What Bill 9 Does and Doesn’t Do
Preserving Our Community
Bill9’s Intent and the Future It Envisions for Maui
Across Maui County, housing has become one of the most urgent and personal issues facing local families. Rents have risen faster than wages. Homeownership has slipped further out of reach. And too many residents are asking the same question: Will my family still be able to stay here?
Bill 9 was introduced in response to that reality, and is one piece of the multi-pronged strategy. It is a housing policy shaped by years of community testimony, data, and lived experience across Maui Nui.
This post is meant to clearly explain what Bill 9 does, what it does not do, and why it exists.
What Bill 9 Does
1. It Prioritizes Housing for Local Residents
Bill 9 begins with a simple premise: homes in residential areas should primarily serve people who live and work here.
The bill phases out short-term vacation rentals in specific apartment districts that were never intended to function as visitor accommodations. Over time, this allows existing housing units to transition back into long-term use for residents.
This approach focuses on using existing homes, already connected to water, sewer, and roads, rather than waiting years to build entirely new inventory.
2. It Is a Gradual, Phased Policy
Bill 9 does not take effect overnight. Its implementation is spread over multiple years, with clear timelines and advance notice.
This phased approach was designed to:
Give owners time to plan
Allow the housing market to adjust gradually
Reduce economic shock while increasing long-term housing stability
Housing challenges built up over decades cannot be responsibly addressed all at once. Bill 9 reflects that reality.
3. It Keeps a Strong Visitor Industry Intact
Even with Bill 9 in place, Maui will continue to host thousands of legal short-term rental units, more than any other county in Hawaiʻi.
The bill does not eliminate tourism. It aims to restore balance by ensuring that residential neighborhoods are not overwhelmed by visitor use at the expense of local families.
Residents and visitors both matter. Bill 9 is about defining where each belongs.
4. It Is One Part of a Larger Housing Strategy
Bill 9 is not a standalone solution. It works alongside:
New affordable housing construction
Rental assistance programs
Infrastructure investments that unlock housing capacity
Down payment and homeownership support
No single policy can solve the housing crisis. Bill 9 is one tool among many, focused on immediate, cost-effective impact.
What Bill 9 Does Not Do
1. It Does Not Ban Short-Term Rentals Countywide
A common misconception is that Bill 9 eliminates vacation rentals across Maui. That is not accurate.
The bill applies only to specific apartment districts and zoning areas. Resort zones and legally designated visitor accommodations remain unchanged.
Short-term rentals will continue to be part of Maui’s economy.
2. It Does Not Force Immediate Evictions or Displacement
Bill 9 does not require tenants or owners to leave immediately. Its timelines were intentionally structured to avoid sudden disruption.
The goal is stability, not shock.
3. It Does Not Replace the Need for New Housing
Bill 9 does not claim to solve the housing shortage on its own. Maui still needs new construction, especially housing that is affordable to local wages.
What Bill 9 does is buy time and create breathing room by returning existing units to long-term use while new housing comes online.
4. It Is Not About Punishing Property Owners
Bill 9 is not about blame. It recognizes that many housing decisions were made under policies that encouraged visitor use.
The bill looks forward, not backward. Its purpose is to reset priorities in a way that serves the broader community.
The Intent Behind Bill 9
At its core, Bill 9 reflects a shared value across Maui: people who call this place home should be able to stay.
For years, community members spoke about teachers commuting long distances, kūpuna downsizing unwillingly, and young families leaving the island altogether. Those stories shaped this policy.
Bill 9 is rooted in kuleana, the responsibility to care for the people and places that sustain Maui.
The Future Bill 9 Envisions
Bill 9 points toward a future where:
Residential neighborhoods function as neighborhoods again
Local workers can live closer to their jobs
Housing serves families first
Economic health includes both tourism and community stability
It is a step toward a Maui where growth is guided by balance, intention, and long-term care for the next generation.
Moving Forward Together
Photo: Maui Now
Housing decisions affect livelihoods, investments, and families. It is natural for people to have questions and concerns.
That is why Bill 9 was developed through years of hearings, testimony, and public process across Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. It reflects listening, adjustment, and shared responsibility.
The work of keeping Maui home is ongoing. Bill 9 is one part of that work, grounded in the belief that policy should serve people, place, and future together.
Mahalo for taking the time to understand what Bill 9 does, and what it does not do, for the people of Maui County.