Molokai Planning Commission (MPC) went along with Molokai Community Plan and didn’t support a request from one of its own members to legalize a vacation rental. However, the commission didn’t disapprove the request either. Instead, MPC members unanimously voted to make a motion to defer the request.

About a dozen local residents showed up at the Mitchell Pauole center June 13 to testify against the vacation rental request by Bill and Francis Feeter. One of the main concerns was the shortage of affordable housing, which residents blamed partly in the blooming of illegal vacation rentals in recent years. MPC members heard each testimony and took a ten minute recess before coming back and presenting their suggestion.

MPC member Lance Dunbar, who owns one of the few legalized vacation rentals on Molokai, originally made a motion to approve the request. However, Vice-Chairperson Steven Chaikin was afraid it would set a precedent and open the doors to several illegal vacation rentals on Molokai to become legalized. Chaikin said it would go against the Molokai Community Plan (Plan) currently being worked by community members. He said when the Plan was ready the Feeters would be the first ones to be considered for a hearing. Chaikin then made a motion to defer the request for approval until the Plan was ready.

Corporate Counsel Clayton Yoshida said a decision for a deferral “doesn’t make sense,” as it would delay the process for three years. Dunbar said that the Feeters have been seeking to legalize their vacation rental since 2001, and three more years wouldn’t make much of a difference.

MPC then voted unanimously to defer the request. It also recommended that the Feeters should be exempted from enforcement until the approval process is over. Yoshida said the vote won’t hold authority on the enforcement – all it does is to send a letter of recommendation to defer the decision.

The Feeters are one of the few vacation rental owners who have come forward after Maui County threatened to crack down on illegal vacation rentals. Realtor Diane Swenson said she manages 12 to 14 vacation rentals that jobs to Molokai residents. According to Swenson, there are about 100 illegal vacation rentals on the island. She also said between 30 and 40 percent of the tenants are local families using the rentals for weddings and parties.