49 thoughts on “Hawaii Fails To Make 2023 Conde Nast Traveler Popular Destination List”
Fran S.
This article was exceptional, but also very disheartening.
We’ve been to Hawaii many times, especially Maui. We love Hawaii! We are planning another trip in Feb 2023 – postponed twice (2021, 2022) due to Covid.
When we first booked in 2021, our room rate was $338.00/night (plus 14.416 tax). However, our reservation for 2023 is now $447.00/night – same room, BUT a $63.00/night increase, AND with a tax rate of 17.416! The price today $489.00/night.
Adding insult to injury, we will add another .35 CDN for every 1.00 USD to our already bulging holiday budget!
And now another 50.00 USD visitor fee! Why? Do they even want us there? We’re all hurting right now! Again, why?
Why haven’t world news networks picked up this story!
There has been inflation around the world since the pandemic and Hawaii is no different. I would say that tourist industries have experienced even more inflation since there was such a long time that the government shut down our facilities. Hm, pretty much the only place with no inflation……China. Go figure.
For the Canadian dollar, well Hawaii can’t help that…that is the fault of the global economy and the US so called administration and their rate hikes.
Additionally, do not forget that Hawaiians were terribly hurt by the pandemic. The whole state was shut down.
The $50. Visitor tax or fee is entirely unconstitutional. Hawaii is a State within the United States of America. You cannot charge me a fee or tax for visiting any State. That is literally restricting freedom of movement and will not fly in the courts.
We have been going to Maui once or twice/year for 20 years and own 1 month of timeshare there now. Price increases over the last 5 or 6 years have been steep (meals, car rentals, and the odd night in a hotel), and we will now face a new visitor “tax”, new parking fees at beaches and denied access to some of our favorite beaches until after 10 AM (earlier is way better for snorkeling for visitors). Aloha has increasingly been replaced with a feeling we are impositions-ironically on a lifestyle only affordable with tourist dollars, I suspect. We will now go less if at all, depending on what alternatives exist and are more affordable (now way cheaper to go to Spain for beach time-with friendly locals, good and inexpensive food/hotels).
It’s not our fault. It is the greed of government officials that allowed too much tourism and one crappy hotel after another. They made us bitter. We would love to have a manageble amount of tourism because this is our business. It is definately better than creating factories or other industries to make our living.
Hi, I am from Germany and have traveled to Hawaii in 1991, 1993 and 2005 because I loved it so much. When flying to Australia recently I specifically chose the ‘long’ way just to add a week-long stopover in Hawaii. In short, I was bitterly disappointed. The famous ‘aloha spirit’ seems to have made way for commercialism & greed like in most places in the world, and often I couldn’t help but feel like a (cash) cow being led to the milking shed to have every last of my pennies drained out of me, sometimes openly, sometimes sneakily. Not nice, and for the first time departure day couldn’t come soon enough. Moving forward I’ll try to forget my 2022 stay but cherish the lovely memories if previous times instead…and not return
Please define a “high quality” visitor. While you’re at it, please tell me how much I must allocate to my Hawaii vacation to qualify as a “big spender”?
Look, the fact remains, this is a business, not just a charity. We need less crowds, less hotels, a more pleasrable experience for all. The only way to do that is to earn more per “item”. We need to pay to take care of our roads, beaches, etc. We can’t do that with hoards of low paying tourists who come here and litter, clog up the roads, go off of the hiking pathes and fall to their deaths…we have to pay for this…. Do you get it? It’s nothing personal. It’s business.
With 1.45 million people living in Hawaii, we’ve EARNED the right to have decent roads and not some 3rd world country roads. Tourist taxes have increased exponentially over the last 10 years to the point that it isn’t any wonder people would rather go elsewhere. Our govt greed did this to themselves, yet we residents are still left holding the bag for dilapidated roads And infrastructure.
Sounds like you’re wanting only the rich to come and enjoy the islands. If so, this is just another reason for people to go places where residents welcome all who want to enjoy themselves. Not just privileged. Most people that I know who can afford to travel virtually anywhere, would be appalled at this sentiment.
Whether we like it or not, it’s mostly a fiscal issue. Businesses want to maximize profits. Thus they will cater to the wealthy if they can. The wealthy who couldn’t care less about having to pay an extra $50 to land at the airport or $20 to park at a beach. They don’t even blink at paying $1,200 a night at a resort, and are immune to what the locals think about them.. That’s the nature of tourism. Outsiders with money arrive at a desirable location and expect to be catered to. The local economy generally profits, but it’s never distributed fairly down the economic ladder. The big corporations (hotels, airlines, car rentals) retain the majority while the local workers scramble for the scraps. Colonialism redux.
Seer comment above…..Tourism is a business for Hawaii, not a charity. If its a charity, there are a lot of other things we can do with our efforts than dancing hula and playing ukulele.
I agree with you 100%. In fact, generally, the more rich people get the least respect they give. However, coming back to my many points. We are serving tourists to make money. It’s a business. We need to pay for our children, etc. If we don’t make enough for pour efforts, then we need to move our children to VEGAS! We need more money per tourist, less crowds, etc. Then, with less tourists, and people making a comfortable living, people here will bring back the Aloha spirit.
Its the affordability factor that they also put in the category. With the current global inflation, Hawaii is not immune to these price hikes on top of the already expensive hotels and packages. Fiji is quite popular now within the polynesian triangle due its affordability that caters to all budget with direct flights from Los Angels. Followed closely by the Kingdom of Tonga yes its still a Kingdom according to my Tongan Father who recently visited whilst its barely changed since he left for Hawaii in the 70s, he noticed tourists from Japan and Australia which was non existed in his youth. Ecotourism is Tongas tourist magnet plus high affordability. As a full blooded polynesian I must say Hawaii will always stay as a vacation destination.
This article was exceptional, but also very disheartening.
We’ve been to Hawaii many times, especially Maui. We love Hawaii! We are planning another trip in Feb 2023 – postponed twice (2021, 2022) due to Covid.
When we first booked in 2021, our room rate was $338.00/night (plus 14.416 tax). However, our reservation for 2023 is now $447.00/night – same room, BUT a $63.00/night increase, AND with a tax rate of 17.416! The price today $489.00/night.
Adding insult to injury, we will add another .35 CDN for every 1.00 USD to our already bulging holiday budget!
And now another 50.00 USD visitor fee! Why? Do they even want us there? We’re all hurting right now! Again, why?
Why haven’t world news networks picked up this story!
There has been inflation around the world since the pandemic and Hawaii is no different. I would say that tourist industries have experienced even more inflation since there was such a long time that the government shut down our facilities. Hm, pretty much the only place with no inflation……China. Go figure.
For the Canadian dollar, well Hawaii can’t help that…that is the fault of the global economy and the US so called administration and their rate hikes.
Additionally, do not forget that Hawaiians were terribly hurt by the pandemic. The whole state was shut down.
The $50. Visitor tax or fee is entirely unconstitutional. Hawaii is a State within the United States of America. You cannot charge me a fee or tax for visiting any State. That is literally restricting freedom of movement and will not fly in the courts.
A lot of pushback against tourists sounds like it’s working. As they say in Florida, “Git ‘er done.”
I think that I will take Hawaii over Woodstock, Vermont.
Hi Curtis.
You’re always wanted and welcome in these parts.
Aloha.
We have been going to Maui once or twice/year for 20 years and own 1 month of timeshare there now. Price increases over the last 5 or 6 years have been steep (meals, car rentals, and the odd night in a hotel), and we will now face a new visitor “tax”, new parking fees at beaches and denied access to some of our favorite beaches until after 10 AM (earlier is way better for snorkeling for visitors). Aloha has increasingly been replaced with a feeling we are impositions-ironically on a lifestyle only affordable with tourist dollars, I suspect. We will now go less if at all, depending on what alternatives exist and are more affordable (now way cheaper to go to Spain for beach time-with friendly locals, good and inexpensive food/hotels).
It’s not our fault. It is the greed of government officials that allowed too much tourism and one crappy hotel after another. They made us bitter. We would love to have a manageble amount of tourism because this is our business. It is definately better than creating factories or other industries to make our living.
Local Hawaii residents do not want visitors, they never have, but now they are very vocal about it and it’s palpable.
Hi, I am from Germany and have traveled to Hawaii in 1991, 1993 and 2005 because I loved it so much. When flying to Australia recently I specifically chose the ‘long’ way just to add a week-long stopover in Hawaii. In short, I was bitterly disappointed. The famous ‘aloha spirit’ seems to have made way for commercialism & greed like in most places in the world, and often I couldn’t help but feel like a (cash) cow being led to the milking shed to have every last of my pennies drained out of me, sometimes openly, sometimes sneakily. Not nice, and for the first time departure day couldn’t come soon enough. Moving forward I’ll try to forget my 2022 stay but cherish the lovely memories if previous times instead…and not return
We need far less visitors but high quality, i.e. big spenders, visitors and we must provide the value that they expect.
Please define a “high quality” visitor. While you’re at it, please tell me how much I must allocate to my Hawaii vacation to qualify as a “big spender”?
Look, the fact remains, this is a business, not just a charity. We need less crowds, less hotels, a more pleasrable experience for all. The only way to do that is to earn more per “item”. We need to pay to take care of our roads, beaches, etc. We can’t do that with hoards of low paying tourists who come here and litter, clog up the roads, go off of the hiking pathes and fall to their deaths…we have to pay for this…. Do you get it? It’s nothing personal. It’s business.
Are you saying Sue that “high quality” visitors,I.e. wealthy, do not litter, clog the roads and wander off the hiking paths? Just wondering.
With 1.45 million people living in Hawaii, we’ve EARNED the right to have decent roads and not some 3rd world country roads. Tourist taxes have increased exponentially over the last 10 years to the point that it isn’t any wonder people would rather go elsewhere. Our govt greed did this to themselves, yet we residents are still left holding the bag for dilapidated roads And infrastructure.
Sounds like you’re wanting only the rich to come and enjoy the islands. If so, this is just another reason for people to go places where residents welcome all who want to enjoy themselves. Not just privileged. Most people that I know who can afford to travel virtually anywhere, would be appalled at this sentiment.
Whether we like it or not, it’s mostly a fiscal issue. Businesses want to maximize profits. Thus they will cater to the wealthy if they can. The wealthy who couldn’t care less about having to pay an extra $50 to land at the airport or $20 to park at a beach. They don’t even blink at paying $1,200 a night at a resort, and are immune to what the locals think about them.. That’s the nature of tourism. Outsiders with money arrive at a desirable location and expect to be catered to. The local economy generally profits, but it’s never distributed fairly down the economic ladder. The big corporations (hotels, airlines, car rentals) retain the majority while the local workers scramble for the scraps. Colonialism redux.
Seer comment above…..Tourism is a business for Hawaii, not a charity. If its a charity, there are a lot of other things we can do with our efforts than dancing hula and playing ukulele.
Sounds snobbish and very elitist to me.
Are you suggesting a class system to visit Hawaii?
Money and respect doesn’t go hand in hand sometimes.
I agree with you 100%. In fact, generally, the more rich people get the least respect they give. However, coming back to my many points. We are serving tourists to make money. It’s a business. We need to pay for our children, etc. If we don’t make enough for pour efforts, then we need to move our children to VEGAS! We need more money per tourist, less crowds, etc. Then, with less tourists, and people making a comfortable living, people here will bring back the Aloha spirit.
The demographic currently invading our islands is *not* the same one Conde Nast caters to.
Please explain the demographics of those “invading our” islands.
Look around. Have you been here in the 80s?
Its the affordability factor that they also put in the category. With the current global inflation, Hawaii is not immune to these price hikes on top of the already expensive hotels and packages. Fiji is quite popular now within the polynesian triangle due its affordability that caters to all budget with direct flights from Los Angels. Followed closely by the Kingdom of Tonga yes its still a Kingdom according to my Tongan Father who recently visited whilst its barely changed since he left for Hawaii in the 70s, he noticed tourists from Japan and Australia which was non existed in his youth. Ecotourism is Tongas tourist magnet plus high affordability. As a full blooded polynesian I must say Hawaii will always stay as a vacation destination.