The Challenges of Temporary Vacation Rentals

Hawaii Public Radio | By The Conversation Staff

Published March 12, 2018 at 2:28 PM HST

Unpermitted vacation rentals have been blamed for everything from sky-high housing prices to overcrowded hiking trails. But what is really going on with Hawaii’s short-term rental market? How many properties are permitted for vacation rentals? And how many are actually being used that way?

HPR News Director Bill Dorman and The Conversation's Catherine Cruz talked with Matt Middlebrook of Airbnb, Kailua resident John Price, Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting Director Kathy Sokugawa, and Larry Bartley about the vacation rentals in Hawai?i - while also answering questions from callers.

Tags

Bill Dorman

Bill Dorman has been the news director of Hawai‘i Public Radio since February 2011. Born in New York City, he spent 21 years at CNN in various positions behind the scenes and on the air in Atlanta, New York, Washington DC, and Tokyo, Japan. He was also managing editor of Asia Pacific Broadcast for Bloomberg News for five years before moving to Hawai‘i in 2009. He’s covered stories from more than twenty countries and territories.

See stories by Bill Dorman

Catherine Cruz

Catherine Cruz is the Host of The Conversation and a member of HPR’s news team. She has been a television reporter in Hawai‘i since 1983 and has won a number of awards and respect from a statewide audience. She spent more than thirty years at KITV, covering beats from government to education and health. Originally from Guam, Cruz is also a co-founder and former Board member and programming chair of Pacific Islanders in Communication (PIC). Catherine is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

See stories by Catherine Cruz