Maui’s Vacation Rental Ban Bill 9 Hearing Postponed Again!
Maui’s Vacation Rental Ban Bill 9 Hearing Postponed Again! Update October 2025
By Eric West | Maui Real Estate Update | October 2025
If you’re about to scoop up a Maui vacation rental condo for the best price you’ve seen in the last five years, be sure to send a thankyou email to Mayor Richard Bissen, West Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin, and of course the cash flush, fine folks at Lahaina Strong because nobody has done more to crash the market than this trio of “housing heroes.”
And oh yeah, in the process, they have not (nor will they ever) create one single affordable home on Maui from this abominaton of an idea. Just junk waves of economic destruction....that nobody wants to ride.
(And, yes, I have provided their email addresses below for your love notes)
Only on Maui. And other Blue States run by incompetent morons.
The long-awaited Bill 9 hearing—the proposal to ban seven thousand PERFECTLY legal vacation rentals—has once again been delayed. The meeting originally set for October 13th has now been postponed, with a new tentative date of November 7th still unconfirmed. For anyone keeping count, this is yet another chapter in what can only be described as government incompetence at its finest. These endless delays aren’t just an inconvenience—they’re STRATEGIC and costing property owners, investors, and local businesses millions of dollars. And to add insult to injury/rub salt in the wound, Maui County along with Maui Land and Pineapple should be held directly responsible for losing the PGA’s Tournament of Champions—a world-class event that has now been canceled because they quite literally turned off the water to the golf course. Costing local business upwards of $75 MILLION!!
How many slaps in the face are Maui voters willing to take before they finally vote out every single person responsible for this mess in the next election?
Apparently, the latest Maui County Council Meeting delay stems from the formation of a so-called Temporary Investigative Group (TIG), chaired by Council Member Uu-Hodgins, which is now tasked with exploring Bill 9’s potential impacts and possible mitigation measures. The TIG began meeting last month and hopes to report its findings later this month. The proposed new hearing date—believe it or not—is now November 7th.
The TIG members include Chair Uu-Hodgins, Vice Chair Poulton, and members Tom Cook and Shane Sinenci. Notably, Chair Alice Lee does not serve on the TIG. For many, this ongoing bureaucratic slow dance is more than frustrating—it’s paralyzing an entire sector of the Maui real estate economy while offering zero clarity to owners, buyers, and renters alike.
Maui Vacation Rental Ban Update: What Voters Really Think
As debate continues over Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed ban on Maui short-term rentals, new statewide data reveals a not so stunning reality: the vast majority of Hawaiʻi residents do not support this plan. That should have been incredibly obvious given the record turnout of testifiers against this bill — both in person and in writing — which lasted over three days. The only visible supporters appeared to be those wearing red Lahaina Strong shirts IN THE PHOTO BELOW, the same people standing behind Mayor Bissen. Is it just me, or does anyone else question how this political activist group received global donations meant for Lahaina Fire Survivors and then redirected those funds toward their own political agenda? And why are they always on stage with the politicians? That seems worthy of federal investigation. Share this article with Tulsi Gabbard, if you agree.
Tulsi Gabbard — who represented Maui’s 2nd Congressional District (including Lahaina) from 2013–2021 — now serves as the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.
If you want to bring federal attention to what’s happening on Maui, you can email the ODNI Public Affairs team at media_relations@odni.gov or the Intelligence Community Inspector General at ICIGHotline@odni.gov.
According to a statewide poll conducted by SMS Research and released by the Maui Vacation Rental Association (MVRA), just 10% of Hawai‘i voters — and only 12% of Maui voters — support banning all short-term rentals, including those that are currently legal under the well-known Minatoya List.
This fresh data sheds light on how Maui residents really feel about the issue — and it could reshape the conversation around Maui real estate, tourism, and local economic health.
Key Findings: What Maui Residents Really Think
- Only 24% of Maui voters consider short-term rentals a “big problem.”
- 65% of Maui voters want to keep legal vacation rentals but ban illegal ones.
- 68% of Maui voters are concerned about how a ban could impact county funding and essential services.
- The biggest concerns across Hawai‘i were cost of living (76%), homelessness (56%), and government corruption (40%) — not short-term rentals.
These results make it clear that residents see Maui’s real estate and tourism industries as interconnected, and most prefer responsible regulation over elimination.
Economic Concerns and Local Property Rights
Beyond the statistics, many residents view property ownership as a fundamental right — with 65% of Maui voters saying owners should have the freedom to do what they wish with their property.
Others note that vacation rentals:
- Provide affordable alternatives to hotels.
- Keep money in local hands, benefiting small businesses.
- Support jobs and generate vital tax revenue for Maui County.
MVRA Executive Director Caitlin Miller summarized the findings well:
“By phasing out existing, legal short-term rentals as Mayor Bissen seeks to do, leaders in Maui and Hawaiʻi are gambling both their political careers and the economic wellbeing of their communities.”
What’s Next?
The proposed bill will likely continue to face strong public scrutiny. With nearly nine out of ten voters opposing a total ban, policymakers may be forced to find a middle ground — one that enforces illegal rentals but protects law-abiding property owners and local small businesses that depend on visitor spending.
However, let’s be honest — this “delay” is nothing more than kicking the can down the road. Why? Because many of these local politicians are under enormous pressure from activist groups like Lahaina Strong, which — despite being marketed as a humanitarian movement — has evolved into a well-funded political action committee. Lahaina Strong raised millions of dollars under the guise of supporting fire survivors, but now operates as a lobbying arm pushing special-interest agendas.
Next time you see Mayor Bissen surrounded by a wall of red shirts, take a closer look — those are Lahaina Strong operatives. Doesn’t it seem strange that the same group claiming to stand for community recovery is now influencing legislation that would cripple one of Maui’s most vital economic engines? This is not coincidence — it’s coordination.
Why the Legal Risk Is Almost Certain
It’s worth noting that Airbnb’s attorney in Hawaiʻi is David Louie, a former Attorney General of the State of Hawaiʻi. He has testified multiple times in legislative hearings opposing bans that eliminate existing short-term rentals. In his testimony, Louie has warned that such proposals could result in substantial litigation due to long-standing legal protections for property owners.
His arguments are grounded in the doctrine of zoning estoppel and related vested rights protections — legal principles under Hawaiʻi and U.S. constitutional law that prevent the government from arbitrarily revoking land use rights that were legally established. Removing an owner’s lawful right to use their property without cause or compensation can constitute an unconstitutional taking.
Federal courts have already ruled on similar cases, blocking aggressive short-term rental bans that attempted to phase out legal operations. In one case, a judge affirmed that existing short-term rental owners retain the right to continue operating under previously established zoning laws. This precedent indicates that any county-wide phase-out would almost certainly face immediate legal challenges.
Given this history, a full ban on existing, legal vacation rentals is widely viewed as a moot point. Such an effort would only generate expensive lawsuits, waste taxpayer dollars, and ultimately fail to survive judicial review. The same judge who ruled against prior bans is likely to do so again.
In reality, this political movement appears driven less by sound policy and more by fear and pressure from small but vocal activist groups who intimidate local leaders into avoiding confrontation. Unfortunately, that fear only perpetuates inaction — kicking the can down the road while creating deeper economic and legal risks for the County and its residents.
How You Can Take Action
- Share this post — spread awareness before the next hearing.
- Submit written testimony opposing Bill 9 to the Maui County Council Clerk’s Office.
- Attend or testify at the next meeting (tentatively November 7).
- Email every council member and the mayor — make your voice heard.
Maui County Council & Mayor Contact Emails
- Alice Lee (Council Chair): alice.lee@mauicounty.us
- Yuki Lei Sugimura (Vice Chair): yukilei.sugimura@mauicounty.us
- Tasha Kama: tasha.kama@mauicounty.us
- Tom Cook: thomas.cook@mauicounty.us
- Gabe Johnson: gabe.johnson@mauicounty.us
- Tamara Paltin: tamara.paltin@mauicounty.us
- Lahaina Strong officiallahainastrong@gmail.com (intentionally located under West Maui Rep Paltin who proudly had the LS flag behind her at all council meetings)
- Keani Rawlins‐Fernandez: keani.rawlins@mauicounty.us Why does an *extreme* activist like Keani, who should only vote/represent issues dealing with MOLOKAI yet has a loud/pompous/braggadocious say and votes influencing "Maui only" issues is COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY ridiculous
- Shane Sinenci: shane.sinenci@mauicounty.us
- Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins: nohe.uu-hodgins@mauicounty.us
- Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr.: mayors.office@mauicounty.gov
When you email, keep it direct: “I oppose Bill 9 and any attempt to ban existing legal short-term rentals. Protect property rights, support local jobs, and stop wasting taxpayer money on policies that will fail in court. Please Grow a BRAIN.”
Stay Informed: Maui Real Estate Market Insights
If you’d like to receive real-time updates about this proposed vacation rental ban, plus weekly lists of Maui’s best property opportunities, be sure to join the Maui Buyer’s Club at MauiBuyersClub.com.
And if you’re curious how current legislation might affect Maui investment properties, feel free to reach out anytime.
Eric West
West Team Maui | Real Broker LLC
(808) 298-2030
www.HawaiiRealEstate.org
Your source for the latest in Maui real estate, short-term rental updates, and island living.
Support Maui and Buy a Vacation Rental - the prices have never been lower in the last 5 years, compliments of Mayor Bissen and Lahaina Strong and Tamara Paltin. Here's the Fire Sale
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