I was hoping to give an update on Maui Council’s Bill 9, the one aimed at converting short-term rentals into long-term housing, but the public hearing dragged on, and now they’ve scheduled two more full days (June 18 and June 23) just to finish public testimony.
176 people signed up to speak, but only 52 got their turn. As the saying goes, opinions are like mouths—everyone has one. (Yes, I revised that for polite company.) My guess? It’s 172 versions of the same 10 arguments. If it were up to me, I’d have folks record their testimony, let AI sort them by theme/argument, and have a few of the most passionate voices from each side representing those arguments speak. Though I’ve been told that prioritizing efficiency over feelings might be… a bit cold-hearted.
Only 4% of homes are currently affordable to Maui residents. Bill 9 might bump that to 11%, but only if out-of-state buyers don’t get there first.
More to come after round two (and three) of testimony.
