Honolulu City Council Member Charles Djou has shown exceptional leadership by introducing Resolution 08-256. This bill would ask voters to decide if the City should establish a Vacation Rental Board to enforce B&B and vacation zoning in Honolulu. At the council meeting of Nov. 12, Djou expressed the frustration of many in the community over the inability of the City to enforce restrictions on short-term rentals.
The licensing moratorium of the past 19-years has provided ample time for this method of control to be tested and proved. It has failed the test.
More importantly many in the community are questioning the benefits of the status quo.
As written, Councilman Djou's Resolution 08-256 would go a long way for providing more realistic control and enforcement of this important home industry in Honolulu.
B&B's tend to moderate neighborhood traffic. Visitors use fewer cars than local residents. So neighborhoods with vacation rentals and B&B's are generally less congested than neighborhoods with lots of local rentals.
B&B's increase street parking for residents by providing on-site parking for guests. In neighborhoods with vacation rentals and B&B's there is generally more street parking available than in neighborhoods with lots of local rentals.
B&B's contribute to peace and quiet in residential neighborhoods. Visitors don't have many friends. Call the police. HPD will quickly confirm that visitors don't cause any trouble in neighborhoods.
Some opponents of B&B's site Megan Law. OCCC is full of local residents who have been arrested and imprisoned for raping, assaulting and kidnapping local kids. No vacation rental tenant or B&B visitor has been convicted or even accused of any felony in the state of Hawaii ever. Most B&B visitors are middle-aged Caucasian couples. Who would you rather have next door? Honestly?
B&B's maintain high neighborhood property values and provide windfall tax revenues for the City. Licensing fees will pay for the costs of zoning code enforcement under Djou's proposal whereas no allocation has ever been made for enforcement of any of the vacation rental restrictions.
B&B's help share the aloha of our neighborhoods with visitors, returning friends and relatives. Most local residents agree, when friends and family visit, it's best to have them stay close by. 'Nuf said.
B&B's create jobs at home. They also create jobs in the surrounding community. Right now, you cannot deny the importance of these jobs and the diversity these dwelling provide to Hawaii's struggling visitor industry.
Susie Bryson is with AloHawaii Properties by the Sea and is a member of the Kailua Chamber of Commerce, the Transient Accommodation Regulatory Assn., the Oahu Travel Network, the Hawaii Vacation Rental Owner's Assn. and a Licensed Hawaii Travel Agency. Reach her at mailto:info@kailuabeach.com
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