Community invited to briefing about proposed registration process for short-term vacation rentals

Discussion about regulating short-term rentals in Hawai‘i County continues.

An online informational briefing via Zoom is planned from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 17 co-hosted by Hawai‘i County Council members Heather Kimball and Ashley Kierkiewicz to provide community members with more details about proposed county legislation that would establish a registration process for hosted transient vacation rentals — or short-term vacation rentals — and hosting platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo on the Big Island.

The proposed legislation’s intent is to provide a clearer understanding of the scale and presence of short-term vacation rentals on the island and ensure all are operating within legal guidelines.

Those who want to participate in the Zoom briefing must register in advance online to receive a unique Zoom login, where a draft of the proposed legislation is also available for public review.

Hosting platforms and hosted transient vacation rentals, including their operational status, are the exclusive focus of the proposed registration legislation.

It does not include any changes to operational standards, land use regulation or regulatory enforcement measures.

Unhosted short-term vacation rentals already are registered with the county and would not be subject to the proposed initial registration process, but would be subject to annual renewal.

Feedback from community and Hawai‘i County Council members about previous efforts to address these types of rentals is the basis for the proposed registration rule.

It also builds on the council’s adoption in July 2024 of Resolution 556 tasking Hawai‘i County Department of Research and Development to conduct an economic impact analysis of vacation rentals on Hawai‘i Island.

Research and Development contracted Chicago-based Hunden Partners, a firm experienced in similar studies throughout Hawai‘i, to carry out the analysis.

“It was clear from our past work on Bill 121 that we were trying to accomplish too much with one bill and we also needed more information for certain aspects of it,” Kimball said. “Creating this registration process, in combination with the study, will help the council make more informed decisions about any future legislation regarding where [transient vacation rentals] are permitted and any changes to operational standards.”

Bill 121, part of a three-measure package introduced last year by Kimball and Kierkiewicz that was met with widespread pushback from the Big Island community, sought to add new definitions and rules for owner-hosted, operator-hosted and unhosted transient accommodations rentals, as well as hosting platforms.

The bill’s objectives were to get all transient accommodations rentals in the county registered while making sure they are operating safely and following the same standards.

After being under discussion for the better part of 2024 and amended several times, the controversial measure was eventually shelved by council members, who postponed making a decision on the bill until a future date, during a committee meeting last November

Kimball and Kierkiewicz will review the proposed legislation, discuss timelines and outline the scope of the Research and Development study during this week’s Zoom briefing.

Community members are encouraged to share their input for the study through the following surveys:

• Resident survey.
• Hosted and unhosted transient vacation rental operators survey.

Survey responses will provide a greater clarity for the extent of existing transient vacation rentals, which will help inform future vacation rental policies and legislation in Hawai‘i County.

For those who can’t attend the Zoom briefing, it will be recorded and made available for later viewing online .