City looks into anonymous tips on suspected illegal vacation rentals

Question: I have lived on Oahu for decades and hate to see more and more suburban housing turned into vacation rentals. I’ve heard complaints about this in Kailua and Waimanalo, and now I am seeing it firsthand in Hawaii Kai.

What used to be a long-term rental house near my street was sold, renovated, and now different tourists are in and out every few days or weeks. They are having a great time, but it’s ruining the quality of life for us residents and hurting the tax base, too, because I know these places are not permitted and are not paying the taxes that hotel operators are. What can be done?

Answer: “If someone suspects a neighbor of running an illegal vacation rental, they should file a complaint with the Department of Planning and Permitting. We will send an investigator to look into the complaint. All complainants remain anonymous. The number to call is 768-8161,” said Curtis Lum, a spokesman for the city department that enforces land-use and building-code ordinances and regulations.

Kokua Line is receiving a growing number of complaints from readers like you, who generally don’t resent visitors, but wish they would stay in Waikiki or other tourism districts built to accommodate them — not suburban neighborhoods filled with working folks who must rise early in the morning and appreciate peace and quiet when they return home after a long day.

We’ve also heard from would-be renters discouraged that long-term housing can be difficult to find even in far-flung, middle-class neighborhoods not known to attract tourists before the advent of Airbnb.

Q: Did the state ever look into who is paying property taxes in Hawaii?

A: Yes. Hawaii-based owners contributed 67.8 percent of the total real property taxes collected in Hawaii during fiscal year 2016; property owners residing elsewhere in the U.S. contributed 29.9 percent; and foreign owners contributed 2.4 percent, according to “An Analysis of Real Property Tax in Hawaii,” which was released in March by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

DBEDT’s analysis, conducted at the request of the Legislature, was based on real property tax records from Hawaii’s four major counties. You can read the 69-page report at 808ne.ws/rptax.

One interesting fact: “Property taxes are paid by all income groups.” Of households with income less than $25,000, homeownership is at 35.1 percent; of those earning $200,000 or more, 85.7 percent own their homes.

Q: Will I get paid for jury duty?

A: Yes, jurors receive $30 for each day of jury service plus round-trip mileage at 33 cents per mile from your home to the court, according to the state Judiciary’s website. Those amounts would be paid by the government. Hawaii law does not require employers to pay employees their normal salaries while workers are serving jury duty, but many do so, according to the Judiciary. It advises jurors to check with their employers about their regular pay, and notes that individuals who belong to labor unions might have their pay covered as a condition of their union contracts.

Mahalo

A heartfelt mahalo from my husband and myself to the many who came to our aid at the Duke’s restaurant on Kauai on Aug. 19 when our dinner was interrupted by a medical episode. I am sorry we were not able to get all your names. Special thanks to Derek and his dad for their aid and support at the restaurant until the emergency crew arrived, and to Donna and her husband for driving me to Wilcox Memorial ER. Your kindness will always be remembered. — Two grateful seniors

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.