Maui County on Hawaii's Valley Isle are shutting down almost all the vacation rental units on this tropical pacific island. The new administration led by new Mayor Tavares have decided to take a hard line against many Maui residents who supplement their income by renting out ohana cottages and studios to tourists on a short term basis .
This business has gone for years and become very much part of the attraction of taking a vacation on Maui for many visitors.
Previous administrations have always promised that at some point they would formalize the arrangement under which these businesses were operating but in fact despite the passing of the years they did nothing, but still allowed the practice to continue.
Now the Mayor, despite promises to the contrary during election time, has decide that becoming an enforcer of written word in the Maui code, is more beneficial to the island and it's economy.
This is despite the fact that it has been estimated that "shutting down 99 percent of TVRs and bed-and-breakfasts will cost Maui County $319 million in business, more than 3,000 full-time jobs and cost $100,000 to $200,000 in transient accommodations tax that the state returns to the county".
Is there a hidden agenda here? What exactly is Maui County trying to achieve?
As you can imagine many Maui residents and businesses are up in arms about this.
If you want to find out more and maybe even help by signing an online petition just click on the link.
Aloha?
