#Bill 9
Mayor Bissen signs Bill 9 into law; says it will restore housing availability for residents
Mayor Richard Bissen today signed Bill 9 into law after Maui County Council approved the measure on second and final reading, marking what he calls “a historic step toward restoring housing availability for residents” and “realigning zoning policy with its original residential purpose.”
Mayor Bissen signs Bill 9 into law, shortly after 5-3 final passage by Maui Council
The Maui County Council members passed Bill 9 on second and final reading Monday by the same 5-3 vote that advanced the controversial measure earlier this month. Later Monday, Mayor Richard Bissen signed the bill into law. Bissen introduced the measure to phase out transient vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts in May 2024. While the […]
Maui Council passes vacation rental phase-out bill on first reading with 5-3 vote
The Maui County Council passed the contentious Bill 9 on first reading Monday, advancing a measure that would phase out thousands of transient vacation rentals currently operating in apartment-zoned districts, mostly in South and West Maui. The measure passed by a vote of 5-3 following a daylong meeting that included hours of emotional public testimony […]
Kahului Council candidates interviewed; contrasts emerge in policies, philosophy and personalities
Differing personalities, philosophies and policy positions surfaced Thursday afternoon as Maui County Council members interviewed three applicants vying to fill the unexpired term of the late Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama.
Community divides over swing vote successor for late Council Member Tasha Kama
The Maui County Council heard more than two hours of passionate and divided testimony Thursday morning regarding the appointment of a successor to the Kahului residency seat left vacant by the passing of Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama. The Council is considering three applicants for the remainder of the 2025-2027 term: Virgilio “Leo” R. Agcolicol, […]
First reading of Bill 9 on TVRs in apartment districts scheduled for Dec. 1
The bill that would phase out transient vacation rental uses in the apartment zoning districts is being scheduled for a special council meeting Dec. 1 at 9 a.m., Council Chair Alice L. Lee announced today.
Biggest water users in West Maui before fire were non-owner-occupied homes, report finds
The state water commission is trying to decide who should get permits to use water in West Maui, with 93 existing use permits and 48 new applications under review.
Maui Council adopts dual track Kahului seat vacancy process, clashes over Bill 9 delay
The official process of nomination will begin soon, with a special Council meeting and public hearing scheduled for Nov. 20 to consider nominees. Applications and financial disclosure statements from Kahului residents seeking the seat are due no later than noon Nov. 10. Council members’ nominations are due 9 a.m. Nov. 20. A final vote is slated to be taken on the deadline day, Nov. 25.
Bill 9’s first reading to be scheduled after council fills vacancy
Maui County Council Chair Alice L. Lee announced that first reading of the bill to phase out transient vacation rentals in Apartment Districts will be scheduled for a council meeting hopefully in December while the council turns its attention to filling the vacancy created by the passing of Council Member Tasha Kama.
Maui Council sets Nov. 3 special meeting to establish process for filling Kahului vacancy
The Maui County Council will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Nov. 3 — and take public testimony — to establish a process to fill the Kahului residency seat vacancy left Sunday by the death of Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama.
Deep sadness: Council Member Tasha Kama dies Sunday night
Maui County Council Member Tasha Kama died at 9:25 p.m. Sunday, surrounded by her loved ones, according to a family statement posted on the Kahului council member’s Facebook page. She was 73.
Maui Council panel eyes allowing thousands of vacation rentals to operate in new hotel zoning
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee deferred action Thursday on recommendations for phasing out thousands of apartment-zoned short-term vacation rentals, shifting its focus instead to a proposal that would allow more than 4,500 current vacation rental units to continue operating legally. The committee plans to advance legislation to establish H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning […]
Maui Council panel pauses deliberations on TIG recommendations, focus shifts to new hotel zoning
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee recessed a discussion Wednesday after a brief deliberation on the path forward for Bill 9, which aims to phase out thousands of short-term rentals in apartment-zoned districts to free up housing for residents.
Mayor Bissen urges Council to pass Bill 9, citing need to restore housing balance
Mayor Richard Bissen urged Maui County Council members to pass Bill 9, which would phase out apartment district properties operating as transient vacation rentals, arguing the move is critical to addressing direly needed long-term housing for residents.
Lahaina Strong calls for passage of Bill 9 in wake of Temporary Investigative Group report
Lahaina Strong, a community group that arose in the wake of the Lahaina wildfire disaster, is calling for the Maui County Council to take expeditious action on Bill 9, which would phase out short-term vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts. “We are still awaiting confirmation of dates for the two full Council hearings required before Bill […]
New hotel zoning weighed to preserve some vacation rentals amid housing crisis debate
A Maui County Council investigative group has recommended creating two new hotel zoning districts to allow some existing short-term vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts to continue operating, a proposal that drew sharp public debate over balancing economic concerns with residents’ urgent need for housing. The Bill 9 Temporary Investigative Group, established to study policies related […]
Temporary Investigative Group to release report Oct. 14 on proposed phase out TVRs in apartment districts
Council Member Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins announced that a report from the temporary investigative group she led on policy responses to the possible phasing out of transient vacation rental uses in Apartment Districts will be released Tuesday.
Lahaina Strong and Housing Back Hui Coalition urge Maui County Council to pass Bill 9 ‘clean’
Lahaina Strong is calling on the Maui County Council to pass Bill 9 in its “clean form—without carve-outs, amendments, or delay,” and has launched a petition detailing their request.
Hawaiʻi faces mild recession as tourism falls, inflation rises in new UHERO third quarter forecast
UHERO forecasts a mild recession in the islands over the next year, with the weakening US economy threatening a potentially deeper downturn. The Maui condo market has seen a large plunge in activity, with the value of resales down nearly 50% compared with mid-2023. This reflects in part uncertainty over Bill 9.
Owners mulling legal action if Maui County’s short-term rental bill passes. Could it stand up in court?
County attorneys have been careful not to reveal their legal strategies but say they believe the bill is legally sound.
