Honolulu fines retiree over half a million dollars for advertising a rental
May 28, 2026
Honolulu, Hawaii; May 28, 2026: An 83-year-old retiree filed a lawsuit today challenging a local ordinance that the City and County of Honolulu are using to charge her with over $600,000 in fines. Sandra May alleges that the ordinance — which charges Honolulu property owners $10,000 a day merely for advertising short-term rentals — violates her constitutional rights by imposing excessive fines.
“The City and County of Honolulu are using this ordinance as a revenue-generating scheme and violating property owners’ constitutional rights,” said Loren Seehase, an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation. “These exorbitant fines are not remotely proportionate to Sandra’s alleged offense. All Americans deserve due process when facing unjust punishments like excessive fees, and I am proud to represent Sandra as she holds the city accountable for denying her rights.”
Retiree Sandra May relies on the income she earns by renting out a portion of her home. After a website error caused her rental listing to allow would-be renters to inquire about rentals shorter than 30 days, the City and County of Honolulu began charging her tens of thousands of dollars per day for the error.
Sandra, who had been hospitalized by a severe car crash, did not catch the website error until the City had imposed over half a million dollars in fines, put a lien on her home, and banned her from accessing City services — even essential services like driver’s license renewal and vehicle registration. Now, she is suing to challenge the City’s disproportionate fees.
Pacific Legal Foundation represents Sandra May free of charge. The case is Sandra May v. City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, et al.
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About Pacific Legal Foundation
Pacific Legal Foundation is a national nonprofit law firm that defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. Since our founding in 1973, we challenge the government when it violates individual liberty and constitutional rights. With active cases in 34 states plus Washington, D.C., PLF represents clients in state and federal courts, with 18 wins of 20 cases litigated at the U.S. Supreme Court.