Welcome to the O’ahu Short-Term Rental Alliance
OSTRA advocates for legal mid and short-term rentals, fostering economic growth and affordable housing options for Oahu residents and visitors. We are a group of responsible short-term rental hosts and managers, staff, contractors, local businesses, real estate professionals, and others who rely on the value that private accommodations bring to our island.
Benefits of Membership
Unify
- Amplify Your Voice: There is Power in Numbers. Join us to collectively influence policy.
- Connect with the Industry: Network with other owners and industry participants through our online forum, building valuable relationships with people that can support each other.
Educate
- Stay Informed: Real-time updates and access to state and local legislation, regulatory guidance and our collective strategies.
- Access Resources: Leverage exclusive tools, reports, webinars and a direct member hotline to help your business thrive and get answers when needed.
Advocate
- Shape the Story: Leverage our daily efforts in lawmaker cooperation and public relations to protect our industry.
- Optimize your Advocacy Dollars: Leverage our professional public relations and lobbyist efforts to get that “seat at the table” making a difference for our industry.
Join OSTRA today and become a part of a community dedicated to protecting your business and shaping the future of the industry.
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Get to Know O’ahu Short-Term Rentals
49,000 JOBS
created by the short-term rental industry across Hawaii
+ $39 average hourly wage of those in the STR industry
$209M
in state and local taxes generated by STRs on O’ahu in 2022
77%
of O’ahu’s STR owners are Kupuna, and 7% are over 75 years old
63%
of travelers prefer STRs over hotel stays, trending up from 42% in 2019
33%
of travelers are unlikely to consider a destination if STRs are not an accommodation option
25.4%
of O’ahu’s visitors are non-vacationers. 12.9% are visiting family and friends.
10,000
Estimate number of monthly, furnished rentals needed for traveling medical personnel, displaced residents, sporting events, military, contractors, and marginal renters unqualified for long-term leases
10,000
Estimated individually-owned short and mid-term rentals on O’ahu. This is just 2.6% of all housing units on the island.
- 45% are TVUs in hotels
- 16% are TVUs required to register under Ord. 22-7
- 35% are 30+ day rentals
- The remainder are STRs with non-conforming use certificates (NUCs).
Hawai’i Green Business Program
OSTRA has collaborated with the Hawai’i Green Business department to introduce a 10-Entry Level Pilot Program for Mid and Short-term Rentals.
This program allows individual owners and property managers to support the islands’ sustainability efforts and obtain a “Hawai’i Green Business” designation. This will help attract the ever-increasing sustainability-minded traveler and show that our industry cares deeply about Hawai’i and its resources. Access the Checklist Here:
10-ELP for Mid and Short-Term Rentals
For “Business Name”, please type your name if you are a sole proprietor. For “Business Address” type the address of your rental property.
Note: If you are a property manager, please use one form per building if the checklist applies to all units. Please include unit numbers.
WHAT IS OSTRA DOING FOR ME?
OSTRA represents its members at the city/county level, as well as coordinating with statewide STR organizations and other island alliances. Our volunteer leadership, together with our partners, keep a close watch on what’s happening within the county, state, and the industry to keep you up-to-date on everything you need to know, advocate for you, and help you best advocate for yourself.
2024 Achievements
- Exempted mid and short-term rentals from the Empty Home Property Tax (Bill 46), saving our industry from a potentially devastating 3% surcharge.
- Streamlined the TVU registration and renewal process (Bill 53), saving you time and money, thanks to collaboration with the Zoning Committee.
- Secured the lowest Transient Vacation Unit (TVU) rates across all Hawaiian islands. (33% lower than the hotel/resort rate and other island TVU rates)
- Spearheaded the formation of statewide organization – HIMAST (Hawai’i Mid and Short-term Rental Alliance), blocking over 20 state bills threatening our rentals.
- Engaged and collaborated with our Lobbyist and Public Relations specialist for better representation and advocacy for our industry.
- Drafted and submitted a Resident Hosting Bill to provide opportunity for our members and improve visitor options.
- Built our reputation as the best data source in our industry with lawmakers.
- Collaborated with lawmakers including Council members and the Administration on legislation and taxes impacting our industry.
- Established a task force to monitor mid-term or 30 day rental regulations stemming from State Bill SB2919.
- Educated the public through targeted media campaigns, highlighting the benefits of our industry.
- Formed strategic partnerships with platforms, other industry participants and community groups to secure better legislative outcomes.
- Debated the merits of our industry at the Hawaii State Association of Counties, reaching over 300 local lawmakers.
- Provided hundreds of written and oral testimonies advocating for short-term rentals at all levels of government.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
OSTRA needs your help. OSTRA’s Board of Directors are all volunteers and often need assistance in many areas. If you have any of the following skills, please consider volunteering your time to help our organization.
If you’re not ready to commit to board membership but still have skills and time to contribute to specific needs or projects, apply to become a volunteer.
OPEN VOLUNTEER POSITIONS:
Communications
- Skills at writing content related to current events surrounding our industry
- Experience with Facebook and/or Mailchimp
Marketing
- Skills at preparing and distributing marketing-related materials to members and legislators
- Experience analyzing, presenting market or demographic information
Legislative
- Experience reading and summarizing legislation
- Experience drafting legislative response or testimony
Community Connection
- Desire and experience connecting with various community groups
- Willingness to meet with community and legislative leaders on short-term rental topics
Application Process:
If you have time to help out, please fill out the form below. Please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in volunteering with OSTRA!