Where is Hawaii headed next following so much debate? We want to hear your vision for Hawaii tourism.
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Where is Hawaii headed next following so much debate? We want to hear your vision for Hawaii tourism.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
My husband and I are going to Hawaii and Oahu in 2 weeks. We are staying at a timeshare,but we still have to pay the Hawaiian Fees,Taxes,Resort Fees,and Surcharges which I believe are exorbitant. Timeshares should be exempt from all these Fees.
why?
No because people illegally exploit the land and wildlife. Don’t worry though that’ll make things better for you but not the community, so you will be fine.
Like many other mainlanders, I fell in love with Hawaii in the 80’s. I’ve visited every island, for a total of 8 trips. It was the nature that really stole my heart. I always tried to respect Mother Ocean and all her residents, as well as local culture. Sad to say, I won’t be back. I get the message that residents are sending: stay away! Aloha, be well and god bless
Aloha!
Locals aren’t raising the prices….
Why do you feel that the people in Hawaii don’t want visitors?
Haven’t you read the comments? Haven’t you read what they have suggested? Haven’t you read about the increased prices? Haven’t you read about all the restrictions? They don’t want tourists. They only want the money. Good riddance.
It seems to me, based on the tenor of your comments, that you’re really just looking for a bargain basement budget vacation experience. Unfortunately, most of those are in Third World countries with no labor laws, including child labor. Hawaii is a victim of its own excellence and success. Hope you find what you’re looking for.
I have lived in Hawaii my entire life of 50 years. I have seen it change over the years. I have been to all the major islands, but I have lived in Honolulu and mostly on Kauai. They all have their special draws and special landscapes. The country areas need to stay country, that is what makes the locals and the tourists happy. I definitely believe in protecting that in what ever way possible. Once that is gone, it will never come back. Locals need to be given the priority to enjoy where they live. When you drive an hour away to go to the beach and you can’t find a parking place, that is a problem!! You pay taxes to keep these places going. The tourists come to see nature and I know they will understand restrictions to keep natural
The airports were the Worst part! The desks weren’t staffed, the process was confusing and inconvenient, and the staff (multiple people) were Horrible!!! I would start there if the goal is to make Hawaii a more desirable destination. Thank you for considering this as an improvement.
Please have compassion and show respect we can not imagine what it feels to be native hawaiian. I’m sure it was just bad timing and I’m sorry that’s the experience you had but I feel nothing but Aloha peace and tranquility from the island and people alike. Maybe hawaii is not for everyone or maybe you took a bad attitude to hawaii, none the less I hope you feel welcome in all places you travel if you don’t just don’t take it so personal everything is not about you you are only one person. May you aquire thing things you desire and receive many blessings
It’s not just her. Its well documented how awful the airports are.
Naah, It’s just a few isolated opinions. I’ve traveled extensively throughout the world and the Maui and Honolulu airports may not be the best, but they’re in the top 20%. Try visiting places in the US Midwest or East Coast to get an idea for what an ugly dirty dysfunctional airport looks like. Have a nice day!
I have always loved Maui and my heart feels peaceful and at home there. However the last few years have shown me that visitors are being heavily burdened with excessive fees, doubled rental rates and increased taxes. Rental cars costs are very excessive and surcharges and improvement fees gouge visitors. It’s so disheartening.
Are you seriously worried about the burden on visitors when locals can’t afford food and housing because of how vacation rentals have driven up house prices? People here work 2 jobs, sometimes more, yet are living in their cars. Who do you think owns most of the property in the state? It isn’t Hawaiians… Local people are not the cause. Investment properties are.
Going to ignore this public pitty party by locals. I will ignore the additude by servers who dislike tourists, but would rather surf all day instead of furthering education.
Hawaii is a paradise for all. Waikiki Is the city part, but it is not NYC or LA. Disband the tourism commission. Let airlines and hotels sell the dream. There are jobs. Even more if people are friendlier.
Where is the Aloha?
Maybe under an abondoned appliance on Farrington highway.
Pre covid was going along much better. Locals are now selfish and empowered by the tourisim funding.
See how all the prices fall if you send tourists packing and see how long it takes for provisions to arrive for even higher costs.
Rethink this negativity. Dont assume visitors dont respect.
That’s right, let’s ignore all the problems, take off all the guard rails, and let things continue to deteriorate until Hawaii becomes such a mess that tourists won’t won’t to go there. Let the traffic build to the point that you can’t get anywhere. Continue to destroy the very landmarks that people come there to see. Turn it into a giant theme park for entitled people to run amok in. Great idea…
If there is tourism funding it certainly doesn’t go to locals! I’m not from Hawaii but have spent a lot of time there. Most tourists are rude. There are now more ethnically Hawaiians living in places other than Hawaii because they can’t afford their own homeland. My little town has few homes for sale but those that are available start at 1 million. Locals that try to stay have to work very hard, usually at several jobs.
As frequent visitors from the mainland, my family tries to be respectful and responsible tourists. We have relatives that live on the island and our over all impressions of islanders attitudes towards tourists is just like politics. The vocal minority is a distraction in both directions. It doesn’t help.
The outside investments that charge fees that almost double the advertised rates are discouraging. That being said, as tourism gets restricted those fees and the overall cost of visiting will only increase.
I have always dreamed of winning the lottery, moving to Maui, and trying to help while enjoying the culture. Affordable housing, infrastructure, and overall quality of life improvement are just a start
We don’t surf all day and we do it so we don’t punch ignorant people it’s not like they are handing out education and the cost of living wages, compared to work wages makes it even harder especially when the system came in and your a native and only the elect few had a standing chance. Yet we thrived and was the only thing bringing aloha. Aloha is a way of life, the system tarnished it. Aloha is no longer given it is earned. Yes pre-covid was the days and what tourism funded the locals? We are not slaves. The only beneficiaries of tourism is the white land owners, banks, government, tax collector’s. All the money that you guys spend here does not stay here. That’s why the economy drags. The visitors are not the problem, it’s their attitude.
Same with your attitude
That’s precisely the problem. Locals have been pleading for change to make the experience better for everyone, residents and visitors. No one is asking for no tourism, just managed tourism. Residents dont see the money brought in for tourism, it goes off island.
I live in one of the most visited areas of Hawaii, our parks look like that of a poor inner city, our schools are dilapidated, our infrastructure is outdated. I know plenty eduated waiters, they work at the restaurant as a second job because the first pays so little for cost of living. Actually waiting tables can be pretty lucrative. Are you suggesting everyone should become more educated so they don’t have to wait tables? Who will serve you your Mai Tai?
Doesn’t matter what state you live in getting an education pays higher wage. No state can you live om minimum wage. Minimum wage is supposed to be temporary until can gain an education or more valuable skills.
Parks and schools are paid from taxes. I am sure you are paying taxes so why does the government waste money somewhere else? It’s called union pensions and benefits for government workers. That only changes buy voting for new representatives that vote different.
The majority keeps voting in the same party. Why improve then? Need competition.
Tourists are destroying the natural habitats, Spencer. They also mistreat the locals and, just so you know, we don’t work for or answer to you. To much traffic, too many cost increases, and we have to use our culture to entertain you but we can’t speak out against you when you throw your trash on the ground or criticize or culture and language, or you eat something you don’t like. You only stay about a week at a time. We have to deal with your ignorance and damage for a lifetime. If you won’t show respect and allow us or dignity, don’t come here.
My husband and I visit Maui twice a year. Our stay is roughly 3 weeks each time. After our recent visit to Maui we felt that it would be the last time. The fees and taxes have us feeling that we are being gouged. We have made many friends during our 14 years of visiting Maui. We support local businesses and will miss that, but we have been out priced to vacation in Hawaii again.
Completely agree. When a week stay is equivalent to buying a used car, no thanks. Most people have to fly for literally hours and hours to get there and this year you would’ve been better off going to Florida as the weather was dry and hot. Pretty soon only the ultra rich will be able to live there and the very rich will be their only visitors.
Take a look at another article here on @BOH that compares the price of a vacation in Hawaii vs Orlando. Turns out that Hawaii is a bargain when it comes to acomidations compared to Orlando.
I’ve visited both places within the last year. Orlando is much cheaper than Hawaii. Hotels, car rental, airfare and food are all cheaper. I’m not saying Orlando is better but it’s cheaper.
Again, there’s an entire article about this on @BOH, take a look at that. I think that they didn’t include airfare, but did include things like the cost of activities, so that might make a big difference.
First visited Hawaii with my family as a kid before statehood. Lived in Hawaii (Oahu) for 15 years 1980’s and 1990’s. In recent years, visitor to Big Island, Maui and Kauai. Current observations: too many tourists, too much traffic/congestion (especially on neighbor islands without infrastructure to handle), relatively high costs of vacation room/rentals, extra add-on fees, etc. compared to some other resort destinations. While Hawaii is still a wonderful, beautiful place to visit, I believe that the above factors won’t foster the “return visitor” — which has been a mainstay of Hawaii’s tourism economy in the past.
That is exactly what they want only the rich tourists. They no longer look at tourist as people but rather like wallets.I can’t be the only one that after 45 years of visiting I will not return but choose to go where visitors are welcomed.
Restore access to the popular, historic hiking site the Haiku Stairs (aka The Stairway to Heaven) in Kaneohe.
Not unless all hikers place a $250,000 deposit so that when they fall and need to be airlifted to the Queens Medical Center for a 3 1/2 weeks stay in the intensive care unit the local taxpayers are not left footing the bill.
why so more people can walk through yards and endanger local safety? do you want tourists walking through your grandmothers backyard? didnt think so.
I(we) just returned from a 3 week holiday in Honolulu.(our third time in the last 12 years. We have also been to Kauai , Maui and the big island. We will not be visiting Honolulu again. The incessant traffic noise and sirens make it nearly impossible to sleep.I assume there is no noise bylaw since motorcycle and sportscar muffler noise is incredibly loud.
Honolulu is a big city. Show me a big city that isn’t noisy. And please show me a city or a county or a state that enforces vehicle noise laws. I agree with you: the unnecessarily loud modified mufflers of many motorcycles and cars is an abuse upon the citizenry by a small group of insecure men who are desperate to be noticed. But law-enforcement refuses to enforce vehicular noise ordinances in the majority of US cities.
Key west has similar issue. They decided to limit cruise ships. Limited infrastructure limited tourist. I have been to Hawaii twice. First time was work. second was pleasure. I was amazed at the increased in tourist on the weekend. zJust crazy. weekdays were much better.
Key West sort of reminds me of Lahaina in some ways….locals seem to be getting priced out…on the other side def see some dropouts who moved there and just got their minds and bodies fried….
Hawaii travel has lost its luster. Too crowded, too expensive, and locals who are right to be upset about the unmanaged growth. From my West coast city i can now fly direct to Tahiti, Belize, many places in Mexico, and Costa Rica. Maybe Hawaii needs folks like me to choose other places, now easy to do. But it sure feels like Hawaii wants me to choose other places too; and so I will for now. But I sure love and miss Hawaii.
Hawaii state and the tourism industry have massively failed the people of Hawaii. I can’t think of any attempt at investment intended to benefit residents, such as infrastructure, housing, medical care, etc., that actually has done so. Epic failures and boondoggles. Meanwhile, most tourism dollars leave the state. In return we get degradation and shame- on our people, our environments, our cities and towns. Destructive and dangerous invasive species are everywhere. We have no sewers, no mail delivery, no safe drinking water, horrible traffic with poor highway design, no trash pickups, and pitiful poor access to limited local food, produce, meat, fish. It’s like a third world country. Wages and benefits are too low to live on!
There is only what political party in Hawaii so no accountability. Same as Oregon but our infrastructure is alot better. So also beholden to Big Tourism companies at the expense of local companies and businesses. Buy local if possible.
I kind of agree, there are actually two party’s in Hawaii, but both are controlled by Big Tourism. Bottom line, Hawaii won’t fix any of these problems until they control Big Tourism. I get that it’s the only viable industry in Hawaii right now. That gives it a Lot of political power. Until Hawaii finds some other way to support itself, these problems aren’t going to get fixed, and will continue to get worse because Big Tourism is an insatiable monster that needs to grow and grow (i.e. needs ever more tourists). It’s going to fight any and every attempt to slow down tourism in Hawaii.
What exactly is meant by “applying fees appropriately and not in inconsistent and discriminatory ways that damage the state’s relations with its visitors” ? What fees are being applied inconsistently? Which are discriminatory? And how so? Facts, please.
Not sure what is specifically meant in the article. However, if you look at the history of the transient accommodation tax, it was originally implemented to provide funding to the counties for tourism. Over the years the state has taken more and more of that portion of the tax. In addition to increasing the tax percentage in 2009 and 2010. None of the increase was appropriated to the counties. Since then, the state has taken all of the transient accommodation tax and allowed counties to add an additional accommodation tax to support county needs.
I love Hawaii and have a number of friends whom I consider my Ohana, but the cost of airfare is out of reach for me currently. We were going every year since we were married (6 or 7 times), then Covid hit. Now that Covid is over, prices have escalated in a phenominal way. Being retired, We don’t currently have the funds to afford the airfare. Okay, we save on a place to stay because we stay with one of my best friends, but the economy has made some things out of reach for many. Some day we (or I alone) will return.
Too many tourists are spending too little and going to too many places. Get rid of timeshares, and rentals. Drive tourists into hotels. Control tourism thru pricing. Limit their access to areas by cutting down on car rentals and adding access fees. Too many things are cheap and free in Hawaii. Budget travel and social media has made things worse for Hawaii. We’re seeing record number of domestic tourists, we’ll be fine.
Hugely expensive corporate hotels are one of the main problems. “Timeshares and rentals” help support the regular folks on Hawaii…and provide positive alternatives for visitors. I’d say place a moratorium…permanent on building the monstrosities the corporates are building and support the scaled down version of aloha hospitality that the small guy can offer who can rent his home and property if he wishes.
Amen !!!
Timeshares and private residential short stays are exactly why local people are leaving the island in record numbers and the local homeless population has skyrocketed. Timeshares don’t help local people because they aren’t owned by locals. They’re owned mostly by mainlanders and corporate investors. Median home price is now over a million dollars. Focus has been on building more resorts, and condos. No low income housing. No I crease in minimum wage, and the average cost to rent a 3br home is $4000. We could care less about tourism. If you price us out, there won’t be anyone here to cater to you anyway.
Aloha Mia. Can you please provide a link to where you found this information? A research study of some sort? Mahalo.
Well, I live here and it’s discussed on the local news and in community meetings often. I’m sure there are links to discussions online that you can source yourself.
I say this with so much love: there is a lot of misinformation being propagated by the hotel lobby and reported on the news as fact. In turn, it’s then repeated by people who believe it’s true.
In DC, vacation rentals make up less than 1% of the housing. I don’t know the exact number for Hawaii, but I bet it’s not that different, as DC has tons of tourism, just like Hawaii.
I only stay in vacation rentals when I travel, as I like to experience a new place at the neighborhood level. I make sure to chose a home that is notoriously quiet, and most of my vacation money is spent at locally owned shops. This provides the neighborhood with an infusion of cash, not to mention tax dollars.
All love.
@Glorian S. According to an article on hiappleseed.com “Twenty-seven percent of Hawaiʻi home sales are made to nonresidents. On Maui, 60 percent of condominium sales are made to nonresident buyers. The proliferation of short term vacation rental units (VRUs)—the majority of which are operated by nonresidents—has added another pressure point by further limiting the availability of housing for local families.”
@Joerg H. Thank you for responding. I went to the website you cited, but the link is broken, can you please resend it?
I don’t understand everything with the housing shortage in Hawaii. And if you were born there, first, please let me say that I am sorry for that situation.
That said, I am very familiar with STRs. And I can say that STRs are not the cause of the housing shortage. The shortage, nationwide, comes from a lack of housing being built for locals & b/c the minimum wage is appalling.
As a guest, I mostly stay in vacation rentals, b/c I prefer experiencing a new place at the neighborhood level. As a host, I want to provide that same experience. Since 2013, I haven’t had the first complaint from my neighbors b/c I keep the peace
How someone from another state telling someone that is living in the situation how it is. The fact is that majority of home sales are to out of state investors. I personally know many persons who were made to move out of the place they were living because the property was sold and turned into vacation rentals, some had to move to the mainland. Its a story heard over and over. They are teachers, nurses, electricians, etc. 15 years ago I lived in a building that was all local residents, now it’s mostly vacation rentals. We cannot keep building more housing so you can stay wherever you please,we are running out of resources on an island. It sounds to me like propaganda from STR owners and investors to say STRs don’t affect housing. It does.
Please keep in mind the active laws that were enacted in 2018 to seriously curb short-term vacation rentals. Below is from the Hawaii county information on legislation 108. No new homes in residential areas can’t be short-term vacation rentals. No legacy homes in agricultural areas can be used anymore as short-term vacation rentals. New condos and apartments not in resort. Zoned areas can be short-term vacation rentals. So the state has been very active in trying to alleviate the housing shortage.
Bill 108, adopted by the Hawaiʻi County Council in November 2018 as Ordinance 2018-114, regulates Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVR) on Hawaii Island. The new law: 1) defines where the use will be allowed; 2) establishes provisions and standards
I live in the situation part time. I also research hot topics that seem “off” to me. I’m just trying to give a different perspective. I’m sorry I offended you.
Save your dissatisfaction with STR for the global corporate hotel chains that have the means and power to buy off any competition from owners whether locals or those who live off island. 3-4-5- 6 -7 hundred dollars per night for hotels? Hey anything that can be done to stop that profit taking is welcome. Hawaii’s bed and transient and resort fees taxes should aplply to all entities renting space including private owners and those funds should be earmarked for employees in the tousim industry and infrastructure which is a mess.
I have been lolking for property on Big Island for a few years. Waited too long now. But residental houses cant just be rented now unless grandfathered in, so yes that will bring houses prices down. Condos can be rented generally so HOAs going through roof and condos costs. But that does keep tourists in resort areas and residents in non tourists areas. Should help.
Timeshares and residential short stay are completely different. The time shares are indeed corporate off island entities. But residential rentals are owned by Islanders who are either there on the property or somewhere else temporarily ..or have 2 homes.
So please do not conflate time shares – a nasty business everyehere not just Hawaii – with privately owned property rented out by the owner.
Not entirely true, only about 3/4 of home sales last year were by locals. That means that 25% of sales went to outside interests, many of them buying them as investment properties (i.e. to rent the out on AitBnB). But even beyond that, it’s those investor that are driving up the price. they are willing, and able, to pay more since they will be renting out the property at a profit, regardless of the cost. So, that drives prices up, and up, and up. You simply can’t deny that there’s a low income housing crisis in Hawaii.
3/4 of home sales going to locals is a lot of homes going to locals.
Most states have a housing shortage.
That’s because not enough houses are being built. It’s also because tax dollars are not being spent on basic resident needs, like roads, sewers, police, etc. A large portion of that money is going to line special interest’s pockets.
No, they aren’t. I recently purchased a home for way over value competing with folks trying to escape covid and corporations buying residential property to use as vacation rentals. Seacliff Kauai is a residential neighborhood. There are no timeshares. Agencies often sell multi-million dollar properties to law firms, and such, who use them as income properties. I know this because my mother worked for a firm that collectively owned several vacation homes as well as apartment buildings together. The home I last rented was owned by folks from mainland. I purchased my home from folks who live in Vegas. You don’t know near as much about Hawaii as you think you do….
Thank you for speaking truth to this topic.
The hotel lobby is doing a bang-up job of propagating myths that tons of people are buying into.
There are social problems in every state, that include housing shortages and minimum wages being at the poverty level.
It’s just smoke and mirrors to blame honest, hardworking folks from making an honest living.
The fact is, travelers tastes are changing. Many prefer not to stay in a hotel anymore, hence the reason for the hotel lobby coming on strong with fear tactics that are not based in reality, yet appear as if they are.
Unfortunately, Big Tourism will just import workers from elsewhere to take your place if you leave. Trust me, BT will find a way to survive at any cost.
They try to import workers all the time. Another controversial subject. Transplants don’t stay. They come looking for paradise and find it isn’t what they expected. Most times, they don’t last 3 months before they go back to the mainland.
I’m not referring to people from the mainland. I’m talking about what they have done elsewhere and import cheap labor from 3rd world countries just like what they use on cruise ships. Mark my word, that’s next when the local labor pool either shrinks too small or as a way to “save money”.
Our last trip to Kauai (and I do mean last), the rental car pickup/dropoff was astoundingly unorganized, unapologetic and miserable. Stood in line 2 hours after reserving early.
Very poor tone-setting for an otherwise decent visit.
My first time to Hawaii was in 2018 when I was 28 years old. I went to the island of Kauai and it was a dream. There is something very special about Hawaii- it’s beautiful, but also the culture and food is very special. As a visitor I am pro Hawaii making plans and setting limits on visitors. I don’t care if that means I don’t get to go often. When I go, be it twice in my lifetime, or once every 5 years, I want it to still feel like Hawaii. It’s not just Hawaii, over development and rampant building is every where. I wish state/local governments at least planned smartly. Where I live, where once there were acres of trees there are now datacenters dotting the landscape between housing and strip malls.
❤️❤️❤️
Extremely well written article. Was it done by Rob, Jeff or a collaborative effort?
Anyway I believe that the “hands off” approach with reduced taxes would do the best good. I can’t believe someone is suggesting outlawing Airbnb’s! This is America and we should let the capital economy regulate itself. Why force people into hotels who would rather rent a condo or home and cook for themselves, especially with family?
Yes, investigate any person, department, or company that has ever touched tourist taxes and assess what good they have ever done.
Finally, the part about visitors and locals working together for the land is spot on. Let us try that..
Hi MJ.
Thanks! And we appreciate your nearly 200 comments.
All the articles on BOH are a collaboration between Rob, Jeff and Collin. Sometime it might be fun to share our process.
Aloha.
“I can’t believe someone is suggesting outlawing Airbnb’s! This is America and we should let the capital economy regulate itself. Why force people into hotels who would rather rent a condo or home and cook for themselves, especially with family?”
Amen !!!
The capital economy is what is running the show and it doesn’t work. There are a finite amount of resources on islands, we cannot just turn all our housing into vacation rentals. That doesn’t work either.
Air BBs are terrible for local residents. They’re mostly owned by mainlanders and in residential neighborhoods. This not only drives housing cost out of reach for locals who are already struggling to make ends meet, it decreases safety in our neighborhoods by constantly exposing our families to strangers. Not to mention the noise, because tourists are here to have a good time. Not be quiet on school nights when the family you’re vacationing next to has children. Rather than worry about how much mainlanders can profit from Hawaii, how about thinking of the local people who won’t stay if they can’t afford to live here.
As a guest, I mostly stay in vacation rentals whenever I travel, because I prefer experiencing a new place at the neighborhood level.
And as a host, I offer clean, safe, peaceful accommodations. Since 2013 I haven’t had one complaint from my neighbors, because I vet the hell out of guests. I’s a SuperHost b/c I focus on excellent customer service for my guests and making sure my neighbors happy. To date, I haven’t had the first complaint from my neighbors about any of my guests.
When I travel, I offer my home to other travelers. The income earned is the only way that this 64-year-old woman can travel.
Please don’t banish all of us good hosts, let’s just get rid of the bad apples.
The answer is simple. AirBnB’s are driving the cost of housing for locals through the roof. do you honestly bevel that vulture capitalism would, in any way, fix that problem? So, to heck with the people who live there, as long as I can get a cheap place to stay??
Airbnb is not vulture capitalism. It’s small people making money from their homes a good thing. Yes if the owners are off island that’s a problem that can be remedied. By far the worst exploitation originates from the mega Hotel chains who exploit the visitors the workers the environment etc. Those entities need to be reined in.
Airbnb is not the problem. Most hosts are exactly what you said, small people making money from their homes. Bad hosts should be removed; responsible hosts should remain.
My husband is a numbers and data guy, and this is what his research shows, “Hawaii housing facts. The problem is lack of supply and the reason there is a lack of supply is restrictions on who can build what where. The share of housing in Hawaii sold to “outsiders” is actually declining.”
Travel to HI is waning. Increased taxes, lodging, rental cars, and restaurants are gouging and people are finally going elsewhere. Lets see how locals feel when tourism deflates. Already a 20% reduction from 2022 to 2023.
Sorry Lisa, but you are incorrect. Compared to January of last year, tourist visits this January are up by 38%. Total spending was also higher this January over last January ($1.89 billion vs. $1.40 billion). Source: State Of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development; Tourism Research and Economic Analysis Division. Report available on Hawaii Tourism Authority website. Mahalo.
In Hanalei looking out my window. There are tourists literally everywhere and it’s not even spring break yet. Had to wait 45 minutes this morning for my breakfast sandwich. And, with all the defiant covid travelers, I think Hawaii tourism is going to be fine. We wouldn’t mind if it slowed down.
Our family used to be regular visitors- the perfect family vacation, well within our means if we were careful. No longer the case, it’s stressful even considering a visit as everything is so expensive, and additional charges for things like parking that used to be free. Condos have shot up in price and are adding every additional fee that they can come up with including huge resort fees.
The “shine” is no longer there, and we will adjust our expectations and find other great places to visit. Thankful for the memories, but we know that we will never begin to have those experiences again. Like the kids say, reality sucks!
Everyone continue going to Maui, Kauai, and Oahu because I love the Big Island. I live in Oregon and travel west of the Mississippi. Hawaii isn’t much more expensive than anywhere else. Except you can’t drive to Hawaii and since fly most people stay 7 10 days. Fly from Illinois etc get a rental car and stay on Oregon coast for a week. Won’t save much money and while beautiful its cold Except in the summer and then the water still is 55 degrees.
Also people prices go up over time and can’t be the same as 1970 when you were making $5@ hr.
The visitor industry is very important in Hawaii but the added taxes and fees are just out of control. I’m a resident and even I pay these outrageous extra taxes and fees.
I will go back to Hawaii this year, but Maui is off the list due to cost, and unfortunately Big Isle is following just behind. Waikiki is still affordable and I’ll probably drop in for a quick getaway of a few nights. My days of spending 8+ nights and zooming all over an island may be over.
Went. Not welcome. Won’t go again.
The hotel rates are like robbing the tourist. Rediculously way to high. That is the reason I have stayed away. A room I rented for 350.00 last year is now over 650 a night.
Unfortunately, the double whammy of assessed values increasing tremendously on properties along with hotels being assessed at a tax rate of 4x than that of a house have made thing unaffordable. Think $36k a year in property taxes per room! That’s why hotels like the one in Princeville have had to go from being a Westin, to a Ritz Carlton to now some kind of wellness spa. Room rates have to increase to cover costs.
A full stop on Airbnb and pushing tourists back to the hotels would help tremendously! This would slow down tourism (but not get rid of it completely), would decrease traffic in neighborhoods and roads- waste water treatment and other infrastructure strains; it would also greatly improve the way locals perceive visitors as they will no longer be speeding through their neighborhoods, or renting a house for $6,000 a week which drives up the home prices and provides far less affordable housing for locals. People will still come to Hawaii and pay costs of timeshares in hotels…they did before and at that time locals had affordable housing and little grudges towards mainlanders.
I am so sorry, but what you are saying about Airbnb is a myth propagated by the hotel lobby. Most hosts are locals trying to make ends meet and most Airbnb stays are entirely peaceful. We hear the horror stories, because that is newsworthy. A broad sweep of rules for all to manage the one bad apple is not the answer. Please let’s deal with the bad apples, and allow travelers to have their choice in lodging. Not everyone likes a hotel, nor can afford a timeshare.
I actually live in an area that has had to curtail the proliferation of air bnbs. They bring nothing to a neighborhood expect noise, traffic and higher housing costs. A tiny fraction of them are owned by someone ‘scraping by’. It’s definitely not the so called hotel lobby that is leading the charge to get rid of them, here or in Hawaii.
And, no I don’t live in Hawaii the effect there, because of lack of room to grow, has no doubt been terrible.
In most cities, including huge cities like Washington, DC, Airbnb’s take up less than 1% of the housing in the entire city. Airbnb is not the cause of noise, traffic and housing shortages. This is the 1% trying to propagate a myth to the lower 99%.
Good sound article
Our leaders have to stop making it hard for tourist to come here. We need tourism for a healthy economy. Stay the course. Stop regulating, stop interfering, let Hawaii be a free capitalist economy.
Our leaders need to stop taxing everyone who lives here and travels here. Let’s work on stopping the corruption in our public and appointed leaders. We need checks and balances.
One party and their corruption will ruin Hawaii.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Because Hawaii has a unique culture, I would like to see its tourist industry be unique. For all trips of five days or more, what if we required tourists to participate in at least one cultural or environmental event on the island of their choice? I’m not talking about a “production” luau (authentic luau’s are ok), but rather heading to a farm to pound poi, attending a hula class that includes the history and true nature of hula, helping with a beach cleanup while learning about the dangers of single-use plastic bottles for our beloved ocean mammals. It’s time to support the culture of Hawaii and not just leave tourist dollars, too much of which actually goes off island to the hotel and other corporations that own island properties.
Requiring any obligation, especially trash pick up on vacation, would kill the travel industry in HI instantly. How would you even enforce something like that? This is not realistic at all.
I was just at a condo complex on the Big Island that had no recycling even for cans and bottles. It all went in the landfill. I would rather give to the poor and at the end of the vacation we got to dump good food that was opened.
The tourist sites don’t have parking or bathrooms.
Solar farms just installed last year.
I am not a environmentalist but don’t like waste and litter.
You’re kidding, right? Nothing would drive me to take my vacations in Tahiti faster than force eco-slavery in the middle of my vacation.
Hawaii is a place like none other.
The holiness, the splendor, the ability to transform to a higher level without even trying, and most important of all, the gift of it being a given that you walk two worlds there.
I am a writer and I come for 2-4 months at a time. I’ve never known such peace, healing and beauty than what I’ve experienced during those times. Each time I visit, something from both ends of the spectrum happens—from amazingly good, to unbelievably heartbreaking.
I never wanted to visit Hawaii. But in 2016 I came to accompany my sister for medical treatment. She unexpectedly died 3 days before we were to come. I postponed the trip, and came for the two of us. I feel exposing me to Hawaii is my sister’s parting gift to me.
I want to be welcomed when I come to Hawaii and I am one of the Good Travelers who come with Aloha, Respect, I Tip Huge, I pick up after myself, etc. I would think the Native Hawaiians should be More up in arms over Zuckerberg & Oprah buying up Thousands of acres or Your Land Rather than being Rude to Me, when i come!!! Be Mad at Them, Not Me! ALOHA!
Mahalo for all your great travel articles about Kaua’i and Hawai’i in general. Been a property owner on Kaua’i for more thank 23 years and a visitor since 1968…so I have seen a lot of changes on the Garden Island. The island did not start really getting crowded with visitors until the introduction of the “Time Share”. There used to be the drop in tourism in May and September and now it is full throttle all year round. All those time share weeks get sold out. I used to go to the north shore more often depending on when the weather was right and now it is near impossible to plan an adventure with online parking and the shuttle bus.
It has come to a time where we must teach our visitors importance of keep in mind that they’re guests in our home, and must be respectful and responsible of keeping our islands from harm. With aloha and smiles, we can gently instruct them to be mindful of our important cultural, spiritual, and beauty in tact. We must teach them history, law of Hawai’i that are so different from the continental US, China. Some on our island started eco-tours. That is great! Let us move toward educating our guests, have them embrace our love and sense of responsibility we feel for our land.
Thank you for teaching me how to be able to come to your island. It is a place that is like none other. All love.
The current trends are locked in.
Hawaii will become a destination for the wealthy.
As Hawaii’s cost of living continues to escalate, more residents will have no choice
but to move where the cost of housing and living is lower.
Too many people,not enough space.
I understand the imbalance with locals and tourists. If I would put myself in the local’s shoes, I too would be unhappy with the traffic, increase of costs and overcrowding. I have heard of the wealthy buying houses, tearing them down and building a bigger, better house. Locals have been priced out of their homes by property taxes alone. If a balance could be made that would be great. I try to act like a responsible guest to Hawaii as I would to any other state. Unfortunately, Hawaii is now another location for the rich. The rich tend to take over anything that is good for everyone and make it their own. I have seen it happen over and over again. Maybe the balance can come in with the wealthy who are taking over the Hawaiian Islands.
I love Hawaii and I’m very fortunate to call it my home for the last 17 years. With all do respect, I’m starting to get a little worn out hearing about how the locals have been priced out of the islands and how the wealthy mainlands are taking over. Unfortunately, at some point locals decided to sell out to the wealthy. If you didn’t sale your homes in the first place, you wouldn’t have been priced out in the future. Long story short, greed from past generations has killed the Hawaiians. If you want to keep your land don’t sale it. Mahalo
I don’t have property there and this is only what I have heard when I was visiting and talking to friends and locals. Yes, the past has come and bit them in the nose. It is just sad to see what is happening. So glad you are fortunate enough to live there. My comment on seeing it happen is not only for the islands, but also the mainland. It is everywhere and thus the division is happening between the rich who can afford to buy and the poor selling to survive or have to sell because they can’t afford to continue to live wherever they are at. So maybe some locals sold because they couldn’t afford to stay because the property taxes increased so much that they couldn’t afford to stay there. I agree greed was also a factor.
My connections to Hawaii originate with my parents. Mom worked for Matson and Dad was a pilot in the AirForce based @Hickam. Later he flew for TWA so in my youth we visited Hawaii many times. I have only made it back a couple of times (from Ohio) in adulthood. Airfare cost has always been significant from the Midwest. Food is a given by the nature of where it comes from and how it gets there. Lodging was the most $urprising element. Disneyland and Hawaii have a lot in common. They both used to be reasonable for a family and the magic was a given. Trips to both now need to be in the 10 year budget negotiations. The Spirt of Aloha remains but it’s not what it used to be and I understand why.
Having visited Hawaii 4 times since 2011 I can say it was worth the hassle and cost of experiencing the velvety soft Hawaiian environment. Sad to say though each time has gotten more difficult…and the aloha spirit has faded except in a few locales…esp since transplants don’t innately have it… Perhaps it’s time for the Hawaiian natives, however they’re defined, to finally reclaim what’s been lost and what’s been taken from them illegally and restrain the profit hungry greedy corporates that have descended like vultures on the islands…small businesses may suffer more than the conglomerates will but Hawaii can survive during the transition to being normal and sane once again.
The problems with Hawaii starts with the United States Of America overthrowing the government already established by the Kingdom Of Hawaii. Then U.S. fails to admit the atrocity of undermining the indigenous people. The State is in constant turmoil because of an overthrown Kingdom by the United states Of America. The land does not belong under U.S. jurisdiction. Everybody wants to own and make money off of Hawaii for greed and power and control. While they subtly genocide the people. The islands should be regulated rightfully under the Kingdom Of Hawaii. Hawaii did Not choose to be a state! What would Hawaii be like under Kingdom rule had it not be taken by deceit….. Paradise.
Nonsense.. As a resident the state is not in constant turmoil. This view is complete hyperbole and not based in reality. Every place has problems and this states problems are too many people spending money that supports the economy… it’s only economy.
I just returned from a month-long stay on the Island of O’ahu. I have loved Hawaii ever since I first came in the late 1970’s but times have changed. I have lived long enough to see the change for myself. First and foremost, what I missed the most on this trip was Hawaiian Culture. Sure the prices are sky-high, the traffic is awful, and I did not feel as safe as I did in the past, but the reason I travel to Hawaii is for Hawaiian culture. If I wanted beautiful water and a good vacation, it is less expensive to go to Mexico. I come to Hawaii for the culture. Remember, I was there a month and heard slack key guitar once. Most ukulele I heard was played by a Japanese group from the Ukulele Picnic. The luaus are outrageously expensive….
The State must do whatever is necessary to diversify the Hawaiian economy. Tourism should not comprise more than 50% of the total revenue source. A little more agriculture and a lot more tech, tech, tech! But avoid the fates of Seattle and San Francisco: we need rent control so the middle and lower class isn’t priced out of housing by high wage-earning techies.
Actually, it may be too late to save Hawaii.