Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 75° Today's Paper

Photo Galleries

Hawaii vacation rental operators protest proposed ban

By Kat Wade / Special to the Star-Advertiser

June 6, 2019

1/8
Swipe or click to see more
Video by Mark Ladao / mladao@staradvertiser.com
Local vacation rental advocates and small business owners are opposing Honolulu City Council member Ron Menor's two proposals to ban vacation rentals.
2/8
Swipe or click to see more
Scott Brazwell of the Oahu Alternative Lodging Association joined local vacation rental advocates and small business owners at a news conference on Thursday to oppose Councilman Ron Menor's proposals to ban vacation rentals.
3/8
Swipe or click to see more
Mary Lavoie, left, joined local vacation rental advocates and small business owners at a news conference on Thursday. Vacation rental operators are warning Honolulu City Council members that two bills they are considering could not only put them out of business, but trigger a severe blow to Oahu’s tourism industry.
4/8
Swipe or click to see more
Bret James, left, Bill Page, Huong Hoang and Mary Lavoie joined local vacation rental advocates and small business owners at a news conference on Thursday.
5/8
Swipe or click to see more
The vacation rental operators and advocates that showed up on Thursday were split between removing just whole-home rental units, or transient vacation units, and keeping “hosted” units that the owners occupy, while others wanted both to be allowed.
6/8
Swipe or click to see more
They said they would support legislation that would weed out non-local vacation rental units operated by non-local platforms such as AirBnB, VRBO and HomeAway. Some believe that the industry will continue regardless, and locals should at least be “part of the action.”
7/8
Swipe or click to see more
Alorah Kwok of Hawaiian Villa Rentals spoke to local vacation rental advocates and small business owners at a news conference on Thursday.
8/8
Swipe or click to see more
Terry Lodge of IRC Hawaii spoke to local vacation rental advocates and small business owners at a news conference on Thursday. There are between 6,000 and 8,000 illegal vacation units on Oahu and only 816 legal ones, according to the Department of Planning and Permitting.
Previous Gallery
Craft project: Make a candy bouquet with your keiki
Next Gallery
Cats and kittens available for adoption on Oahu this weekend

More Photo Galleries

Subscriber Favorites

Flip through MidWeek online

Looking Back


Honolulu Local Business Guide