Hawaii to Seize 10,000 Vacation Rentals as Housing Crisis Forces Locals Out

Hawaii’s governor has ordered the conversion of 10,000 short-term rental units—currently used for tourists—back into long-term housing for local residents. The move is a direct response to a severe housing shortage that is driving locals away from their own communities.

The plan will "return" thousands of condos and houses to the long-term rental market. Officials say high housing costs, fueled by the proliferation of vacation rentals, are making the islands unaffordable for residents. The government will use new laws and tax rules to enforce the change [61634].

The crisis is mirrored in other tourist-heavy cities. In Cape Town, South Africa, a similar surge in tourism and short-term rentals is forcing low-income residents out of the city center and into illegal, unsafe housing. Property prices have soared, and essential service workers can no longer afford to live near their jobs [39353]. This has created stark inequalities, with luxury villas sitting next to informal metal shacks in prime coastal areas [117472].

In Seoul, soaring rents have pushed young professionals back into *goshiwon*—tiny, dormitory-style rooms that often lack windows and basic amenities. Office worker Kim, 31, said moving into a *goshiwon* was her only option after her previous rent became unaffordable [21300].

The same affordability crunch is reshaping living arrangements in Britain. High rents and the difficulty of buying a home are forcing people of all ages to share houses. Nicola Whyte, 45, has lived with housemates for 16 years because she cannot afford to live alone [70584]. In South Korea, workers like Kim are returning to the cheapest possible shelter just to stay housed [21300].