Evacuations impact Big Island’s rental, homeless housing

HILO, Hawaii — Hawaii officials have reached a crossroad between providing shelter for volcano eruption evacuees and holding steady on a push to regulate rental and homeless housing.

Democrat State Rep. Joy San Buenaventura of Puna wrote Gov. David Ige on Tuesday asking him to issue executive orders to alleviate the housing crisis in wake of the Kilauea volcano eruptions.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that San Buenaventura is requesting a waiver of the transient accommodations tax until a month after the emergency declaration has ended for evacuees seeking short-term rentals.

Brandee Menino, head of Hope Services Hawaii, said over the past month the shelter has expanded to meet the needs of hundreds of evacuees who’ve become homeless.

Hawaii News Now reports that 685 lava victims have contacted Neighborhood Place of Puna for help.