Proposal to phase out Maui short-term rentals advances to Council

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Maui Planning Commission has unanimously recommended Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed bill to phase out Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) in apartment districts.

The bill, developed in collaboration with Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and advocacy group, Lahaina Strong, aims to eliminate over 7,100 short-term rentals in response to Maui County’s worsening housing crisis.

The Molokaʻi Planning Commission recommended adoption of the bill on July 10, while the Lānaʻi Planning Commission did so on July 17. The Maui Planning Commission has added suggestions to assess the economic impacts using a University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization study and proposed adjusting the phase-out timeline, with a potential extension to three years for South Maui.

The proposal, along with the Commision’s report and amendments, will be submitted to the Maui County Council for final approval. The report will also incorporate recommendations from the Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi Planning Commissions. It is expected to be sent to the Council within 120 days of the Maui Planning Commission’s final public hearing on July 23.

For more information, including economic and housing statistics, visit this website.