An open letter to the residents of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kona Bay Estates, Puako, Volcano Village and Volcano Golf and Country Club:
Regarding the proposed permitting of non-hosted, short term rentals outside of the designated resort areas. One piece of advice: Do not let them do it!
Non-hosted, short-term rentals outside of the areas do nothing to enhance or enrich your community or your current quality of life in the community. The disturbances and problems they create are endless. Being non-hosted allows for minimal or no supervision or oversight.
These rentals prohibit smoking on the property, no problem, the renters move to a neighboring property to smoke and use the driveway as an ashtray. Too much garage on the site, no problem, just throw it over the fence. The combination of children and a pool is a recipe for loud, obnoxious behavior — all day and all night. The properties are a public nuisance. The residential areas are designed for working people who go to bed by 9 o’clock and are up at 5:30 a.m. to get to work. They are not a playground or a resort where these activities are tolerated and managed.
Early this year, a group of neighbors were invited to meet with Hawaii County Council members interested in the problem and attempting to seek a fair solution. The Planning Commission, which oversees these short-term rentals had developed a process to address the issues. A formal Complaint Form was presented and in addition there was a prescribed process to address the violators starting with a warning, leading to fines and the ultimate denial of license renewal. The problem is that there is no mechanism in place to follow up on these issues and enforce the rules. There are no consequences for breaking the rules and thus they are rendered useless.
Vote “no” on non-hosted, short-term rentals outside of the designated resort areas.
Your peace and serenity should not be driven by the greed of distant property owners.
Cathy Sinclair is a resident of Kailua-Kona.
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