Honolulu Bans Short-Term AirBnBs In Oahu

The End Of Short-Term Airbnb In Oahu

Honolulu officials have approved a new law that requires short-term rental accommodation owners—i.e Airbnb owners—to limit tenants' stay to a minimum of three months.

The new measure put in place by the Honolulu City Council will increase the minimum amount of time a tenant can rent a short-term unit, without a permit, from 30 to 90 days. It will also restrict new vacation rental permits to resort-zoned areas—such as Waikīkī and Ko Olina.

The council passed the measure in an eight-to-one vote. And since Honolulu’s Mayor Rick Blangiardi introduced the request for the change in short-term rentals, it’s highly likely he will sign them off.

Locals remain divided on the change. Thomas Cestare of the Lanikai Association said: “Short-term rentals are disruptive to the character and fabric of our residential neighborhoods.”

However, April Perreira Pluss said: “I just think that the vacationer that comes here that rents for 30 days is contributing to our community,”

What Does This Mean For Travelers?

Travelers can stay in short-term rentals—such as Airbnb—for a minimum of 90 days instead of 30 days in the affected areas
Digital nomads will have to commit to staying in a short-term rental for 90 days instead of 30 days; this will cause some frustration for anyone who wishes to stay for less than 90 days before moving elsewhere
Travelers and digital nomads will have to choose other accommodation options, such as hotels, hostels, and guesthouses, if they want to stay in Honolulu for under three months
Local authorities will also restrict the operation of short-term rentals to the island’s resort-zoned areas in Ko Olina, parts of Waikiki, Kuilima, and Makaha.
Travelers will no longer be able to park on the streets in communities zoned for rural, residential, or apartment use. The move comes as vehicle traffic and congestion have become a major issue since out-of-state travelers came back to the island.

The Other Short-Term Accommodation Options For Travelers

Thankfully, Hawaii has many accommodation options. However, Airbnb is extremely popular for many travelers visiting the state, especially digital nomads.

Hotels – Honolulu has a vast array of hotel options. Sure, it’s not as practical for many remote workers as a private short-term rental with a kitchen, private bathroom, etc, but it’s another option. Prices vary drastically in Honolulu; you can stay in luxury or in budget hotels. Top hotels often provide business centers, shops, bars, and gyms (all excellent for travelers.)
Hostels – Hostels are the most affordable option for travelers seeking to stay in Honolulu for up to 90 days. Of course, hostels aren’t as practical as many other options, yet they’re cheap, fun, and often have strong wifi depending on the hostel.
Resorts – Honolulu has many resort options. They offer everything a hotel can offer and more. Resorts typically offer restaurants, bars, jacuzzis, gyms, room service, etc. The main advantage of staying in a resort is having everything you could possibly want in terms of services and things to do. However, they’re typically not cheap.

In short, the removal of short-term accommodation in Honolulu is an issue for many travelers seeking to stay for up to 90 days.

It will mean many travelers have to use more expensive and less convenient options during their stay.

Current Hawaii Entry Requirements

Hawaii was the most restricted U.S. state during the pandemic; however, they’ve recently eased COVID-19 entry requirements for domestic U.S. tourists. There are current NO COVID-19-related entry requirements in Hawaii for domestic U.S. visitors.

The state has also ended its mask mandate and all social distancing. International tourists, however, still have to undergo standard U.S. COVID-19 entry requirements, including testing and proof of vaccination.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

AyL

Saturday 16th of April 2022

dumb

The US is in a housing crisis and the rise of digital nomadism has increased costs for locals. At a cursory glance, this 90 day minimum seems to make sense, IMO.

Dee

Monday 18th of April 2022

@P,

It's a confluence of factors that impact housing, including historically low interest rates and lack of supply. Affluent, college educated voters have had an outflow to suburban areas driving up costs across the country. Hawaii was one of the first places early in the pandemic that people were trying to flock to. I'm not sure how you can extrapolate that .013% of Hawaii's undocumented population, whom are incredibly low income workers are having a substantial impact on housing. Sounds like your typical, right-winger mad that demographics are changing in this country and a talking point.

Sunday 17th of April 2022

@Dee, and how many digital nomads?

What an irrelevant comment to this article. Hawaii has 20,000 undocumented immigrants in a population of 1.5M. No, it don't. Time to turn off Fox News and realize Trump lost the election.

@D, a handful of self proclaimed digital nomads somehow impact housing markets for entire cities, but hordes of illegal migrants don't?

MR LESTER

@D, agreed!