A County Council measure would expand the definition of timeshare to include stays of up to 180 days to try to limit multiple owners from buying into vacation homes.

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This is how the candidates for Maui mayor want to tackle the housing crisis
Affordable Housing Marina Starleaf Riker 10/14/22 Affordable Housing Marina Starleaf Riker 10/14/22

This is how the candidates for Maui mayor want to tackle the housing crisis

Both say the lack of housing for residents is the county’s top problem, but they’re proposing very different solutions.

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Thousands of houses are empty on Maui. Would higher taxes change that?
Affordable Housing, Taxes & Budget Marina Starleaf Riker 4/26/22 Affordable Housing, Taxes & Budget Marina Starleaf Riker 4/26/22

Thousands of houses are empty on Maui. Would higher taxes change that?

An estimated 15,000 housing units—about 1 in 5 throughout all of Maui County—are vacant, according to 2020 census estimates.

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One year later: The effects of Hawaiʻi’s illegal short-term rental ban
Affordable Housing, Taxes & Budget Don Wallace 10/8/20 Affordable Housing, Taxes & Budget Don Wallace 10/8/20

One year later: The effects of Hawaiʻi’s illegal short-term rental ban

Illegal vacation rentals have worsened Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing shortage while contributing to an overrun of high-impact, low-spending visitors.

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Hawaiʻi weighs measures to curb Airbnb
Affordable Housing Maria Lenhart 5/6/19 Affordable Housing Maria Lenhart 5/6/19

Hawaiʻi weighs measures to curb Airbnb

Sky-high housing prices and limited land make the negative impact of short-term rentals in Hawaiʻi especially acute. Regulatory measures may provide some relief.

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Top 10 cities where vacation rentals rake in the most cash
Affordable Housing Lance Lambert 4/22/19 Affordable Housing Lance Lambert 4/22/19

Top 10 cities where vacation rentals rake in the most cash

The short-term rental business has experienced 97% growth in America’s 100 largest cities over the past three years, totaling more than 360,000 active rentals.

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Short-term rental regulation advances at Honolulu Hale
Affordable Housing Ryan Finnerty 4/18/19 Affordable Housing Ryan Finnerty 4/18/19

Short-term rental regulation advances at Honolulu Hale

On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council held a public hearing on the latest proposals to rein in Oʻahu’s vacation accommodations, like those rented on Airbnb.

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Right moves on vacation rentals
Affordable Housing Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 3/24/19 Affordable Housing Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 3/24/19

Right moves on vacation rentals

It’s encouraging that the Honolulu City Council Planning Committee put forward a bill that aims to rein in the vacation rental industry’s presence here.

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Short-term vacation rentals on Oʻahu could soon be regulated
Affordable Housing KITV4 Web Staff 3/18/19 Affordable Housing KITV4 Web Staff 3/18/19

Short-term vacation rentals on Oʻahu could soon be regulated

A 2018 report from Hawaiʻi Appleseed stated more than 80 percent of short term vacation rentals in Hawaiʻi are not owner-occupied.

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A grand bargain on vacation rentals
Affordable Housing Victor Geminiani 3/10/19 Affordable Housing Victor Geminiani 3/10/19

A grand bargain on vacation rentals

The Honolulu City Council will begin a historic discussion to resolve the frictions fueled by the spectacular expansion of illegal short-term rentals on Oʻahu.

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Who really benefits from illegal vacation rentals?
Affordable Housing Isaiah Feldman-Schwartz 2/24/19 Affordable Housing Isaiah Feldman-Schwartz 2/24/19

Who really benefits from illegal vacation rentals?

Will we prioritize investors’ ability to wring profits out of their second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) homes, or will we preserve our neighborhoods for the benefit of those who actually live in them? The choice is ours.

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City council debates fate of Oʻahu's short term rentals
Affordable Housing Paul Drewes 1/22/19 Affordable Housing Paul Drewes 1/22/19

City council debates fate of Oʻahu's short term rentals

The council planning committee heard seven bills that would drastically change the fees, fines and enforcement on thousands of Oʻahu short-term rentals.

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