By Yiming Fu, Report for America corps member

After 300 testifiers across five days, Maui activists put up a generational fight for their families.

They’re advocating for Bill 9, a bill proposed by Maui’s mayor Richard Bissen to stop 6,000 vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas.

Native Hawaiian and multigenerational Lahaina resident Mikey Burke watched the five days of testimony and went to three of the meetings in person. At these hearings, she said she’s seen people fight for two different Maui’s. Those against the bill are fighting to protect their profit margins.

“And we’re fighting for the right to exist,”  Burke said.

Burke said she’s tired. And everybody who attended the hearings across multiple days is at capacity. But she’s inspired by how the community showed up in force.

“To see that the testifier list is over 300 long shows how important this issue is,” Burke said.

Oral testimony closed June 24, and the council will begin deliberation with Mayor Richard Bissen on July 2.

Opening housing options

Proposed by Mayor Richard Bissen, Bill 9 would stop Airbnb usage for a list of 6,000 condos, mostly in South Maui and West Maui.

The mayor has advocated for Bill 9 since the August 2023 Lahaina fires to quickly create housing opportunities for thousands of displaced locals. Bill 9 follows a May 2024 state bill that allows counties to regulate Airbnb’s on their own.

The 6,000 vacation rentals are not required to turn into long-term housing. But Bill 9 will still put many new units up on Maui —  where 21% of the housing is used for vacation rentals like Airbnb, and fire survivors are still looking for a steady place to stay.

Native Hawaiian data scientist and executive assistant to the mayor Matt Jachowski estimates 49% of Maui families will be able to afford these units.

An economic report from the University of Hawaii raised concerns over a drop in tourism revenue. Many Airbnb owners also said the bill will unfairly pull the rug from under their businesses.

Mayor Bissen and his team released a tax plan June 9 to offset potential drops in tourism.

At stake, organizers say, is whether Maui is a place where Hawaiians can stay home, or cater to outsiders. A home in West Maui costs a median of $1.9 million, or 20x more than what most locals can afford. One in four Native Hawaiians have moved away.

Shifting the needle

Lauryn Rego said she’s been an advocate on Maui for 12 years, and this is the first time she’s seen a hearing go for five days.

“What I see here is the galvanization of community,” Rego said.

The last time Rego saw this much activism on Maui around a bill to ban GMO’s in 2014. When the county denied the bill, community members organized to flip the council. Maui County voters then elected a predominantly Native-Hawaiian, predominantly woman-run council.

Rego sees the upcoming vote as a win-win. Either the council listens to the community, or the community can vote in new council members in two years.

Jordan Ruidas said she was in awe of and inspired by the different community members who came out to support Bill 9. Many of them testified for the first time, she said.

“I think the bigger picture is them feeling empowered to come and stand and lend their voice,” Ruidas said. “And it’s just going to lead to more amazing moments.”

About a dozen children and young adults testified at the podium. The kids are watching, Rego said, and they’re learning. Her daughter testified for the first time at the meeting.

Burke said the adults are waging this fight, because it’s their responsibility to their children. They’re trying to do it now, so it’s not their kids’ kuleana later.

Ruidas hopes the next generations will remember Bill 9 as a pivotal moment that shows taking a stand on important issues pays off.  

“I really believe that all of our hard work will come to fruition with this bill,” Ruidas said.  “I do believe we will see success. And I want the up-and-coming generation to see that, to feel empowered and want to do the same thing.”

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