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The tragedy that has unfolded on Maui is not truly comprehensible and I feel for those that have lost everything.
With that said, the situation for those of us that have not completely lost everything materially speaking is not significantly better.
As a unit owner at Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, I am ever so grateful that our building remains intact and standing to some unknown degree.
Unfortunately, without access even being granted to professionals, the condition of said building remains an unknown and without remediation deteriorates and degrades daily.
With that said, the Maui Property Tax Assessors Office has refused to grant me a waiver or even a reduction in my property taxes given that the building was not destroyed, while acknowledging that not only am I nor anyone else permitted access to the premises, but that no utilities will be connected for the foreseeable future.
They further refuse to offer a change of use from short-term rental classification at the highest mill rate to either an owner-occupancy or long-term rental re-classification on the basis that the property is not accessible and therefore no one can occupy on either of these bases.
Is it just me or is this completely nonsensical? We all must deal with our financial losses, but it seems unreasonable for the county to choose to inflict additional financial hardship and suffering by way of full property taxes based on a use that is non-usable.
Harvey Dales
Lahaina