The deadly Lahaina and Kula fires devastated large areas of Maui and heavily impacted the island’s economy — especially the housing market. The Maui Tenants Association is calling on Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to continue a county-wide freeze on rent and evictions.
The government’s official response came hours before the previous emergency proclamation was slated to end, with Green releasing an eighth proclamation extending the rent and eviction freeze.
The fire killed at least 99 people, leveled over 2,200 buildings — 86% of which were residential — and damaged another 500. For months, around 6,800 people have been living in federally-funded hotels and condos across the island. Many have moved between several different locations, unable to find secure housing.
Hawaii Sen. Angus McKelvey, D, represents the district containing what remains of Lahaina. McKelvey also lost his home in the fires and has been advocating for support and permanent housing for survivors.
You just gotta scream and shout and shout and shout until they finally hear you out
Sen. Angus McKelvey
“You just gotta scream and shout and shout and shout until they finally hear you out,” McKelvey said.
For many, there isn’t affordable housing available on the market — a problem that existed even before a town went up in flames.
The Valley Isle caters to tourists, forming 40% of the economy, but the number of visitors has slowed. Tourist numbers and spending for September were down by over 50% compared to the same time last year.
Because of the heavy focus on tourism, roughly 15% of Maui County’s housing stock is listed as a short-term rental, despite it being illegal or heavily restricted in residential zones. That is significantly more than Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, New York City, Las Vegas and Chicago, according to the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai’i (UHERO).
In Lahaina, a destination spot within the island, 40% of residential buildings were short-term rentals.
UHERO also found that across the county, only about 18% of residentially-zoned land allows for multi-family housing. This area is key for building affordable homes.
Some are pushing for the rebuilt Lahaina to be rezoned to include cheaper, more affordable housing. However, McKelvey says it’s a balance between retaining the character and history of the town and ensuring locals can afford to live there.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity to preserve and protect lands for that affordable housing and also plan together so you can create something where everybody benefits and there’s a communal sense of community there,” McKelvey said.
Others are calling to force short-term rentals into long-term rentals, prioritizing locals over visitors.
“Those properties alone can easily house everybody that has been displaced by the fires,” a Maui Tenants Association spokesperson said. “Pull those permits. Do away with short-term rentals now!”
McKelvey voiced his support, saying, “I absolutely agree, And again, because of the emergency situation, we require the government to do that, to take these kinds of steps. There should be no short-term rentals in the area and there should be long-term rentals only.”
McKelvey also applauded a recent mortgage moratorium from the Federal Housing Administration, which lasts until May 2024.
“So, that is good news. But more needs to be done. But it’s an important development in getting that bar on FHA notes,” McKelvey said.
While a small town, Lahaina was culturally and economically significant. Lahaina’s 700 businesses made up 16% of all establishments on the island. Most have been destroyed, damaged or made inaccessible due to the hazardous waste caused by the fire.
The loss of those jobs has led to a marked increase in unemployment, which rose from 2.6% to 4.1% following the fire. In the month after the fires, about 11% of those previously employed in the county filed for unemployment.
“When you have lights in the darkness, it’s imperative upon us to shine the bright lights on them so people can see it,” McKelvey said. “When we do have a victory, even like the HUD mortgage forbearance, it’s a start, but it’s worthy shining a light on.”