An 83-year-old Oahu property owner is challenging $600,000 in fines from Honolulu for accidentally advertising her rental as a short-term rental due to platform errors. The case highlights enforcement of the city’s 2019 law that allows daily fines up to $10,000 just for advertising illegal STRs.
- Honolulu can fine property owners up to $10,000 per day just for advertising illegal short-term rentals, even without actual operations.
- The woman claims her rental platform had an internal error that allowed short-term bookings despite her setting it for 30+ day rentals only.
- She accumulated most of the $600,000 fine in 2024 while hospitalized from a car accident and unaware of violation notices.
- The city has placed a lien on her property and is demanding payment despite the platform confirming the error was not her fault.
- Her lawsuit argues the fines are excessive for unintentional violations by someone who is ‘technologically illiterate.’
Source: Hawaii Public Radio
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