Maui County is wrestling with legislation that could reshape the island's economy and housing landscape. Bill 9, introduced 18 months ago to convert short-term vacation rentals (STRs) into long-term housing, has evolved dramatically from the mayor's initial claim that "most, if not all" affected properties were meant for workforce housing. A Temporary Investigative Group (TIG) found that 63% of these condos are actually unsuitable for long-term residential use.
The numbers are staggering: converting these properties could slash county property tax revenue by up to 85%. The TIG recommends creating new hotel zones and rezoning appropriate properties, but there's a critical timing problem: Bill 9's first reading is scheduled for November 12, while the new zoning categories could take four to six months or longer to establish.
Join Lahaina Lee as he breaks down what's at stake, why the sequencing matters, and what happens next in this critical decision for Maui's future. Can the County find a path that balances housing needs with property rights and economic sustainability?
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🔗 Links that Lahaina Lee mentions in this episode:
LINK 1 to the Mayor's comment in May 2024 & LINK 2 to the most recent Housing and Land Use Committee (HLU) on October 22, 2025.
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