Maui facing suicides, exodus amidst housing struggle

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Gov. Josh Green announced that he backed down from a moratorium on short-term rentals in Maui County on Wednesday, March 27.

Community organizers are now focused on legislation that would give power to the counties to phase out high-priced vacation homes.

Members of the Lahaina Strong community group gathered at the Hawaii State Capitol on Thursday, March 28 and said they understand a moratorium is no longer needed since displaced families have started to trickle into more permanent housing.

“We still need to tackle this short-term rental issue,” Lahaina Strong organizer Paele Kiakona said. “Because the short term rental industry has exacerbated the housing market and made it way too expensive for anybody to even afford a family home here in Hawaii.”

Organizers are now highlighting legislation — HB1838 and SB2919 — that would give counties the power to gradually phase out short-term rentals.

“Giving counties the clear authority to phase out vacation rental uses is a key tool for helping Maui residents find adequate rental housing in the wake of the wildfires,” Lahaina Strong organizer Katie Austin said.

Rep. Elle Cochran added cutting through the red tape to find long-term housing is simply too much for some residents who are still displaced. Organizers said 60% of Native Hawaiians in West Maui who were affected by the fire have left the island.

“Every time they get a different case manager, they have to re-tell their story,” Rep. Cochran said, “they have to get this paper, get it signed, go back, I mean, it’s just been nonstop. We’re almost nine months in and we still haven’t built a home?”

“A friend of mine committed suicide, there’s deaths! And it is sad to have people move off, but it’s even sadder when people are killing themselves and no one is saying that!”

Rep. Elle Cochran, (D) Lahaina, Kahakuloa, Kahana

Some new help is available. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced one-time grants for Native Hawaiians affected by the fires — $9,000 to eligible homeowners and $4,000 to eligible renters.

“People wonder if things are forgotten, if Lahaina is forgotten,” Hawaiian community advocate Archie Kalepa said. “This is a reminder for our community, the help is there.”

The State also announced it has acquired a former hotel in Kihei with 175 guest rooms to be used initially as temporary housing for the displaced and eventually repurposed as a teacher and workforce rental housing project.

Hale ʻO Lāʻie — formerly the Haggai Institute property — is expected to open to wildfire survivors in early May, 2024.