Hawaii Governor Calls for 3,000 Vacation Rentals to be Converted into Long-Term Housing for Wildfire Survivors
By Rachel Bowman For Dailymail.Com and Associated Press
Published: 04:16 16 Dec 2023
Updated: 04:55 16 Dec 2023
Hawaii Governor Josh Green is calling for 3,000 vacation rentals to be converted into long-term housing for displaced wildfire survivors who are currently living in hotels, four months after the devastating blaze swept through Maui. The wildfire, which occurred on August 8, killed at least 97 people and wiped out historic Lahaina.
With over 6,000 residents still living in hotels, Governor Green is prepared to use post-fire emergency orders to ensure that owners of short-term vacation rentals extend them to long-term units if enough spaces aren’t voluntarily converted by mid-January.
The lack of stable housing has caused immense stress for Lahaina residents, with one group even camping out on Kaanapali Beach in front of resort hotels in protest.
The Governor stated that the total number of short-term rentals on Maui is currently between 12,000 to 14,000 units, with an estimated nearly 25,000 including illegal ones. As a result, officials are aiming to rent out entire buildings or timeshare properties to accommodate the displaced residents. FEMA will cover rent for about 2,000 families, while the state of Hawaii and private philanthropists will cover rent for the remaining 1,000 families.
Green also mentioned that a combination of county tax incentives and rent subsidies from FEMA will be provided to aid in converting these vacation rentals into long-term housing.
In addition to these efforts, the Maui County Council is considering legislation for property tax breaks which will further promote the conversion of vacation rentals to long-term housing.
Governor Green’s hopeful aim is that these measures will provide interim housing for the next two years while more permanent housing is constructed on Maui. He also mentioned that additional details regarding his budget proposals will be released at a news conference on Monday.
Although the heart of Lahaina has recently reopened to residents and businesses holding day passes, authorities are recommending that individuals entering affected areas should wear protective gear to shield them from possible hazards.
The Governor’s proposal is seen as a critical step in addressing the ongoing housing crisis for displaced wildfire survivors and ensuring that they have stable housing during the recovery and rebuilding process.