I supposed the Honolulu City Council failed to connect the dots when it stopped issuing permits for short-term rentals in1989 and continued that policy to the present, despite the state of Hawaii’s yearly boasts of increased visitor arrivals since then.

We don’t know the number of hotel rooms added, but haven’t seen a lot of new hotels. Where were the increased numbers of visitors staying? State officials apparently also missed connecting the dots until lack of increases in tax income on transient rentals said something was wrong.

We now know that Airbnb and other online companies were making it possible for visitors to find places in the community to stay. And, I have a strong suspicion that both the city and state want visitors to continue staying in traditional hotels. That’s in spite of changes: visitors want to bring families, and like the emphasis on cultural, environmental and agricultural tourism. Creative thinking is needed.

Mary Caywood

Waialae

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