Maui Council Advances New Hotel Zoning for Over 2,000 Vacation Rentals

8/4/2026

The Maui County Council voted 7-1 to advance two resolutions that would rezone about 2,056 apartment-district vacation rental units into new hotel zoning classifications, allowing them to continue operating as short-term rentals instead of being phased back into the local housing market under Bill 9. Housing advocates, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the move could permanently remove hundreds of potential homes for local residents and Native Hawaiian families. The proposals now go to the Maui Planning Commission for review.

Maui Now (07/28/26) Brian Perry

Why It Matters: Maui County pushed decisively to advance these two resolutions. This signals a broad consensus among the county leadership that vacation rentals should be moved into hotel zoning classifications.