Bill 147 Update: County Schedules Public TVR Webinar
August 2026 Update
Whether you own a TVR, are considering purchasing one, work in real estate, or simply want to understand how Bill 147 could affect Hawaiʻi Island, this webinar is worth attending.
Bill 147 continues to move through the legislative process, and with each hearing there have been recommendations, testimony, and discussions that have raised important questions for property owners. One of the biggest challenges has been separating what is actually written into the bill from ideas that have only been discussed or recommended.
As of the current draft posted by the County, the recommendation affecting RM-zoned properties outside Resort Nodes has not been inserted into the bill language. The draft still allows short-term vacation rentals in RM zoning as written. That distinction is important because recommendations made during public hearings are not law unless they are formally adopted by the Hawaiʻi County Council.
One recommendation that received significant attention during the public hearing process involved proposed language affecting RM-zoned properties. During a subsequent Kona CDP Action Committee meeting, committee members acknowledged on the record that they did not draft the amendment language. Instead, they stated that Council Member Heather Kimball "came up with the actual amendment," which they described as enhancing what they had originally suggested. Although that recommendation later received the committee's support, it does not appear in the current draft of Bill 147 posted by the County.
During the hearings, there was also discussion about grandfathering existing legal operators if future restrictions are adopted. While that may sound reassuring at first, property owners should understand what grandfathering generally means.
A grandfathered use simply allows an existing use to continue under certain conditions. It is not the same as preserving the full property rights that owners have today. Future owners may not receive those same rights, and once a grandfathered use is lost, it often cannot be reestablished.
That distinction matters because the market often values properties differently depending on what rights transfer to a future owner. If one condominium can continue operating as a short-term vacation rental while an identical unit next door cannot because of changes in the law, buyers may reasonably place different values on those properties. Those are significant policy questions that go well beyond what many people consider routine "housekeeping" amendments.
For that reason, I encourage anyone following Bill 147 to attend the webinar, listen carefully to the information presented, and compare it with the actual language of the current bill. Understanding the difference between current law, the current draft of Bill 147, and recommendations that have not been adopted is essential to following this process.
I'll be attending the webinar and will publish a follow-up article summarizing what was presented, what questions were answered, and whether any new information was shared regarding Bill 147.
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