FULL REPORT HERE

Just 10% of voters support bans on all short-term rentals.

KAHULUI – The Maui Vacation Rental Association (MVRA) today released the results of a statewide poll of registered Hawai‘i voters to gather opinions on proposals aiming to ban short-term rentals, such as Mayor Bissen’s bill to phase out existing, legal short-term rentals on the Minatoya List in Maui. Hawai‘i firm SMS Research conducted the survey of more than 500 registered voters statewide from May 23-26, 2024.

According to the poll results, the vast majority of Hawai‘i voters do not support proposals like Mayor Bissen’s with just 10 percent of voters (12 percent on Maui**) saying they support banning all short-term rentals.

Residents instead support a more balanced approach to regulating short-term rentals with 73 percent of Hawai‘i voters (65 percent on Maui**) saying they prefer a policy that would maintain existing, legal short-term rentals and ban illegal short-term rentals.

Short-term rentals are also not among the issues that Hawaiʻi voters consider most pressing. Only 28 percent (24 percent on Maui**) of respondents reported they think that short-term rentals are a “big problem.” In comparison, 75 percent of voters (76 percent on Maui**) consider cost of living a “big problem,” 67 percent (56 percent on Maui**) consider homelessness a “big problem” and 34 percent (40% of Maui voters**) consider government corruption a “big problem.”

What’s more, Hawaiʻi voters are concerned about measures that could negatively impact the state’s tourism economy and, in turn, government funding. According to the poll results, 77 percent (68 percent on Maui**) of respondents are concerned about State and County governments’ ability to provide basic services if tax funding declines due to a drop in visitors.

“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,” said Caitlin Miller, executive director of MVRA. “The poll confirms that the overwhelming majority of Hawaiʻi voters don’t support overly restrictive short-term rental policies, while numerous studies illustrate how such policies jeopardize billions in economic activity and tens of millions in tax revenue. Since counties can’t legally mandate short-term rentals be converted to long-term housing, it’s shocking to watch local leaders pursue risky, unpopular policy proposals without any guarantee that they will address housing concerns.”

You can read the full poll results from SMS Research here

KEY FINDINGS:

Short-Term Rental Policy Preferences

● Just 10% of voters statewide support banning all short-term rentals, including existing, legal short-term rentals. (12% of Maui voters**)

● 73% prefer a policy that would maintain existing legal short-term rentals and ban illegal rentals. (65% of Maui voters**)

● 10% prefer no regulations at all. (17% of Maui voters**) Magnitude of Problem

● Just 28% of voters statewide believe short-term rentals are a “big problem” in Hawai‘i. (24% of Maui voters**)

● Issues that ranked higher as a “big problem” for voters include:

o 75% Cost of Living (76% of Maui voters**)

o 67% Homelessness (56% of Maui voters**)

o 34% Government Corruption (40% of Maui voters**)

Short-Term Rental Support

● 60% of Hawai‘i voters support allowing property owners to rent out their housing as short-term rentals (65% of Maui voters**)

Reasons for Supporting Short-Term Rentals

● The top reasons voters support short-term rentals include:

o 56% It’s their property to do as they wish (65% of Maui voters**)

o 54% They provide low-cost alternatives to hotels (61% of Maui voters**)

o 51% Short-term rentals keep money in the hands of locals (55% of Maui voters**)

Concern About Visitor Declines and Government Finances

● 77% of voters statewide are concerned about State and County governments’ ability to provide basic services if tax funding declines due to a drop in visitors. (68% of Maui voters**)

** Maui survey results are derived from 57 respondents and are likely to include more sampling error than larger sample sizes.

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About Maui Vacation Rentals Association:

MVRA is the leading advocacy organization supporting Maui’s vacation rental industry. Our members include owners, managers, and small businesses that participate in the vibrant vacation rental industry on the island.

We are dedicated to advancing responsible regulations and fostering economic opportunities for the benefit of the Maui community. Learn more at: https://mvra.net/

About SMS Research:

For as long as Hawai'i has been a state, SMS Hawai'i has been at the forefront of spotting trends, pinpointing issues, and unlocking insights. SMS prides itself on combining the industry's latest research and survey techniques with insider knowledge of Hawai'i to give clients a comprehensive view of the local issues that matter most. Learn more at: www.smshawaii.com