#STR

Hawaiʻi’s economy is moving beyond last year’s mild recession, but the recovery will be gradual, according to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s first quarter forecast for 2026 released on Feb. 27. Maui is the standout, as ongoing recovery from the disastrous 2023 wildfires will continue to propel rising tourism activity, if at a slower pace than last year.

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.”

Maui Resort Rentals, the leading vacation rental management company on Maui, has formally announced its acquisition of Newport Beach-based Beachview Rentals and the creation of a new parent company, Dream Resorts. 

Op-Ed: Lahaina Strong’s De Andre Makakoa Takahashi shares his thoughts on the STR housing crisis and the movement’s road from protest to policy.

The Realtors Association of Maui (RAM) formally announced its opposition on Friday to Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed Bill 9, which seeks to eliminate approximately 7,000 short-term rentals (STRs) in apartment-zoned areas by 2026. Mayor Richard Bissen responded to a request for comment from Maui Now saying, Bill 9 is “one part of a collective strategy” to address Maui’s severe housing crisis.

While Maui County’s resident population of roughly 164,000 represents about 11% of Hawaiʻi state residents overall, the Tri-Isle county had the highest supply of available vacation rental unit nights of any county in the state in August, according to a report by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

Attorney General Anne Lopez is applauding the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court’s unanimous decision of Rosehill v. State of Hawaiʻi, Land Use Commission, where the court held that farm dwellings in the agricultural district cannot be used as short-term vacation rentals under Hawaiʻi law.

With ongoing recovery efforts and an estimated 6,000 people still in search of longer-term living arrangements, greater emphasis is being placed on encouraging property owners to offer their available units as long-term housing for survivors and their families.

Maui County hotels led the state in November 2022 with revenue per available room of $351 and average daily rate at $538, but lagged in occupancy at 65.2%.

In September 2020, Hawai‘i hotels continued to report substantial declines in revenue per available room, average daily rate and occupancy compared to September 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Statewide RevPAR decreased to $29 (-85.0%), ADR fell to $149 (-39.5%) and occupancy declined to 19.6 percent (-59.4 percentage points) in September.