The Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice acknowledges that renting a property as a vacation rental may help a small percentage of struggling local families, but said their data show that the practice disproportionately benefits out-of-state interests.

“Our main issue is renting out an entire dwelling to visitors that local families could rent. When a tenant does that, it’s equally concerning,” said Gavin Thornton, Hawaiʻi Appleseed co-executive director.