Following the conclusion of the recessed meeting of the Maui Planning Commission this past Tuesday, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend adoption of Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed bill to phase out Transient Vacation Rentals in the Apartment districts. Molokaʻi Planning Commission voted to recommend adoption on July 10, and Lānaʻi Planning Commission voted on July 17 to forward its recommendations to the County Council.

Maui Planning Commission added recommendations to consider the economic impacts of the proposal using the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization study; consider the social, cultural, environmental and quality of life impacts of this proposal; consider excluding those properties that are community plan-designated for hotel use and those properties that are already partially hotel zoned. The commission also recognized the need for immediacy in West Maui and discussed the possibility of changing the timeline of the phase-out to up to three years in South Maui.

The proposal to phase-out more than 7,100 short-term rentals in apartment districts on Maui will be submitted with the Commission’s report and recommended amendments to Maui County Council for final decision-making, according to the County of Maui Planning Department. The report will include recommendations from the Moloka‘i and Lānaʻi Planning Commissions.

Next steps:

The proposal and report will be transmitted to the Council no later than 120 days after the final public hearing, which was held by the Maui Planning Commission July 23, 2024. Maui County Council will have the final decision-making authority including passing with amendments, passing the bill as-is, or filing (voting it down).

Background:

A collaboration among Mayor Richard Bissen, Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and grassroots advocacy group Lahaina Strong, the proposal to phase out more than 7,100 short term rentals in apartment districts, also known as Minatoya List TVRs, was introduced in a concerted effort to address a deep housing crisis in Maui County that has only worsened since the wildfires of August 2023.

For more information, including economic and housing statistics, visit https://app.helpingmaui.org/data/minastats.