STORY SUMMARY>>>

Both sides of the bed and breakfast debate are expected to show up in force later this month when the Honolulu City Council takes up Bill 6, a measure that would remove the prohibition on new B&B operations that has been in place since 1989.

The public hearing before the full Council is scheduled for October 15 at 2 p.m.

Supporters of the Bill 6 say the measure is long overdue and point to strict rules of conduct established by the Hawaii Vacation Rental Owner's Association as proof that bed and breakfast operators can be good neighbors.

“We have the ground rules,” said one B&B operator in Kailua who wished not to be identified. “There's no noise after ten (and) nothing before eight,” she said.

Still, detractors of Bill 6 say bed and breakfast operations bring problems to communities that legislation cannot address.

“This is a wholesale ‘sell-out’ of our communities,” wrote Larry Bartley, Director of Save Oahu's Neighborhoods in a press release. “It’s estimated that thousands of homes on Oahu could be transformed into tourist accommodations (under Bill 6),” he added.

Just this week the Kailua Neighborhood Board passed a resolution against the controversial measure citing concerns over parking, noise and other issues related to B&B’s.

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.