š£ Prioritize Housing for Local Residents on Maui, Support Bill 9
Stand with LÄhainÄ Strong, support Bill 9
This Monday, June 9th from 10am - 4:30pm, the Housing and Land Use Committee of the Maui County Council will convene to hear testimony and vote on Bill 9, which would phase out short-term rental use in apartment-zoned districts, sometimes referred to as the āMinatoya List.ā This legislation could return thousands of units to long-term local housing and shift zoning back to its intended purpose.
Almost two years after the devastating LÄhainÄ wildfire, displaced residents continue to face housing instability. The prevalence of vacation rentals, which constitute a significant portion of Maui's housing stock, exacerbates the crisis by limiting the availability of long-term housing options for survivors. This shortage has forced many families to find housing elsewhere , threatening the cultural fabric of the community. Over 1,000 families have already moved away from Maui. The lack of affordable housing for local residents was already an issue prior to the fires, the fires simply underscored the existing crisis by decimating over 2,000 homes. The homes destroyed in the fires were predominantly housing for local families and residents, in many cases providing multigenerational homes that provided the only locally affordable option.
Maui is not the first jurisdiction to take action on the unchecked proliferation of STRs. All over the world, increased real estate speculation largely due to conversion of long-term housing into STRs has skyrocketed housing costs, pricing residents out of their communities. Other places around the world, such as New York and Barcelona, have already taken action to rein in STRs and their impact on long-term housing inventory for local residents.
As LÄhainÄ rebuilds, one truth is undeniable: there is not enough water to support unchecked development in West Maui.
With Maui communities already facing housing shortages and critical infrastructure damage post-fire, the fight over water is now a fight over the future. STRs on the Minatoya List, many of which were originally built and zoned for residential use, now consume water as commercial businesses while local families remain displaced and the Maui Komohana water systems are stretched beyond capacity.
In a detailed analysis, Earthjustice warns that the post-fire period has opened the door for corporate actors to expand their grip on HawaiŹ»iās water systems.
In June 2022, the State Commission on Water Resource Management formally designated West Maui as a surface and ground water management area after years of advocacy and investigations into overuse. This designation confirms what locals have long known, there is a severe water shortage, and oversight is urgently needed. Yet despite this recognition, large landowners and developers continue to control much of the supply, prioritizing resorts and golf courses over residents and farmers.
Without strong public intervention, long-standing community efforts to restore fair and sustainable water access could be undermined.
Returning STRs to residential use is one way to restore balance to Mauiās housing inventory, providing tangible housing solutions for local residents without increasing demand on local water resources.
What is the Minatoya List?
The Minatoya List refers to units in Maui County within the apartment district that received a zoning exemption which allowed them to operate as short term rentals. Approximately 6,150 units on Maui Countyās Minatoya List operate as short-term rentals, with 95% located in South and West Maui. While some units serve as primary residences or long-term rentals, the majority function as vacation accommodations. Notably, Kamaole Sands in KÄ«hei has 428 of its 440 units used for short-term rentals. This concentration has significantly impacted housing availability for local residents. It is also important to note that 85-95% of the units on the Minatoya list are owned by out-of-state investors.
What You Can Do
Out-of-state STR owners are already coming out in force, attacking the character of local advocates such as LÄhainÄ Strong leadership. We need the community to turn out in large numbers to show that local residents support Bill 9.
Attend the Maui County Council hearing on Monday and provide both in-person oral and written testimony in support. Below is a sample testimony, but personalized is always best.
Testify in Person:
Where: Council Chamber, Kalana O Maui Building, 8th Flr., 200 South High St., Wailuku, Hawaiāi
Date: Monday, June 9
Time: Hearing: 10:00 AM ā 4:30 PM
Arrive by 9:00 AM if you can ā LÄhainÄ Strong will be sign-waving and packing the room in red.
Please submit written testimony in support by Monday, June 9th at 8am
Email written testimony to:
HLU.committee@mauicounty.us
Subject line: Testimony re: Bill 9 (Minatoya Phase-Out)
Or testify online:
Video testimony via Teams link: http://tinyurl.com/HLU-Committee
Remote oral testimony is also available online via the same Teams link
Sample Testimony in Support of Bill 9
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and Members of the Maui County Housing and Land Use Committee,
Iām writing in strong support of Bill 9, which would phase out short-term rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned districts. This bill is an essential component to addressing Mauiās housing crisis and protecting our most vital resource: water.
The 2023 LÄhainÄ fire exposed long-standing issuesāprivatized water systems, diverted streams, and overdevelopment have pushed West Maui to the edge. STRs, originally meant for housing, now operate as commercial businesses, consuming high volumes of water while local families remain displaced.
Returning STRs to long-term housing helps protect water access, push back against inequality, and put community needs first. With over 6,000 STRs on the Minatoya List, we have a clear opportunity to increase housing stock without using more water.
I urge you to stand with LÄhainÄ Strong and pass Bill 9.
Ola i ka Wai ā Water is Life.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Optional: Your Town or Island]
