One person said if you can’t tip generously, don’t come. Another said, for goodness sake don’t tell customers that. Five huge issues with tipping in Hawaii.
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One person said if you can’t tip generously, don’t come. Another said, for goodness sake don’t tell customers that. Five huge issues with tipping in Hawaii.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Pay in cash. Leave the change if you like, That will eliminate the screen for the 20 to 30% tip
I pay cash just so I can avoid that dreaded tip screen.
The “dreaded tip screen”? Are you that intimidated / bullied / afraid of some flashy hardware. Just say no! Stand up for yourself!
I traveled to Seattle several years ago and a majority of the restaurants added the tip in when presenting you with the bill, 20%. In some cases, you had no choice but to pay it because it was the standard “service charge” for that establishment. I’ve done a bit of traveling and this was the only place I’ve seen this.
Not sure where you got your data from. But Cambodia does not pay livable wage. Culture just didn’t involve a tip. But with westernization. Tip is now added to many bills.
If, and When, there’s a party of 4 or more the Restaurants will add the 18 to 20 percent tip automatically to the Bill to guarantee that the server is properly tipped. If there’s a Legitimate Reason for the Server not to receive that amount it should be taken up with Management. If the Server does an over the top job nothing says that a larger gratuity can’t be left.
I went to the UK last November. I was surprised how people used their touch cards for everything, even at coffee outlets. At no time did I ever see a tip request. It was touch, and go! In France, a service charge is automatically assessed, and the percentage is not divulged, though it’s 10 to 15%. People often leave small change as well.
Service charges are added in the US at high-end restaurants, and room service (in addition to a flat delivery fee). I think the reason why the US doesn’t go the European route is because removing the “freedom” to decide reeks of socialism.
BTW there is no tipping in Japan either and you still get good service, though things are a changing…
It is very expensive to live in Hawaii. Why doesn’t the state distribute money directly to residents like they do in Alaska. Are the tourists going to balk at a resident tax to vacation there? You need to have employees be able to work at all the places visitors are staying, eating, and activities they all enjoy while there. It’s pay to play
That is between the residents and the State but a tax for supporting workers goes over the top too far. Generations of Hawaiian Voters have chosen the direction of Hawaii by who they vote for. As such everything that is Wrong can be directly traced back to the Voter. Housing too high? Not enough affordable housing? Prices out of control? Stagnated Wages and lack of Healthcare? Overcrowding? Too many Tourists? The list goes on, all traced back to the Voters. Can’t fix what has been broken for years or more in a few terms,however, keep voting the same types in and it will just get worse. Blame Yourselves.
Fun article but your trivia is false. TIP is not shorthand for “To Insure Promptness. That is a myth. First of all, it would be “ensure”, not “insure.” Second, it makes no sense because you generally give a tip after meal, not before a meal. So it wouldn’t “insure” promptness because the meal is already finished.
Aloha. Here in the Leeward (West) side of Oahu, we don’t get a lot if tourists outside of Ko ‘Olina. While we do get some of the same “tip me for no reason” prompts, it’s customary to ignore them. The employees expect you to and will many times do it for you to avoid the awkward situation they know that puts you in. It is weird but not a big deal.
I have seen it be a huge thing in Waikiki, etc. No one likes it.
Employers….. Pay your people a living wage! This is your fault.
The thing I hate is when the Suggested tip amount is not only calculated on the items you purchased rather the items and the tax. The tax is passed along to the state. Actually in many cases they don’t have to pass along the whole tax only a portion of it.
I just don’t tip at all. I don’t care. I won’t be shamed into paying for something I shouldn’t have to. Business owners need to pay their employees appropriately, that’s not my problem.
convenient cop out … we all have to deal with R E A L I T Y such as it is….. you’d be paying a lot more upfront if other people’s tipping habits weren’t subsidizing your POV.
I always tip appropriately. But, believe me, when I receive a receipt before I even have completed my experience, the tip is zero and then I leave cash tip on the table. No one under any circumstance will tell me how much and when to tip!
I’m an Uber driver for going on six years and provide the highest quality of service. I have a 499 out of 500 rating and have always driven high quality cars. From the moment a rider enters my car I try to suss out the best way I may serve them. If they want quiet I’m silent, if they are tourists I give them as much advice as possible in the limited time we are together. If they are locals I do my best to to make them feel enjoyable. Although there is a suggestion of giving a tip on the Uber app I average less than 10% of the fare charges. Less than half of my fares leave tips when Uber/Lyft provide a superior service to taxis at a lower fare. A recent article in The NY Times explained in detail how rideshare driving is not sustainable
So sorry your tips aren’t higher, you certainly deserve more. Thanks for letting us know the state of affairs.
From what I have heard from drivers much of it may come down to the Area in which you drive more than how many days worked. Another was which days that you concentrate most of your time on. Monday through Wednesday/Thursday can be really tough whereas Friday through Sunday often has better results due to typical paydays. Do you also do Grub Hub? Just trying to help you out to maximize your ROI and Time.
I concentrate my driving on the highest demand with the least amount of driving anxiety as I’m 72 years old. I’ve discovered that without tips and bonuses (both Uber/Lyft have regular types of incentives) that I can’t make my goals. I drive very heavy Friday (not rush hour) Saturday, Sunday. Since I drive a 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite my costs/mile are 1/3 of my income. If I can’t get $2/mile it’s not hardly worth driving. At $40/hour ($27 net) I’m enthusiastic, but is not happening without good bonuses and tips. Now that’s $27/hour with zero benefits and is basically slave wages in Honolulu. I do love chauffeuring people, but if you can afford it, please tip accordingly. Oh, and from what I can gather from Uber I’m at the top of earners…
Required support of underpaid service staff is not a good argument since most of those people are on SNAP. If they can’t survive without two sources of charity, they need to find a new job.
Why do they have too get a new job. Why can’t they be paid a living wage?
That is something that sometimes needs to be taught to some employers, your health and wellness is directly effected by the compensation you receive. It also tends to effect the customers at times. The bottom line is everyone’s bottom line. Just saying!
You obviously don’t live here. You have no idea the circumstances that people are experiencing to be making that kind of remark.
Andy, once the push for a significant increase in wages began many of life’s basics began creeping along too, everywhere. Add to that 2+ years of hyper inflation and Utility Increases, etc., and Everyone is suffering about the same. It’s Not just a Hawaii Thing!
I disagree, there’s plenty of evidence that paying people a living wage is actually good for an economy. Please don’t buy into the corporate talking points designed to keep a large contingent of working poor in order to prop up their corporate profits.
Yeah bro that comment is pretty ignorant. The employers here create an army of working poor. People deserve better.
And I don’t even want to hear that saying “that’s the price you pay to live in paradise.” It’s just unacceptable.
What if they all took your advice and did just that? There would be no more waitstaff in the restaurants to serve you. Of course Then you would complain that “no one wants to work anymore!”.
My Experience at any eatery is Simple, I tip After, not prior to, Dining! If I am not satisfied with the service, food, etc. Why should I reward anyone? I don’t ever Expect that Everything will meet my expectations or approval, I use the “Missouri Motto” to guide me, BTW it is the “Show Me” State. Would an Employer give you your paycheck prior to you working? I Tip generously when I am extremely satisfied, anything less is in character with the deficiencies and where it occurred, back of the house versus front, and whether the manager is able to adjust the bill. If it is poor service from the wait staff I address that in the tip. No Tip prior to Finishing!
I have always believed in tipping 20%+ for food and services. I tip at the airport when a skycap checks my bag. Since I need to use a wheelchair, I also tip these loyal attendants. I tip housekeeping at my hotels, as well as people who help me with my luggage. I would prefer to overtip, because I know the people helping me are woefully underpaid. Until they are paid fairly for a living wage, I will overtip to thank them for making my visit to Hawai’i possible. I have also discovered people prefer cash over tipping on a credit card.
Thank you for shedding light on this trend, it isn’t just Hawaii, it is happening all over the country. I also get very cranky when a proposed tip is in my face for something that has traditionally not had one expected, your coffee bean example is a good one.
One point though is that the tipping culture arises from slavery. In southern states some of the only jobs open to Black people were jobs like servers, porters, etc and they were paid exclusively by tips.
Thanks for saying this, I was about to say the same… in my experience this is everywhere. It’s not just Hawaii. The thing that I notice is that if we are traveling to Hawaii, we all have a certain amount of disposable income. Those who take care of us while we are here, do not. I happily tip well, hoping I can help someone.
I have loved my visits to Hawaii over the years. But more and more, I’m becoming a member of the “just don’t come” club. Between the interrupted or cancelled flights, the embattled staff and entitled tourists, it’s just not fun anymore and not worth it to travel from the Southeast.
I have been visiting Hawaii since 1970. I have not been there tho since 2017. My question is I keep hearing the word “entitled” tourists on many blog sites. And never experienced that in my world travels. I don’t know if it is a trending word from uninformed individuals or have I become uninformed and now disillusioned about my extreme love for the South Pacific islands. I know there are more travelers now due to our over populated Earth, and with numbers comes all the other crappy things that individuals do that have not been raised properly. I do hope that every single human that is experiencing this “entitled” trend, will also talk to their children & adults about birth control.
I’m with you. For the school break periods in Washington, flights to HI are $2000 per person, round trip. Add to the air price all of this other stuff, and that’s kind of it. We’re a family of 3, so we just won’t be going, end of story. Which is a huge bummer because I love HI and I have friends there. We have been every year, sometimes more, since I graduated college in 2006. No more…
I’m traveling from the Northeast and as time has progressed it becomes harder to justify returning. With the Negative Accusations, Comments, Attitudes, and Disturbing Diatribe towards tourists, unless Wealthy, who Needs Hawaii! If Hawaiians refuse to make things better for themselves, why should my money be relied upon to help out? Where’s the DOJ, shouldn’t they be investigating where the money is, and has been, going! Imagine what they may discover. Maybe our next trip will be the last or possibly not, it won’t return to a Yearly Destination. Maybe it’s time to visit the New Hawaii in Nevada, I’ve heard that Aloha is alive and well there and there are plenty of Voters that actually Vote to Better Themselves!
Tipping is life in Vegas. I learned that 20yrs ago moving to the 9th Island. I never tip electronically. I always tip in cash. That assures prompt service the next time!
I tip in Cash because it’s Not Taxed, makes an immediate impact, helps pay the Bills or possibly go into the Savings Account, and I am Assured who received it. How it is actually used isn’t an issue, just doing my part to help out!
I do give good tips for decent service and fortunately have not seen a request for tips when no service was done since that would make me likely to not go back to that place.
The problem starts with employers though, if they aren’t paying their workers enough to even make a subsistence living then it is completely unfair to workers and customers to expect customers to make up the difference. Tips are Extraneous, not supposed to be a large component of normal salary.
We Americans have long put up with this nonsense. Employers get away with getting us to supplement their lousy pay. And, yes I have worked in the service industry, it’s physically demanding.
Just like over-priced hotels, as long as the consumer will pay the price they’ll keep charging it.
I was in the bar, restaurant business for over 30 years. Never did anyone ask for tips before the food and drinks were enjoyed. Then the ticket was given. Your service was always the same hoping tir s good tip. Not the other way around.
No tips for going up to the counter ordering something and soneibe hands into me expecting a tip. Absolutely wrong.
Fair wages…important and needed. Fair understanding of prices here for the consumer: important and needed. The cost of living in Hawaii and travelling here has to be open to tourists and others. If the economic model here can’t be open to that…that is wrong. And if tourism doesn’t work for many of the full time population…then they/we have to deal with the full consequences. We lived in Europe for years….prices were high but at least we knew what they were and were not shamed or pressured for ‘tips.’ I think that is the right way to have things.
I agree that the European model that doesn’t rely on tips is better than the current system. You see the price up front, aren’t shamed into tipping, and the workers make a living wage.
The cost of cabs just went up a great deal. I was really suprised when a ride from the Mall with groceries that was under $10 (but we gave the driver $15) is now $12 (and we gave the driver $15). The percentage tip that we leave has been reduced to around the 20% standard tip. So the cab companies are doing better from us but while the cab drivers will do better from the meter, not so much from the tip. I don’t know if the cab drivers asked for an increase in the meter rates, but we certainly didn’t and there is only so much money to go around.
It is a shame when people expect to be rewarded for services to the public. Whether you work in Hospitality or as a cashier. I myself work as a caregiver,companion. I give my very best at all times. The reward I receive is to see and know that they and family are satisfied with the care and knowledge I provided. There are no monetary bonuses. Just to hear that you made a difference in their health and prolonging life expectancy is more than money can buy. I’ve been taught what ever field you get into do your best and with pride. My 1st hourly pay 1967 $1.20 my last hourly pay $15.58 2022
Performing any job should be to the Best of your abilities, hopefully as you gain experience you will excel. Sometimes you may be recognized for the job you perform, never count on it. Remember that it is Your responsibility, your Job. Hopefully as you gain experience along with that will come raises, promotions, or similar. Satisfaction is knowing that you did your job to the best of your abilities. Working for another isn’t always easy, the ever changing job description is tiresome. Many find Solace and Contentment in the Simplest of Duties. Money never seems to be enough but an extra job or hours does make a difference. Mainly, Work to afford better, incrementally, like our Ancestors!
What many don’t realize is that the tip generated on these machines is calculated on the total Including tax. I refuse to tip on taxes. I tip the appropriate person in ca$h after servie is rendered. My mother waited tables in the 50s. My motto: Can’t afford to tip at restaurants …. eat at home. I don’t tip at McDs. I don’t eat there either. :0)
I Remember being stationed at Hickam AFB back in the 80’s as a lowly enlisted guy. We scrimped and save to take a once in a lifetime glider ride.
When we got into the aircraft there must’ve been 15 stickers saying the pilot works for tips. I’m sure I didn’t have $20 in my wallet and can’t remember what I gave him, but it just about wrecked the good time trying to figure out if $5 or $10 would be good enough. I can definitely see people opting out of doing things when they become too expensive. Once so many things get scratched off the vacation list, then ultimately the vacation gets scrapped. I can definitely see robot workers in Hawaii’s future.
Seems like every day in the newsletter you are complaining about the hawaiian air travel, hotels, restaurants, locals,or service etc..Recommend to your readers to try Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, anyplace in Mexico. They treat you with respect and are glad you came to visit. Much, much cheaper airfare, and they have all inclusives and beautiful Beaches. If Hawaii doesn’t want us, go somewhere else. I have probably stayed in Hawaii close to a total of 5 years out of the last 15 years. And a few months a year in Mexico. Do not put up with Hawaii!
Portions of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, the West Indies, all are wonderful and welcoming hosts. Choices abound and the costs are not prohibitive. Lately we have been staying closer to home by vacationing in coastal Florida and Alabama, even New Jersey and Maryland. There’s plenty to see, experience, enjoy, without traveling 11 hours non stop to Hawaii to get abused by overpriced necessities. I plan on Hawaii in 2024, about 18 days to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary. We were Married on Oahu. After that is in question. Antigua is beautiful.
Food Workers need to unionize. Without wait staff or other employees companies can’t make money. Adding more hotel rooms at cheaper rates, no room cleaning and $39 airfare are all part of the problem. Elect people who want to increase the minimum wage so withers are compensated enough to live without concerns. Wages in Hawaii should reflect the cost of living. People in Alabama pay $240 cents a gallon for gas. They earn less. Make Hawaii livable.
Iwas in Alabama on vacation 2 months ago, the absolute lowest price for Regular Unleaded was $3.299 per gallon and it remains unchanged. I’m now ending another vacation, this time in Madeira Beach Florida, and Regular Unleaded is $3.349, I was told by another vacationer from Alabama what the price was “back home.”
I let the customers wait, and I don’t do substitutions or change any menu items, I dont need a tip, so customers shut up and deal. No tips. I only do my job
With that attitude you must be hoping for the unemployment line and benefits. You do realize that if you are Fired you won’t be getting benefits after the Hearing. I enjoy it when employers go to hearings and do what is right.
This is not meant as a joke, but more a resigned commentary: Maybe ‘Hawaii’ should reconsider its situation as a remote pacific island, its situation of being part of the United States, and…obviously, rid itself of the part of the population whose ancestors got here after Captain Cook. Need to take a sober look at all the claims about ‘aloha’ (whatever that means in any situation) and think about being alive humans in 2023. If tipping and anything else rises the price to be a tourist….or a resident as I am….to some point (a tipping point)…some of us need to leave and go to the mainland…and do it while HI is still part of the U.S.A. As it is … it seems to be well known that ‘the best and the brightest’ go away already.
Ben, as long as the Islands are floating they will be the 50th State. I would never encourage this but it might be easier to wait out the Native Hawaiians moving to Las Vegas than trying to get everyone else to leave, just seems more plausible. If a small number of people are not happy and causing problems, why Punish the majority? My idea is make them all get along, play nice, or get tossed into an active volcano!
We love coming to Hawaii but the cost is becoming prohibitive. When prices go up at restaurants, if you tip by percentage, the tip will also go up. Soon, only the rich and well-heeled will be the only ones who can afford to go. That’s sad.
This is just another “demand” that businesses have place on their customers. I never “pretip” on a card use, I leave it in cash after the fact, depending on the service. Who knows if any tip left on any card payment actually gets to the actual server. My normal tipping practice is 15-18% and if really exceptional, 20%. I know the service industry is underpaid but that is the way it has been for many years when tipping was 10-12%. The cost of living has affected Everyone, not just the service industry. This is not just an Hawaii problem, but it seems to be magnified do to the high cost of vacationing in Hawaii.
To add insult to injury, my hairdresser told me when tips are paid by their “square” program, the salon deducts the service charge for using the square from the tip to the hairdresser. In other words, they aren’t getting the full tip as you intended. When I see these, I try to tip in cash.
How about get a job that doesn’t rely on gratitude for doing your specified job!!!
Tips are a joke and we’re originally the way the wealthy would show they are of a higher class than those providing them services…
Yup, and then when you go to a restaurant and there’s no servers or cooks you’ll complain that “no one wants to work anymore!”. You can’t have it both ways. You have to pay people a living wage without resorting to making them rely on tips to make ends meet.
I may charge my meal or bar tab on a credit card but I always tip in cash.
Having spent several weeks in Australia and New Zealand, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to ditch tipping altogether. When the bill comes, all that is expected is that it be paid. Nobody has their hand out expecting a tip.
We have a brewery here that operates on a no tipping basis. They’re always busy, it is a factor when deciding where to go and proves that you can be successful without the tipping model. I whish more places in the US would try it.
Out of curiosity, what do you pay your servers then?
No amount of “prompting” is going to get me to tip. I have no problem tapping Zero tip on those screens. I tip when and where I see fit.
What’s so hard about that?
Grow a spine people. It’s not that hard.
I went to a small shop in Honolulu that sold medium-priced jewelry, pottery, small prints, etc. All transactions were done on a smart phone-type device and there was a tip jar on the counter!!
I never put my tip on the card. I always leave it in cash after the service is rendered.
Leaving a cash tip avoids the service fee as well, so 100% of the tip goes to the server. Servers will also maybe tell you it’s a way to avoid sharing tips and/or reporting all of it for taxes.
Not sure about Hawaii, but in California it’s standard procedure to pool all tips and then the total is shared among waitstaff, host and kitchen staff. It used to be the server got the tip. Now it’s an excuse for the establishment to underpay every employee and expect them to make it up with tips.
… and if you leave it in an envelope with a message or say to them when you give it…”here is a gift for you”.. then it’s NOT a tip and not taxable! 😉
Unfortunately, in CA at least it doesn’t work that way. Employees are required to report tips to their employer so that the employer can report it as income, and make the proper deductions. I’m not sure how it works in other states. This is made easier by systems like Square where the tips are reported automatically.
Joerg I believe that all of the States are the same, however, not all Employers follow that. I know several that will make well over $150 per shift, that is really humping it while turning on the charm and personality while making Zero mistakes. California and certain other States need to get every bit of tax revenue possible due to the Horrendous Liabilities that they have legislated themselves in to. I’m certainly glad to not be living there. When a State wants taxes from a kid that mows my lawn for a few dollars there’s something wrong! Be well!
We expect to tip for sit-down meals and trip guides (birding, whale watching). Essentially for a service rendered. We pack our own food the rest of the time. The rest of the situations, like take-out, just don’t merit a tip, to me. But I do know that the service industry is vastly underpaid. ,