At Hawaii Rental Housing Providers Alliance (HRHPA), we believe that fair and balanced regulation is essential to a healthy rental housing ecosystem. DIY, mom-and-pop rental housing providers play a vital role in keeping long-term homes available across our islands. Yet too often, policy decisions overlook the realities these everyday owners face. HRHPA advocates for sensible, practical regulations that support predictability, protect property rights, and ensure that rental housing providers can sustainably offer safe, well-maintained homes. Fair rules create stability not only for housing providers, but for the tenants and communities who rely on them.

Market-based housing is the backbone of Hawaiʻi’s long-term rental supply. Most local rentals are offered not by large corporations, but by everyday residents: kapuna, teachers, retirees, small families who rent out one or two units to help pay their mortgage, elder care, or supplement their income. When regulations allow the market to function responsibly, these mom-and-pop providers can continue offering safe, stable homes without needing subsidies or government intervention.

HRHPA advocates for a balanced, market-driven housing system where rental prices reflect real operating costs, supply can grow organically, and housing providers are encouraged (not discouraged) to keep their units in the long-term rental pool. A strong market benefits everyone by increasing choice, improving housing quality, and keeping local families housed.

Property rights are the foundation of Hawaiʻi’s long-term rental housing market. When owners have the ability to maintain, use, and manage their homes predictably, they are far more willing to keep those units available for local families. For mom-and-pop rental housing providers who make up the majority of Hawaiʻi’s rental supply strong property rights aren’t abstract legal concepts; they are what allow these everyday residents to invest in their homes, keep them safe, and offer them to tenants at sustainable rents.

HRHPA advocates for policies that respect the decisions of responsible property owners, promote stability in the rental market, and encourage continued participation in long-term housing. Protecting property rights protects housing supply.

Hawaiʻi already has many laws on the books designed to protect tenants, uphold property standards, and guide fair housing practices. The real challenge is not always a lack of regulation. It’s inconsistent enforcement. For mom-and-pop rental housing providers who follow the rules, uneven enforcement creates an unfair playing field, fosters confusion, and allows bad actors to undermine trust in the entire housing system.

HRHPA supports strong, consistent, and fair enforcement of existing laws before layering on new mandates. When the rules are applied evenly, responsible housing providers can operate with confidence, tenants receive the protections they deserve, and communities experience greater stability and safety.

A predictable, uniform, and fair tax system is essential for keeping long-term rental homes available in Hawaiʻi. Today, many mom-and-pop housing providers face inconsistent tax classifications, rapidly escalating assessments, and unclear rules that vary widely across counties. These unpredictable costs make it harder for everyday owners to offer stable, reasonably priced housing and often push them out of the rental market entirely.

HRHPA supports tax policies that treat responsible long-term rental providers fairly, avoid penalizing those who are doing the right thing, and provide clear, consistent rules across the state. When taxation is predictable and equitable, homeowners can plan for the future, maintain their properties, and continue offering much-needed housing to local families.