Last issue, we flagged how Oʻahu and Maui’s short-term rental reforms are stuck in neutral. Now Hawaiʻi Island is drifting the same way. Ordinance 25-50, the county’s new law for hosted short-term vacation rentals, was set to take effect December 20th, 2025, but is now expected to be pushed back to March 2026.
The law requires owners to register their rentals, pay fees ($250 hosted, $500 unhosted), renew annually, and comply with health and safety regulations, with fines of up to $10,000 for violations. Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo must also register and report monthly data. The delay is meant to give operators more time to comply, but it leaves yet another county in limbo on STR enforcement.
