Lucinda Pyles has lived in her Kahala Avenue home for 45 years — but it’s only been recently that she’s been sandwiched between an unpermitted vacation rental that hosts constant events and a permitted vacation rental owned by a Japanese corporation.

When the Pyles first moved into their circa-1927 cottage near a pedestrian beach access, it was surrounded by family- owned homes that provided a neighborhood where her children could play. If there were renters in the neighborhood, they were long-term renters that were an integral part of the community.

“There were 11 children between the four houses,” Pyles said. “It was a very close neighborhood.”

Now, instead of the laughter of children, Pyles said she’s more likely to hear the constant beep-beep of the security gate, which reflects the comings and goings of tourists in the house next door. If not that, its the noise from the events that renters hold at the property.

“They bring in sound systems,” Pyles said. “There are partygoers coming and going at all hours of the night.”

Pyles said the permitted vacation rental across the street had created issues in the past, but in general has been more accommodating recently. Still, “even the best of them eliminate your neighbors and bring in more transients,” she said.

Two weeks ago Pyles said police came to investigate a report that someone had slit the window screens at the unpermitted vacation rental.

“The policeman said, ‘If you see anybody strange looking around, give us a call,’” Pyles said. “I just laughed because everyone over there is strange. New people come and go all the time.”

These neighborhood changes are in part why Pyles supports Honolulu City Council’s Bill 85, which significantly beefs up enforcement of unpermitted vacation rentals. While she supports the enforcement provision in Bill 89, Pyles said she thinks that the city shouldn’t expand vacation rentals until it’s got regulation down pat.

“I like Bill 89, but I think it needs to be a one-two punch,” Pyles said. “We shouldn’t add more vacation rentals until we have oversight of the ones that we already have.”