The new Hawaii visitor fee strategy ended up selecting for people who could absorb the extra costs rather than those who cared deeply about the islands.
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93 thoughts on “Hawaii Chased Away These Visitors. Are The Replacements Better?”
Aloha. I just returned from a three week stay in Bali, another incredible tropical paradise in the Pacific. While there I experienced warm and welcoming smiles from the Balinese everywhere I ventured. When I commented on it I was told repeatedly,
“ We rely on tourism for our livelihood!” Plus they are just genuinely lovely people, with a culture very similar to the native Hawaiians. I was one of those “annual visitors” to Hawaii, however, I can travel to Indonesia and stay at a five star resort for less money and less hassle than Hawaii! Yet the number one reason I am curtailing my visits? Simple. I don’t feel wanted nor appreciated by the locals. In Bali I experienced the Hawaii of old. Happy people eager to make sure I had a wonderful time. Unfortunately Bali too will soon be overrun with the Instacrowd and it will sadly change for the worse.
Hawaii residents, please pay attention to what this says. We are those visitors you Do want back. We have spent years learning local customs, language, and concerns. We care about our impact on others and take care to not harm the very nature we come to see.
We don’t touch the turtles or coral and such (and educate others not to). We try not to honk (unless a colission is imminent). We know how to use the shaka when someone (usually a local) let’s us into traffic. We know how to be patient and live on island time.
We are the visitors you want to return, but we are feeling unwelcome. We have other tropical and otherwise destinations we are visiting more, and Hawaii less.
I’ll miss you, but the hostility towards visitors and the Fees (we live in one of the least expensive states, so the fees are more shocking) tell us we aren’t appreciated.
Mahalo to the ones who still live Aloha. We’ll miss you most of all.
We are those upper middle class people who’ve respectfully visited for 18 years now & recently decided the fees and hostility towards visitors has become too much (after our Kauai visit).
We will be bringing a family with us one more time in a couple months to Maui. Let’s see how that goes, but I suspect the some hostility towards users of short term rentals (based on the actions of a group that lobbies in the name of Lahaina). It will be unfortunate if the Aloha we once knew isn’t something we can share with our friends.
Hawaii rubbed off on us, years ago. Hopefully our Aloha spirit is met with Aloha by Maui residents this one last chance.
It’s not about who’s visiting or what their socioeconomic status is. I mean, it could be but that’s a smaller part of the equation than the presence of social media and the engagement and attention that people using it seek. Flying out to Hawaii has for the most part been cheap and easy and the democratization in access has long led to commodification of the experience, so visiting to document your experience for everyone to see becomes another box to check off of your social media travel bucket list.
This article hits home for us. We used to be yearly if not bi-annually and the rising prices cumulatively have made our beloved Hawaii islands kind of out of reach. The last time we visited we also noticed more disrespect of nature, trails & animals. Garbage left on the beach. We will always return if we can, but it’s much harder & we missing. Aloha, HE
Hawaiians want two things from tourists – they want your money and they want you gone.
I do quite a bit of travelling and have noticed these trends in most popular places. Horrible crowds, fees, insensitive and rude tourists, and local anger. Prices have skyrocketed nearly everywhere in the West. Everything from meals in my favorite restaurants to all hotels (big and small). Why would Hawaii be different? As someone mentioned, it’s a generational shift, and the Gen Z selfie crowd are simply awful…Everywhere. Will be leaving for Honolulu tomorrow – the first time in a long time I have been on Oahu. I will report back on my impressions….
Just because people are spending more, it doesn’t mean that the State of Hawaii in brining in more revenue because the cost of everything has gone up as well. These revenue stats can be manipulated to try and make it look like Hawaii is in better shape. However, if you speak to the local staff at restaurants and hotels they will tell you that crowds are smaller, the tips are smaller and respect of the island is going downhill. Good luck Hawaii. I’m done visiting.
We are not full time residents of the big island but have owned a home here for 16 years. This was to be our retirement home in the winters. We have always tried to give back when we are here whether doing beach and highway cleanups working at the food bank or helping with invasive plant cleanups and tree planting. Since we are not here full time we pay a rich premium on our property tax bill. We have accepted this as we are not paying Hawaiian state income tax. However the recent application of fees for parking at beaches and other fees we are now being required to pay because we are not “residents” even though we pay very hefty property taxes and try to contribute to the island in many different ways seems almost an insult.
It is making us seriously question our relationship with what we have treated as our second home for many years.
We are “new” repeat returnees. We’ll have our 5th straight visit to Maui coming up. I see Hawaii moving to, as many tourist traps, trying to monetize anything and everything. Which is why I won’t go to Vegas anymore. We see the price creep and it might be out of our budget in a few years. Since I don’t know the “old” Hawaii I can’t really compare. But we really enjoy the beauty and community.
There are always those bucket list idiots that think because they paid a bunch of money they are entitled to do as they please. We ususally try to steer clear of them.
Yes its more expensive, everything is. Yes its more crowded, yes everywhere it. There’s plenty of places stateside and overseas that are less crowded, maybe not less expensive. You have to go looking and be adventurous. If not learn to live with it and be a good visitor. Help others and be patient.
Seasons Greetings. I think you have summed up the whole picture very well. It has now become a less desirable getaway for the long time repeat visitors. At least there are islands off the mainland that people can go check out for something different. Not tropical, but every place has its own special charm. The government over there is getting a good dose now of a totally different kind of visitor. They are truly tourists being tourists. Kind of defeated their whole mental picture of the “kind” of visitor that they wanted. Karma is coming on them now.
residences how live in Hawaii need to rethink how they are voting for…..
We have been going to Hawaii almost every year since we got married 40 years ago. We are going back at the end of January, but this will probably be the last trip due to the ever increasing prices of accommodations, food, airfare and other costs on the islands. We are staying 30 days this time to celebrate our 40th. It is not that we can’t afford the cost, but it is more about the state and how they are sticking it to visitors around every corner. Taxing everything. If they don’t have people like us who return nearly every year – Hawaii will probably be in big financial trouble. As a businessman my motto was don’t tick off your best customers. Many of us are not happy and will be looking for alternative winter getaways. Probably to the Cook Islands, somewhere in the Caribbean or even southern Florida.
Hey Chuck. Too bad you didn’t make your 40 yr anniversary trip to a place where you won’t regret and be disappointed. Wow!! 30 days. That’s a long time for someone that has your comments that you posted, to commit to a special trip. I wish you a Happy Anniversary and a wonderful trip. Let us know how it all pans out when you get back. I will definitely be checking for your post.
I think CB totally got it wrong. It’s technology that really changed everything, not the tourists who used to “respect” everything (as i remember the tourist on Ke’e beach snorkeling grabbing the turtle even back in the 90’s 🙄).
I get it, middle income tourists miss the “old days” (so do i) when everything wasn’t overcrowded. But that definitely doesn’t mean they’re more respectful. They would do the exact same things as the “new” tourists – if they could afford to.
“High spending does not equal high respect ” – I would argue it does just the opposite.
Here’s a clearer, more polished rewording:
I’m sorry, but Hawaii’s message has been heard loud and clear by both longtime visitors and those who had planned trips there. Many have now chosen to go elsewhere, and they won’t be coming back.
Many of us tried to warn about the deep resentment and hostility coming from some locals — even those with generational ties to the islands.
No one wants to vacation, visit, or live in a place where they feel genuinely unwanted.
Life is full of the haves and have not’s your about to see what many of us already know.
How can Hawaii expect visitors to feel a connection when everything is locked behind a paywall?
When people pay a lot of money for something, they expect the experience to cater to them.
It’s not entitlement; it’s purchased access, and it’s expected as part of the premium package that Hawaii is selling.
Well said. I expect first class treatment on the flight to the islands because I pay for it. I refuse to apologize for that. If anyone thinks that their position, because of where they’re geographically located in the world (acknowledging the unique experiences and history each location enjoys) is influenced, impacted or controlled by that is acting entitled. They’re saying the same things and acting in the same manner as those they complain about.
The problem is that Hawaii encouraged unchecked tourism growth for far too long. At one time, growth was limited by the number of available hotel rooms. Then came AirBnB, VBRO, and all of a sudden, there was limitless capacity. Airlines continued to put on more and more flights. The net result was that we not only reached, but far exceeded our capacity.
When too many people all want the same thing, someone is bound to lose. Other than banning all non-hotel accommodations, there’s really no way to limit the never-ending flood of tourists who want their piece of Hawaii, no matter the cost. We all lose in the end.
Has anyone actually ever calculated “capacity” for tourism? You’d think someone would have. At least annually. Probably the Hawaii Tourism Authority should, but I think we’ve all seen enough objective evidence to conclusively state that they do pretty much nothing beyond appearing in the office and cashing their taxpayer funded checks.
SNAFU is the best way to characterize the current situation, and that’s bad. The bigger issue is that it also likely portends the future of the islands’ economy.
This most recent article does really hit the nail on the head, as far as our plans for future Hawaii visits. We have been coming back regularly to our deeded time share on the Big Island since the mid 80s but are now strongly considering selling our interest and spending our vacation time elsewhere. The last few visits have been noticeably more hectic and far less laid back compared to our early visits. More commercialized and much more expensive. Many of our favorite activities remain, but are becoming too expensive to enjoy. This very well could be our last trip for a long time. We’ll see how it goes.
This is pretty much how I feel too. What we loved was the easy pace. Nothing feels easy or spontaneous anymore. Pay here, pay there, pay everywhere! It’s a money game and we lose. We have lost the soft, easy feeling that Hawaii once held. $15 to $20: for a burger that isn’t the least bit special. Sorry. After 20 years visiting, I’m afraid I’ll be going elsewhere, soon, too. I’m afraid Hawaii is getting more than they bargained for and we are getting far less. 🫤
On Maui now at the same small condo resort we have been coming to since the late seventies! And we are also former Honolulu residents. Beaches are more crowded, tho this used to be a slow time post Thanksgiving and pre Christmas. more rubbish left behind in some spots. Also the scan to park places include some remote roadside quick view stops which is ridiculous! Who wants to pay for a brief stop to perhaps spot a whale?also doesn’t help that those parking scans say free parking for Hawaii residents. Never felt these stops were a problem before. We will still come and help support the rebuilding of Lahaina but it really has changed.
I’ve lived in Hawaii my entire life, and I keep getting these articles recommended to me.
Articles like this one and the comments are just so baffling.
Tourism is a business that we engage in to pay the bills.
I don’t want to be harsh but the idea that visiting for a week once a year for 20-30 years somehow builds an emotional connection or makes you part of the community is silly.
We added fees because even if you were a good visitor many more were not. Fewer ruder tourists with more money are still better than lots of poorer tourists some of whom are nice.
Good luck with that strategy. You’re gambling many residents livelihoods.
Good luck with that sentiment. I’ve seen many businesses close because of chasing away core tourists. Many more will close and many residents will be forced to leave to survive.
Wow. This comment speaks Volumes! This attitude shows the lack of Aloha that long time visitors feel. Obviously, the locals now feel a lack of Aloha is perfectly acceptible. We get what we give.
Aloha is a two way street. When you give breath to someone they give it back to you.
Live by the sword and die by the sword.
Good luck on your trip to Barcelona, Athens, Amsterdam and Rome
Well said, these other entitled visitors in your replies still think Hawaii is a theme park with people living there and they treat it as such. They don’t want to come back then stay away if that is how you think where people live should treat you. I don’t see the same complaints about visitors to LA or Miami or other cities who also have increased prices for everything too.
Thank you for saying what has been on my mind for a while. Anyone who actually lives in a tourist area can relate to what the whole of Hawaii is going through. Its just about respect, and an acknowledgement that the people living in these places have real concerns.
Simply said, You are much of the reason why I will choose other vacation destinations other than Hawaii. I will choose to repeat Tahiti or New Zealand rather than Hawaii again.
We’ve been visiting Hawaii as a couple since 2008 once or twice a year. Maui, Oahu, were married on Kauai, spent time on the Big Island and eventually twice or even three times a year on Molokai.
On the mainland I worked with Hawaiians and Samoans. Loved the culture and their generosity of spirit.
Now flying has become a hassle. Prices are all over the place. There is a different price for almost every seat.
Exit rows command a premium price because one has a little more leg room. It used to be a trade-off for the non-reclining seat back. Window and aisle seats are a priced as if one is in the premium section and airlines even charge for the dreaded middle seat, unless you book a seat way in the back.
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have turned into a complete sh**-show. You book on Alaska but you have to go to the Hawaiian website to get your seat reservations. Let’s not even mention the Atmos disaster.
All good things must come to an end. Sorry to see it go. It is now referred as the good old days.
We have been coming annually to the same spot on Kauai since 2008, and love it. We know the local spots (restaurants, less crowded beaches, etc.) and love them. We have noticed the change in visitors – as you say, getting the selfie or tiktok post rather than enjoying the locale. Sad but true.
Daryl H Thanks you for your honest post on the current vibe feel of north side Kauai. That has always been one of the most laid back part of Kauai. I have stayed up there in Kilauea for the last 45 yrs visiting my friend and her family. She keeps asking me when I am coming over. I sense it isn’t the same anymore and you confirmed it.
Aloha DM, yes the vibe has changed but you should still go. The Hawaiians that we have come to know and love as personal friends over these many years are still there on the North Shore, and filled with warmth and aloha. It sounds like you have some great friends in Kilauea. We have a wonderful surfer friend in Kilauea that we have known for over 35 years, and he still is working several jobs to support his Hawaiian home and family. These are the the people whose businesses we eagerly support, in Princeville, Kilauea, and Hanalei, and look forward to visiting year after year. The Hawaiians on Kauai that we have known for years want us to continue to come, talk story, and share their Aloha. As long as that feeling survives I’m not going to let these entitlement mentality spoiled brat new visitors wreck what we all love about Hawaii, and especially the beautiful island of Kauai.
Aloha to all.
Couldn’t have said it any better Daryl. I’ve been visiting Kauai since 1975. Lived on the North Shore from ’82 thru ’86. Ahh, those were the best. Still visit our friends yearly and as you, always shop and dine at mom and pops. Be there in January for my 51st year in a row. Sure I agree with some of the other comments about different vacation options, but Kauai has always been more than just a vacation. I’ve mentioned before in earlier letters, I’ll keep on returning as long as I feel welcomed.
Aloha John,
Well said, and I agree with you completely! The 1970s and 1980s were the best times. I still remember, and miss, the old Hanalei Plantation House, before it turned into a Club Med and then went belly up. Beautiful old Hawaii vibe. Same goes for the Coco Palms in Wailua/Kapaa. First visited it in 1965 when a teenager. I, like you, could go on and on. Kauai is the best!
Mahalo Nui for your post on BOH.
You are observing the decline of Western Civilization.
California is ten years ahead of the decay of Hwaii.
Deal with it.
Generational shift on both sides of the water
Get rid of arrogance – Oprah, Elison, Bezos..unsavory insincere people who are not good for Hawaii, unless wealth impresses you.
Get rid of arrogance – Oprah, Elison, Bezos..unsavory insincere people who are not good for Hawaii, unless wealth impresses you.
I have visited Hawaii several times since 1992;last time in 2023. It saddens me greatly how it deteriorated. Traffic, crowds too much. No more
Aloha, Maui resident here. 2023 was still post covid insanity, its much quieter now.