LAHAINA, MAUI — The Maui County mayor introduced a proposal in June 2024 to phase out apartment-zoned short-term rentals in west Maui, following seven months of protest and talks led by community organizers seeking long-term housing for wildfire survivors. Under the plan, apartment-zoned short-term rentals in west Maui will be phased out by January 1, 2029, with the remainder of the island following by 2031.

The proposal built on a law passed by the Maui County Council in December 2023 to phase out 7,000 vacation rentals on the island to house fire survivors and other locals. Those 7,000 rentals represent 15% of Maui's housing stock.

The 2023 wildfires in Lahaina were the deadliest in U.S. history, killing more than 100 people and destroying more than 2,000 structures. Hundreds of affected households remain in temporary housing, and about 3,400 Lahaina residents have left the island since the fires due to gaps in insurance pay-outs, uneven access to federal aid and soaring rents. Poverty, unemployment and housing instability in the town have worsened since the disaster.

Lahaina Strong, a grassroots group, led an encampment on Kāʻanapali beach behind high-end resorts to demand long-term housing for fire survivors. Protesters camped on the public beach with signs reading "fishing for housing" next to tourist hotels.

"So many people were hanging on by a thread as it is," said Paele Kiakona, an organizer with Lahaina Strong. "We passed legislation as community members, which is unheard of."

Organizers and residents are advocating for a rebuilt Lahaina that prioritizes locals to encourage residents to stay and return. "The community is so activated," Kiakona said.

"I think there's an understanding that the status quo led us to where we are," he said. "We've put so much effort into making things better for our home that the status quo would be the end of us, again."