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.
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.
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.