Catherine Kluid-Pactol

A historic law has passed on Maui that will phase out about half of the island's vacation rentals.

Spearheaded by the local community, Mayor Richard Bisson proposed the measure last year to free up housing for residents.

Amid a housing crisis and high cost of living, more Native Hawaiians now live in the continental U.S.

than in the state of Hawaii.

And in Maui County, vacation rentals make up over 20 percent of housing stock, more than anywhere else in the state.

Property owners of the nearly 7,000 affected units can convert to long-term rentals, sell, keep them for personal use, or seek a change in zoning.

The phase-out will happen over the next five years.

For NPR News, I'm Catherine Kluid-Pactol in Maui County.