Honolulu Fined Illegal Vacation Rentals $2M. Nobody's Lost Their Property Yet.

Honolulu collected more than $2 million in illegal vacation rental fines in both 2024 and 2025, and is on pace to hit $3 million this year. But despite approving foreclosure on its biggest violator over a year ago, the city hasn't taken anyone to court yet.

The city enforces under Ordinance 22-7, which bans rentals under 30 days in residential areas without a valid registration. Most Oahu neighborhoods don't qualify. If you're running an Airbnb in a standard residential zone without paperwork, you're operating illegally.

In May 2026, the city's highest-profile case went public. Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama, the HGTV couple from "Renovation Aloha," were cited for running two Oahu vacation rentals without permits. DPP confirmed they owe $40,000 in unpaid fines. One property was listed for stays as short as three nights. After city investigators flagged it, the minimum stay was quietly bumped up. Enforcement is ongoing.

One Alewa Heights property has racked up an estimated $3 million in fines against a home worth just over $1 million. The city council approved foreclosure in May 2025. More than a year later, no case has been filed. The city says it's negotiating a settlement.

Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam said the delay "sends the wrong message" to everyone still running illegal rentals and watching to see if enforcement has teeth.

DPP director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna said the fines and foreclosure threats have done the main job: getting illegal operators to stop. The city is aiming to collect close to 100 percent of outstanding fines.

Citywide, the city estimates more than $200 million in total uncollected fines across zoning and building violations. Short-term rentals are one slice.

If you own a property or manage rentals on Oahu, fines run $10,000 a day for repeat violations. DPP has a property lookup tool to verify whether a unit is legally registered. Report illegal STRs at honolulu.gov/dpp/rfi.

The first foreclosure is still the city's biggest test. If it goes through, the math changes fast for anyone still gambling on slow follow-through.