In an “ideal” Kaua‘i, all the hotels and resorts would be used for low income housing with all the amenities, common areas, and beach access to be held for use by the general public. Where would all the tourists go?
In an “ideal” Kaua‘i, all the hotels and resorts would be used for low income housing with all the amenities, common areas, and beach access to be held for use by the general public.
Where would all the tourists go?
Into alternative accommodations.
In fact, all homeowners would be highly encouraged to make rooms, cottages and entire homes available to tourism, with classes given at Kaua‘i Community College in how to be conscientious and gracious hosts and hostesses. Sadly, that dream is just that … a dream, and will likely never become a reality. We must remain realistic in our visions. Unfortunately, proposed Bill 2204 is swinging entirely in the other direction, with the resorts standing to be the big winners and individual owners, the general public, property rights, and the type of entrepreneurship which has made our country great all being damaged.
Bill 2204 as written is beyond liberal, beyond socialist. It is anti-business, anti-freedom, and economically stifling. I am willing to argue that more money per visitor remains, and is re-spent, on Kaua‘i for stays at alternative accommodations than for stays at corporate resorts. A study of these issues might yield very surprising results. At a time when the housing bubble is leaking badly, if not burst, and when fuel (including aviation) and ticket prices are on the rise and a global recession is predicted by many of the world’s foremost economists, it is not wise to give our visitors fewer choices.
Bill 2204 acknowledges that the Kaua‘i County General Plan mandates “standards and permit processes … in Residential, Agricultural, Open, and Resort zoning.” However, the Bill goes on to make many of those uses either “non-conforming” or terms them “illegal” outright. This Bill should be tabled until such time as a fair system of permitting alternative accommodations as per the General Plan exists for all four zonings. If the council feels compelled to move quickly because of pressure from resort corporations or in an attempt to win back the votes of uninformed members of the public after the Big Box fiasco, then the council should pass a Bill which addresses how the intent of the General Plan will be fulfilled, and without harming those who are living and acting within that intent.
The definition of “B&B” should be amended to include use of a guest house for that purpose. The current laws regarding guest houses are antiquated and absurd. A guest house makes an ideal B&B. “Visitor Destination Areas” should be abolished entirely. They are anti-choice, anti-entrepreneur, anti-sustainability, and pro-resort. If Bill 2204 is enacted, even less long-term housing will remain available within the VDAs. Where will those long-term tenants go? Zoning laws are sufficient. Resort over-development is the real bane of Kaua‘i. Deal with that.
If you have a moment to become more informed on this issue, please have a look at the Kauai Alternative Visitors Accommodation Association Web site at: www.kavaassociation.org.
Then, communicate to your County Council to do nothing rash, but to think long and hard about how best to accomplish the goals set forth in the county General Plan.
• Bruce Fehring is a resident of Kilauea.
