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About HIMAST

View of Diamond Head Hawaii and Waikiki Beach

Our Purpose

HIMAST advocates the rights of individuals engaged in the legal mid and short-term rental sector, enabling them to play an active role in the tourism industry, thereby safeguarding tourism income within the state. The availability of diverse, locally-owned rental choices contributes to the generation of local employment opportunities, offers temporary and transitional housing solutions, boosts state and county tax revenues, all the while reinforcing housing stability and fortifying the economy.

Black Sand Beach

We do this by seeking to:

PROMOTE community-based participation and connection to the tourist industry.

  • 49,000 jobs created by the mid and short-term rental industry
  • $2.4 Billion in Household Income generated by the mid and short-term rental industry

SUPPORT local small businesses, tradesmen, and professionals.

  • $4.8 Billion spent annually by visitors staying in mid and short-term rentals
  • $39 per hour average wage paid in mid and short-term rental industry

CREATE positive benefits for housing supply, housing security, economic resilience, and all island residents.

  • 21% of visitor renters are non-vacationers
  • 9% of County budgets paid for by these rentals

Board Bios

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Kahealani Zietz

President, HIMAST

Vice-President and Co-Owner of Hawai’i Life Real Estate Services, Hawaii’s largest locally owned real estate agency | Oversees Hawai'i Life Rentals, the company's short-term, long-term and estate management services | Producer of the annual Vacation Rental Pro Day (VR Pro Day), bringing together industry leaders for an educational and motivational day of professional growth and learning | Co-host the Hawai'i Life television series on HGTV, reaching a nationwide audience of more than 20 million viewers

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Jennifer Wilkinson, JD/MBA

Vice President, HIMAST

Real Estate Salesperson and Property Manager | Chair of the West Hawai’i Association of Realtors | Government Affairs Committee Volunteer | Mediator with the West Hawai’i Mediation Center | Commissioner, Hawai’i County Liquor Commission | Former Chief Lending Officer for $3B AUM Financial Institution

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Michael “Mike” Heh

Director, HIMAST

University of Manoa Graduate | Masters of Public Administration | Former HR Development Specialist - Dept. of Air Force, Hickam AFB | Former Healthcare Education Specialist - Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Honolulu | Certified Transformational Life Coach | Owner/Manager - Legal short term rental | Volunteer Director Oahu Short-Term Rental Alliance (“OSTRA”)

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Jen Russo

Secretary/ Treasurer, HIMAST

Former Executive Director, Maui Vacation Rental Association (“MVRA”)

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JP Parrish

Director, HIMAST

Owner of The Parrish Collection, Kauai, Maui | Owner of Blue Wave Kauai | Owner of Maui’s Quality Dry Cleaning & Laundry | Founding Board Member of Affordable Housing CDC, Inc. with over 4,300 units in over 25 affordable housing communities throughout California and Washington | Former real estate investment executive involved in the investment and management of over $1 billion in real estate throughout the US

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