Thanks daph24ne for the information. I have a friend who is renting a place in Hanalei in May. She did some research like you and came up with the same documents/articles and is drawing the same conculusions as you are. She actually called the woman who owns the home she is renting (a local resident) and she confirmed the provisions called for in the ordinance that is up for a vote and was honest with her. After speaking to the owner she feels conmfortable going ahead with her decision to rent.

Our Planning Commission (and County Council) meetings are broadcast on our local community TV station here on Kaua`i. So we can actually hear and see all the testimony, without getting the "filtered" version in newspapers.

One of the proposals -- which would seem to be a win/win for all parties concerned, IMHO -- is to "grandfather" all existing vacation rentals which are outside the accepted VDAs. But this grandfathering would be null and void upon change of ownership of the property...and that property would no longer be allowed to be vacation rental.

One thing that has been made crystal-clear during all these meetings, is that vacation rentals on any legally-defined "ag land", is (and has always been) illegal. Ag land rules are dictated (and controlled) by the State...who obviously has not been enforcing their rules too well, either. 8-)