Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed a bill into law to give counties more authority to regulate short-term vacation rentals amid the ongoing state housing crisis and aftermath of the Maui wildfires.
Now, a day after the bill signing , local advocates from Lāhainā Strong are joining County Maui Mayor Richard Bissen to announce a new policy aimed at regulating and phasing out “thousands of transient vacation rentals that have not gone through the traditional permitting process.”
The Maui wildfires in August 2023 exacerbated the island’s housing crisis, burning thousands of structures and displacing thousands of residents.
Residents have long complained about the impact of tourism and luxury home and resort development on housing accessibility, as well as the lack of affordable housing and rentals for residents.
