My wife and I own a modest home that we also use for a vacation rental (VRBO.com and/or AirBnB.com) as do over 2,500 other Hawaii residents. We do not choose to rent it out frequently but when we do it
My wife and I own a modest home that we also use for a vacation rental (VRBO.com and/or AirBnB.com) as do over 2,500 other Hawaii residents. We do not choose to rent it out frequently but when we do it is always enjoyable for both of us as well as our guests. We have had guests from all over the world and create lasting friendships with many of them. They get to have a Hawaiian experience they would never have in a north Kona hotel. We share our aloha, culture and knowledge which leaves a lasting impression.
The vacation rentals are providing a much needed income for many residents as well as creating jobs for maintaining and cleaning the homes. Nearly every guest can’t say enough about how much they love staying in vacation rentals. I feel it has been the single biggest boost to bringing visitors to Hawaii.
The honorable Sens. Rosalyn H. Baker, Will Espero, Michelle N. Kidani and Jill N. Tokuda have sponsored Senate Bill 2693. It is deliberately written in political gibberish but when all is scraped away what it says is that every vacation rental owner must hire an attorney and a C.P.A. to collect their taxes and represent them in order to conduct business.
We already declare all income and pay all taxes due to the federal, state and local authorities. We do not need to hire professional help.
So, why would four honorable senators introduce such a completely unnecessary bill? To find the answer, follow the money!
Perhaps they were taken to lunch by a representative of a large, multi-national hotel industry. Perhaps they were persuaded to make it more difficult to own and operate a vacation rental in Hawaii. If they accepted money for this it will be shown on the senators’ tax returns labeled “campaign contribution,” which has a better sound to it than bribe!
The hotel industry could lower their rates a little but this might prove a hardship for their CEO’s to maintain their billionaire status. Bill 2693 stinks!
Tim Schutt is a resident of Ocean View
My Turn opinions are those of the writer and not West Hawaii Today
