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It’s a tough sell though when operating a short-term vacation rental can be so much more lucrative than renting long term.

The Hawaii Department of Health has set up additional monitors around the burn zone and the waste disposal site.

Insurers have paid more than $1 billion in claims related to the Lahaina wildfires and want reimbursement from the utility.

Mayor Richard Bissen asked state lawmakers to pick up $75 million of the cost of the required matching funds for federal Public Assistance aid.

Green’s latest proposal calls for a one-time payment of $25 when checking into a hotel or rental unit, but it could also involve an increase to the hotel tax.

People from across the state joined displaced Lahaina residents for the largest gathering in town since the Aug. 8 fires.

The House and Senate will also tackle short-term vacation rentals and hiring problems in what promises to be a difficult year.

Politicians have heeded firefighters’ calls in light of the Aug. 8 wildfires, submitting draft bills to establish a fire marshal after the position was disbanded decades ago.

Housing advocates say landlords are being tempted to oust renters in favor of more lucrative rent subsidies for fire survivors amid high demand.

The August 2023 blaze torched the town’s harbor, disrupting a spotting network crucial to saving entangled whales.