Chipping away at short-term rentals

After receiving notices of violation of Honolulu’s tougher vacation-rentals law, at least one property owner pulled advertising while another changed it to offer stays of 30 days or more, which complies with Ordinance 19-89. Quick action is required to avoid an initial fine of $1,000 followed by subsequent daily fines of up to $10,000.

So far, Honolulu Hale has issued at least 18 notices, and no fine. That’s drop-in-the-bucket progress, considering the illegal-rentals estimate is at least 8,000 units. But it fuels hope that change is possible, including a significant increase in Oahu’s inventory of affordable rental housing for residents.

Heat is on, except for Pacific storms

August was a swelter in the islands, with several daily high temperatures breaking records, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. All of the records set last month were for temps of 90 degrees or higher. This week, the heat is holding steady, with the forecast for at least the next few days calling for highs in the low 90s. Meanwhile, though, the annual hurricane threat, which peaks in August and September, was dialed down a bit last month due to an El Nino warming trend in the Pacific Ocean ending, with neutral conditions returning.