Dear Director of Finance, Reiko Matsuyama &
Mayor of Kauai, Derek Kawakami,

Due to the financial difficulty and lack of income from tourism from Covid-19, homeowners of Hawaii urge you to consider a financial concession for our 2020 vacation property taxes. 

Please let vacation property homeowners pay a residential tax rate this year.  

The majority of vacation homeowners have not received financial income from vacation rentals since the start of the pandemic. In fact, many of us have received an increase in our taxes this year.

It is not fair that we are being required to pay a higher tax rate for income we have not received this year because of the pandemic. 

We ask that you please offer a tax rate that is commensurate with the loss we have experienced this year.  Many of us do not know when to expect any kind of income source going forward due to the poor economy and regulations on tourism preventing us to rent our properties.

As you are well aware, it is financially difficult and in some cases, impossible for homeowners to pay their taxes this year due to the negative economic impact of Covid-19. 

Your property tax relief would be greatly helpful in providing support to our ohana and paying for essentials that are truly needed such as housing and food. Please consider setting a precedence that offers compassion and comfort in times of crisis and uncertainty.

Kindly provide us financial relief today. We urge you to reduce our taxes for 2020. Please only tax us at the residential rate this year.

Thank you for your consideration and swift response. 

Mahalo, 

Homeowners of Kauai, Hawaii