• The demise of our neighborhoods The demise of our neighborhoods Hanalei is where the vacation rentals began. And because they have cropped up islandwide in the few years that have followed, the problems we are facing here on the
• The demise of our neighborhoods
The demise of our neighborhoods
Hanalei is where the vacation rentals began. And because they have cropped up islandwide in the few years that have followed, the problems we are facing here on the North Shore can be a reflection of what will be taking place islandwide.
The longer you are surrounded by vacation rentals in a residential neighborhood the shorter your fuse because you have no real neighbors and the noise level is not conducive to those wishing to eke out an existence while those next door are continually having parties and making noise and yelling at each other. There is a different attitude between those on vacation to those who are living here full-time.
Even though someone is making noise in moderate levels after moving in for a week or two, one still remembers the louder folks who were staying next door to you a few months ago.
Communication and attempts to curbing noise have always gone through home owners operating a business. Yet the continued lack of respect from those checking in and out of the homes remains loud and festive and the homeowner fears dampening such joy. And if they warn them of noise restrictions beforehand they may look for a different vacation rental. Their message is compromised.
I have a respect for the visitor and the visitor industry and have worked for years in the HVB, KVB, and partner-shipped with many resorts in many ways in building our island’s visitor plant through radio and various efforts and promotions. Yet at the same time my gut feelings for their presence continues to erode.
I cannot control their habits and at times rude and bold behaviors such as tossing things in our yard, coming into our yard and trimming our trees and stealing our fruit (all they have to do is ask). Hence when I see a visitor in front of me on the road my natural thought process and attitude towards them is they are either going too slow, too fast or just in my way.
I used to be proud of our island’s beauty, wanting to share it with others who came here to vacation. Now there is simply a dollar sign attached to each head, and bed and breakfast.
The end result is of course to have the visitor reside in areas that are truly designated resorts, whether hotels, timeshare or condominiums zoned for such. A grandfather clause in the laws will never reestablish a neighborhood.
Sue Kanoho, as do all of us, worries about the growing lack of aloha towards visitors. The animosities result in thefts from cars, thefts from vacation rentals, physical as well as mental abuse towards them. The diversity of lifestyles found in the neighborhoods on Kaua‘i will only continue to grow worse as these vacation rentals become more prevalent across the island.
You might cite the restrictions and laws that are in place that are meant to deal with these problems. But there has always been a problem in enforcement on Kaua‘i.
We are a close-knit group with friends and family who have grown together through generations. All I can see is a growing problem if these concerns are not addressed. I know of at least four homes listed as vacation rentals in VRBO that are not legally registered here in Hanalei alone. Yet I hesitate to report them as they are my friends and neighbors and it would be easy for an enforcer to find these through simple observation.
The vacation rental homes in a neighborhood naturally increase the overall value of the property because it becomes a business that operates for profit or future speculation rather than a home that nurtures a family and long-term neighbors. Thus our future generations are finding it harder and harder to find housing that they deserve to reside in.
Regular Kaua‘i neighborhoods are now becoming less affordable and that is not a way to build an island community for our future. The affordable condos built around our island sit empty, not because of lack of demand, but because no one wants to live in such tight quarters. Its not our lifestyle.
Those in a position to do something about it need to understand what will happen to our island if we do not respect the land, the ocean and the communities we build for our future. I would so much rather see planners in government who understand the consequences of what we do today and how they reflect on what we will have tomorrow.
I have discussed ways to improve what is remaining of the lifestyle here in Hanalei and with regards to roads and parking to alleviate the crunch in an area in demand. Leadership is a key.
My wife and I are seriously considering moving from our home, not because of the money we would receive for it (considering that I purchased it in 1976 for $60,000), but rather the lack of peace of mind and peace in this community that has become a tropical Aspen or rural Waikiki.
I would much rather be able to stay here on the land and shoreline that I love and be able to have my kids afford to do the same than to pick up and leave with money in my pocket. Family is our most precious gift. All three of my kids do not see being able to live here because of the above. And that is a shame because over the years it is us who have made the island what it is today and the animosity grows.
Kids have bumper stickers on their cars that say “NOCOMEKAUAI” instead of “ALOHA.” The only aloha signs you see are at a hula show on stage — never on the roads, never in the neighborhoods anymore.
Andy Melamed, Hanalei
