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GOOD NEWS!
Governor David Ige places Senate Bill 1292 on his intent to veto list!
Aloha HLTA Members,
We are pleased that Governor Ige intends to veto Senate Bill 1292. HLTA had gone on record stating it’s official position and met with the Governor to make our feelings known on this matter. We hope his actions will lead to a more collaborative effort between the state and the counties to reign in the illegal transit vacation rentals.
The tourism industry stands ready to assist to ensure that there’s a level playing field, that everyone engaging in the lodging business will pay their fair share of taxes, and that our local residents will be able to have more affordable housing opportunities in their neighborhoods.
In addition to thanking Governor Ige, I want to also commend the Honolulu City Council for their leadership in passing out Bill 89 (2018). I also wish to extend my sincere mahalo to everyone in the hospitality industry and the public at large that supported HLTA’s position to vigorously support Bill 89 (2018) at the county level and to oppose Senate Bill 1292.
Sincerely,
We are pleased that Governor Ige intends to veto Senate Bill 1292. HLTA had gone on record stating it’s official position and met with the Governor to make our feelings known on this matter. We hope his actions will lead to a more collaborative effort between the state and the counties to reign in the illegal transit vacation rentals.
The tourism industry stands ready to assist to ensure that there’s a level playing field, that everyone engaging in the lodging business will pay their fair share of taxes, and that our local residents will be able to have more affordable housing opportunities in their neighborhoods.
In addition to thanking Governor Ige, I want to also commend the Honolulu City Council for their leadership in passing out Bill 89 (2018). I also wish to extend my sincere mahalo to everyone in the hospitality industry and the public at large that supported HLTA’s position to vigorously support Bill 89 (2018) at the county level and to oppose Senate Bill 1292.
Sincerely,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association
President & CEO
Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association
LA Rams Hold Youth Clinics in Hawaii
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In advance of the Los Angeles Rams - Dallas Cowboys preseason game on August 17th, Rams star Safety John Johnson III, Rams legend, and former University of Hawaii Warrior, Pisa Tinoisamoa, and the Rams cheerleaders will be visiting Oahu this weekend. My staff and I have been working hard on this exciting sports tourism event, in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.
Starting this morning at Farrington High School, Pisa Tinoisamoa and the Rams will be donating football cleats worn by Rams players to student-athletes. The “Cleats for Character” program led by Pisa will involve a discussion about the merits of good character, the importance of goal-setting, and the transferrable life skills that can be attained through teamwork.
This afternoon, will include a media opportunity for Pisa and Johnson to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
The 7-on-7 Passing and Big Man Championships will be on Saturday, as they feature 300 students from the eight top high school teams during the 2018-19 football season. Each county will be represented on the field, as schools from Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island have been flown in to join our Oahu teams.
Saturday will also be the LA Rams Cheer Camp, for 300 youth (K-12) who will be led in warm-up and stretching routines, as well as a choreographed dance. Following the session, the Cheerleaders will also perform for the attendees.
The Rams-Cowboys preseason match-up on Saturday, August 17th will be the first NFL exhibition game played at Aloha Stadium since 1976. During the week leading up to the game, the Rams will bring their PLAY 60 Military Base Tour to the islands, host active service members and veterans to a team practice, visit schools, hold additional football and cheer clinics, and attend community events.
For questions about this weekend or other Rams efforts, please feel free to contact my Senior Director of Operations, Edgar Palafox at epalafox@hawaiilodging.org.
Media Coverage:
LA Rams community events, KHON2 Wake Up 2day
LA Rams will host football and cheerleading clinics, KHON2
Starting this morning at Farrington High School, Pisa Tinoisamoa and the Rams will be donating football cleats worn by Rams players to student-athletes. The “Cleats for Character” program led by Pisa will involve a discussion about the merits of good character, the importance of goal-setting, and the transferrable life skills that can be attained through teamwork.
This afternoon, will include a media opportunity for Pisa and Johnson to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
The 7-on-7 Passing and Big Man Championships will be on Saturday, as they feature 300 students from the eight top high school teams during the 2018-19 football season. Each county will be represented on the field, as schools from Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island have been flown in to join our Oahu teams.
Saturday will also be the LA Rams Cheer Camp, for 300 youth (K-12) who will be led in warm-up and stretching routines, as well as a choreographed dance. Following the session, the Cheerleaders will also perform for the attendees.
The Rams-Cowboys preseason match-up on Saturday, August 17th will be the first NFL exhibition game played at Aloha Stadium since 1976. During the week leading up to the game, the Rams will bring their PLAY 60 Military Base Tour to the islands, host active service members and veterans to a team practice, visit schools, hold additional football and cheer clinics, and attend community events.
For questions about this weekend or other Rams efforts, please feel free to contact my Senior Director of Operations, Edgar Palafox at epalafox@hawaiilodging.org.
Media Coverage:
LA Rams community events, KHON2 Wake Up 2day
LA Rams will host football and cheerleading clinics, KHON2
Moving Forward: Transient Vacation Rentals
Last week Friday, the Honolulu Committee on Zoning, Planning, and Housing convened a special hearing on transient vacation rental measure’s Bill 89 (2018) and Bill 85 (2018). Both opponents and proponents of the measures, once again, occupied the second floor of Honolulu Hale as the discussion of regulating TVRs in the City & County of Honolulu reconvened. The special committee hearing followed the Full Council’s May 8th decision, which recommitted the bills back to their subject matter committee for further discussion.
I was joined at the table by State Senator Sharon Moriwaki, who represents the Waikiki district, in advocating for the measures before the committee, and more importantly urging decisive action by the Council. I spoke to HLTA, HTA, and WIA’s support of Bill 89 (2018) CD2, which would limit whole-home TVRs to the zones they are currently legal in (hotel, resort, mixed use resort in the Waikiki Special District), and would allow for a very controlled expansion of owner/manager-occupied Bed & Breakfast units. I reiterated the point that communities are continuously being affected by the proliferation of these illegal short-term rentals and that the “longer you delay, the more we will have to pay.” The other counties are all moving forward with tangible solutions to the TVR quandary, and it is time for Honolulu to follow suit.
To the Council's credit, they took the Mayor’s bill and transformed and strengthened it into what will be the strictest set of guidelines across the State. I closed my testimony by stating that if the Honolulu City Council is able to move out meaningful legislation, it can serve as a template for all the other counties to utilize.
Senator Moriwaki followed my lead in her testimony and spoke of the impact that illegal TVRs have on the tourism industry, our State’s number one economic driver. She additionally claimed that we are the only sun belt state losing population because there are no affordable housing options. Also, with the average visitor daily spending declining, it is evident that our tourism industry, and the economy, are being affected.
With testimonies taking the committee well into the evening, the votes were cast as both Bill 89 (2018) and Bill 85 (2018) were passed out of Committee, unanimously with the CD2 drafts proposed by Councilmembers Menor and Manahan. The bills are now slated for a special Full Council hearing on Monday, June 17, at 10 am at Honolulu Hale. This will be the second time both measures will be up for third, and final, reading and we encourage our industry members to come out to support the passage of Bill 89 (2018) CD2. We are poised to cross the goal line!
To view the special hearing agenda, click here, to sign up to testify, click here.
During her testimony at the City Council, Senator Moriwaki, also made mention of the bill now before the Governor, SB 1292. She stated that during the heated debate that ensued during the 11th hour of the State Legislative Session, 13 of the 25 Senators felt that zoning enforcement should be left up to the counties, while the State focuses on the tax collection component.
A few weeks ago, I met with Governor Ige on Senate Bill 1292, accompanied by HLTA Chairperson Glenn Vergara, and HLTA Chairperson-elect Michael Jokovich. We laid out the hospitality industry’s concerns with the transient vacation rental tax collection measure sitting before him. In regard to the measure, Governor Ige assured us that he would be speaking with his administration, as well as county officials, to see whether or not the measure would affect their ability to enforce applicable zoning laws, penalties, and tax collection. He shared similar concerns with the visitor industry, as the bill is comparable to the measure that he vetoed back in 2016, HB1850. With just under two weeks left for him to make his decision on placing the measure on his “intent to veto” list, and with the timing of Honolulu’s final decision on Bills 89 (2018) and 85 (2018), we issued a letter to the Governor urging his veto of SB 1292.
To read HLTA’s letter to Governor Ige, click here.
I was joined at the table by State Senator Sharon Moriwaki, who represents the Waikiki district, in advocating for the measures before the committee, and more importantly urging decisive action by the Council. I spoke to HLTA, HTA, and WIA’s support of Bill 89 (2018) CD2, which would limit whole-home TVRs to the zones they are currently legal in (hotel, resort, mixed use resort in the Waikiki Special District), and would allow for a very controlled expansion of owner/manager-occupied Bed & Breakfast units. I reiterated the point that communities are continuously being affected by the proliferation of these illegal short-term rentals and that the “longer you delay, the more we will have to pay.” The other counties are all moving forward with tangible solutions to the TVR quandary, and it is time for Honolulu to follow suit.
To the Council's credit, they took the Mayor’s bill and transformed and strengthened it into what will be the strictest set of guidelines across the State. I closed my testimony by stating that if the Honolulu City Council is able to move out meaningful legislation, it can serve as a template for all the other counties to utilize.
Senator Moriwaki followed my lead in her testimony and spoke of the impact that illegal TVRs have on the tourism industry, our State’s number one economic driver. She additionally claimed that we are the only sun belt state losing population because there are no affordable housing options. Also, with the average visitor daily spending declining, it is evident that our tourism industry, and the economy, are being affected.
With testimonies taking the committee well into the evening, the votes were cast as both Bill 89 (2018) and Bill 85 (2018) were passed out of Committee, unanimously with the CD2 drafts proposed by Councilmembers Menor and Manahan. The bills are now slated for a special Full Council hearing on Monday, June 17, at 10 am at Honolulu Hale. This will be the second time both measures will be up for third, and final, reading and we encourage our industry members to come out to support the passage of Bill 89 (2018) CD2. We are poised to cross the goal line!
To view the special hearing agenda, click here, to sign up to testify, click here.
During her testimony at the City Council, Senator Moriwaki, also made mention of the bill now before the Governor, SB 1292. She stated that during the heated debate that ensued during the 11th hour of the State Legislative Session, 13 of the 25 Senators felt that zoning enforcement should be left up to the counties, while the State focuses on the tax collection component.
A few weeks ago, I met with Governor Ige on Senate Bill 1292, accompanied by HLTA Chairperson Glenn Vergara, and HLTA Chairperson-elect Michael Jokovich. We laid out the hospitality industry’s concerns with the transient vacation rental tax collection measure sitting before him. In regard to the measure, Governor Ige assured us that he would be speaking with his administration, as well as county officials, to see whether or not the measure would affect their ability to enforce applicable zoning laws, penalties, and tax collection. He shared similar concerns with the visitor industry, as the bill is comparable to the measure that he vetoed back in 2016, HB1850. With just under two weeks left for him to make his decision on placing the measure on his “intent to veto” list, and with the timing of Honolulu’s final decision on Bills 89 (2018) and 85 (2018), we issued a letter to the Governor urging his veto of SB 1292.
To read HLTA’s letter to Governor Ige, click here.
Hawaii State Association of Counties Keynote Speech:
Sustainable Tourism - Marketing vs. Managing
Hospitality Industry - Public Outreach & Updates
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"At Long Last, City Council Reigns In TVRs" |
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