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Malia Espinda wrote:

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Humble - Im not sure what or who you refer to as a name-dropping local, but I'll assume its me, though I dont believe I dropped anyone's name but my very own.
As for your questions and statements, I dont know how much people are making nowadays. I dont have a B&B. But back then, when my mom ran her agency, a nice unit ran maybe about $50 a day. The homeowner would then have to pay the agency a percentage for assisting with the booking, so the take-home for the homeowner was less. In addition, then, as it is now, theres no assurance you'll be able to rent a unit consistently. So, even if B&Bs are going at a slightly higher rate nowadays, really, theres no pot of gold at the end of this B&B rainbow. If people really want/need consistent income, then they are better off going with the long-term rental option. B&Bs are designed to offer flexibility for the home owner. As for taxes, I would suggest that if people with B&Bs are not currently reporting their income, then thats even more justification to create a better law that ensures appropriate tax reporting and payment.
Finally, Im not sure what you mean about laws not applying to me. Personally, I dont have a B&B. I am, however, a Kailua Girl and I am incredibly embarrassed by the level of public in-fighting that is happening. Again. Really, people, again??? I look to those who are the so-called leaders of both sides of this issue to display better personal and professional qualities that are representative of Kailua than the nasty bickering that is ongoing. The old, obviously poorly designed law was a result of very similar in-fighting then. I surely hope everyone can see we must learn from our past mistakes.
I also have ideas on how to ensure a new law could be assured to be readily enforceable for all who might opt to offer a B&B, as licensed through a new law. It would likely require increased city manpower in the form of inspectors, but that personnel could be paid for through the increased tax collection that would be realized through expanded licensing.

Malia Espinda wrote:

I am a PROUD Kailua Girl. I am also the child of the ORIGINAL Kailua Bed and Breakfast operator. It is very fair to say that I was raised on Bed and Breakfasts. I know the ins, the outs, the ups, and the downs of the realities of this business. Now, I want to say this - as best as I can remember - my mother's agency did not have listings that had multiple rooms for different guests. She didnt run an inn. Her intention was for moms, like her, who might have had an extra room or space in their house to rent it out, allowing them to make some extra money for their families. It was never about getting rich on B&Bs, it was simply a way for my mother to use our family home to provide a little extra for us. I was a teenager during the heat of the last time Kailua contended with this issue. It was a relatively new industry then, especially to Hawaii, and regulation was to be expected. However, since we are here again, I think we can all see that the response then is unenforceable now.
Mr. Prentiss is a good man who has served the Kailua Neighborhood Board for quite some time. However, I feel this editorial is an example of what is wrong with the B&B debate that is, again, pitting neighbor against neighbor.
Can we please just stick with facts and data?
Mr. Prentiss states: "demand for homes to be rented to tourists is causing property values to rise to levels that local residents cannot afford, and raising property taxes because of inflated values" How is he linking B&Bs to property values and raising property taxes? The real facts are that values of all properties rose across our islands in the past few years, just as much as we are all now seeing them decrease. Thats the market, not B&Bs. As for property taxes going up, I think we all recall that was the handy work of our Mayor a few years back, of which Kailua as a whole realized one of the larger increases in our city. However, I see no facts linking increase property taxes to Bed and Breakfasts. That all of our property taxes continue to be inflated comparative to our now diminishing property values is something, again, to take up with our good Mayor.
The only way we can have a truthful, honest discussion about this issue is if we remove the rhetoric, stop with the fear-talk, and stick with the facts.
Mr. Prentiss goes on to cite a survey as further justification that Kailua is opposed to B&Bs. Im sorry if I am skeptical, but I do not know enough about the tool used, how the questions were formulated, or how the survey was administered. If I am an opponent of B&Bs, surely I would make sure that 200 of my closest pals completed this survey.
If Mr. Prentiss and others who sit on the Board and who, I hope, seek to fairly represent all of us, want to hear from all of us, I suggest that a neutral party (City Council?) commission a real survey of a larger pool of Kailua residents through one of our local companies that professionally conduct surveys, perhaps SMS Research? This will provide some necessary, credible data for decision makers.
In my humble Kailuan opinion, there are three very concrete facts about Bed and Breakfasts:
1) Bed and Breakfasts allow people to make money.
2) Bed and Breakfasts allow the City to collect taxes.
3) The current law is unenforceable.
I suggest that the City and County adopt a regulation in the spirit of what my mothers intention was when she brought Bed and Breakfasts to Kailua: help the average moms of Kailua make a little extra money. Allow people to utilize their properties in a constructive, positive, and limited manner. Build a law that will be enforceable for those who will be charged with enforcement, but will not continue to pit neighbors against one another.
Thank you,
Malia Espinda

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Thunder Mountain wrote:

I have taken the time to speak on behalf of the support of lic. B&B's.
I find it sad that the education system is so poor here in Hawaii. I have found that the majority of people who have attended Public School in Hawaii are unable to accept change, any kind.
We have a College, HPU, that is the 2nd largest on Oahu, you don't have to speak English, attend any class, but the Teacher's have to pass the Student.
Education is the key. I'm a business person, I have alway been. People complain we don't have enough good's and services.
Where do you think the money comes from?
It come from Business. Those that haven't ever owned a Business would not understand this, nor would those who went to Public School in Hawai'i, and again that is sad.
I advocate that we who operate Vacation Rentals in Hawaii be re-zoned, pay the higher rate of Taxes, as Commercial Property taxes are higher.
Guess what, that means more money, so you don't have to pay more, we do. Doesn't that make sense?
My experience, on all islands, all the problems come from Locals, generally Tourists are polite, educated and respectfull.
But what do I know, my Partner and I have IQ's over 200, have anything intelligent to say?
Thunder

alice wrote:

Kaikua folks care about their community and it shows.

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alice wrote:

Kailua seems like a smug middle class community. I much prefer Manoa