Mayor Richard Bissen signed Bill 9 into law, following its passage by the Maui County Council after a heated debate over housing policy. According to the County of Maui, Bissen praised council members and public engagement: "Mahalo to Maui County Council members and staff for their extensive work on Bill 9 and for taking crucial and courageous steps to improve life for Maui’s most important resource – our people."
The law addresses Maui’s housing crisis, which Bissen says worsened after the wildfires. It phases out transient vacation rentals in apartment zones, returning over 6,000 units to long-term housing. According to the County of Maui, Bissen noted, “Ninety-four percent of the units affected are owned by people who don’t live in Maui County, and most don’t even live in Hawaiʻi.”
Tourism in Maui County remains intact, with about 6,500 vacation rentals plus hotels and other accommodations still available. Other cities show that restricting short-term rentals shifts tourism rather than reduces it. In Amsterdam, guest nights at short-term rentals fell, but overall tourism rose as hotels absorbed more visitors.
The county forecasts a $60 million revenue loss from the new law, potentially offset by returned units are taxed as long-term residences. Officials say Maui’s fiscal health depends on sufficient affordable housing, which Bill 9 aims to provide.
Bill 9 is part of a broader strategy to address Maui’s housing issues. The legislation follows recommendations from the County Council’s Temporary Investigative Group to reclassify thousands of units under new hotel zoning, prioritizing residents over visitor accommodations.
