As Hawaii grapples with high vacation costs, travelers are turning to Europe’s more budget-friendly destinations. How this shift is reshaping tourism dynamics and what it means for the Aloha State.
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As Hawaii grapples with high vacation costs, travelers are turning to Europe’s more budget-friendly destinations. How this shift is reshaping tourism dynamics and what it means for the Aloha State.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
My parents lived in Kihei for 51 years. I visited them about every other year. My last few trips have been involved with setting up my father in assisted living. They aren’t necessarily happy visits but necessary nonetheless. He passed away in February. Now that he’s gone, I’m not so sure I’ll be going to Hawaii much. It is expensive, the heat is much more intense due to global warming and it’s inhospitable. I was attacked by a mentally ill, homeless man. Each time I visit, I’ve felt a little less safe. Maui has a huge homeless problem; unhoused people and feral chickens.
I sense several different trends in the comments thus far.
1. The folks who actually do travel to Hawaii are having a great time, and are being welcomed with our usual aloha.
2. The folks who say they aren’t coming anymore don’t seem to cite any specific incidents but rather just a general negative feeling arising from the loudest voices.
3. While fees and costs may be higher in Hawaii, they’ve risen pretty much everywhere.
4. There is a pervasive and irritating sense of entitlement from a select few who seem to think they are owed aloha from anyone and everyone in Hawaii. Those few who have actually experienced first-hand negativity may have invited it upon themselves. Something something throwing stones… glass houses.
Once people have tasted the “I get so much more quality for less money”, it’s going to be difficult to lure them back to the islands. Folks here have been used to charge tourists (and locals)whatever they wanted and people would still pay under the allure of tropical aloha. The decaying tourist infrastructure is becoming as well an issue. Partially it’s the unfortunate combination of the American system of providing very little money for the public good with political ineptitude (e g. banyan drive in Hilo, Ali’i Drive in Kailua). The misguided campaign against STRs is the next step in the wrong direction. Though justified for some STRs (mega houses for Airbnb in residential neighborhoods), restricting STRs for farms and small communities is going to hurt the local population but surely help the overpriced resorts. All under the disguise of wanting to increase affordable housing. Restricting STRs, in reality, will do very little to increase afforable housing.
Maui has lost the spirit of welcoming the vacation traveller. We have let the minority have to strong a voice in their script to turn away visitors. The citizens of Maui who welcome the visitors and provide services have been left in the cold.
I’ve been to all the Hawaiian islands multiple times but no more. I go where I’m treated better and that is certainly not hawaii. Last time I was there a year ago, service was indifferent or hostile sometimes…tired of the “go home haoles” mentality. The family is headed to Greece which has as good as beaches as any in hawaii but at half the cost. Hotels are cheaper and the food so much healthier than the artery-clogging junk that was served in hawaii last time. So sad to see hawaii hit rock bottom with how they treat tourists and don’t even get me started on car rentals there and Hawaiian Air and the Maui Airport. Until hawaii gets their act together, many people will stay away. Be careful what you wish for locals.
Just returned from Hawaii and found the beaches in the north and west lined with homeless. It’s incredibly sad. Tourist taxes, sub par accommodation for dollar spend and the cost of food are all big deterrents. I was in Europe last year and felt welcome everywhere we went. Sadly that’s no longer the case in Hawaii.
We visit Ireland and Hawaii on alternate years. We’ll probably hit Spain and Italy next year. This year, after we visit Molokai, we will have visited all the legal islands in the chain. That leaves only Kaho’olawe, so we’ll probably volunteer to pull weeds, but Ni’ihau presents a problem. You have to be invited. But I have a plan.
Anyhow, I have made friendships on every island. I have promoted my Hawaiian friend’s small family owned businesses on the mainland. I love Hawaii. And my great-great
I have been going to Maui since 1976. I was heart broken when I heard about last years lahaina fire. I was a couple of days from boarding the plane. Needless to say the trip was cancelled. Maui was saying don’t come, same for condo, airline, etc. All understandable. I am returning to Maui in August. I want to see for myself if all these comments about being treated badly and told how to act are true. In the 40 something years I have been going there I have never been treated badly. I would never quiz people about the fire or their circumtances at present. They are hurting. Why rub salt in a wound. As to expensive, Maui has always been pricey. It’s all the crazy fees that are tacked on above and beyond the actual room fee that is the killer and no body takes any action to stop this gouging of tourists. This happens every where you Travel now days.
I pray that. Maui will be the Maui I fell in love with all those years ago. I am keeping a positive attitude.
As a Hawaii native visiting home I just revert to local island boy pretty seamlessly and I fit in not least by being “Hapa” or half – Japanese in my case. It allows me to hear from the locals what they’re dealing with and what’s important to them, and tourism is not anywhere near the top of the list for most I talk to. It’s the economy, cost of living, the housing crunch, low wages, multiple jobs, rising crime and drug violence. So many of the folk’s across the economic spectrum are “Living lives of quiet desperation”. They don’t see much of a future for themselves and their families and increasingly they’re dealing with it by leaving the state. The people I see most against tourists and tourism are the ones who are against “insert issue here”. They generally don’t work, are angry at the world, and at anybody they perceive to be doing better than them. The activists who use them to push various causes all make a living doing so. Follow the money…
Truer words were never spoken. Mahalo!
If the real plan here is to do everything they can to cut tourism in half to open up more housing for those who can’t afford it and turn Maui into a welfare island, they are accomplishing it!
Hawaii resident who travels to a beach town in Southern Italy.
It’s different than Hawaii -a traveler pays to go to the beach ,food is very good but not diverse.
Accommodations can be equal to prices in Hawaii -for me it’s different. Italians can be blunt ,direct-may take some getting used to -as a traveler they;the Italians call the shots and customer service is not like in America-if you complain about your food you may get kicked out of the restaurant /travelers should decrease their expectations of the Aloha spirit and enjoy Hawaii’s-unique natural beauty and diversity
I run a tourist-based business in Hawaii that has seen a significant drop in visitors year over year. This can be traced 100% to the decrease in total visitors to the islands in 2023 and 2024 to date.
I am not sure what the people of Hawaii, the government, the governor and the hotels are thinking. How can you be that arrogant to assume your attitudes and gouging weren’t going to cause significant hardship for other people?
Our employees depend on tourists for their livelihoods, but no one seems to care.
If small businesses go out of business, unemployment, crime, homelessness goes up, how does this help anyone? Even the tourists you still want to come will stop, then what?
Hawaii has always been shortsighted and influenced way too heavily by greed and the good ole boys, but these past few years are ridiculous. Wake up before this problem gets so bad it is not recoverable!
Dee
Well said. Good point saying employee’s just don’t care. I found that attitude with native Hawaiian’s back 15 years ago. Just don’t care. Sorry but one concern to consider is if everyone is heading towards welfare then who can afford to purchase my tourist business if things get worse and the big question When ?
Get out with a profit not a Loss. Aloha
Hawaii is incredibly anti-tourist. The anger and vitriol aimed at “outsiders” is pervasive.
Both the governor and head of the tourism authority referred to vacation rental guests as “low class tourists” who aren’t welcome in Hawaii while hotel rates are through the roof. There are few affordable options to visit the state.
Why in the world would anyone visit Hawaii when the entire rest of the world is open and welcoming?
The rhetoric that the government is using about taking away property from “mainlanders” and giving to the local people is sending the message that Maui doesn’t like people coming to Maui. Only locals welcome and Maui is cutting off tourism.
If the bill passes to ban 7,000 STRs that are legally permitted, then tourists will have even less options of where to stay. Also business related to STRs will suffer because of loss of customers.
Not really an Aloha welcome. It’s all in the news, so that is the message that is coming across.
We were in Hawaii in Feb of this year for 10 days. Spent 2 full days looking for those disgruntled natives. Could not find any. I did however, find over priced rental cars, and dining out. Got back last week from 12 days in Europe. Awesome. People were so friendly and welcoming. Booked another trip for Feb next year. But, we are coming back for 2 weeks in Dec. My love for Hawaii probably won’t die out. We just don’t come as often anymore.
That’s us, as well. We love Hawaii and have been coming as a family for 35 years now. My father first brought me as a young person, and it branded itself in my heart. But, like you, we will come less often. We will alternate it with mine and my husband’s countries of heritage, France and Spain. They love us and welcome us, like long-lost family.
My customers know I travel regularly to Hawaii after pandemic I helped several of them plan Hawaiian vacations. All had a great time the universal compliant was how expensive it was.
Then the Lahaina fire and all the negative vides coming out of Maui put an end to it. I’ve not helped anyone plan a trip to Hawaii since the fire. Fact is no one even talks about Hawaii now.
My belief is Hawaii was a one and done post pandemic vacation for east coast travelers. They’re now returning to their usually pre-pandemic travel to Europe, Florida and Caribbean hot spots.
Richard C
You and your customers are missing one of the best vacation deals ever. Maui prices are down (STVR’s and air). Don’t miss out. The governor and others beholden to the big hotels are completely wrong. Did you know the Lahaina Banyon tree is doing well and the Old Lahaina Luau is back in operation?
Mahalo ! I live in Lahaina and can say, things are picking up for sure :)..I can fly cheaply to California (Long Beach via Hawaiian Air or LAX via Southwest) to visit family. Things are still opening up weekly and many well-known restaurants are looking/preparing temp sites to re-open till Lahaina Town is ready…Aloha Mixed Plate and Mala Tavern on Front Street are now open, as is Old Lahaina Luau !!! Are things expensive….about the same as California which is getter higher each day under incompetent government; Hawaii is actually less in some areas. Local workers/businesses want visitors and need them to survive. Lahaina town’s 1st permit to rebuild was given & everyone I know is very anxious and ready to rebuild. Mahalo for coming to Maui..we welcome you !!!
Incompetent government in California? There are 53 Counties in California, and 30 of them have a bigger economy that Hawaii.
When a 2 bedroom condo on Maui started charging a $700 cleaning fee I started looking elsewhere. We had a great trip to New Zealand.
Joe. Just find another condo. $700 is crazy and it’s not typical. We rent our 2Br/Ba right on the beach in Kihei and would never think of charging $700 for cleaning. We just pass on what it costs us.
Why did you post this?
Yes, I understand that $700 for cleaning is not typical, but that one condo opened my eyes. Taxes and fees are typically more than 50% of the room rate. Other venues are becoming very competitive based on that.
My wife and I own a condo on the ocean in Oahu. We spend about 5 months a year there split into two trips. The rest of the time we are at our other home in Washington State. Last fall, we spent 3 weeks in Europe. I had never been there before. It was fantastic. We liked it so much that we are returning in mid to late September for a full month this year. My wife thinks we should buy a place there. Maybe she’s right.
I have come to Maui twice a year for years and have contributed thousands of dollars to your economy. Unfortunately I no longer feel welcome here so I am going to Europe twice this year instead. Shame on you for doing away with STR’s. Aloha Maui
Done with Hawaii. Only losers go there to get ripped off and treated badly. Respectfully yours, Canadian in Europe!
It’s all about the dollar(strong- weak), post-COVID travel by Americans where they couldn’t for 2 years, some people have been coming to Hawaii and want to go elsewhere for a change. I’m going to Japan in October because my money goes twice as far.
Something that is not going to change is that you are still in the US when you come to Hawaii, no messing with your phone, your credit cards, money exchange, same language, same justice system, etc. And we still have good ol’ Aloha, despite what naysayers may say. We will always be here to welcome the world on Kauai!
Aloha Kauaidoug,
A big Mahalo Nui for your words! Agree completely. There’s more Hawaii than Maui alone. I sit on the lanai of my timeshare on Kauai and spend hours just admiring the beautiful blue Pacific, looking out at Hanalei Bay, mount Makana and the Na Pali coast beyond. It never gets old, and there’s no place on earth as beautiful. Who wants to deal with the crowds and all the other nuisance things of European travel. Been there many times, done that. Hawaii will always be the beautiful happy place for me!
Aloha to all.
Not only is the cost of accommodations high the cost for food is too.
I paid $3⁹⁷ for a normal Hershey’s chocolate bar with almonds. Last night I bought a loaf of bread at Times and it is $8⁰⁰ plus tax for the cheapest. Everything is much more expensive than on the mainland and if you do any activities they guilt you into a tip for the slightest activity.
They tax everything. I received a vaccination and it was taxed. There is a daily 18% tax on accommodations and my car rental for a week was $358⁰⁰ $124⁸⁵ of which was taxes and fees. Parking fees all over the island (unless you are a resident).
I can understand why it’s no longer a desirable location any longer.
Also the beaches have a lot of displaced people who live on the beaches and are leaving trash and garbage and abandoned cars everywhere. It looks like a poor man’s Tijuana, if that’s possible.
We are presently on Maui finishing our first if two weeks as we do every year.
We have felt nothing but welcomed from our Nanea resort, to the stores and restaurants we have visited.
Is it expensive yes but it has been for years.
It is our home away from home.
Have not heard one negative from locals yet.
We already made our 2025 reservations.
Aloha
Yep, the vocal minority is being heard. These are just plain variety frustrated individuals. I do see regular people finally speaking out about this small, minority group.
We spent a month in each of Spain and Portugal last year. And just got back from nearly a month in Australia. There is nothing Hawaii can do to devalue the USD, which is the main reason Europe and all other places (not on the USD) are relatively inexpensive. The AUD was .67 of a USD, with otherwise similar pricing for hotels, meals, rental cars. So, is like 33% off. Flip that on its head for international travelers to Hawaii, where the exchange rate alone costs them an extra 33%, over and above the high prices.
A wonderful article. Very informative. We all lived with more kindness and understanding before Josh Green. His words do not represent Hawaiians. They represent a corrupt government taking money from the little folks in the community with bed and breakfasts just trying to get by, and give it to the big hotel chains that take the money out of Hawai’i.
As a resident of the Big Island, I totally get it. But a lot of the comments center around people that have vacationed in Maui and honestly, The Big Island is not Maui. We are not nearly as crowded. But the high cost of travel is everywhere and it is disappointing. I do think that Hawaii has alienated a lot of mainlanders, but the cost of doing any activity is getting fairly expensive. Look at the way Disney raise their rates in an effort to manage crowds. Unfortunately, only the one percent can afford a vacation anymore
European (Swiss) here. 2025 will sadly but probably be my last visit to Hawaii for a bit, if they limit or ban STRs on every island. Not willing to pay 300-400$ a night Plus fees… I love charming local hales and to meet the lovely hosts. The Flight from Europe has become the cheapest “item” compared to accomodation, car rental and food for 3 weeks… That doesn’t seem right. Have always felt very welcome and will miss my annual trip a lot, but the prices are just insane, even for a “rich” Swiss traveler…
I am in Switzerland right now and it was gorgeous today in the Alps. Switzerland is cheaper than Hawaii. Hawaii weather is almost perfect year round. Hawaii water is 80 almost year round. Med is 68 except summer. So for winter travel to the beach Hawaii is better than Europe. So many places to go and so little time.
Everyone is realizing native Hawaiians are ruining the Aloha state, except the native Hawaiians. The tide is turning and the loss of tourism will ruin Hawaii in so many ways. Unfortunately, not everyone understands this and when/if they do, it will be too late. #fakealoha
Vocal minority locals. Most local people from Hawaii stay pretty quite on issues. They are mellow and have what people call the aloha spirit. There are always bad apples.
Trouble is politicians in Hawaii are on the take of big business and the end result is locals are being squeezed out. We elected these people so we should only blame ourselves.
Start with the air lines a macadamia chocolate chip cookie and a mai tai before landing!
A flower lei or a plumeria flower at the car rental with a smile!
Just say “ good to see you “ with a smile is warming after a long journey…
Every Hawaiin person is a host !!
It’s not Maui
For the first time in 14 years we will not be spending our anniversary in Hawai‘i. We are going to Scotland instead (for the 2nd time this year). We can fly to Europe in long haul business class cheaper than we can from the west coast to Hawaiʻi in domestic first class. Lodging is far cheaper than Hawaiʻi. People are friendlier and more welcoming. We already have a trip to Ireland booked for next Spring and looking at Switzerland or Spain for the fall. While we are still going to Maui in February, we don’t envision making 2 – 3 trips a year to Hawaiʻi anymore.
I love Scotland. I love the warm ocean and weather in Hawaii. Enjoy both!!
As the State of Hawaii seems to be closing its doors, I feel for the small businesses. They are the ones that will he hurt by the changes being made. My wife and I have had the opportunity to come a number of times and have always wanted to support locally owned businesses. The last time we were there, some of the small businesses had closed. Hopefully, Hawaii stays local and does not become a location that is owned by the billionaires…. That’s what seems to be happening…. And it’s so sad….
…and stupid short-sighted Covid lock-downs killed many small businesses as the greatest transfer of wealth from the Middle Class to Elite class took place. California is very much the same…small businesses are closed everywhere. States that had a functioning brain did not kill their economy & destroy the small business owner, the heart of American economy. That combined with horrible messaging from Hawaiian government after the Lahaina fires…come to Hawaii; don’t come; please come; come but follow a list of “to-do’s”….my head was spinning. I encouraged two newlywed couples to keep their Maui honeymoon plans this past October and both had a fabulous time & enjoyed much Aloha…Like California, you get the government you vote for; so get informed and vote please!
I too was planning on Europe this year. Partly to allow Hawaii to heal, partly to do something new. The money is an issue, but my last Hawaii trip (big island) was sad to see that Aloha is dying. Unlike some others here, I see it as the houseguest that stays too long. It is difficult to have crazy, rude crowds and not lose some of the love. I will be back, but I totally get it.
We have been going to Maui for years now, and will continue to go there. It’s super easy to get there and get home, it’s quite safe and we find people to be welcoming all over the island. It’s true that costs have risen there. Some of the high end hotels are ridiculously overpriced but there are a lot of good deals if you look around. Try Booking.com. Fine dining restaurants have gotten expensive, but if you think European restaurants and nice EU hotels on the beach are cheap, guess again. Both places are worth visiting, it kind of depends what you want to do. Going to Maui right now is a great deal, tourism there is down quite a bit and you have the whole place to yourself. It’s a great opportunity.
Blame the high prices on the lack of housing and high rents. I blame our lame government for dropping the ball. Hawaii might need to follow the models of Chile and Singapore. They have solved housing issues. Until that happens there cannot be lower prices. Workers need affordable housing. No workers, no tourism.
Yep, I used to love to go to Hawaii , now, I don’t think I’ll ever go back again I cannot stand the Hawaiian governmental greed and over regulation and the attitude of the people. I’m so done. Going to Florida next week. Only problem there is the insanely ridiculous toll situation on the roads. But in the end far more tolerable with more benefits there than going back to Hawaii.
Do you want people who don’t use the roads pay for them?
Hi !
Just got back from Florida a few weeks ago
Check into (on line) the state “Sun Pass” for road tolls or the visitor pass you can sign up for and pick up at the Orlando Airport.
We went to Orlando and Ft. Myers and had a wonderful time
Safe travels, Enjoy
Since my husband and I own a timeshare at the Westin of course we will be returning to Maui every year. We have the best of both worlds- a place to cook and a beautiful beach to enjoy just steps away. We always bring a different couple or our kids and grandkids to foster that love of Hawaii. Airfare is still reasonable and there are lots of relaxing ways to enjoy ourselves. We do go to Europe and Mexico yearly, as well as travel all over the USA in our RV, but we won’t give up on Hawaii, in spite of the issues.
Just returned from Norway and the Netherlands. Beautiful countries, friendly people, dollar friendly and very clean. Planning a return trip. Much better attitudes and attractions.
We also are taking this opportunity to respond to the ill-advised signals to find other options. This month we’re going to the Great Barrier Reef, then next mont to Scandinavia. G’day and Aloha.
Aloha is still 100% in effect in Maui. Our STR (hotel zoned) has experienced more vacancies than usual so we’ve adjusted our prices and filled our calendar in nicely.
There is a small but vocal group of Maui residents that are trying to destroy tourism. But they are out of money and are folding their tent. The politicians have been courting (and parroting) them but that’s now changing. We’ve already seen them reconsider their quest to reduce STR’s because they are admitting what we knew all along. Maui’s economy is not sustainable without STR visitors.
So take advantage of the low prices, less congestion and ignore the politicians. They are changing their tune and will be booted if they don’t start doing their jobs.
My opinion is that people went to Hawaii post Covid rather than other vacation spots for different reasons which resulted in Hawaii being flooded with tourists. Four years later people now want to go to other places for various reasons. People have had their ”Hawaii fix” for now and want to see other parts of the world.