Aloha Authoritarianism: Hawaii Governor Threatens the 'Hammer' on Stubborn Property Owners

Remember, "You will own nothing, and be happy!"

“It’s my job to take the hard position if our people aren’t being cared for and so that’s what’s coming and it’s going to come swiftly in the new year if need be.” —Josh Green, HI

In a stunning display of “generosity,” Hawaii Governor Josh Green-Dew-Deal has graciously given property owners of short-term vacation rentals one month to “voluntarily” convert their rentals to long-term housing for displaced Maui residents. Otherwise, he is ready to wield the “hammer” of post-fire emergency orders to force property owners into compliance.

Green unveiled the phased housing plan for Maui this past Friday, stating that the government’s goal is to engage 3,000 short-term rentals (STRs) and convert them into long-term rentals for Maui residents for at least two years while they build Ohana units like ADUs and other housing because the "only housing available right now is short term rentals."

Click to watch my latest video below where I cover this in detail — and boy, does my blood gets boiling!

This government overreach looks like another land grab

So let me get this straight:

Green basically tries to make the case that it’s not fair that landlords are renting out their property as a short-term rentals, which cost more per month than long-term rentals.

He uses the example of House A being a long-term rental (these are typically year leases or longer) that goes for $5000 per month, and this could house a family of 4-6.

Then he says that House B as the short-term rental would garner $17,000 for the same month.

First of all, I’d like to see the data that he is basing these numbers on.

But let’s just roll with his premise and dig a bit deeper, shall we?

Point of fact: private property owners have the right (absent any other rules or regulations that might restrict the short-term rental, such as HOA rules or zoning regulations) to rent — or not rent — that property as they see fit.

Heck, they could let the property sit vacant if they wanted to, or just rent it out one month or one week a month. It’s THEIR property.

But according to Joshie, “it’s not okay” for property owners to “treat our families” like that. He says, “we have to do better as a society.”

Excuse me?

He conveniently refuses to consider the short-term rental property owners.

Think about it: these people are running a business. Maybe you or someone you know has invested in a short-term rental. It might be listed on AirBnB, VRBO, managed by a property management company, or listed on Facebook marketplace for example.

The short-term vacation rental industry also includes housekeepers, gardeners, property managers, hosts, laundry service, and more.

Once those units are converted into long-term rentals (12 months or longer) many of those jobs will likely go by the wayside.

Don’t those people matter to you, Greenie? Or are you only concerned with lowering the hammer on those greedy short-term landlords making $17,000 a month?

What about their mortgage payment, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, maintenance and other costs involved with running a short-term rental?

That doesn’t matter to you, does it, Slosh?

What about the property owners who rely on this income for their LIVELIHOOD, who do NOT rely on the government to take care of things for them?

That doesn’t matter to you?

The families and employees that rely on the very short-term rental industry that you want to (through your fake emergency powers) TRANSFORM into long-term housing?

You don’t care about them, Greenie, do you? How callous can you be?

And what about the tourism industry itself?

My savvy Healthy Americans have likely already thought of this, but the numbskull governor of HI certainly hasn’t.

Question for the governor: What has been the number one source of economic activity on Maui?

Uh, that would be tourism.

The very tourism that you are about to strangle and suffocate out of existence, Joshie.

Think about it: if the short-term rentals that cater to TOURISTS are now no longer available to — wait for it — tourists — then who is going to come on vacation to Lahaina when there are 3,000 fewer places to rent?

Let’s do the math, shall we?

Let’s say that a typical rental is for 4 people. Let’s say that these four people stay for a week. So 4 people x 4 weeks is 16 people NOT coming to Maui for that month.

Now let’s calculate how many tourists per year that will exclude from coming to Maui, with their money to spend on restaurants, paddle boards, excursions, shopping, ubers and more.

That would be 16 people per month x 12 months = 192 fewer people per rental.

When you consider the 3,000 units coming out of the short-term rental capacity, that could add up to 192 x 3,000 = 576,000 fewer tourists per year.

Gee, Greenie, that sure sounds like NOT a good idea for the tourism industry.

Maybe my numbers are inflated, but even cutting that in half would be a quarter of a million fewer tourists potentially enjoying their vacation on Maui.

Certainly that would have ZERO negative impact on the tourism business, right?!

Ugh.

No wonder my blood was boiling in my video here.

Finally, Green-Dew-Deal says that FEMA will cover the costs of these rentals for two years. Now my heart goes out to those who have lost their homes in this intentionally-inflicted horror, but I do have a question: shouldn’t people have some skin in the game and be required to pay something toward their living expenses? Will this free rent be deducted from FEMA assistance and Red Cross money and other donations that have been (allegedly) pouring in? I’m all in favor of people getting assistance — but isn’t that what their insurance is supposed to cover?

And what about people who owned and lived in their own property — will they get this financial assistance as well?

Just asking.

There’s always another way, but Slosh is presenting what appears to be a false dichotomy: his way, or his way.

I saw this coming a mile away — and you did, too!

I’ve been predicting this hogwash since the beginning…. asking the questions that nobody else seems to be asking. In fact, two days after the Maui fires in my video “MAUI FIRES: 12 TOXIC SIDE EFFECTS (that the NWO Applauds!” (skip to 17:42) I addressed in detail the potential drawbacks of using airbnb as a homeowner. Basically, it's a way for the government to know exactly who has extra rooms to spare. I discussed the possibility of homeowners being forced to house others, whether they are immigrants or people who have been displaced by these "events," and (just like the vaccines) it may start out as voluntary, but it may eventually become required, possibly even enacted into law, that if you have an extra room or home, you must give it to whomever the government tells you to.

All my video coverage on the Maui fires is available here.

So, in the grand scheme of things, how will the government work its magic? Well, through targeted, temporary tax relief and “fair” market value offers. But wait, don’t forget the countdown on people's property rights until the government benevolently steps in ‘for the greater good’ with its strong-arm tactics to ensure landlords see the light of compliance. Furthermore, they intend to raise property taxes on STRs just after the new year, so keep a watchful eye on 2024 legislation.

Click here to watch the entire press concert.

According to Greenie, FEMA will pay 100% for units rented to about 2,000 families. The state of Hawaii and private philanthropists will cover rent for the remaining 1,000 families who are undocumented or ineligible for FEMA aid.

Here’s where Green dropped the hammer in Friday’s press concert:

“I understand this could cause a ripple effect, but this is an emergency… We are going to continue our prohibition on evictions and the Attorney General is going to be very serious about that so people should not get the idea that they can evict some nice family that has been paying $3500 in rent and then suddenly enter this program…

Here’s the consideration for the owners: Fair market value like I said was up to 352% compared to previous years and I’m hopeful people will come in and offer their properties for significantly less. It’s important. This is very important. With the waiver of property taxes they should be able to be generous, but I do want to be blunt here: If we don’t get people stepping up, I’m going to drop the hammer on short term rentals that aren’t able to be used for our people. It’s just not okay that we don’t have housing for our local people and so I will propose a moratorium on short term rentals through emergency rules. I’m sure we will face litigation, but I will do it if we don’t get 3,000 units for our people who have been living in hotels because it’s not civilized to make people wait to get housing after they’ve lost their home in a fire.”

FEMA sent letters advertising the financial benefits to 13,000 owners of short-term rentals on Monday. They omitted the threat of a moratorium. Green acknowledged that a moratorium on STRs likely will lead to lawsuits, but he’s trying to be strategic in his approach because he doesn’t want to lose the battle in court.

Keep in mind that a moratorium is a temporary prohibition or halt on certain activities or actions.

States have the authority to enact laws and regulations, including those related to moratoriums. The state legislature typically passes laws that empower relevant agencies or authorities to declare a moratorium on specific activities.

But Joshie wants to drop the hammer himself by side-stepping the legislature, again!

Remember the lawsuits over the CDC’s illegitimate issuance of a nationwide eviction moratorium? Litigation by landlords was successful in that the Supreme Court ruled that the CDC had exceeded its authority. However, the Court opened the door for Congress to specifically authorize it (of course). The Supreme Court found that Congress could speak clearly when authorizing an agency to exercise the powers of vast economic and political significance that the CDC exercised in its order, but Congress had not done so in this case. The CDC order lacked clear Congressional authority, rendering it too broad, so it was struck down.

The same can be applied on the state level in regards to a state legislature enacting laws that give the executive agencies and the governor power to declare moratoriums.

In some cases, states may grant emergency powers to the governor or other officials to implement moratoriums in response to crises such as public health emergencies or natural disasters. This is what Governor Green is relying on when he threatens to wield the figurative nuclear hammer of his emergency powers.

Moratoriums must comply with constitutional principles, including due process and equal protection under the law. Any deprivation of property rights or economic interests must have a legitimate government purpose and be carried out "fairly," so if Green drops the hammer in January, he may face numerous lawsuits in which he will have to defend that his actions served a legitimate government interest.

Let me know what you think in a comment below. I LOVE hearing from my Healthy Americans.

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