Position Statement
We The People Of Kauai are concerned Kauai residents and/or property owners. We have been following the Kauai Country Council's progress in writing into law Bill No. 2204 which calls for a regulation of vacation rentals and B&B on Kauai. We are not against that. But we are against making existing vacation rentals and B&B illegal and taking families livelihoods away. Below is our position:
- We ask that the county provide an Amnesty program, during which an appointed individual or group be sanctioned by the county as an Ombudsman designed to assist TVR's in their transition to compliance with the final bill when passed. The Ombudsman would be responsible for discussions with existing B&B, and vacation rental business owners on a one by one basis, by phone, email or with a personal appointment to answer pertinent questions about location, zoning, permitted use, and how to ensure their business continues to exist (grandfathering-in). This individual or group should clearly state to all parties that any information it gathers in an attempt to aid small businesses on Kauai will not be used to their detriment, by any other department.
- We propose that all existing vacation rentals and B&Bs be granted permits to continue to operate, essentially to be grand-fathered-in, wether they are located in a residential area or on Ag land.
- We question the legality & ethics of the removal of real property rights.
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The interesting thing is that one would think that the Kauai County Council would have commissioned an extensive, independent economic impact study to learn about what impact this Bill may have on our fragile island economy.
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