Show Up for the Minatoya Phase-Out – Monday, June 9 at 10AM

Maui is at a crossroads. On Monday, June 9, the County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee will hear public testimony on Bill 9, a measure that could begin phasing out the Minatoya list—a legal loophole that currently allows thousands of short-term rentals (STRs) to operate in apartment-zoned areas.

Lahaina Strong and our coalition partners are showing up to say: enough is enough. We need housing for people, not profit.

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🟥 When and Where to Show Up:

📅 Monday, June 9
🕙 Hearing: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Location: Maui County Council Chambers, 200 S. High Street, 8th Floor, Wailuku

🕘 Come early! We’ll be sign-waving and packing the room in red starting at 9:00 AM.

Even if you can only stay for an hour, every presence matters. Testimony will be ongoing throughout the day, and your voice helps tip the scales toward action.

You can testify in person or online via Zoom. Visit MauiCounty.us for instructions on how to sign up to speak remotely.

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What’s Bill 9 About?

Bill 9 is a critical first step in ending the decades-long misinterpretation of zoning law known as the Minatoya list. This list created an administrative backdoor that has allowed over 6,000 apartment units—many in residential neighborhoods—to be converted into short-term vacation rentals.

That’s the equivalent of ten years of new housing lost to tourism.

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Why It Matters

🏠 It’s About Homes, Not Hotels

Maui’s housing crisis isn’t hypothetical. 91% of fire-displaced residents still haven’t found permanent housing. Rents have soared 6–14% higher because locals are forced to compete with visitors for basic shelter.

Phasing out STRs under the Minatoya list would:

• Return over 6,000 units to local residents
• Drop rents up to 14%
• Reduce homelessness and housing instability
• Help Maui meet its housing needs without new construction

🌺 It’s About Culture and Community

Displacement doesn’t just cost money—it breaks generational ties, disconnects us from ʻāina, and disrupts the cultural traditions rooted in multigenerational living. STR saturation has:

• Pushed out cultural practitioners and local ʻohana
• Eroded opportunities for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi transmission
• Displaced kūpuna, working families, and fire survivors

Bill 9 moves us closer to a Maui where local people can live, thrive, and pass down their homes and heritage.

💵 It’s About an Economy That Works for Us

85–95% of STRs on the Minatoya list are owned by non-residents. That means money leaves our island, while locals struggle with inflated housing costs and job instability.

A phase-out will:

• Keep dollars circulating in our local economy
• Strengthen small businesses by supporting full-time residents
• Alleviate hotel labor shortages by shifting STR jobs to union-backed hotel work with better pay and benefits

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Addressing the Myths

We’ve heard the fear-mongering—let’s be clear:

• “We need STRs for tourism” → There are still hotels and legal STRs. Tourism will adjust like it has elsewhere.
• “It’s a government taking” → STR rights under Minatoya are an interpretation, not a guaranteed land use right. Owners keep their property and can rent long-term or sell.
• “Local people can’t afford those condos” → That’s exactly why we need policy to support conversions and incentives for long-term rentals. STR investors are already covering higher costs like commissions and cleaning.

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This Is a Big Step—Not the Only One

No single policy can solve the housing crisis. But this one is powerful. It’s fast, relatively low-cost, and doesn’t require new infrastructure. It’s a correction—not a punishment—and it sends a clear message that community comes before speculation.

We know the opposition will be loud. We need to be louder—with our presence, our voices, and our values.

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✊ How You Can Help

✅ Wear red and show up at 9:00 AM on Monday, June 9
✅ Prepare to testify in person or online
✅ Share this post and bring a friend or coworker
✅ Follow @LahainaStrong and @MauiHousingHui for updates

Let’s make it clear: Our housing is not a commodity—it’s a lifeline.

Let’s show the Council we believe in a Maui where families come home, not tourists take over.

If you’d like to learn more read our cost benefit analysis here.