Maui taps short-term rentals to ease housing crisis
There could soon be a short-term rentals shortage on Maui for years to come.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen is proposing incentives for short-term rental owners to house displaced locals.
Many Laihana residents are still displaced in hotels and other temporary accommodations after the wildfires in the summer.
A proposed bill would exempt tax on short-term vacation rentals, timeshares, and other vacation or second homes.
The mayor wants owners to rent to displaced local residents.
“I believe that a shared sacrifice is necessary at this time,” Bissen said.
“Owners who help our disaster-impacted families by making their units available will receive a tax waiver.“
Those who choose not to can help by contributing more in taxes.”
Housing officials say a rebuilding program will take years to complete.
Owners of properties worth over $1 million and who choose not to rent to long term displaced residents will pay more in property taxes.
If approved, the bill would take effect from January 1, 2024.
There are about 14,000 short-term rentals in Maui County as well as about 3,000 timeshare units.
There was a Hawaii-wide housing shortage even before the wildfire which devastated the town of Laihana.
This has led to rents more than twice the national average.
Most of the homes destroyed in Laihana were affordable housing units.
Related News Stories: Hawaii could ban short-term vacation rentals for good : r/Hawaii Maui mayor: restrict vacation rentals to fix housing shortage | Fortune Hawaii looks to phase-out short term rentals. What would that mean ... Short-term vacation rentals driving up home prices, rents | University ... This Is How The Candidates For Maui Mayor Want To Tackle The ... Congressional subcommittee examines wildfire response Mayor Bissen delivers 2024 State of the County Address; Rent ... Ernestine Siu on LinkedIn: I bought a $54,000 abandoned house in ... Candidate Q&A: Maui County Council Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu ... Hawai?i Fire Relief Housing Program
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025