LETTERS for the Week of Dec. 4
Use carrots, not sticks, to help Maui fire victims
Usually when people negotiate, they are looking for a “win-win” result — one that will leave everyone happy or at least satisfied. Ideally, no one is left feeling angry or taken advantage of.
Hawaii’s leaders should keep that in mind as they try to persuade short-term rental owners to house Maui residents who lost their homes to the tragic wildfires of Aug. 8.
The latest proposals on the table from Gov. Josh Green and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen are thoughtful and well-intended, but the sticks overshadow the carrots.
One of the carrots involves subsidizing the efforts of homeowners to build accessory dwelling units on their properties to house the fire evacuees. In terms of providing dependable long-term housing, it’s probably the best of the ideas so far suggested, though it would come at some cost.
The rest of the carrots have to do with enticing short-term rental owners to house displaced residents.
One involves reimbursing STR owners up to $5,000 a month over an 18-month period for offering up a one-bedroom or studio unit, and up to $11,000 a month for a four-bedroom home.
Despite coming in at about 400% over fair market value, this would actually save the state money compared to the current cost of more than $13,000 a month to house displaced residents in hotel rooms.
Other carrots include giving participating STR owners a two-year break from transient-accommodation taxes, and possibly exempting them from Maui’s property taxes from Feb. 20, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Setting aside budgetary concerns for the moment, these seem like attractive incentives to help address a serious policy problem. But as I mentioned earlier, these proposals also include sticks — and that’s where the negotiating becomes problematic.
For example, the governor mentioned the possibility of simply banning short-term rentals that do not participate in the program. Similarly, both the governor and Maui’s mayor mentioned imposing a significant potential property tax hike on STR owners who do not participate.
The governor said he recognizes an STR ban could result in long legal battles. But even a backdoor STR ban through a massive targeted tax hike could prove to be a legal nightmare.
The result is that these proposals, taken as a whole, would not be a win-win situation for STR owners who, for whatever reason, might choose to not participate.
Let’s not forget: STR owners are property owners. Many of them are long-term local residents — our friends, families, neighbors. They have their reasons for choosing to rent short term instead of long term, and the courts have recognized that this freedom to choose the terms of their rentals is, within certain limits, a valid part of the intrinsic right to do as you wish with your own property.
If STR owners determine that the incentives offered by the state or county are a good deal, then they will probably leap at the chance to participate in the program. But what if they think it’s not a good deal?
Or what if it isn’t a question of money at all?
What if owners have existing rental contracts that cannot be canceled without major penalties? What if they live in the home for part of the year and can’t rent long-term? What if they’re concerned about the legal and financial ramifications of taking on long-term tenants?
Yes, finding housing for Maui’s fire victims is an urgent need. We want to act with compassion and support the victims of the Lahaina fires. But in our attempt to help, there is a delicate balance that must take place, and we cannot overlook the rights of STR owners.
Ultimately, the governor and Maui’s mayor have offered attractive carrots, but the sticks are simply too punitive.
Providing incentives for property owners to offer long-term leases to the Maui fire victims could result in a win-win, but everyone loses when we infringe on basic property rights.
E hana kākou! (Let’s work together!)
KELI’I AKINA, PH.D.
President & CEO,
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Restore Lahaina and its people
Having experienced the tragedy of the Lahaina, Maui wildfires and their disastrous impact on Lahaina and our Hawaiian people, now we can exercise faith, work and build with God’s help, and look forward to their restoration and advancement.
In as much as Lahaina was chosen by King Kamehameha II to be the revered royal capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1820-1845, now, with the restoration and advancement of Lahaina, we also can look forward to it being symbolic and representative of the restoration and advancement of our Hawaii Kingdom and our Hawaiian People.
By doing so, we can bestow an honorable living legacy now and for our future generations.
C. KAUI JOCHANAN AMSTERDAM
Honolulu, Hawaii
House leaders helped Santos
Well, well, well. We already knew the House of Representatives’ new Republican Speaker wants a fraudster and likely criminal in the White House (candidate Trump).
Now we learn that House leaders also tried hard to provide a raging crook (George Santos) with a comfortable seat at the table for the rest of his term — just so they could have his vote.
They whipped up more than a hundred votes favoring his continued presence there.
This is the land we know as “the home of the brave?” Apparently not.
This is the election year where leaders drop all consequences for misbehavior? Apparently so.
My, my, my… the history books are going to remember quite a few faces from this tidy little age of rebellion in America.
KIMBALL SHINKOSKEY
Woods Cross, Utah
A letter from Santa, 2023
Greetings from the North Pole! As the holidays approach, I wanted to share some exciting changes happening in Christmas preparations this year.
In the spirit of embracing sustainability, I am delighted to announce that our beloved reindeer will be retiring to a beautiful sanctuary. They have served tirelessly, guiding my sleigh through snow and stars for years, and it’s time for them to graze peacefully and bask in the care they deserve.
In their place, we will be introducing a new, eco-friendly electric sleigh. This change aligns with our commitment to reducing our carbon hoofprint and taking steps towards a greener, more sustainable future.
But that’s not all! This year, I’ve made a personal choice to embrace a vegan lifestyle. In doing so, I encourage families around the world to join me in spreading kindness to all beings. Instead of the traditional cookies and milk, I kindly ask children to leave out vegan cookies and plant-based milk.
I understand change can be unexpected, but I hope these adjustments will inspire a sense of togetherness for our planet and its inhabitants. Christmas is a time of love, generosity and making the world brighter for all.
LISA DECRESCENTE
Odenton, Maryland
U.S. should pursue cellular-agriculture development
I was excited to read the German government is investing $38 million in 2024 toward the alternative-protein transition. This will include funds for cultivated-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from livestock cells without slaughter. It has the potential to reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions, pandemic risk and the suffering we inflict on animals.
So as not to fall behind, the United States government should massively increase federal funding for cellular-agriculture development. America can lead the world in creating a more sustainable, healthy and compassionate food system.
Readers should encourage their legislators to support this effort. It’s the right thing to do morally and for the sake of our country’s position on the global stage.
JON HOCHSCHARTNER