Some of visitors want to be away from tourists attractions . Every visitors have different needs . But some people ruin for others Its sad Good topics Stay warm in Japan
The housing situation in Japan is completely different from Hawaii. In Japan, there are far more homes than people. They will give you a house for free or almost free if you move to the countryside. In Hawaii, especially on Kauai, families have to live in their car because of short-term rentals and building restrictions.
@@HelloFromHawaii If you are serious, you can, especially because you have children. Schools are closing in rural areas because there are no more children there.
We discovered timeshares before we had kids (and before Airbnb days) and have never looked back. Being able to cook healthy meals at 'home' especially with a child with a large amount of food allergies, and being able to spread out when on vacation is an awesome way to travel and make extended stays doable and more enjoyable
Hugest difference between you and your family and a lot of the people that rent short term rentals in Hawaii is mindfulness and respectfulness. Younger renters think a short term rental is a pass to party like it's Spring Break and they are not mindful of their surroindings.
EXACTLY! THANK YOU for mentioning this! Chris is, surprisingly, very short-sighted when it comes to this topic. There is NO WAY one can compare short-term rentals in Japan to short-term rentals in Hawaii! In Japan, many people - whether residents or business owners sweep and clean the streets and sidewalks, in front of their businesses, every single day. And they'll often sweep and clean the area in front of neighboring businesses and residences as well. Take notice of the Japanese tourists who come to Hawaii. You rarely see them littering, talking loudly, getting into fights in Waikiki, harassing monk seals and green sea turtles, urinating on the sidewalk etc. You don't see them littering hiking trials, climbing over fences, cutting through people's yards to get to Stairway to Heaven, etc. Japanese people TRULY understand the meaning of RESPECT. I would have NO PROBLEM of having a short-term rental next to me if only Japanese tourists would rent it out because they won't be blasting music at 2am, throwing their beer bottles in my yard, blocking half of my driveway with their rental car. In Japan, you will find businesses located in the same area as residences because BOTH residents and business owners are respectful to one another, and they are ALWAYS mindful of how their actions affect others.
You can’t really compare the STR situation in Japan with that of Hawai’i. Hawai’i has VERY limited land and therefore VERY limited amount of space for homes. So STR investors from the states (& foreign countries), are drastically affecting housing costs by further reducing an already limited and expensive market, making it hard for locals who can’t compete with investors and potential transplants in bidding wars. Even home auctions are full of investors & “house flippers, now, all you see are people on phones talking to their bosses who aren’t on island, to see how high he wants to bid… used to be all local families at auctions, you don’t even see regular people there anymore. It’s ridiculous.
Appreciate the comment. Although the housing situations may be different, I do still think there is a place for it in Hawaii with regulation. Either that or we continue to build more hotels and expand the resort zones.
@@HelloFromHawaii OR we start to finally listen to what the people say they want, which is regulations in tourists, a cap on the number of tourists allowed each year. Less tourists equals less need for accommodations and less strain on our resources. And it’ll be a push to get us moving towards more sustainable economies than the fickle, culturally exploitative, monopoly of tourism.
Certain areas of Hawaii were zoned for Hotels and certain areas were zoned for Residential. It is not the tourist or hotels fault that the local governments won't do more to help developers provide affordable housing on residential land. The problem is not tourism, it is the fact that high-end residential homes are more profitable to develop than low income housing.
I'm really impressed at you changing your opinion based on personal principles. That is a rare person willing to rethink their position on a important subject that he maybe opposed to but, at the risk of compromising their own good principles. Good job...... Me, I totally agree with your stance on increased govt control and enforcement to make it a level playing field got everyone... Thanks for addressing this subject. As a Hawaii born transplant to WA state, Iam keenly aware of the benefits and the problems of short term rentals. Mahalo
The problem with short term rental if it is in a residential area in that short term rentals are tourist housing and that is a different zoning. Residential versus hotel zoning and there is a reason for the different zoning. We should keep residential lots residential and hotel lots hotel. Then no fighting with the different zoning owners or occupants. Keep in mind that Japanese people are respectful and mindful of others, like Clark Miyata said below. However, Caucasians from the mainland is different, loud. disrespectful than Japanese in Japan. Totally different character of people. I am a developer and Realtor in Hawaii.
Something to consider is that in most of Japan you don’t need to rent a vehicle to get around, so the noise/traffic impact on local communities is often minimal. Also, most of Japan is population dense, not rural/suburban like Oahu.
I like that you don't need to drive, but it helps when you have kids. I can see why some of my wife's friends have cars now. So much easier to take the kids around.
I didn’t have an issue with short rentals initially however personal experience also changed my mind. As someone who was born and raised here I was finally able to afford a condo of my own in a non resort area. After one year our maintenance fee was increased by 50 percent. The building had lots of short term rentals who had destroyed the common areas. The hallway had cigarette butts on the rugs, urination, damage to the walls, etc. I know not all short term renters are disrespectful to the property they are staying at but there was enough damage caused by some that our maintenance fee had to be increased to cover the cost of the damages. Now I have to think about whether or not I can afford my home that I was so excited to buy as a first time home buyer. The short term renters who caused the damage went home after their vacation and I’m left with whether or not I can continue to afford to live here.
With all due respect, short-term rentals don't belong in residential neighborhoods in Hawaii. They bring 24-7 noise, noxious behaviors, crowds, increased crime, lack of parking, and increased costs for the city and the residents.
Bad neighbors and bad short term tenants are not unique of vacationers. My boyfriends family owns rental properties on Oahu and the Big Island and they pretty much lose money on these properties. I've seen how much damage their tenants cause. Broken sinks and toilets, missing appliances, alterations to walls doors and kitchen cabinets just to name a few. The amount of damage caused by a bad tenant over the course of a year is no joke. Of course not all of their tenants are terrible but the bad do outnumber the good. They had been charging $700 dollars for a Honolulu apartment for many many years and currently $600 for a 2 bedroom one bath. Let that tell you what kind of people they are. Sadly these tenants that get a great deal on rent will end up fucked when they have to move out since either the properties will need to be sold and they will need to leave or the rent needs to go up by a ALOT so that the family can pay off the debt they have taken on trying to maintain them. Short term rentals certainly have their own set of maintenance costs but that's the same for any type of rental. Condos and apartments feel worse because you shares the cost of maintaining a building and don't always have visibility where the money is going. It's all expensive no matter how you look at it.
I’m in the middle on the issue. It depends on the housing supply to that location as well other related circumstances. But they should be legal and well managed. On the topic of Japan lodging, there are a lot of choices. Besides Airbnb, they have regular hotels, youth hostels, businessmen hotels, capsule hotels, ryokans, and dormitory type of places. Some of them are very affordable. I think countries that do a lot (pre-Covid) staycations have a bigger lodging system that span the low to high end.
When we went to Hawaii with my family, the short term rental for 1 month was cheaper than a hotel for 2 weeks. Couple that with shopping at Costco and cooking at home and we had an amazing time.
@@sw651 100% I want to visit again. I would choose a different island just to get a different experience. 1 month was a perfect amount of time to take everything in without rushing.
@@bluzytrixAs someone who have done many longer term Hawaii stays over the years, I'd say 2 weeks minimum per island is the sweet spot for balancing relaxation (do nothing) with doing things and cost. Two weeks also then allow cheaply hopping to another island for another week or two (if you had the time off)
There's absolutely nothing wrong with short term rentals... when they're run by locals. When you have multinational conglomerates buying up all the housing for these rentals, increasing the cost of housing, then it's a big issue.
just stumbled on your vlog and really appreciate hearing your viewpoints coming from a local. I was born and raised in honolulu, but now a transplant living in the Bay Area. When I used to visit honolulu, I'd stay with my parents, it was very convenient for sure, now that they've passed, I could stay with other family but I don't want to be an inconvenience as I come back with my spouse and 2 kids, so our option now is to stay in waikiki. I wish I didn't have to, I much prefer being in town outside waikiki, but there really are no options to do so anymore and I get it, I understand the housing supply is scarce for locals and keeping the STR in Waikiki makes it easier to enforce. I don't want to stay in an illegal rental, I agree with 1 of the other commenters, I don't want to stay in an illegal STR where there are neighbors who are probably irritated with a new tenant every week. We try to be considerate neighbors, keeping noise down, cleaning up after ourselves, parking where we are supposed to park, etc. I remember some years ago because STR weren't regulated yet, we stayed in a condo in town outside of Waikiki, and there was an older gentleman next door who we got to chatting with and he let us know how appreciative he was that we were considerate neighbors and parked in a way that didn't block him from getting in his car as we parked in the stall right next to him in the garage, and said many other short term renters were rude and inconsiderate which would infuriate me if I was him and I'm sure he's glad now that they have STR illegal there. I don't see that unit available anymore in airbnb/vrbo. much mahalo for this video, it has been something I've thought about everytime I want to visit home.
I’ve always had mixed feelings about vacation rentals. On one hand it’s important to respect the right of a property owner to do as he wishes with his property but on the other hand zoning exists for good reason and people who live in a residential area have a right to not be disturbed by non residential business activity. I think that the impact on housing supply is less than we think. For one thing most short term rental properties are far too valuable to be viable for those struggling to find housing and most of these homes simply would sit empty much of the time when the owner was away. Inversely a big negative of vacation rentals is losing the sense of community. For example a lot of beach front neighborhoods on the windward side or NorthShore have so many rentals that you end up having few actual neighbors.
Hawaii and Japan are both islands, but Japan is made of much larger islands. There is a surplus of housing in Japan, so much so, that many people simply abandon properties to decay rather than tear them down or redevelop them. Japanese like new, i.e. free from previous usage and contamination. It's impossible to return an item to a store after you've opened and "defiled" it. Japan also has one thing that Hawaii lacks: business hotels where you can get a bed and breakfast for $60. Hawaii hotels are way too expensive, even staples like the Pagoda and the Maui Beach. You are right that travelers have different needs. The main reason why I prefer STRs is because of the cost, quiet, privacy, kitchen, and laundry facilities. The Japanese are tidy and respectful and don't trash properties or make noise as is common in the West. Final points: I bet you appreciate your Hawaii home now that you see how compactly the Japanese live. Too bad the Edo Museum is closed for renovations because it's an eye-opener to life in modern Japan. Did you freak out when you went to the department stores on December 26th and all the decorations were gone? It's like the Grinch came and stole EVERYTHING! Christmas is 100% a retail event and there is no pretense about it.
I think its nice to let the owners - the people who have to manage the relationships with their neighbors - do what they want with their homes. Everyone (including tourists) pays taxes that support the roads and government infrastructure. So everyone is contributing to road management and parking. It might be a good idea for Hawaii to reduce the complicatedness of the parking situation in the city. Manage their trash disposal better to free up parking for everyone. Home owners have to support the home, the relationships with their neighbors - its a shame the state is making this more complicated for everyone to enjoy their property. If people ever go on hard times - having more options (like a short term rental) to support your home/family is probably a good thing. Otherwise people can just turn to the state for support - which i guess is the preferred option in hawaii.
It's not inconsistent to use short term rentals in areas with plenty of affordable housing whilst being against it for other areas. Short term rentals in Hawai'i, San Francisco, and LA are incredibly limited for a variety of reasons whereas Japan and other areas in the U.S. mainland don't have the same issues. Interestingly, Japan does have limited 'flat' land that is ideal for housing, yet they mostly solved that issue by building UP. Why is Hawaii obsessed with mimicking mainland suburbs and not just building high? Japan has proven you can have massive population centers that can also be kept immaculately clean and environmentally friendly.
I am sorry that someone misunderstood your arguments. We prefer condo-like resorts, but best time and best discoveries I made when staying in local short term rentals: rooms, condos or cottages. Thank you and all Hawaiians for their incredible hospitality and patience. Whichever local rules are established, solemnly promise to strictly adhere to YOUR rules. Nobody comes to visit and tells their hosts what to do and how to do it!
“Hawaiian” refers solely to the aboriginal Polynesian population, not everyone in Hawai’i is “Hawaiian”, in fact Hawaiians are a minority in our own homelands because of gentrification and overpopulation.
Mahalo's for sharing bradah, truly appreciate your mana'o. When traveling my wife and I frequently stay at B&B's....We're not hotel kinda folks....Again Mahalo's!
On the surface, short-term rentals in Hawaii look like a huge problem but that is just an indication of the real problem beneath. I stayed in Hawaii for 2 years a decade ago and that wasn't an issue at all back then. You were able to get a short-term/long-term rental in Kona pretty easily. What has changed in 10 years? NOTHING! And I mean nothing towards prioritizing the needs of locals but everything of prioritizing the wants and wishes of so-called "investors". And because Hawaiians are too patient and too peaceful as a nation - this forces them to live in the truck-bed. Even their own government failed to act and protect Hawaiians. What we will see in the next 10 years? I am afraid even to think what that means for the real locals in Hawaii. Rentals are not the problem.
VBRO is not the problem, lack of affordable housing is. They should be treated separate issues. What O'ahu has done is too heavy handed, but as I would expect due to hotel lobbyists!
Like you, I see both sides to the debate. So when I use STRs, I make sure it is legal. With that said, I would never stay in a residential area where I'm in a middle of other single family homes. Since I wouldn't like it if one of my neighbors converts their home into a STR, I am not going to be a problem to whatever place I visit. I wouldn't want my kids be outside when there are strangers coming in and out of a house next door. In California, certain people are not allowed to live near parks or schools. However, there is no vetting process for these people on STR platforms.
In a free society, small-time entrepreneurs can compete with the big guys. Competition brings a better experience and value for the customer , and that brings customers back, which means a great business environment and more money for the business and the government.
Because not every visitor wants “action” on vacation. We go on vacation to “chill”, so walking to the beach and having a kitchen is important. We want low key. We used to rent houses in Kailua, but have been staying in Ko olina lately. With the new rules the Kailua option is mostly gone.
The Japanese people are more prone to obey the rules as opposed to the Westerners who feel that since I'm a paying customer I can do what I want & the heck with the rules. I find a lot of Americans feel the rules don't apply to them & are arrogant to the locals ,
You made some great points about the pros of having short term rentals. I know the last time I was back in the islands, I used one for a week on Kauai. I lived in Hawaii for many years and was not interested in staying in a hotel because I wanted to be in a neighborhood near locals and away from tourists. I don't need or want the touristy environment to enjoy myself in the islands. My situation was that I was traveling alone and, therefore, could rent a single room in the house where I stayed. That permitted me to keep the cost down for that part of my trip so I could afford to do more of the things I wanted to do on Kauai. Also it made it posssible for me to spend more on omiyage for friends and family back on the mainland. It not only helped me, but also was a benefit to the woman I rented from (also single btw), who made a living cleaning houses and doing other assorted jobs to afford the high cost of living on Kauai. I'm sure if I gave it a little more thought I could come up with other advantages of allowing it, but you gave plenty already without my help. Anyhow, thanks for covering a topic that is just as relevant in any community around the country as it is in Hawaii.🤙
I travel all over the mainland for work, being away from home much more than not. After 20+ years spent in a hotel out of necessity, I much prefer to spend vacation some place that feels more homelike. Also, I have a couple of local friends, and they are who I usually spend my waking hours with. Anyway, respect the people, respect the land, and we'll all be alright. 🤙🏻
Hawai'i has longest time n nation fo get building permits, avg 1 yr, affects owners' budgets, financing & housing shortage. Vacation rentals r scapegoat fo lack of affordable housing problems. 🙄
Hawaii wants and is limiting tourism to those who are willing to pay the big dollars. In the Big Island, car rentals will cost you 35% more in taxes and fees. Airbnb, Vrbi, etc., will tag you an additional 70% in taxes, cleaning fees, and fees. I can't imagine the taxes, resort fees, and other fees tagged to the bill in Oahu. The last time I was in Hawaii was pre-pandamic and everything was less complicated. I was in Germany and Austria this past summer and things were transparent, you pay as listed and no hidden charges, taxes are already included in the price. Accommodations were less expensive than in the US to my surprise. So I am weighting where to spend my 2023 vacation money...
If you have not already done so, can you please make a video of how you met your lovely wife, courted her, then how you decided to marry her. I love a good love story, that's why I am asking for this video. Aloha!
Last trip to Oahu we spent the entire vacation on the Windward side. The house we stayed in had its own off-street parking. The only noisy neighbors were roosters. I spent the entire week walking. According to my watch, I took 31,000 steps one day, and not one of them was in Honolulu. Needless to say I'm not thrilled with the county's effort to ban short-term rentals. Seems heavy-handed and lazy.
imo its probably because high cost of mortgage payments and living makes people want to airbnb their space. Its 1 of thousands reasons why Hawaii is costly.
Fair share of taxes is not the answer. We all suffer from being over taxed. Look into Dubai and how that country is ran in regards to taxes. Much more care goes into the city and people are taxed 10 percent of there income to do it.
I think STR's hurt hotels more than the citizens themselves. The argument of STR's taking housing away has validity. I would play devil's advocate and ask, "well this house was for sale. Why did a local not buy it? If it is because of the cost, then was the local really put out if they weren't in the game to begin with?"
Thank you for the comment. It's a great discussion on affordability and housing stock. With the prices so high, most locals can't afford these homes either way.
Our house is near a str. We have never had any issues. The owners are very good about managing any impact. Not sure locals could afford to buy it. The house on the other side is a multi use family. It is a disaster. Fireworks all the time. Junk cars etc....no every neighborhood is different. On another note we were staying at a local hotel for a stay cation. Resort fees and parking (we didn't have a car but mandatory $25 a night) made me think hotels are terrible idea.
I don't know of anyone in Hawaii that could afford another property whom would t rent it out short term if they could. Not only that, they would do whatever they can do at the HOA to make more revenue per night.
Great perspectives! When traveling for business, I use hotels, especially when there is zero downtime or I have to stay at the convention center. When I travel with my spouse and kids, I prefer a bigger place, space to relax, and views of the location. I went to the Big Island for the first time, and enjoyed being able to shop at a local store, not the ABC, and eat at local places. On the mainland, there are definitely communities not well suited to being a vacation rental, though many are. Depends also on how the place is advertised, and if they are upfront with the renter about what us allowed, what is not, and whether there is a local making sure you abide with noise regulations.
They’ve done studies that show ppl who stay at STR’s here are younger with less disposable income, partake mostly in free activities found on social media rather than doing tours & going to attractions, & tend to utilize STR kitchens rather than going out to eat… so you lose that bet. Also a very large chunk of our STR’s are investors who don’t live here, many owning multiple STR properties, meaning it’s taking the income OUT of Hawai’i and affecting housing costs because there’s limited land, meaning limited homes, so high demand + low supply equals an ever inflating cost for housing for locals.
@@GNMi79 True & those jobs, which are worked by locals, keeps the tourist dollar in the local economy, whereas STR’s, many of which are owned by real estate investors (both foreign & in the states) takes tourist money straight OUT of the local economy.
None of us should be against short term rentals in Hawaii. Because it’s a free market and existing hotel brands are welcome to change their pricing and the layouts of their units to accommodate families who want to stay for longer than a week. There are many reasons not to stay in a hotel. Not all of them offer refrigerators. Or kitchens. Or even laundry on site. So anyone staying more than a few days is going to be annoyed with having to skirt around these inconveniences. Not every non-resident coming to Hawaii is a tourist. Many are former Hawaii residents who are visiting family. Not everyone can “stay at the family home,” especially if space is limited. Definitely a big challenge for Hawaii legislature to tackle. But the right solution isn’t just to demonize short term rentals and rely on policies to block their existence. If people are using them still, that means there’s demand for that kind of accommodation that hotels are welcome to fill if they make an effort to invest in changes.
Amongst other things and besides the economical aspect, staying in a local home is also a way to discover the configuration of a typical house or condo, and a chance to get a glimpse of the local lifestyle. In that, it is more interesting than staying in hotels.
How are the short-term rentals in your neighborhood? It's probably not an issue for you right now, but that can change in the near future. Then you will know what it's like to deal with all types of tourists. FYI, the majority of the visitors are not families.
Good points. A question, What did you pay in Tax in Japan? The thing about Hawaii is the tax. I have had some Biz and in HI the Taxes cost me a lot more. (I pay them 😢). In other states it was more reasonable. You have a biz , right? What do you say? 🌴🌴Aloha
Wow, a complicated issue. Where I live in Santa Barbara it's kind of like Oahu - certain areas downtown or by the beach allow short term (a few days) rentals, other areas, like where I live, have a 30 day minimum. I am glad there are no STRs on my street but I think the 30 day minimum attracts a different kind of renter than a weekender from LA, anyway. I believe there is some impact to the rental market for locals but who knows how much that impact is. Rents were already going up when the Airbnb thing hit a few years ago. BTW, I am positive everything I just said applies to Oahu as well. That being said, we are considering a 3 month rental on Oahu sometime around a year from now, and of course we would be renting our house out to finance the whole operation! Irony much???
I'm against short term rentals everywhere. If hotels are filled to capacity pick another date! Japan is NOT Hawaii filled with destructive main landers!!!
I choose short term rentals because I have severe food sensitivities and need a place with a kitchen. I would understand if Hawaii banned them, but it would also result in me no longer coming because I can't safely eat in restaurants so the only places I can travel to must have a place with a kitchen. Most hotels don't offer that. I strive to always be super respectful- quiet, clean, friendly, and to leave it in better shape than I found it.
@@Rahsaun77 That was probably why politicians went along with it, but I do believe it hurts the locals' ability to find affordable rentals. So, win-win for locals, but makes it harder for travelers with allergies and sensitivities like myself.
The Democrats in Hawaii have created the entire Tourism scheme in order to fund the state’s economy. Now, there are laws that have passed to get rid of the short term rental properties to push visitors to the overpriced hotels. I am really, really disappointed in you because you repeatedly say ‘visitors’ or ‘tourists’ that come to Hawaii somehow spoil the neighborhood for staying for a week. Like my family is going to stay up all night partying singing Karaoke and barbequing on the Lanai all day. Then, take up all the parking with our sub compact rental a car. It’s OK for YOU to travel and get an ARBNB for your family in Japan, but not my Family to get one in Hawaii. You are very disappointing and only want the Aloha when it is convenient for you and your kind.
The effects on housing prices for short term rentals can be seen in waikiki. If you go into Zillow and look at condo prices, there’s a massive spike in price when you cross Kuhio Ave. This isn’t just because you’re a little closer to the beach, it’s because south of kuhio ave, short term rentals are legal. You could easily expect a bump in home prices if it were legal to turn every scarce home into a business in Hawaii. We already have the highest home prices in America, and the elder generation and the permitting department has already put so many restrictions on dense housing development that they’re kicking young people out with these insane prices.
Short term rentals enrich the local people. Getting rid of that enriches large business and corporations. Housing has not gotten any cheaper since the restriction, and hotels are charging more than ever.
Some of visitors want to be away from tourists attractions .
Every visitors have different needs .
But some people ruin for others
Its sad
Good topics
Stay warm in Japan
The housing situation in Japan is completely different from Hawaii. In Japan, there are far more homes than people. They will give you a house for free or almost free if you move to the countryside. In Hawaii, especially on Kauai, families have to live in their car because of short-term rentals and building restrictions.
What's does this mean, like who is "they"?
@@FIRED13 The local governments in the Japan countryside. They will literally give you a house.
I need to get connected with one of those local governments in Japan. 😁
@@HelloFromHawaii If you are serious, you can, especially because you have children. Schools are closing in rural areas because there are no more children there.
@@AlohaBlockchain what in return is government looking for?
We discovered timeshares before we had kids (and before Airbnb days) and have never looked back. Being able to cook healthy meals at 'home' especially with a child with a large amount of food allergies, and being able to spread out when on vacation is an awesome way to travel and make extended stays doable and more enjoyable
Hugest difference between you and your family and a lot of the people that rent short term rentals in Hawaii is mindfulness and respectfulness. Younger renters think a short term rental is a pass to party like it's Spring Break and they are not mindful of their surroindings.
EXACTLY! THANK YOU for mentioning this!
Chris is, surprisingly, very short-sighted when it comes to this topic. There is NO WAY one can compare short-term rentals in Japan to short-term rentals in Hawaii! In Japan, many people - whether residents or business owners sweep and clean the streets and sidewalks, in front of their businesses, every single day. And they'll often sweep and clean the area in front of neighboring businesses and residences as well. Take notice of the Japanese tourists who come to Hawaii. You rarely see them littering, talking loudly, getting into fights in Waikiki, harassing monk seals and green sea turtles, urinating on the sidewalk etc. You don't see them littering hiking trials, climbing over fences, cutting through people's yards to get to Stairway to Heaven, etc. Japanese people TRULY understand the meaning of RESPECT. I would have NO PROBLEM of having a short-term rental next to me if only Japanese tourists would rent it out because they won't be blasting music at 2am, throwing their beer bottles in my yard, blocking half of my driveway with their rental car.
In Japan, you will find businesses located in the same area as residences because BOTH residents and business owners are respectful to one another, and they are ALWAYS mindful of how their actions affect others.
You can’t really compare the STR situation in Japan with that of Hawai’i. Hawai’i has VERY limited land and therefore VERY limited amount of space for homes. So STR investors from the states (& foreign countries), are drastically affecting housing costs by further reducing an already limited and expensive market, making it hard for locals who can’t compete with investors and potential transplants in bidding wars. Even home auctions are full of investors & “house flippers, now, all you see are people on phones talking to their bosses who aren’t on island, to see how high he wants to bid… used to be all local families at auctions, you don’t even see regular people there anymore.
It’s ridiculous.
Appreciate the comment. Although the housing situations may be different, I do still think there is a place for it in Hawaii with regulation. Either that or we continue to build more hotels and expand the resort zones.
@@HelloFromHawaii OR we start to finally listen to what the people say they want, which is regulations in tourists, a cap on the number of tourists allowed each year. Less tourists equals less need for accommodations and less strain on our resources. And it’ll be a push to get us moving towards more sustainable economies than the fickle, culturally exploitative, monopoly of tourism.
Certain areas of Hawaii were zoned for Hotels and certain areas were zoned for Residential. It is not the tourist or hotels fault that the local governments won't do more to help developers provide affordable housing on residential land. The problem is not tourism, it is the fact that high-end residential homes are more profitable to develop than low income housing.
Short term rentals have a place in the rental market. It isn’t only for vacations. A lot are for temp workers.
I'm really impressed at you changing your opinion based on personal principles. That is a rare person willing to rethink their position on a important subject that he maybe opposed to but, at the risk of compromising their own good principles. Good job...... Me, I totally agree with your stance on increased govt control and enforcement to make it a level playing field got everyone... Thanks for addressing this subject. As a Hawaii born transplant to WA state, Iam keenly aware of the benefits and the problems of short term rentals. Mahalo
The problem with short term rental if it is in a residential area in that short term rentals are tourist housing and that is a different zoning. Residential versus hotel zoning and there is a reason for the different zoning. We should keep residential lots residential and hotel lots hotel. Then no fighting with the different zoning owners or occupants.
Keep in mind that Japanese people are respectful and mindful of others, like Clark Miyata said below. However, Caucasians from the mainland is different, loud. disrespectful than Japanese in Japan. Totally different character of people. I am a developer and Realtor in Hawaii.
We just came home from Japan and love it there.
Something to consider is that in most of Japan you don’t need to rent a vehicle to get around, so the noise/traffic impact on local communities is often minimal. Also, most of Japan is population dense, not rural/suburban like Oahu.
I like that you don't need to drive, but it helps when you have kids. I can see why some of my wife's friends have cars now. So much easier to take the kids around.
I didn’t have an issue with short rentals initially however personal experience also changed my mind. As someone who was born and raised here I was finally able to afford a condo of my own in a non resort area. After one year our maintenance fee was increased by 50 percent. The building had lots of short term rentals who had destroyed the common areas. The hallway had cigarette butts on the rugs, urination, damage to the walls, etc. I know not all short term renters are disrespectful to the property they are staying at but there was enough damage caused by some that our maintenance fee had to be increased to cover the cost of the damages. Now I have to think about whether or not I can afford my home that I was so excited to buy as a first time home buyer. The short term renters who caused the damage went home after their vacation and I’m left with whether or not I can continue to afford to live here.
With all due respect, short-term rentals don't belong in residential neighborhoods in Hawaii. They bring 24-7 noise, noxious behaviors, crowds, increased crime, lack of parking, and increased costs for the city and the residents.
Bad neighbors and bad short term tenants are not unique of vacationers. My boyfriends family owns rental properties on Oahu and the Big Island and they pretty much lose money on these properties. I've seen how much damage their tenants cause. Broken sinks and toilets, missing appliances, alterations to walls doors and kitchen cabinets just to name a few. The amount of damage caused by a bad tenant over the course of a year is no joke. Of course not all of their tenants are terrible but the bad do outnumber the good. They had been charging $700 dollars for a Honolulu apartment for many many years and currently $600 for a 2 bedroom one bath. Let that tell you what kind of people they are. Sadly these tenants that get a great deal on rent will end up fucked when they have to move out since either the properties will need to be sold and they will need to leave or the rent needs to go up by a ALOT so that the family can pay off the debt they have taken on trying to maintain them. Short term rentals certainly have their own set of maintenance costs but that's the same for any type of rental. Condos and apartments feel worse because you shares the cost of maintaining a building and don't always have visibility where the money is going. It's all expensive no matter how you look at it.
Really enjoying the Japan series! Traveling gives us all new perspectives 🤙🏽
I’m in the middle on the issue. It depends on the housing supply to that location as well other related circumstances. But they should be legal and well managed.
On the topic of Japan lodging, there are a lot of choices. Besides Airbnb, they have regular hotels, youth hostels, businessmen hotels, capsule hotels, ryokans, and dormitory type of places. Some of them are very affordable. I think countries that do a lot (pre-Covid) staycations have a bigger lodging system that span the low to high end.
When we went to Hawaii with my family, the short term rental for 1 month was cheaper than a hotel for 2 weeks. Couple that with shopping at Costco and cooking at home and we had an amazing time.
Based on the short term rental experience, would you say you are more likely to visit again? Or try the same on one of the other islands?
@@sw651 100% I want to visit again. I would choose a different island just to get a different experience. 1 month was a perfect amount of time to take everything in without rushing.
@@bluzytrixAs someone who have done many longer term Hawaii stays over the years, I'd say 2 weeks minimum per island is the sweet spot for balancing relaxation (do nothing) with doing things and cost. Two weeks also then allow cheaply hopping to another island for another week or two (if you had the time off)
There's absolutely nothing wrong with short term rentals... when they're run by locals. When you have multinational conglomerates buying up all the housing for these rentals, increasing the cost of housing, then it's a big issue.
just stumbled on your vlog and really appreciate hearing your viewpoints coming from a local. I was born and raised in honolulu, but now a transplant living in the Bay Area. When I used to visit honolulu, I'd stay with my parents, it was very convenient for sure, now that they've passed, I could stay with other family but I don't want to be an inconvenience as I come back with my spouse and 2 kids, so our option now is to stay in waikiki. I wish I didn't have to, I much prefer being in town outside waikiki, but there really are no options to do so anymore and I get it, I understand the housing supply is scarce for locals and keeping the STR in Waikiki makes it easier to enforce. I don't want to stay in an illegal rental, I agree with 1 of the other commenters, I don't want to stay in an illegal STR where there are neighbors who are probably irritated with a new tenant every week. We try to be considerate neighbors, keeping noise down, cleaning up after ourselves, parking where we are supposed to park, etc. I remember some years ago because STR weren't regulated yet, we stayed in a condo in town outside of Waikiki, and there was an older gentleman next door who we got to chatting with and he let us know how appreciative he was that we were considerate neighbors and parked in a way that didn't block him from getting in his car as we parked in the stall right next to him in the garage, and said many other short term renters were rude and inconsiderate which would infuriate me if I was him and I'm sure he's glad now that they have STR illegal there. I don't see that unit available anymore in airbnb/vrbo. much mahalo for this video, it has been something I've thought about everytime I want to visit home.
I’ve always had mixed feelings about vacation rentals. On one hand it’s important to respect the right of a property owner to do as he wishes with his property but on the other hand zoning exists for good reason and people who live in a residential area have a right to not be disturbed by non residential business activity.
I think that the impact on housing supply is less than we think. For one thing most short term rental properties are far too valuable to be viable for those struggling to find housing and most of these homes simply would sit empty much of the time when the owner was away. Inversely a big negative of vacation rentals is losing the sense of community. For example a lot of beach front neighborhoods on the windward side or NorthShore have so many rentals that you end up having few actual neighbors.
I agree that the impact is less than we think. It definitely adds to it, but it's hard to quantify how much of an impact it has.
Hawaii and Japan are both islands, but Japan is made of much larger islands. There is a surplus of housing in Japan, so much so, that many people simply abandon properties to decay rather than tear them down or redevelop them. Japanese like new, i.e. free from previous usage and contamination. It's impossible to return an item to a store after you've opened and "defiled" it. Japan also has one thing that Hawaii lacks: business hotels where you can get a bed and breakfast for $60. Hawaii hotels are way too expensive, even staples like the Pagoda and the Maui Beach.
You are right that travelers have different needs. The main reason why I prefer STRs is because of the cost, quiet, privacy, kitchen, and laundry facilities. The Japanese are tidy and respectful and don't trash properties or make noise as is common in the West.
Final points: I bet you appreciate your Hawaii home now that you see how compactly the Japanese live. Too bad the Edo Museum is closed for renovations because it's an eye-opener to life in modern Japan. Did you freak out when you went to the department stores on December 26th and all the decorations were gone? It's like the Grinch came and stole EVERYTHING! Christmas is 100% a retail event and there is no pretense about it.
I think its nice to let the owners - the people who have to manage the relationships with their neighbors - do what they want with their homes. Everyone (including tourists) pays taxes that support the roads and government infrastructure. So everyone is contributing to road management and parking. It might be a good idea for Hawaii to reduce the complicatedness of the parking situation in the city. Manage their trash disposal better to free up parking for everyone. Home owners have to support the home, the relationships with their neighbors - its a shame the state is making this more complicated for everyone to enjoy their property. If people ever go on hard times - having more options (like a short term rental) to support your home/family is probably a good thing. Otherwise people can just turn to the state for support - which i guess is the preferred option in hawaii.
Mahalo for the suggestions 🤙
It's not inconsistent to use short term rentals in areas with plenty of affordable housing whilst being against it for other areas. Short term rentals in Hawai'i, San Francisco, and LA are incredibly limited for a variety of reasons whereas Japan and other areas in the U.S. mainland don't have the same issues. Interestingly, Japan does have limited 'flat' land that is ideal for housing, yet they mostly solved that issue by building UP. Why is Hawaii obsessed with mimicking mainland suburbs and not just building high? Japan has proven you can have massive population centers that can also be kept immaculately clean and environmentally friendly.
I am sorry that someone misunderstood your arguments. We prefer condo-like resorts, but best time and best discoveries I made when staying in local short term rentals: rooms, condos or cottages. Thank you and all Hawaiians for their incredible hospitality and patience. Whichever local rules are established, solemnly promise to strictly adhere to YOUR rules. Nobody comes to visit and tells their hosts what to do and how to do it!
“Hawaiian” refers solely to the aboriginal Polynesian population, not everyone in Hawai’i is “Hawaiian”, in fact Hawaiians are a minority in our own homelands because of gentrification and overpopulation.
Mahalo! When I’m a tourist I have the same respectful mindset wherever I go. I think we should all be this way to one another’s home.
Mahalo's for sharing bradah, truly appreciate your mana'o. When traveling my wife and I frequently stay at B&B's....We're not hotel kinda folks....Again Mahalo's!
Japanese short term rentals are amazing. Hotels charge too much in Hawaii for what they offer.
The short-rentals are great. Really enjoyed the house we stayed in.
as long as it's regulated so they don't take over neighborhoods and cause a lot of disruption with partying
I love staying in airbnbs rather than a high price hotel room without kitchen
I totally agree with you. Enjoy the beautiful Japan.
On the surface, short-term rentals in Hawaii look like a huge problem but that is just an indication of the real problem beneath. I stayed in Hawaii for 2 years a decade ago and that wasn't an issue at all back then. You were able to get a short-term/long-term rental in Kona pretty easily. What has changed in 10 years? NOTHING! And I mean nothing towards prioritizing the needs of locals but everything of prioritizing the wants and wishes of so-called "investors". And because Hawaiians are too patient and too peaceful as a nation - this forces them to live in the truck-bed. Even their own government failed to act and protect Hawaiians. What we will see in the next 10 years? I am afraid even to think what that means for the real locals in Hawaii. Rentals are not the problem.
Appreciate the comment. It's a complicated issue and I hope that we can continue to build more housing. We need a lot.
VBRO is not the problem, lack of affordable housing is. They should be treated separate issues. What O'ahu has done is too heavy handed, but as I would expect due to hotel lobbyists!
Both are a huge problem.
Like you, I see both sides to the debate. So when I use STRs, I make sure it is legal. With that said, I would never stay in a residential area where I'm in a middle of other single family homes. Since I wouldn't like it if one of my neighbors converts their home into a STR, I am not going to be a problem to whatever place I visit. I wouldn't want my kids be outside when there are strangers coming in and out of a house next door. In California, certain people are not allowed to live near parks or schools. However, there is no vetting process for these people on STR platforms.
You nailed it!👍🤙
In a free society, small-time entrepreneurs can compete with the big guys. Competition brings a better experience and value for the customer , and that brings customers back, which means a great business environment and more money for the business and the government.
Because not every visitor wants “action” on vacation. We go on vacation to “chill”, so walking to the beach and having a kitchen is important. We want low key. We used to rent houses in Kailua, but have been staying in Ko olina lately. With the new rules the Kailua option is mostly gone.
The Japanese people are more prone to obey the rules as opposed to the Westerners who feel that since I'm a paying customer I can do what I want & the heck with the rules. I find a lot of Americans feel the rules don't apply to them & are arrogant to the locals
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hawaii smaller than japan with more tourists vac rentals bigger neg impact
You made some great points about the pros of having short term rentals. I know the last time I was back in the islands, I used one for a week on Kauai. I lived in Hawaii for many years and was not interested in staying in a hotel because I wanted to be in a neighborhood near locals and away from tourists. I don't need or want the touristy environment to enjoy myself in the islands.
My situation was that I was traveling alone and, therefore, could rent a single room in the house where I stayed. That permitted me to keep the cost down for that part of my trip so I could afford to do more of the things I wanted to do on Kauai. Also it made it posssible for me to spend more on omiyage for friends and family back on the mainland. It not only helped me, but also was a benefit to the woman I rented from (also single btw), who made a living cleaning houses and doing other assorted jobs to afford the high cost of living on Kauai. I'm sure if I gave it a little more thought I could come up with other advantages of allowing it, but you gave plenty already without my help. Anyhow, thanks for covering a topic that is just as relevant in any community around the country as it is in Hawaii.🤙
I travel all over the mainland for work, being away from home much more than not. After 20+ years spent in a hotel out of necessity, I much prefer to spend vacation some place that feels more homelike. Also, I have a couple of local friends, and they are who I usually spend my waking hours with. Anyway, respect the people, respect the land, and we'll all be alright. 🤙🏻
Hawai'i has longest time n nation fo get building permits, avg 1 yr, affects owners' budgets, financing & housing shortage. Vacation rentals r scapegoat fo lack of affordable housing problems. 🙄
Hawaii wants and is limiting tourism to those who are willing to pay the big dollars. In the Big Island, car rentals will cost you 35% more in taxes and fees. Airbnb, Vrbi, etc., will tag you an additional 70% in taxes, cleaning fees, and fees. I can't imagine the taxes, resort fees, and other fees tagged to the bill in Oahu. The last time I was in Hawaii was pre-pandamic and everything was less complicated. I was in Germany and Austria this past summer and things were transparent, you pay as listed and no hidden charges, taxes are already included in the price. Accommodations were less expensive than in the US to my surprise. So I am weighting where to spend my 2023 vacation money...
If you have not already done so, can you please make a video of how you met your lovely wife, courted her, then how you decided to marry her.
I love a good love story, that's why I am asking for this video.
Aloha!
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to ask her if she wants to share that story.
@@HelloFromHawaii If your lovely wife wants you to share you and her love story, then, I will be all eyes and ears!
Last trip to Oahu we spent the entire vacation on the Windward side. The house we stayed in had its own off-street parking. The only noisy neighbors were roosters. I spent the entire week walking. According to my watch, I took 31,000 steps one day, and not one of them was in Honolulu. Needless to say I'm not thrilled with the county's effort to ban short-term rentals. Seems heavy-handed and lazy.
imo its probably because high cost of mortgage payments and living makes people want to airbnb their space. Its 1 of thousands reasons why Hawaii is costly.
Fair share of taxes is not the answer. We all suffer from being over taxed. Look into Dubai and how that country is ran in regards to taxes. Much more care goes into the city and people are taxed 10 percent of there income to do it.
I think STR's hurt hotels more than the citizens themselves. The argument of STR's taking housing away has validity. I would play devil's advocate and ask, "well this house was for sale. Why did a local not buy it? If it is because of the cost, then was the local really put out if they weren't in the game to begin with?"
Thank you for the comment. It's a great discussion on affordability and housing stock. With the prices so high, most locals can't afford these homes either way.
Our house is near a str. We have never had any issues. The owners are very good about managing any impact. Not sure locals could afford to buy it. The house on the other side is a multi use family. It is a disaster. Fireworks all the time. Junk cars etc....no every neighborhood is different. On another note we were staying at a local hotel for a stay cation. Resort fees and parking (we didn't have a car but mandatory $25 a night) made me think hotels are terrible idea.
Mahalo for sharing. And I'm sure the fireworks will be popping this weekend 😅
Already. All very illegal. Last 2 nights been mini war zone
I don't know of anyone in Hawaii that could afford another property whom would t rent it out short term if they could. Not only that, they would do whatever they can do at the HOA to make more revenue per night.
A lot of the STR’s are investors living in the states and parts of Asia who own multiple STR’s…. it’s not locals running STR’s.
I know several locals who have multiple properties. They were smart to buy up places when things were cheaper.
Great perspectives! When traveling for business, I use hotels, especially when there is zero downtime or I have to stay at the convention center. When I travel with my spouse and kids, I prefer a bigger place, space to relax, and views of the location. I went to the Big Island for the first time, and enjoyed being able to shop at a local store, not the ABC, and eat at local places. On the mainland, there are definitely communities not well suited to being a vacation rental, though many are. Depends also on how the place is advertised, and if they are upfront with the renter about what us allowed, what is not, and whether there is a local making sure you abide with noise regulations.
I bet a lot more of the money stays in the state from an Airbnb that some local owns vs staying at the Hyatt on Waikiki
They’ve done studies that show ppl who stay at STR’s here are younger with less disposable income, partake mostly in free activities found on social media rather than doing tours & going to attractions, & tend to utilize STR kitchens rather than going out to eat… so you lose that bet.
Also a very large chunk of our STR’s are investors who don’t live here, many owning multiple STR properties, meaning it’s taking the income OUT of Hawai’i and affecting housing costs because there’s limited land, meaning limited homes, so high demand + low supply equals an ever inflating cost for housing for locals.
@@GNMi79 True & those jobs, which are worked by locals, keeps the tourist dollar in the local economy, whereas STR’s, many of which are owned by real estate investors (both foreign & in the states) takes tourist money straight OUT of the local economy.
Turn them all into super low cost ownership affordable housing for Local Hawai'i multi-generational Islander State Residents.
😁🤭
None of us should be against short term rentals in Hawaii. Because it’s a free market and existing hotel brands are welcome to change their pricing and the layouts of their units to accommodate families who want to stay for longer than a week.
There are many reasons not to stay in a hotel. Not all of them offer refrigerators. Or kitchens. Or even laundry on site. So anyone staying more than a few days is going to be annoyed with having to skirt around these inconveniences.
Not every non-resident coming to Hawaii is a tourist. Many are former Hawaii residents who are visiting family. Not everyone can “stay at the family home,” especially if space is limited.
Definitely a big challenge for Hawaii legislature to tackle. But the right solution isn’t just to demonize short term rentals and rely on policies to block their existence. If people are using them still, that means there’s demand for that kind of accommodation that hotels are welcome to fill if they make an effort to invest in changes.
Appreciate the discussion. I do think there are reasons against it, which is why I think there needs to be better enforcement of the rules.
Amongst other things and besides the economical aspect, staying in a local home is also a way to discover the configuration of a typical house or condo, and a chance to get a glimpse of the local lifestyle. In that, it is more interesting than staying in hotels.
How are the short-term rentals in your neighborhood? It's probably not an issue for you right now, but that can change in the near future.
Then you will know what it's like to deal with all types of tourists.
FYI, the majority of the visitors are not families.
I know there are some STR in the area, even though it's not allowed. Hard to catch them and enforce that.
Good points. A question, What did you pay in Tax in Japan? The thing about Hawaii is the tax. I have had some Biz and in HI the Taxes cost me a lot more. (I pay them 😢). In other states it was more reasonable. You have a biz , right? What do you say? 🌴🌴Aloha
I'm not sure about the taxes in Japan. I assume the income, sales, and property taxes are high to cover the medical and other services.
Wow, a complicated issue. Where I live in Santa Barbara it's kind of like Oahu - certain areas downtown or by the beach allow short term (a few days) rentals, other areas, like where I live, have a 30 day minimum. I am glad there are no STRs on my street but I think the 30 day minimum attracts a different kind of renter than a weekender from LA, anyway. I believe there is some impact to the rental market for locals but who knows how much that impact is. Rents were already going up when the Airbnb thing hit a few years ago. BTW, I am positive everything I just said applies to Oahu as well. That being said, we are considering a 3 month rental on Oahu sometime around a year from now, and of course we would be renting our house out to finance the whole operation! Irony much???
Mahalo for sharing. Interesting that you'll be renting out your place to stay here. Smart.
I'm against short term rentals everywhere.
If hotels are filled to capacity pick another date!
Japan is NOT Hawaii filled with destructive main landers!!!
I choose short term rentals because I have severe food sensitivities and need a place with a kitchen. I would understand if Hawaii banned them, but it would also result in me no longer coming because I can't safely eat in restaurants so the only places I can travel to must have a place with a kitchen. Most hotels don't offer that. I strive to always be super respectful- quiet, clean, friendly, and to leave it in better shape than I found it.
They banned them because it was “hurting” the hotel/resort industry, nothing else.
@@Rahsaun77 That was probably why politicians went along with it, but I do believe it hurts the locals' ability to find affordable rentals. So, win-win for locals, but makes it harder for travelers with allergies and sensitivities like myself.
The Democrats in Hawaii have created the entire Tourism scheme in order to fund the state’s economy. Now, there are laws that have passed to get rid of the short term rental properties to push visitors to the overpriced hotels. I am really, really disappointed in you because you repeatedly say ‘visitors’ or ‘tourists’ that come to Hawaii somehow spoil the neighborhood for staying for a week. Like my family is going to stay up all night partying singing Karaoke and barbequing on the Lanai all day. Then, take up all the parking with our sub compact rental a car. It’s OK for YOU to travel and get an ARBNB for your family in Japan, but not my Family to get one in Hawaii. You are very disappointing and only want the Aloha when it is convenient for you and your kind.
Democrats really have created a homeless nightmare in Hawaii.
Shame on you for expecting locals to suffer so you can enjoy your vacation. The audacity.
“You and your kind”???? Really?
The effects on housing prices for short term rentals can be seen in waikiki. If you go into Zillow and look at condo prices, there’s a massive spike in price when you cross Kuhio Ave. This isn’t just because you’re a little closer to the beach, it’s because south of kuhio ave, short term rentals are legal. You could easily expect a bump in home prices if it were legal to turn every scarce home into a business in Hawaii. We already have the highest home prices in America, and the elder generation and the permitting department has already put so many restrictions on dense housing development that they’re kicking young people out with these insane prices.
Mahalo for sharing about the situation in Waikiki.
Short term rentals enrich the local people. Getting rid of that enriches large business and corporations. Housing has not gotten any cheaper since the restriction, and hotels are charging more than ever.