https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/ Recent short-term rental regulatory updates across Hawaii markets. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:16:32 GMT https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/lihue/ County partnering with Hawaii Department of Taxation and issuing platform data subpoenas to identify non-compliant STR operators not visible in county permit records. Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-lihue-2025-07-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/honolulu/ Hawaii's state legislature has considered bills that would impose additional statewide restrictions on STRs, including requirements that all STRs be owner-occupied and that hosts obtain a state-level permit. While no comprehensive statewide bill has passed as of 2025, the political momentum in Honolulu mirrors state-level sentiment. Operators should monitor the Hawaii state legislature during each session. Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-honolulu-2025-03-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kailua-kona/ Hawaii state lawmakers have introduced bills that would impose statewide caps on STR density and require a state-level registry for all vacation rentals, building on county-level restrictions already in place across Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii counties. Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kailua-kona-2025-02-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kihei/ Hawaii state legislators have debated bills that would impose a statewide cap on STR density and create a state-level registry for all vacation rentals. County-level restrictions like Maui's have intensified state-level political discussions about whether a uniform statewide framework is needed. Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kihei-2025-02-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kamuela/ Hawaii County expanded its STVR audit program under Ordinance 2018-114, requiring existing permit holders to resubmit site plans and verify building final approval documentation, with non-compliant permits subject to suspension. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kamuela-2025-01-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kapaa/ Kauai County reviewed its backlog of Homestay permit applications for properties outside the VDA, processing a limited number while reaffirming that Homestay operations require owner-occupancy and are capped in availability. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kapaa-2025-01-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/koloa/ State legislators proposed a bill creating a statewide STR registration framework that would layer on top of county regulations, adding compliance requirements for all operators. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-koloa-2025-01-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/princeville/ Kauai County Planning Department initiated a review of VDA boundaries to assess whether current designations remain consistent with the county's housing affordability and resort development goals, with Princeville's boundaries under assessment. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-princeville-2025-01-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/koloa/ The county clarified rules for hosted home shares (where the owner is present), which remain allowed in some residential areas under separate permit requirements. Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-koloa-2024-12-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kapaa/ Kauai County extended its effective moratorium on new Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) Non-Conforming Use Certificates for properties outside the VDA, confirming no new TVR NCUs will be issued in the Kapaa area. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kapaa-2024-11-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kapolei/ Honolulu's STR enforcement operations expanded into Kapolei and the broader Ewa District, targeting unpermitted vacation rentals in the area's predominantly residential planned communities. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kapolei-2024-11-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/wailea/ Maui County Council discussed an indefinite moratorium on new STRH permits in response to the Lahaina wildfire housing crisis, as the county prioritizes housing displaced residents over visitor accommodation expansion. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-wailea-2024-11-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kailua/ Honolulu's STR enforcement team expanded operations to the Windward Oahu coast including Kailua, conducting systematic audits of listing platforms and issuing citations to operators in residential zones not eligible for STR use. Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kailua-2024-10-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/waikoloa/ Hawaii County tightened the compliance conditions attached to STVR Nonconforming Use Certificates in Waikoloa, requiring NUC holders to re-submit documentation annually and demonstrating active rental use to maintain NUC status. Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-waikoloa-2024-10-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/lihue/ County expanded the bed-and-breakfast homestay program for owner-occupied properties; allows limited STR activity outside VDAs with strict owner-presence requirements and county permit. Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-lihue-2024-09-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/princeville/ Kauai County expanded its compliance audit of VDA-zone TVR operators in Princeville, requiring all active permit holders to resubmit documentation including sign visibility, 24/7 contact information, and registration number display. Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-princeville-2024-09-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kapaa/ Kauai County dramatically escalated enforcement of illegal STRs outside the VDA, imposing daily fines of up to $10,000 and conducting systematic audits of listing platforms to identify unlicensed operators in Kapaa and other non-VDA areas. Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kapaa-2024-08-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kamuela/ Hawaii County now requires proof of a current Hawaii General Excise Tax and Transient Accommodations Tax license at STVR permit application and renewal, cross-referencing with state tax records. Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kamuela-2024-07-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kapolei/ Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting updated its STR eligibility map for the Ewa and Kapolei area, with parcel-level data helping operators and property buyers identify the very limited resort and apartment zones where STRs are permitted. Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kapolei-2024-07-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/koloa/ Kauai County maintained its moratorium on new Transient Vacation Rental permits in residential zones, with only resort-zoned properties eligible for new TVR permits. Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-koloa-2024-07-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kailua/ Honolulu conducted a compliance sweep of registered Bed-and-Breakfast operations in Kailua, verifying that all active B&Bs have current registration, host-present operation, and comply with the two-room and two-guest-per-room limits. Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kailua-2024-06-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/waikoloa/ Hawaii County published an updated STVR zoning district eligibility map for the Waikoloa resort corridor, clarifying which parcels fall within permitted zones versus those requiring a NUC. Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-waikoloa-2024-06-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/wailea/ Following post-Lahaina fire housing pressure, Maui County dramatically increased enforcement of illegal STRs, imposing fines of up to $10,000 per day for unpermitted operations and conducting systematic platform listing audits. Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-wailea-2024-06-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/princeville/ Princeville TVR operators received notices confirming that registration numbers must be visibly displayed on the exterior of the property and included in all advertising listings, with fines for non-compliant operators. Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-princeville-2024-05-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/lahaina/ Federal FEMA disaster housing funds and Hawaii state recovery programs include conditions requiring that rebuilt homes in Lahaina be made available as long-term housing for a period of years before any conversion to short-term rental use is permitted. Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-lahaina-2024-04-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kapolei/ Honolulu clarified Bed-and-Breakfast compliance requirements for Kapolei-area apartment-zoned properties, confirming that B&B operations require host presence at all times, are limited to two transient guest rooms, and may not exceed two adult guests per room. Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kapolei-2024-03-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kihei/ Maui County increased STR enforcement activity following the 2023 ordinance changes, deploying code enforcement officers to identify and cite unpermitted vacation rental operations. Fines for unlicensed STR operation range from $10,000 to $25,000 per day under the county's updated penalty structure. Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kihei-2024-03-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/lihue/ Kauai County doubled enforcement staffing; unlicensed Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) in residential zones face fines up to $10,000/day. Over 200 enforcement actions filed in 2024. Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-lihue-2024-03-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/waikoloa/ Hawaii County expanded STVR enforcement operations, using booking platform data to audit Waikoloa and other Big Island markets for unpermitted operators and issuing fines of up to $10,000 per day for violations. Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-waikoloa-2024-03-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kailua/ Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting updated its STR eligibility map for windward Oahu districts including Kailua, providing clearer parcel-level data on resort and apartment zone designations. Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kailua-2024-02-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kamuela/ Hawaii County clarified its local contact requirement, requiring the contact to be reachable and able to physically respond to the property when guest complaints are filed. Contacts who are unreachable or unavailable are grounds for permit review. Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kamuela-2024-02-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kailua-kona/ Hawaii County enacted ordinances restricting new short-term vacation rental permits in residential zoning districts on the island of Hawaii. New permits are available primarily in resort and commercial zones. Existing permitted properties continue to operate, but non-transferable permit policies apply in some zones. Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kailua-kona-2023-11-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/lahaina/ Following the August 2023 wildfire, Maui County declared that properties in fire-affected areas of Lahaina could not obtain new STR permits or reinstate lapsed permits. The moratorium is intended to prioritize rebuilt housing stock for long-term residents who lost homes in the fire. Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-lahaina-2023-11-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/honolulu/ Honolulu City Council Ordinance 22-7 took effect October 23, 2023, banning new short-term rentals in all R-zoned (residential) properties on Oahu. Properties that did not hold a valid STR permit before the ordinance took effect cannot operate as STRs. The ordinance was designed to address Oahu's acute housing affordability crisis, which activists linked to the conversion of residential units to vacation rentals. Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-honolulu-2023-10-23 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/honolulu/ Violations of Honolulu's STR ordinance carry fines of up to $10,000 per day per violation — among the highest in the country. The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) actively investigates complaints and cross-references platforms to identify unlicensed listings. Multiple violations can result in criminal referrals in addition to civil penalties. Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-honolulu-2023-10-23 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kihei/ Maui County Bill 101 (2023) prohibits new short-term rental home (STRH) permits in apartment and residential zoning districts across Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. Only hotel, resort, and commercial zones allow new STR permits. Existing grandfathered permits remain valid but are non-transferable on property sale in most cases. Tue, 03 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kihei-2023-10-03 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/lahaina/ Maui County Bill 101 (2023) banned new STR permits in residential and apartment zoning districts across the entire county, compounding the Lahaina-specific restrictions. Only properties in hotel, resort, or commercial zones may obtain new STR permits. Tue, 03 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-lahaina-2023-10-03 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/wailea/ Maui County updated its community plan designations to reduce the number of areas where new STRH permits can be approved, further limiting the geographic footprint of legal STR operations in Wailea and surrounding areas. Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-wailea-2023-10-01 https://regulations.comparent.com/regulations/hawaii/kailua-kona/ Hawaii vacation rental operators must collect and remit Hawaii state general excise tax (GET) and the transient accommodations tax (TAT). Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit these taxes on behalf of hosts for most bookings. The TAT rate was increased to 10.25% in 2021. Tue, 14 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT hawaii-kailua-kona-2021-12-14