In a recent headline, Civil Beat reported on the Maui Interim Housing Plan, a $500 million initiative aimed at providing longer-term housing for around 3,000 households displaced by the devastating Maui wildfires with the subheading “the plan, if successful, could potentially circumvent the controversial proposition of imposing a moratorium on vacation rentals.”
I cover this story in detail here:
Earlier, I exposed the threat of the Hawaii Governor’s moratorium and explained why it was concerning, particularly because the governor stated that he would “use the hammer” (the nuclear option so to speak) to deem short-term vacation rentals illegal. See my video about that here:
While some argue for more regulations around short-term rentals (STRs), the key issue is that such decisions should be made through the legislative process, not by executive decree.
I've heard from a bunch of folks who actually think it's not a bad idea to have more regulations for Short-Term Rentals (STRs).
But, here's the thing – working out those regulations needs to happen in the legislature, not because the Governor says so.
No Governor Can Make a Law
Just a quick reminder: Even though there are many wannabe dictators, our political system isn't built for a dictator meaning one person doesn’t get to make all the decisions. No Governor can make a law. Nope, the Governor can't tell you (property owner or not) what to do. Only laws can do that, and a judge can order you do something based on those laws… but no one individual has the authority to make a law.
While scrutinizing Short-Term Rentals (STRs) might be a sensible idea to some, it should be the will of the people, determined through the legislative process, that decide. I know, it sounds a bit too much like rainbows and unicorns, but I am committed to continuing my efforts to educate and speak out on this matter.
A coalition of state, local and federal officials and nonprofit organizations on Friday announced a $500 million initiative to provide longer-term housing for some 3,000 households displaced by the Maui wildfires by March 1.
If successful, the program will provide homes for 18 to 24 months for thousands of people who have been forced to live in hotel rooms since the fires destroyed much of Lahaina on Aug. 8.
The effort also could help avert a legally thorny solution that some officials and residents have called for: a moratorium on short-term vacation rentals that would effectively mandate the properties be rented longterm to residents.
If they want 3,000 units rented for 18 to 24 months and they have a $500 million budget, then that means they could spend $7,000 - $9,000 per household.
However, the press release explicitly states 18 month commitments.
What also bothers me about this, given the rampant corruption, bribery, and fraud in Hawaii, particularly on Maui (I’ve got many substacks and videos about this), but it's clear there's a lot of shady business happening, and when we're talking about $500 million, that's a lot of pennies that can vanish without anyone noticing.
My hope and prayer are for those displaced individuals to get the help they truly need.
And you know what? If the government is at fault, well, the government should be the one footing the bill.
Prospective funding sources include $250 million from FEMA, $150 million from the state of Hawaii, $40 million from Maui County, $50 million from the Hawaii Community Foundation, $5 million from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and an additional $5 million from other philanthropy.
Here’s the plan:
To house residents, the coalition plans to use numerous tools:
• A host family program, in which residents are paid to bring in displaced people.
• Long-term hotel units that have been bought or leased by the government.
• Long-term rentals.
• And dwellings built and managed by FEMA and the coalition.
In addition, officials expect that 433 homes in Lahaina will have their electricity, water and sewage systems restored by March 1.
Still, under the plan, the biggest driver will be property owners voluntarily converting their vacation units to longterm rentals.
As of now, 700 such units had been converted under a program in which property owners can essentially be paid the going rate for vacation rentals if they rent longterm to fire victims.
The part that really gets to me in all of this, and it's genuinely troubling, is the move toward government-owned housing.
I know people who own rental properties and apartment buildings and it is so onerous for them to deal with the regulations, the government oversight and rent control.
Maybe you see that as a good thing, but what bothers me is when the government steps in to own all this property. In a previous video and substack, I shared some insights into government housing projects in Hawaii, and let me tell you, they were a mess. Run-down, repairs were a nightmare – it was NOT all it was cracked up to be.
I also covered eminent domain, diving into Hawaii's laws and my own personal experience about my grandfather's property.
Sure, it'd be great if government-owned housing was a good solution, but the real-world evidence we've seen doesn't back that up.
So that’s the latest for Maui – a whopping $500 million aimed at getting these folks into long-term housing by July. I'm all in for this noble cause. Now, I might have come out a bit strong in the beginning when Josh Green-Dew-Deal was threatening the nuclear hammer, but you know that I’m not a big fan of the governor or any of those dictators, tyrants, or public serpents telling us what to do. My frustration isn't with those who need help, it’s with the public serpents running the show.
It's crucial that people hold these officials accountable. If you're on Maui, take a good look at those eyeing office again in the city council. I'm all about optimism and determination, maintaining a positive outlook even when disaster strikes.
Many of you ask me: “What can we do?”
The best move is to live your life to the fullest, find value in things that matter to you, and contribute however you can to society – that's how we prevent the tyrants from stealing our joy.
The bad guys want us drowning in fear and dread… so we can turn the tables on the tyrants with a life well-lived in optimism and determination.
I'm betting on countless stories of recovery, strength, courage, and people triumphing over hardships in Lahaina — and on Maui. We're making waves in exposing the truth, and I am holding a vision of brighter days ahead.
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Maui County is a plantation. Ever since the US colonized the Kingdom, the Islands have been ruled by the masters. The mayor and governor do the bidding of the masters.
Hawaii isn’t even a sovereign state. (Neither is Alaska.)
Even the courts go along with masters. The senators and representatives in Congress are in their pocket.
I don't get why they just don't give the people the money for their lost so they can build what they want on their own property. Crazy stuff going on to take their property away from them. So sad
Maui County is a plantation. Ever since the US colonized the Kingdom, the Islands have been ruled by the masters. The mayor and governor do the bidding of the masters.
Hawaii isn’t even a sovereign state. (Neither is Alaska.)
Even the courts go along with masters. The senators and representatives in Congress are in their pocket.
Sorry, but thats how it is.
I don't get why they just don't give the people the money for their lost so they can build what they want on their own property. Crazy stuff going on to take their property away from them. So sad