🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Maui County, HI
Maui Moves Toward Major STR Phaseout as Council Advances Controversial Bill 9
Bill 9 Moves Forward: Maui Inches Closer to Major STR Overhaul
Maui’s heated debate over short-term rentals hit a major milestone this week as the County Council voted 5–3 to advance Bill 9, Mayor Richard Bissen’s sweeping proposal to phase out thousands of vacation rentals on the island. The issue has divided the community for more than a year and a half, and now the council is preparing for a final vote on December 15.
Bill 9 would eliminate the exemptions that allow about 7,000 apartment-zoned units to operate as STRs, properties that have long been part of Maui’s tourist accommodation network. Supporters of the bill say it’s a long overdue step toward recovering housing for local residents, particularly after the August 2023 wildfires that displaced thousands and pushed the island’s housing shortage to the breaking point.
Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez emphasized the human side of the crisis, saying that many families who’ve built their lives on Maui are now unable to stay because housing has become financially out of reach. For her, Bill 9 represents a chance to restore balance. Meanwhile, Council Chair Alice Lee issued a stark warning that removing such a large share of STR units could slash county revenue and disrupt programs funded by visitor-related income.
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Her concerns were echoed by STR owners and workers who testified about the wide network of jobs tied to vacation rentals. Cleaners, landscapers, property managers, and repair crews all rely on the consistent work generated by these units. They fear that Bill 9, if fully implemented, could shrink their livelihoods overnight. Research from UHERO also heightened those concerns by predicting significant economic fallout if nearly half of the county’s vacation rentals were phased out.
Housing advocates, however, countered with a broader argument: that Maui’s economy must evolve. Some testified that the current tourism-heavy model has deepened generational challenges, and that shifting units away from short-term use is necessary to support community stability and housing affordability.
The council’s decision was influenced by an important companion proposal set for discussion on December 19. This plan would create two new hotel zoning districts and rezone many of the STR properties currently caught in Bill 9’s net. The adjustment could allow more than half of the affected STRs to continue operating legally. Councilmembers like Shane Sinenci and Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins said their support for Bill 9 hinges partly on advancing this paired legislation, which could reduce the impact to roughly 13% of Maui’s STR market.
Alice Lee
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