Where is Hawaii headed next following so much debate? We want to hear your vision for Hawaii tourism.
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170 thoughts on “Fading Allure of Hawaii? The Way Forward”
Where is Hawaii headed next following so much debate? We want to hear your vision for Hawaii tourism.
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.