Lawmakers in Hawaii are seriosuly weighing significant new laws that will make it easier for counties to block or limit short-term rentals after a housing crisis was exacerbated by the Maui wildfires.
More than 6,000 people lost their homes in the fires last August that killed 100 people.
A University of Hawaii study found that 15 percent of Maui's housing stock and 40 percent of Lahaina's housing are vacation rentals, and lawmakers are considering doing something about it.
House Speaker Scott Saiki said that it is unclear whether the counties can handle short-term rental rules on their own, so the state government needs to address the issue directly.
The group Lahaina Strong has been asking politicians to take action on the housing crisis.
"There are still over 5,000 Lahaina fire victims displaced and sheltering in hotels. The concept of home remains a distant dream," Jordan Ruidas, an organizer, said in January.
The organization is requesting that exceptions that have been granted to 2,500 West Maui vacation rental units be canceled so the units can be rented long-term by people displaced by the fires.
Gov. Josh Green said last month that he would not pursue a moratorium on short-term rentals on Maui. The state has obtained enough units to house impacted families, he insisted.
Not everyone who lost their home stayed on the islands. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement estimates at least 1,500 households have left the island since the fire. And they are concerned they will never be able to afford to return.
Forty-seven House members have co-sponsored a bill that would allow short-term rentals to be phased out in the state.
State Rep. Luke Evslin said a lack of new construction and many homes being converted into short-term rentals has worsened the housing situation.
"Every alarm bell we have should be ringing when we're literally going backwards in our goal to provide more housing in Hawaii," he said, Politico reported.
Short-term rental owners have said any ban would violate their property rights.
