Bill 9 Challenged in Court

1/5/2026

West Maui property owners have filed the first legal challenges against Maui County’s Bill 9, a new law signed by Mayor Richard Bissen that phases out short-term vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts. The initial lawsuit, filed by owners at the Kaanapali Royal condominium complex, seeks to block enforcement of the law, arguing it violates vested property rights and constitutes an unconstitutional regulatory taking without just compensation. The affected properties are part of the long-standing “Minatoya List,” which covers approximately 7,000 units that have been legally operated as short-term rentals for decades under a grandfathered exemption. Bill 9, introduced after the 2023 Maui wildfires, aims to return these units to the long-term housing market, with phase-out deadlines of 2029 for West Maui and 2031 elsewhere. A second lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of all Minatoya owners, requesting injunctions, declaratory relief, and compensation.

Maui Now (01/02/26) Brian Perry