Hawaii’s tally of visitor lodging units — both legal and illegal — increased slightly last year, to about 80,750. While traditional hotels contained nearly 55 percent, vacation rentals and other accommodations housed the balance. Kloninger & Sims Consulting LLC, which prepared the count, recently provided related testimony to the City Council, which is weighing bills to crack down on illegal vacation rentals.

The consultant’s data analysis found that in 2017 Oahu’s vacation rental inventory likely exceeded 12,000, with 60 percent located outside of resort-zoned areas. The legal supply, meanwhile, hovers near 800 and new units have been limited to resort zones for three decades.

Measles outbreak a reminder to get vaccinated

As if homegrown cases of disease were not concerning enough, it’s sobering to be reminded that illnesses can be imported as well.

The state Department of Health has confirmed two cases of measles on Hawaii island this month, involving visitors, not residents. The two unvaccinated patients, who had been exposed to an “infected international guest” in other states, were advised to remain isolated so likelihood of exposure is low, said health officials. Still, the period of infectivity here was Jan. 4-13 — so unimmunized people, in particular, should be alert for measles symptoms such as rash illness.

This also is an important reminder to get vaccinated, for the sake of good public health. Due to anti-vaccination mindsets, measles is now spreading rapidly in Oregon and Washington state.