For Immediate Release: December 15, 2025
Press Release by:
Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins, Councilmember
Maui County Council
nohe.uu-hodgins@mauicounty.us
Council readies next steps to address land use challenges regarding Bill 9
WAILUKU, Hawaiʻi (Dec. 15, 2025)—Councilmember Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins said today that if Bill 9, CD1, FD1 (2025)—which would phase out transient vacation rentals in the apartment districts—is passed on final reading at this morning’s council meeting, policy responses from the Bill 9 Temporary Investigative Group will be taken up at the council’s next meeting Friday.
Resolution 25-230, introduced by Councilmember Tom Cook, proposes establishing H-3 and H-4 Hotel Districts that are like-for-like with the A-1 and A2 Apartment Districts, except that TVR uses would be permitted outright. The proposal is based on the TIG’s recommendation for new zoning districts to allow continued TVR uses at appropriate properties that now have apartment zoning, even after Bill 9’s five-year phaseout is complete, Uʻu-Hodgins said.
“Throughout this process, we have sought to pursue an outcome that will benefit Maui County’s residents by promoting housing availability while stabilizing the economy,” said Uʻu-Hodgins, chair of the Bill 9 TIG, whose membership included Cook. “Creating the H-3 and H-4 zoning districts is a step that could ensure a smoother transition after Bill 9’s passage.”
Uʻu-Hodgins said that if Resolution 25-230 is adopted, she plans to advance another TIG recommendation by introducing council-initiated zoning changes for the 4,500 units identified by the TIG as appropriate for ongoing TVR use. Changing their zoning from A-1 or A-2 to H-3 or H-4 would allow those units to continue operating as transient vacation rentals, even after they become banned in all apartment districts by Jan. 1, 2031 under Bill 9.
Uʻu-Hodgins noted her fellow TIG members, including Councilmembers Tamara Paltin and Shane M. Sinenci, have reiterated their support for the TIG’s recommendations in public meeting, while acknowledging further testimony and deliberations could influence future actions.
“I feel committed to pass the H-3, H-4 legislation,” Paltin said Dec. 1 at Bill 9’s first reading. “I feel committed to those TIG parcels to balance it out.”
“My vote and support also come with a commitment that I will support some forthcoming legislation, companion legislation, that will continue short-term uses in new zoning areas,” Sinenci said at the Dec. 1 meeting.
The Bill 9 TIG was dissolved after presenting its report to the council’s Housing and Land Use Committee two months ago.
Council meetings are livestreamed on Akakū Channel 53, at MauiCounty.us and on the council’s Facebook and YouTube pages. For more information, call the Office of Council Services at (808) 270-7664.
