I personally am sorry Michael Nickas made the decision for his entire family and friends, that he will no longer be visiting Oahu (“Visitors will stop coming to Oahu,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug 4). But I think he is incorrect. There are still short-term vacation rentals that are legal and available for rent.

It is the illegal ones, in residential buildings and neighborhoods, that are not licensed and not paying their taxes that the city is going after.

Estimates on the number of unpermitted vacation rentals on Oahu are believed to be between 6,000 and 8,000. These unpermitted vacation rentals are partially responsible for the huge housing shortage on Oahu. These entrepreneurial families, as he called them, can still rent out rooms, apartments or whole houses — just on a long-term lease. But most are greedy and would rather rent at $100 a day than to rent for the entire month at $1,500. If these entrepreneurial families choose to liquidate their properties, all the better for waiting buyers.

Someone will buy that apartment or house and live in it legally.

Frankie L. Ruggles-Quinabo

Makiki

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