New Laws Target Permit Delays That Slow Housing Construction Statewide
The Hawaii Legislature passed several bills aimed at speeding up building permits by addressing staff shortages and streamlining processes. The measures allow counties to offer higher salaries for permit reviewers and standardize permit data between counties. Counties can now recruit permitting staff at higher salaries and offer incentives to address reviewer shortages. New legislation clarifies […]
Hale Mahina Seeks County Approval for Beach Access Agreement
Hale Mahina condo association is asking for public support of their proposed agreement with Maui County to provide beach access through their property’s south side after determining north-side access would be unsafe. The property has not provided required public beach access for over 50 years and received a Notice of Violation. A north-side pathway opened […]
Maui Council Committee Advances New Hotel Zoning for Vacation Rentals
A Maui County Council committee approved Bill 88 to create new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories that could provide a pathway for some vacation rental properties affected by the Bill 9 phase-out. The measure now goes to the full council for consideration. Bill 88 creates H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories but does not […]
Oahu Woman Sues City Over $600K Fine for Accidental STR Advertisement
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 […]
Maui Council Advances Bill That Could Preserve Thousands of Vacation Rentals
Multiple sources report that the Maui County Council is considering legislation that could allow thousands of vacation rentals previously slated for phase-out to continue operating through new hotel zoning designations. The Committee on Housing and Land Use voted 6-to-1 in favor of the measure this week, despite opposition from local planning commissions. Bill 88 would […]
County Committee Approves Hotel Zones That Could Save Some Phased-Out STRs
Maui County’s housing committee voted 6-1 to create new hotel zones that would allow some vacation rentals affected by last year’s phase-out to continue operating. The measure now goes to the full council for final approval. Bill 88 creates two new hotel zone designations that could allow STRs phased out under Bill 9 to continue […]
Hawaii Counties Gain New Regulatory Authority Over Short-Term Rentals
Hawaii has implemented new framework changes affecting short-term rental operators, giving local counties expanded regulatory control over STR operations. Hawaii has moved forward with regulatory framework changes that hand a ‘regulatory kill switch’ to local counties for short-term rental oversight. The changes are part of broader 2026 short-term rental law updates affecting operators across multiple […]
Council Committee Advances New Hotel Zones for Vacation Rental Properties
Maui County Council’s Housing Committee voted 6-1 to advance new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning districts for 4,500 grandfathered vacation rentals, overriding planning commissions’ recommendations for denial. The new H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning categories would provide a pathway for 4,500 vacation rentals on the Minatoya List to seek hotel zoning. All three county planning […]
Two Americans Killed Fighting With Communist Group in Philippines
Two Americans, including one radicalized at San Francisco State University, died in a firefight while fighting for a designated terrorist organization in the Philippines. Both were involved with Filipino-American activist groups that allegedly serve as fronts for Communist recruitment. Lyle Prijoles, 40, and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, 26, were killed fighting for the New People’s Army, […]
Small Business Bills Tracked by NFIB in 2026 Hawaii Legislative Session
The National Federation of Independent Business monitored 22 bills affecting small businesses during Hawaii’s 2026 legislative session. Several potentially costly measures including minimum wage increases and expanded leave requirements were deferred or failed to advance. Bills to raise minimum wage to $18/hour by 2027 and eliminate tipped wage credits failed to advance. Legislation expanding collective […]