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Waikiki vs. Lahaina: short-term-rental rules
Both are in Hawaii, but the rules differ. Waikiki is currently the more permissive of the two for short-term rentals (Allowed with registration), while Lahaina is tighter (Restricted).
| Rule | Waikiki | Lahaina |
|---|---|---|
| STR status | Allowed with registration | Restricted |
| City license / registration | DPP Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate (Bed and Breakfast Home or Transient Vacation Unit); Registration term and annual renewal (ROH Sec. 21-5.70-3(a)(2)(A)(ii), (B)(i)); ROH Sec. 6-41.1(a)(29) fee schedule — Bed and breakfast home or transient vacation unit registration; Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC) — Transient Vacation Unit (legacy, grandfathered); Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC) — Bed and Breakfast Home (legacy, grandfathered); City Transient Accommodations Tax (OTAT) registration — City and County of Honolulu, Dept. of Budget and Fiscal Services; Commercial general liability or homeowner's business liability insurance — $1,000,000 per occurrence; Letter from homeowners association / apartment owners association confirming the STR is permitted; Informational binder, smoke/CO detectors, house rules with 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. quiet hours, guest registry, DPP inspection access; Advertisement must display registration certificate number or NUC number plus the tax map key (TMK); Owner attestation that the unit is not an affordable/income-restricted unit, received no housing subsidies, and was not subject to eviction in the last 12 months | No city STR license on record |
| Primary residence | conditional | Not required |
| Minimum stay | No set minimum | No set minimum |
| Lodging tax | ~18.5% total | ~18.5% total |
| Enforcement | Active | Active |
For most hosts, Waikiki is the easier of the two to operate in today, but confirm the specifics — rules change, and the "Restricted" status in Lahaina may still allow rentals under the right conditions. Open each full record for the cited, dated details.
Full Waikiki rules Full Lahaina rules
Frequently asked questions
Is short-term renting easier in Waikiki or Lahaina?
Waikiki is currently the more permissive (Allowed with registration) versus Lahaina (Restricted). Verify against each city's full record, since rules change.
Do both Waikiki and Lahaina require a license or registration?
Waikiki: yes — DPP Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate (Bed and Breakfast Home or Transient Vacation Unit); Registration term and annual renewal (ROH Sec. 21-5.70-3(a)(2)(A)(ii), (B)(i)); ROH Sec. 6-41.1(a)(29) fee schedule — Bed and breakfast home or transient vacation unit registration; Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC) — Transient Vacation Unit (legacy, grandfathered); Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC) — Bed and Breakfast Home (legacy, grandfathered); City Transient Accommodations Tax (OTAT) registration — City and County of Honolulu, Dept. of Budget and Fiscal Services; Commercial general liability or homeowner's business liability insurance — $1,000,000 per occurrence; Letter from homeowners association / apartment owners association confirming the STR is permitted; Informational binder, smoke/CO detectors, house rules with 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. quiet hours, guest registry, DPP inspection access; Advertisement must display registration certificate number or NUC number plus the tax map key (TMK); Owner attestation that the unit is not an affordable/income-restricted unit, received no housing subsidies, and was not subject to eviction in the last 12 months. Lahaina: No city STR license on record.
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.