Room Types Offered in Lahaina and Primary Urban Center (Hawaii, 2022-2023)
In Lahaina, the majority of listings offer entire homes or apartments, comprising a staggering 89.81% of the total. This aligns with the findings of the Hawai`i Appleseed report on vacation rentals, which indicates that a substantial proportion of Vacation Rental Units (VRUs), the term they use for STRs, are entire home rentals (“Hawai‘i Vacation Rentals”). The data underscores a prevailing trend of property owners or landlords in Lahaina opting to rent out their entire residences, resonating with the report’s assertion that the majority of VRUs are entire home rentals (“Hawai‘i Vacation Rentals”). This indicates a potential inclination to cater to tourists seeking a more private and immersive experience.
Conversely, the Primary Urban Center exhibits a slightly different distribution, although still heavily skewed towards entire homes/apartments, which constitute 86.76% of the offerings. Private rooms also hold a substantial share at 13.24%, indicating a notable presence of homeowners or tenants renting out individual rooms within their residences. This supports the Hawai`i Appleseed report’s observation of a predominant preference for entire home rentals. According to the report, the majority of VRU visitors self-report staying in an entire unit (“Hawai`i Vacation Rentals”). This data underscores a trend that accommodates visitors seeking more extensive and exclusive lodgings.
Comparing the two locations, it is evident that Lahaina and the Primary Urban Center share a common emphasis on entire home/apartment rentals, reflecting a broader trend in the short-term rental market. The data presented in the report provides additional support to the analysis, emphasizing the prevalence of entire home rentals and the limited presence of shared rooms and hotel rooms in both areas. This concurrence between the on-the-ground data and the Hawai`i Appleseed findings reinforces the claim that there is a preference for more exclusive and private lodging experiences, aligning with the typical expectations of Airbnb users.
This data analysis sheds light on the evolving nature of short-term rentals in Lahaina and the Primary Urban Center. These insights are valuable for policymakers, residents, and businesses involved in the local hospitality industry, particularly in addressing potential impacts on housing accessibility, neighborhood dynamics, and the overall tourism landscape in these Hawaiian destinations. For example, as highlighted by Agrusa, concerns raised in other tourist destinations, such as Honolulu, where renting out entire homes has been linked to disruptive behaviors impacting neighbors, should be carefully considered. The immediate host’s presence in shared rooms or apartments can regulate situations, but renting out entire homes may lead to issues like noise and disruptive behaviors, negatively affecting the community and taking away permanent housing from residents (Agrusa). Therefore, policymakers and Airbnb stakeholders should draw insights from the experiences and challenges highlighted in Agrusa’s research on Honolulu and consider comprehensive regulatory measures to address these potential negative impacts.
Trend of New Airbnb Hosts in Lahaina vs. Primary Urban Center (Honolulu)
- In Lahaina, the rapid increase in new Airbnb hosts from 2008 to 2016 suggests that hosts were quick to adopt the platform, possibly to capitalize on the area’s tourism potential. The peak in 2016 followed by a decline could be indicative of a market reaching saturation or the result of regulatory changes aimed at balancing the benefits of tourism with the needs of residents. In contrast, PUC’s peak in 2018 and the subsequent decline might reflect different market dynamics or regulatory interventions, or a lag in adoption relative to Lahaina.
- The sharp decrease in new hosts beginning in 2020 across both regions aligns with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an external shock that had profound implications for travel and, by extension, the short-term rental market (Bond-Smith & Fuleky, 2023). The continued low numbers into 2023 could suggest long-term impacts from the pandemic, such as a sustained reduction in tourism or a shift in housing policy that limits short-term rentals.
The three significances of the research question from the line chart
- The initial growth phase corresponds with the period when Airbnb could have been contributing positively to individual income levels, thus potentially elevating the socioeconomic status of hosts (Economic Outlook).
- The peak and subsequent decline in new hosts might correlate with changes in housing affordability and availability, as more properties were diverted from long-term residential use to short-term tourist accommodations.
- The sharp downturn in 2020 and the slow recovery could indicate a shift in the housing market dynamics, possibly making more properties available for long-term residents and affecting housing accessibility (Bond-Smith and Fuleky).
It provides a clear timeline that can be cross-referenced with housing price data, changes in local legislation, and shifts in community sentiment to paint a comprehensive picture of Airbnb’s role in these neighborhoods. Analyzing these trends can help policymakers, researchers, and community advocates understand the implications of the sharing economy on urban housing markets and inform future decisions and regulations.
Average Number of Reviews per Listing Type Over Time
This visualization can be interpreted to infer the activity levels and popularity of different types of Airbnb accommodations, which is indicative of how the Airbnb platform may be influencing the housing market and the local economy.
- The average number of reviews per listing type fluctuates over the years for both Lahaina and PUC. Peaks in the average number of reviews can indicate periods when Airbnb rentals were particularly popular, which could correlate with higher tourism or events that draw more visitors.
- Entire homes/apartments tend to have a higher average number of reviews compared to private or shared rooms. This is significant because the conversion of entire homes to short-term rentals can have a more substantial impact on housing availability and prices, potentially affecting the socioeconomic status of residents (Economic Outlook).
- The differences in the average number of reviews between Lahaina and PUC could suggest varying levels of market saturation, regulatory environments, or the impact of Airbnb on the local housing market. For instance, if one location has consistently higher reviews across all listing types, it may indicate a more active Airbnb market, which could have greater implications for housing accessibility and the local economy.
The chart’s insights are important as they relate to the project’s main questions. A higher number of reviews can imply more frequent rentals, leading to less availability of housing for long-term residents, which in turn can affect housing prices and the socioeconomic fabric of the community (Ruderman). The presence of entire homes/apartments as a significant portion of the Airbnb market might suggest a reduction in the long-term rental supply, impacting housing affordability and accessibility.
Percent of Listings in Lahaina and PUC Categorized by Host Location: Hawaii or Non-Hawaii (Excluding NA Values)
This visualization is a bar chart that compares the number of listings where the host either is or isn’t from Hawai`i. All hosts listed as not in Hawai`i are grouped as one statistic. To extend this idea, A map that depicts additional information can be seen below, This time it displays the host location to the Airbnb listings as seen on the map. This helps detail the challenges posed by Airbnb for Hawaiian neighborhoods as It shows who benefits from the Airbnb service. Without the map, the chart alone is important for comparing the number of locations that do not benefit Hawai`i in some way, but to take this analysis further, the map shows us where the Hawaiian-owned listings are.
This happens to be near the coastal tourist zones and helps us come to conclusions about the extent to which tourism can help communities within Hawai`i.
Map of Listings by Host Location: Hawaii or Non-Hawaii (Excluding NA Values)
The map categorizes Lahaina and the Primary Urban Center (PUC) Airbnb listings by host location, with Host_Location grouped into Hawai’i, US (excluding Hawai’i), Abroad, and NA (omitted for clarity). In Tableau, orange dots represent non-Hawaiian hosts, and blue dots represent Hawaiian hosts. Notably, a concentration of non-Hawaiian hosts is observed in Waikiki, PUC, aligning with tourist popularity. In Lahaina, a dispersed pattern of non-Hawaiian hosts contrasts with PUC’s clustering. Statistics underscore the impact, with 52% of Maui homes sold to nonresidents and 60% of condos to investors (“Hawai’i Vacation Rentals”). One-third of Lahaina homes operate as vacation rentals, impacting the local housing landscape (“Hawai’i Vacation Rentals”).
Tourism’s impact on housing markets, documented in studies like Zhang and Yang (257-279), exacerbates Hawai’i’s acute housing crisis, with 75% of extremely low-income households spending over half their income on housing (“Hawai’i Vacation Rentals”). Hawai’i’s high rental market (43% of households) ranks fourth in the U.S. Short-term rentals (STRs) in residential areas, noted by Jordan and Moore, bring challenges like traffic and community changes. These STRs, often owned by non-residents, contribute to rising prices and reduced housing availability, affecting community dynamics (Trask).
The map illustrates local Airbnb hosts concentrated in specific areas, extending into less tourist-centric regions. Despite predominant Hawaiian ownership, the presence of non-Hawaiian hosts suggests diverse property ownership, influencing local housing dynamics and community interaction with short-term rentals. The existence of Airbnbs and other STR services promotes tourism sprawl, which is directly shown through this map by the prominence of listings more inland, beyond popular coastal tourist spots (Wong).
Percent of Listings by Minimum Nights and Room Type (Excluding Private Room and Shared Room) for Lahaina and Primary Urban Center
In the depicted figure, we can see the percentage of listings categorized by the minimum nights required to book a listing in both Lahaina and PUC. The x-axis delineates the minimum required nights for a booking, while the y-axis portrays the percentage of total listings in each respective area for each category (number) of minimum nights. The listings are represented by Room Type via their respective colors. As we wanted to further understand what kinds of housing were being predominantly offered in these areas and discern the temporal dynamics of short-term rentals, this visualization serves as a valuable tool to analyze the distribution of Airbnb accommodations. By examining the minimum night requirements, we gain insights into the prevalent rental durations, which is crucial for assessing the impact on housing accessibility, turnover patterns, and potential socio-economic implications in Lahaina and the Primary Urban Center (PUC). For this visualization, please note that Shared Room and Hotel Room observations have been excluded as they are only a small portion of all the samples. We also have excluded listings past the 31-night minimum as these represented less than 3% of all listings in both Lahaina and PUC.
Within Lahaina, a discernible trend emerges, revealing that the predominant choices for Airbnb accommodations are entire homes/apartments, denoted by the dark blue bars, closely followed by private rooms. Notably, in Lahaina close to 100% of the listings only require up to or less than a 7-night minimum. 27% of all listings in Lahaina only require one-night minimums. In PUC, we also see that approximately 70% of the listings require up to or less than a 7-night minimum. Over 40% of PUC listings mandate only a minimum one-night stay, gradually decreasing until a notable surge occurs around the 30-day minimum stay mark where there is an uptick in the percent of listings with approximately 13% of listings requiring 30-day minimums. This makes the distribution slightly positively skewed.
Despite this, in both areas, a large concentration of listings is on the left side of the graph, indicating a prevalent inclination towards very short-term rental periods. Seeing as though the majority of listings require a low number of nights to book the listing, this would introduce a lot of new renters as the turnover periods are extremely short. Individuals in Hawaii have conveyed that the presence of short-term rentals in their neighborhoods disrupts the tightly-knit community structures they depend on as they displace many long-term residents with short-term tourists (“Hawi; Gold 1577–637). Many residents assert that an influx of short-term renters contributes to a decline in community cohesion and an increase in disturbances within their neighborhoods, attributing it to the reduction in long-term residents (Park and Agrusa, 877–888). Locals are concerned by the high number and rate of new tourists that enter their neighborhoods, which is demonstrated by this visualization and the large percentages of listings that require very few minimum nights of stay (Jordan and Moore, 90-101).
This visualization provides crucial insights that directly contribute to addressing the research questions by illustrating the prevalence of rental durations in both areas. Analyzing the distribution helps answer the extent to which locals are being impacted by Airbnb renters and at what rate. It also aligns with existing literature, which understates the rapid pace at which renters can enter local communities.
Percent of Listings in Both Lahaina and PUC by Room Type and Availability (Excluding Shared Rooms and Hotel Rooms)
The presented visualization depicts the percentage of listings in Lahaina and the Primary Urban Center by their availability over the next year (365 days). To create this visualization, the Availability_365 variable underwent modification in Tableau. Using the Analysis tool to create a calculated field, we aggregated observations based on their Availability_365 values. Listings available for 1 to 180 days were grouped as “ <= 180 days”, and listings available for more than 180 days were grouped as > 180 days.” Finally, listings available for 0 days were categorized as “0 days”.
It’s important to note that the data dictionary indicates that an availability of 0 days could signify that the listing is either booked for the foreseeable future or that the listing is NULL (not active), making it challenging to precisely determine if these listings are available or not. As these listings only accounted for approximately 7% of all observations and are inconclusive, we opted to remove them from the visualization for more clarity. However, we note that 5.02% of these listings were private home/apt values.
Notably, rentals available for extended periods (>180 days or more than half the year) predominantly consist of entire homes and apartments. This insight is particularly valuable as it underscores the prevalence of permanent housing being utilized as Airbnb or short-term rentals, indicating a potential diversion of long-term housing options away from residents. This prevalence of listings available for more than half the year raises questions about the impact on the availability of long-term housing options for residents. The data strongly suggests a significant diversion of properties, particularly entire homes and apartments, away from the traditional long-term rental market. Studies have shown that Airbnb has been linked to the loss of long-term accommodations (Gold, 1577–637). Hawai`i is already unable to meet the increasing demand for housing across the islands (Biagi et al.). The demand for second homes, which are often used for rental purposes, in tourism destinations leads to even higher inflationary pressures in local housing markets, when it is combined with supply-side constraints (Biagi et al.). The desire for second homes in tourist destinations exacerbates inflationary pressures in local housing markets, especially when coupled with constraints on the supply side, and pushes out locals, which contributes to the further gentrification of residential areas in Hawai’i (Biagi et al.; Gold, 1577–637).
The visualization underscores a noteworthy trend where a majority of listings are available for more than half of the year. From this, we can reasonably conclude that a substantial portion of properties within Lahaina and Primary Urban Center are actively participating in the short-term rental market, with a significant proportion being available for extended durations. This is a problem for locals who cannot find permanent housing in an already competitive market or cannot afford extortionate rent prices.
Unveiling the Dynamics: A Comprehensive Analysis of Short-Term Rentals in Terms of Socioeconomic Impacts and Housing Stability in Lahaina and Primary Urban Center (Honolulu), HI, USA.
- Room Types Offered in Lahaina and Primary Urban Center (Hawaii, 2022-2023)
This chart sets the stage by providing an overview of the types of accommodations available in Lahaina and the Primary Urban Center. - Trend of New Airbnb Hosts in Lahaina vs. Primary Urban Center (Honolulu)
This chart introduces the temporal aspect, showing trends in new Airbnb hosts over time. It helps to understand the growth, saturation, and potential impacts, especially considering external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic. - Average Number of Reviews per Listing Type Over Time
This chart delves into the popularity and activity levels of different listing types, providing insights into the influence of Airbnb on the local housing market and economy. - Percent of Listings in Lahaina and PUC Categorized by Host Location: Hawaii or Non-Hawaii (Excluding NA Values)
This chart explores the geographic distribution of hosts, shedding light on who benefits from Airbnb in the Hawaiian context. - Map of Listings by Host Location: Hawaii or Non-Hawaii (Excluding NA Values)
The map visually reinforces the information from the fourth chart, providing a spatial perspective on the impact of Airbnb in specific regions. - Percent of Listings by Minimum Nights and Room Type (Excluding Private Room and Shared Room) for Lahaina and Primary Urban Center
This chart delves into the rental durations, offering insights into the turnover patterns and potential socio-economic implications of short-term rentals. - Percent of Listings in Both Lahaina and PUC by Room Type and Availability (Excluding Shared Rooms and Hotel Rooms)
This chart, highlighting the availability of listings over time, serves to underscore the prevalence of short-term rentals and their potential impact on long-term housing options, offering a comprehensive view of the narrative.
