saw a FB post this morning from newly elected state senator and former news reporter now MAGA republican Brenton Awa (defeated longtime incumbant Gil Riviere who owns a mortgage brokerage company in Waialua ) about attacking the problem by upping the HARPTA requirements. Who knows, with the largest freshman class of elected reps and senators, maybe something will happen. But I doubt it, the "machine" is entrenched deep in the bowels of hawaii politics and life.
Also this is another aspect of changing life here and eslewhere, the houseless. Aside from locals versus military battle kicked off by Pohakuloa and Redhill, there's always the growing battle between the haves and the have nots. Listen to this Manoa restaurant owner describe the issue versus the local Mcdonalds franchise king.
I saw that post by Awa. It was actually super embarassing.
I don’t disagree with the idea that something needs to be done with international buyers trying to park money.
However…
The junior Awa and new rep posted about HARPTA with a complete wrong misunderstanding about it. It showed he was ignorant about the topic and Didn’t take the time to check on it properly before proposing the idea to the public. He did nothing more then use Smoke and mirrors on a topic- something he accused other politicians of doing during his election.
HARTPA isn’t a tax. It’s a withholding during a sale.
Theres no additional taxes levied on out of state residents- never has been.
HARPTA just ensures that out of state owners pay their required taxes since they aren’t required to file a tax return in Hawaii.
He really lost a lot of credibility on that one