What goes through your mind when you see Kamaʻāina savings? A sudden glee or a punch in the gut because of how much your trip cost.
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102 thoughts on “Are “Kamaaina” Discounts Discriminatory Towards Hawaii Visitors?”
Kama’aina discounts are a common practice in Hawaii and are not discriminatory towards visitors. These discounts are a way for businesses to show appreciation for the local community and to encourage residents to support them. Visitors to Hawaii still have access to a wide range of discounts and deals through various tourism programs and promotional offers. It’s important to remember that these discounts are voluntary and not mandatory for businesses, and ultimately it’s up to each individual business to decide whether or not to offer them.
Thank you for raising the question of whether kama’aina discounts in Hawaii are discriminatory towards visitors. It’s an interesting and nuanced topic that warrants thoughtful consideration.
Kama’aina discounts, which offer reduced rates or special benefits to Hawaii residents, are deeply rooted in the culture and history of the islands. They aim to acknowledge and honor the local community that has a distinct connection to the land and its traditions. These discounts are often seen as a way to support local businesses and foster a sense of solidarity among residents.
While it’s understandable that visitors may feel excluded from such discounts, it’s essential to recognize that they are intended to address the unique circumstances and cha
Kama’aina discounts are often offered to residents of Hawaii as a way to show appreciation for their support and patronage of local businesses. However, there has been some debate about whether these discounts are discriminatory towards visitors to the state.
It is important to note that kama’aina discounts are entirely voluntary on the part of businesses, and visitors to Hawaii are not entitled to receive them. The decision to offer these discounts is typically based on a desire to build goodwill and loyalty among the local community, rather than a desire to exclude visitors.
Furthermore, visitors to Hawaii are still able to take advantage of other discounts and promotions that may be offered by businesses, such as those for seniors, mil
Come on people! Why do visitors think they have the right or are “owed” the right to visit Hawaii. I am not rich. I have saved years for my wife and I to go to Maui for our 50th anniversary, which is coming up soon, and I have no problem with the discounts and preferential treatment for those who live there. If anyone visiting Hawaii lived in a place back home where it was difficult to park or even have access to their own parks and beaches, I would think they would have a major fit. Imagine wanting to go to a local beach, local park or restaurant and not being able to get in because of the mass of tourists. Imagine the driving nightmare when trying to go to work or really anywhere because of those same tourists. Have some respect!!
What mainlanders do not think about: I live on the Big Island. If I need an appointment with a specialist, I have to fly to Oahu, rent a car and sometimes even stay in a hotel just to see a doctor. Why should I have to pay $700-$1000 for a night in a hotel to see a doctor. I already have to pay around $120RT Airfare and then maybe $60 for a rental car. It is a beautiful place to live but much harder to live here logistically and financially and it is not just the inflated prices but the cost of doing things people on the mainland take for granted.
I work in healthcare and have lived here for the past 3 years, first on Big Island and now on Oahu. There are many tourists that strain the healthcare system here and resources are extremely limited. It is difficult to recruit and retain healthcare workers here because of the high cost of living. There are negative effects from tourism on the environment, and overcrowding at places that locals love too. There are many things I would not have the resources to enjoy if there weren’t kamaaina rates, and when I would visit before I moved here, I thought kamaaina rates were a lovely thing for locals! I think visitors complaining about this sound terribly selfish, find some aloha.
Kama’aina discriminates residents from tourists which is a good thing. Tourists, proportionately cause far more negative impacts to the vulnerable aina than residents. Hawaii is not disneyland. real people live here in an economically challenging environment for most, unless you’re a rich person who comes here, buys property and inflates the price of everything for everyone. in the best of worlds, there’d be a sliding scale where each pays according to her ability. no one gets left out,no one goes without.
I have no problem leaving the Kamaʻāina discounts just as they are. My only issue is that we live on Oahu 5-6 months a year and pay taxes but since we are not able to change our Driver’s License from Florida to Hawaii due to our Florida Homested Exemption….we are unable to take advantage of these discounts because we do not have a state license. Hubby was born here and is a UH Grad, ex HPD…so it’s not we are investors.
Yeah …unfortunately, you can’t claim an exemptions on 2 places!
I don’t understand why Kamaʻāina discounts are even an issue. I live in Venice Beach, CA. Restaurants will offer a 10% discount with DL proof. Disneyland will run a seasonal, local discount as well for anyone born in CA. If I’m visiting somewhere that offers locals a deal, I don’t think anything of it. Good for them!
The discounts wont counteract the $2,000 a year the union backed Jones act cost the average Hawaiian resident, but every little bit helps! Oh and then there are the sky high taxes (which every one pays), but i digress!
Because of tourism. the people who live and work in Hawaii should not have to pay high prices …if you don’t like the discount they give to the residents then do not go visit there islands…the Hawaiian Islands are not Disneyland. people live there life’s there. Because of tourism the prices of everything is out of control…
So yes residents should always get a big discount on everything.its the residents who pay the price for all you vacationers.
Mahalo
BOH Guys;
Usually I just wish I had a Hawaii drivers license. Given the amount of money I have spent on my visits, I should be given an honorary one.
I usually forget to ask!
Aloha! I don’t see the Kamaʻāina discount as a problem. Why not? At Disneyland, in Southern California, they periodically offer a “Southern California Resident” discount which is unbelievable. They are residents so they should get discounts. It doesn’t bother me one bit.
Kamaaina Discounts are not discriminatory.They are not 30-40%. More like 5-10%. And with the high cost of living here, they are still unaffordable for kamaainas. Tourist and the military discounts are more discriminatory to kamaainas.
Going to Hawaii is like going to Disney land Prices are out of reach for the working class families, Hawaii is biting the hand that feeds them how would it be if every one stopped going to the Islands see what could happen then .
During Covid people were saying the natural resources had improved without the many tourists.
See, there’s the issue. Hawaii is Not ‘like” Disneyland”. People live their regular lives in Hawaii. It’s exactly this attitude that turns the people who live there against tourists. You’e a visitor to someone’s home, act like it and everything will be fine. Act like the entire islands are “like Disneyland” and you’re going to run into trouble eventually.
I’ve lived in several touristy areas and most of them offer discounts to locals, especially in the off season. Locals keep the lights on when the kids go back to school or the weather is bad. This includes inviting all the offices in the neighborhood 10% off sandwiches to Disney offering special deals to California or Florida residents. They’re not doing it to be nice. They’re doing it to fill empty rooms.
We get many “ local” deals here where we live on the Russian River in Northwrn California. Seems fair considering tourists overrun our beaches, roads, and redwood Forests. Not discrimination , just a little local looking out for the neighbors.
When you’re living day to day in Hawaii and paying their high prices, especially in going out to a restaurant it helps to have that kama’aina discount. It’s not much but it’s something. I’ve lived on the Island and have been in the visitor status, I never felt cheated in not getting a discount as a visitor.
Same with me. I was 1st a visitor and was wondering how locals can pay those prices, then happy to hear that there were discounts for them. I now live here full time and mostly go to restaurants and stay at hotels that do offer Kamaaina rates. I also ask those who don’t advertise it. As was mentioned before, you do need to present a Hawaiian driver’s license and to get it, you have to give up the one in your state …It took me many years to get here.
I live in a touristy area of California. A few local hotels give locals rates during various off seasons. Everyone deserves a staycation, so I’m fine with it. Aloha
I visit my son and I think the discount encourages him to do things with me that he otherwise wouldn’t do. (I have to pay full price.) I don’t have a problem with locals getting discounts. We used to get more in Vegas, but most of those have dried up.
I have no problem with the local discount. Why shouldn’t places like Sea Life Park offer encouragement in the form of a discount to keep their business up. It’s not like Haeaii is the only place this happens. Disney World has a local rate too. Maybe I am prejudiced because we are eligible for the military discounts. I haven’t used it for hotels because I do better booking in a package. And that maybe part of the explanation. You’re getting a better rate when booking a package thru a third party so obviously the third party is getting a discount that they pass on. I am very grateful that so many places on Oahu honor the military and locals by giving a discount and I make sure to thank the companies that do.
Kamaaina deals aren’t always the best price. I just booked a hotel at HNL and found Hotels.com to be lower priced than Kamaaina aggregator deals offered online. I have family in California who have gotten local pricing at Disney, Sea World and Magic Mountain for years. I get fabulous discounts with the America the Beautiful Pass for National Parks and many other federally managed areas. Senior discounts are numerous across the nation and easy to find and worth the effort. It’s not a big deal to me.
I find the charges to visit Ke’e Beach and Waimea Canyon offensive, locals should pay a reduced fee too. The restrooms and roads at these areas are as awful now as they were before fees. Where has the money gone? Thanks
Aloha fellas, and thanks for bringing up a sensitive topic.
In many cities, some people qualify for a student discount. In others, teachers qualify for an educator discount. And businesses all over provide discounts to seniors or vets. Many businesses with membership models offer a member discount, such as in the shops attached to museums, galleries, and music venues. In other words, discounts for specific groups are common, and nearly all are meant to offer thanks and respect for the contributions of people to their communities. Kama’aina discounts are no different; after all, it is the (often poorly paid) local people who live and work in Hawai’i that make dream vacations, weddings, and conventions in paradise possible. Mahalos Locals!!
Love reading your articles, but this one especially the headline is absurd. I love Hawaii, I used to live there and reaped the benefits. I think every state should should do the same. If you live in a desirable area and pay the taxes every day you should be rewarded. There is absolutely no discrimination. Any American can easily live there if they choose. 🤙
Friends,
The cost of living here in Hawaii is the highest of any state in the nation. If a resident gets a Kama’aina discount, it’s so they can afford to go to an otherwise tourist venue that they otherwise wouldn’t patronize. The Kama’aina discount is marketing by the venue to be able to attract residents not just visitors.
If you want to have the highest cost of living. of any state in exchange for a discount, please, be my guest.
Cheers.
And so yes , locals are entitled to some concessions given we are subject to high prices by living on a rock in the Pacific Ocean. Our only source of revenue is tourism in practical sort of thinking. I apologize for break in email.
I view Kama’aina rates the same way I do military discounts or AARP rates- the establishment has agreed to provide a discount for people who meet whatever requirement they have set.
And Hawaii is ridiculously expensive and those people working in the service industries are _not_ the ones buying the multi-million dollar condos normally.
When I was stationed in Hawaii in the second half of the 80s we got a little hibiscus sticker for our military ID that authorized us to get kama’aina rates. Not that I actually remember seeing any back then…
Article states…“It’s discrimination.” This is true because one group is getting preferential treatment. Mike asks, “Should they (residents) not pay their share?”
American Society is riddled with favorable treatment for special interest groups based on race, age, gender, income, net worth, etc…
Residency is only another one in a long line.
I don’t have a real problem with hotels offering hotel discounts to locals. I’m sure they’re just trying to put bodies in a room that hasn’t rented. I also don’t have a problem with locals getting free admission to places like Diamond Head because the state taxes these folks pay go toward the upkeep of these locations. What I have a serious issue with is restaurants offering discounts only if you have a Hawaii driver’s license. I have a feeling tourists are forced to pay the difference.
Are the restaurants give discounts ones located in Waikiki? Most restaurants in Waikiki that give kamaaina discounts to residents do so because they normally don’t get a large volume of residents, so it would be equivalent to the infrequent “friends and family” type of courtesy. The same on other islands. Zippy’s, L&L, or other local chain establishments don’t give a “kamaaina discount,” but places that hardly ever get Kamaaina, might.
I have not found one single restaurant in Waikiki that gives Kamaaina discounts, but I guess Waikiki is mostly for tourists anyways. Got a great hotel rate at the Outrigger though.
Any tourist trap in the US is going to have inflated restaurant prices. When your whole state is a tourist destination, all the restaurants have “tourist” prices. We live here and imagine having to pay this every time you eat at a restaurant—even fast food prices are ridiculous. There are not really any place you can go for a family of 4 and not get a bill for $60 for fast food and $100 for an average place. With that said, most restaurants don’t offer discounts for locals that I have found. Get over yourself. If you can’t afford the Hawaii vacation, maybe you should go to Cancun instead.
We have owned a condo and car on Maui for 20 years. It used to be that we could get an Hawaiian ID if we showed utility bills, property and income taxes, birth and wedding certificates and passport. Now, we can’t get the IDs because we don’t actually “live “ on Maui for six months and a day. Talk about “taxation without representation”.
Hawaii is not the “paradise” we used to know and love. Every day we think about selling everything and “moving “ out.
“Representation” in your phrase pertains to voting. Do you think you should be able to vote in 2 states? Simple answer, move your primary residence here and stay the majority of time here and reap the benefits. I have a second home in MN. I am there in the summers. I pay taxes there. I don’t expect in state fishing license fees or any other special accommodations or discounts. I guess I feel blessed to be able to afford a second and third home.
Aloha, thanks for the interesting article. I wrote a comment and lost it. 🙄
Anyway, I think the locals in Hawaii should get all the price breaks they can get!
Whoever is getting upset about kamaaina hotel discounts is going to really hate that airlines workers and their families and friends can (sometimes) fly for free.
When an airlines allows this, it’s not “discrimination” towards paying customers, it’s an optional courtesy extended towards those who have and continue to invest their lives in the industry. IF you choose to live in Hawaii, you’re invested in the tourism industry it runs your life, and it’s ok if a tourist-revenue based hotel lets you occasionally get a less marked up rate when the Rare need comes up for a hotel.
If tourists weren’t here, hotels wouldn’t be expensive for kamaaina anyways. There’s no “Motel 6” type cheap hotels to stay in because of the tourism industry.
I believe the locals should get every discount they can. I can’t beleive how very expensive it is the past 5 years to visit. And way many years before that many did work many jobs to live at theold prices too. Yes, indeed they should get a good K. discount!….If they could have better prices for the locals, strict restrictions for any one to move there like they used to do on Austrailia, then maybe the locals would not have so much hatred to us mainlanders or outsiders. I do understand the history of why they do not like us, but it’s like those that want to tear down history and important statues. It is “history” and we did not cause all this, greed from major comapnies buying up everthing caused it.
Are Kamaʻāina discounts discriminatory? Of course they are! Every choice we make is discriminatory in nature. When I choose restaurant A over any other restaurant, I have discriminated against all other potential providers. When I choose to stay in hotel A, I have discriminated against all other potential providers. When I choose a doctor, I have discriminated against all other doctors. So the question isn’t “Is it discriminatory, rather, it’s “Is this discrimination an affront to decency? Seems to me the answer is a resounding no. What should it matter to me if someone gets a better price from, say, Priceline than they would have from the hotel directly? Why should I be upset if any other locale’s residents get a better deal than I do?
I understand the concern regarding Kamaaina discounts, but isn’t that similar to Las Vegas residents not having to pay sales tax?
Totally different. I live in Oregon where we havent had a sales tax in decades. We have other taxes that make up for that loss of revenue. I don’t consider a lack of sales tax to be a perk.
This is an interesting statement knowing that so many Hawaii family and friends have left Hawaii and moved to Oregon (and Las Vegas) because there’s no sales tax.
I seriously doubt that. Taxes are not that high in Hawaii. Most people leave because they find a better job elsewhere and/or because they already have relatives in that area.
You seriously doubt that our family and friends have moved to Oregon (and NV, WA, and even TX) because sales tax and many other things are cheaper on the continent? Some of them have the same job they had here in HI but can just afford more there. This is why we have relatives that moved away from HI in the first place
Las Vegas Dies have sales tax and it’s similar to other cities across the United States. If not higher. What we don’t have is state income tax.
First, I’ll admit I’m ambivalent about residents getting a discount in HI. On one hand, it violates the ‘equal treatment’ standard of American law/philosophy. But, as others have stated, living in HI is expensive, with having multiple jobs not uncommon to pay the bills. I don’t think it’s fair to blame visitors for the high prices. Grocery stores, hotel owners and others set the prices, and they don’t necessarily have to do with their costs. Landlords charge as much as they can and still keep their units rented. Discounts of 10% or so are peanuts compared to COL here. I’m a time share ‘owner’, I pay the highest prop. taxes in the state, and can’t afford HI either. Greed runs a large part of HI economy. Maybe your part time Oprah has ans?
I always had mixed feelings about this. While we enjoyed the gift to our pocketbook, we understood when tourists from say, Las Vegas (where many Kama’aina go for vacation), complain that they have the same rates (generally speaking).
Personally, I’m an American and a believer in our system of a democratic republic and capitalism. Let the market drive the incentives!
I am not familiar with this term; but fully support a discount for locals, even though I am a tourist. Locals pay a full burden of taxes in Hawaii, and so have contributed plenty to fund the locations and facilities I enjoy as a visitor. As another person has commented, the heavy tourism traffic contributes to the over demand on a limited supply, raising prices. Do I wish the prices were cheaper for me; absolutely – but fair is fair.
I used to live in South Lake Tahoe for 7 years and go there every year to ski. Yes they do a “local” discount for their local residents. This is true today as well as several years ago.
J.D.
I can see why, at first glance, kama’aina discounts seem unfair. But most tourists don’t know that the cost of living in Hawaii is very, very high and wages are ridiculously low. (This is just another way in which too much reliance on tourism screws up an economy)Kama’aina discounts make it possible for Hawaiians to visit places on their own state. Otherwise, many of them probably couldn’t.
Wages in HI are the 12th highest in the country. Not very, very low as you state.
…and whomever has said “Taxes are sky high” in this thread is also mistaken. Hawaii has the lowest property tax for owner-occupants in the country.
yes, even for owners who rent out their place long term (1 year minimum).