Popular sunny destination to slash 10,000 vacation rentals in affordable housing push

Hawaii Gov. Josh Greene is shaking up the mode Americans are visiting the Aloha State by doubling down connected the regularisation of abrogation rentals.

In his State of the State code connected Monday, Greene, a Democrat, announced that 10,000 rentals would beryllium removed from the market.

"We besides person to instrumentality much homes to section families — including short-term rentals that person taken excessively galore units disconnected the market," said Greene.

HIGH TOURIST TAX IN HAWAII DESIGNED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGED BY LAWSUIT

"In the coming years," helium added, "we volition enactment the counties arsenic they bring much short-term rentals backmost into the lodging marketplace — truthful that much homes spell to section families, not absentee investors."

In May 2024, the politician signed authorities allowing counties to modulate short-term rentals with the extremity of providing much affordable housing.

Most recently, the Maui County Council passed a measure connected Dec. 15 to signifier retired thousands of "transient abrogation rentals" successful flat districts for the longer term, pursuing the betterment from the devastating wildfires successful 2023.

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There were astir 9 cardinal visitors to the authorities successful the archetypal 11 months of 2025, according to preliminary statistic from Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).

Tourism numbers were somewhat down by .2% compared to the aforesaid clip play successful 2024.

Hawaii’s "Green Fee" measure was acceptable to rise tourer taxes substantially to assistance money "climate change" mitigation this year, but a justice halted the provision.  (iStock)

Visitor spending successful the period of November roseate 15.9%, with the Aloha State raking successful $1.77 billion, according to DBEDT.

Hawaii’s "Green Fee" measure was acceptable to rise tourer taxes rather substantially to assistance money "climate change" mitigation this twelvemonth — but a justice has halted the provision. 

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The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), on with a cruise vessel supplier, filed a lawsuit successful aboriginal September challenging authorities taxation and region concern officials successful the Aloha State, arsenic Fox News Digital antecedently reported.

On Dec. 31, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction pending appeal. 

The incidental happened successful Hawaii's Waiapua‘a Bay. (iStock)

It temporarily blocks enforcement of the cruise-ship taxation portion the appeals proceed, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

The Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) was going to rise fees connected tourists who stay astatine Hawaii hotels — portion imposing a caller 11% taxation connected cruises, according to the substance of the bill.

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Toni Schwartz, spokesperson for the Hawaii lawyer general’s office, told The Associated Press the bureau "remain[s] assured that Act 96 is lawful and volition beryllium vindicated erstwhile the entreaty is heard connected the merits."