by Andrew Walden

Releasing its recent study of Transient Vacation Rentals legal and illegal, the Hawaii Tourism Authority had taxes on its mind.  But their report reveals something else which should be of great interest to politicians and psychiatrists across these isles: A clear correlation between illegal TVRs hosted in residential homes and on agricultural properties and anti-GMO activism. 

Oahu makes up 75% of the State's population but hosts only 21% of the state's TVRs.  Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Counties have each enacted anti-GMO measures while Honolulu has not.

The correlation holds up within each county as well. 

In the Kauai districts of Koloa, Princeville, and Hanalei TVRs make up between 37% and 39% of all housing units.  As a candidate for mayor, anti-GMO thug Dustin Barca was a big loser trounced 61.1% to 34.1% by Bernard Carvalho.  But Hanalei and Princeville Precinct 1401 voted 64% to 33% for Barca.  In Koloa, Precinct 1601--where TVRs are more likely to comprise individual condo units--Carvalho beat Barca 59% to 36%. 

Where residential homes and agricultural properties are converted to TVRs, the owner is more like to live on the premises.  Resort condos are often rented out by absent owners who don't get a vote in Hawaii elections.  A similar phenomenon is seen on Molokai where TVR ownership is 11% of total housing units--but is concentrated in resort condos.  Molokai voters came down strongly pro-GMO--while an anti-GMO voter initiative won on the November ballot in Maui County.

According to the study, West Maui is home to 3,845 individually advertised TVR units and South Maui is home to another 4,183.  These two areas comprising Roz Baker's Senate District 6 contain 91% of the TVRs on the Island of Maui.  Many, but not all, of these TVRs are in resort condos.  Anti-GMO candidates were mostly losers statewide, but anti-GMO activist Terez Amato did better than most, pulling 43% of the vote against Baker's 52% in the August 9 Democratic Primary. 

On the Big Island, the west side zip codes with the greatest concentrations of TVRs are home to anti-GMO council member Margaret Wille and anti-GMO former council member Brenda Ford.  The other concentration of TVRs is in the Puna District where suspected eco-terror attacks have repeatedly flattened GMO papaya growers' crops.

On Oahu, the greatest concentration of TVRs is in North Shore and Windward districts.  Haleiwa was the site of a December, 2013 anti-GMO march led by surf-Nazis and drug dealers.   Windward House District 47 elected anti-GMO Rep Jessica Wooley until Gov Abercrombie blessedly shunted her off into the same do-nothing "Office of Environmental Quality Control" he had previously used to dispose of tax-cheating Kauai anti-GMO politician Gary Hooser. 

Does this story belong on a list of false correlations?  No.  Hawaii TVR operators sell 'Paradise' to eco-tourists--more so when the TVR is a residential or agricultural property.  Add to that the insecurity of the illegal owners--stuck with a jumbo mortgage they can only afford as long as their illegal business continues.  The balancing of million-dollar mortgages on inverse absolutes--paradise and illegality--produces a hyper-sensitive fear-and-hate-inspired psychology which makes illegal TVR owners susceptible to political hucksters claiming to defend the image of "paradise" upon which their living and their solvency depend.

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LINK: HTA Study: Vacation Rental Units are 25% of Total Lodging