28 thoughts on “Hawaii Governor Courts Japanese Tourists. What About Mainland Visitors?”
RodW
The Gov has long been in favor of reducing tourists, especially “low-end” tourists. If he thinks “higher-end” tourists are going to stay in run-down hotels, he has another thing coming.
He should welcome all kinds of tourists. The hospitality workers can hardly afford to live there. He should be begging for mainland visitors.
I don’t know what kind of visitor he’d call me. More than 20 visits usually fly 1st class but stay at the timeshare. Even though we have a kitchen, we typically eat out. Usually at more affordable restaurants, but each vacation includes a trip to the Yard House and the Cheesecake Factory. And, we try to get to Kenneke’s Waimanalo. We only rent a car for 1 or 2 days now – back in the day for 2 weeks.
As a business owner I don’t see a down side with the governors visit to Japan. It’s always a good idea to touch base with a client to let them know when you’re ready we’re ready.
Also I do not get hijacked by worrying about all the fees associated with travel. There isn’t a popular travel destination that doesn’t include taxes or fees. Instead I look at total price if it makes since we go if not to bad.
Lastly I just booked a last minute deal to BI thru Costco Travel. The package included a very good price plus No resort fee, 50 daily resort credit, daily breakfast and rental car, plus a 230 Costco gift card and I scored an excellent price on round trip airfare with Hawaiian for December Price was so good we couldn’t say no.
I’m a working man. Not a high-end visitor. If I come, I will enjoy cycling and camping. I will gladly spend my money at locally-owned joints as much as possible, and stay away from corporations. I will not contribute to driving up the price of housing. But I am concerned and confused as to weather Hawaiians want tourists visiting right now. Many people are saying, “Stay away. We don’t want to be overrun.” I feel that. I am in the entertainment/hospitality business. Others are saying ,”Please come! We need the economic boost.” I visited Hawaii as a kid, in 1984, and have been trying to get back ever since, but I don’t want to come if I’m not welcome.
Certain people would prefer no visitors ever. Don’t worry about it. I have come nearly every year since the late 1970s. Never had a problem.
If you like it, you’ll come again. If not, there’s always the American or British Virgin Islands, Europe, Asia, Africa. LOts of options if it doesn’t work out.
Another good article. But… Dear BoH, you’re in the business of journalism and are in a great and unique position, unlike many of us, to question and interview the politicians we vote for (or don’t) and get answers to your excellent question that everyone would love to know – “Everyone still wonders where Hawaii’s highest accommodation tax in the country goes”? It’s about time someone investigates and gets answers directly from those who are spending our money. After all, part of their job is accountability. Let’s see it. I’d nominate you for Pulitzer Prize if you can accomplish that. Mahalo.
“We’re going to need money to make sure we have more firefighters, that we have more equipment, and we have more money for investigations like this.”
Sounds like a personal problem to me. Maybe the Governor should raise the state sales tax. No way, as a tourist, should I be paying into funding Maui’s fire department. This is something that benefits the locals, therefore, they should be the ones funding it. JMHO
What does the governor consider “low-end traveler?” With r/t coach airfares around $1,500 from the east coast, the cost of hotel and car rentals, what figure is “low-end?” What an elitist attitude. Does he even want mainland visitors? Awful!
Apparently us cheap, wet, and cold west coasters are the low-end travelers. Well, he won’t have to worry about us this year. We’re headed the other way. Twice.
Listen, I don’t mind paying a $50 impact fee. It’s the huge increases in room, food, restaurants, and car rentals. The resorts continue to have poor marketing in welcoming us back. The first paragraph on every resort web page, is we are sorry for the fires, and we ask that you respect and honor”…. We all have the message by now. We are adults travelling and very heartfelt adults. I’ve spent 5k to donate to victims. However, dont also tell me to over tip. If I am spending all these monies coming to Maui, that money is allocated to different aspects including the salaries of locals. So Gov Greene needs to begin making it clear , if he can’t have the internatl $, start getting professional marketing advice.
That was my first thought. Then read how he wanted to reduce domestic tourism, but is courting Japanese tourism. Overcrowding caused by tourism and the “impact” on the islands will happen no matter what continent the travelers come from. I am confused does he want tourists or not?
Good luck to the governor with the is approach. As a “mainlander” Californian, we love Hawaii and we’re used to visiting annually, but it has become extremely expensive and the messaging from both the government and vocal anti-tourist locals is a huge turnoff. This year our vacation dollars were used to go to Europe, and next year we are going to Mexico. Despite spending thousands and thousands of dollars on our last trip in 2022, maybe we were the “low end” spenders they want to weed out? If so, mission accomplished!
The Gov has long been in favor of reducing tourists, especially “low-end” tourists. If he thinks “higher-end” tourists are going to stay in run-down hotels, he has another thing coming.
He should welcome all kinds of tourists. The hospitality workers can hardly afford to live there. He should be begging for mainland visitors.
I don’t know what kind of visitor he’d call me. More than 20 visits usually fly 1st class but stay at the timeshare. Even though we have a kitchen, we typically eat out. Usually at more affordable restaurants, but each vacation includes a trip to the Yard House and the Cheesecake Factory. And, we try to get to Kenneke’s Waimanalo. We only rent a car for 1 or 2 days now – back in the day for 2 weeks.
As a business owner I don’t see a down side with the governors visit to Japan. It’s always a good idea to touch base with a client to let them know when you’re ready we’re ready.
Also I do not get hijacked by worrying about all the fees associated with travel. There isn’t a popular travel destination that doesn’t include taxes or fees. Instead I look at total price if it makes since we go if not to bad.
Lastly I just booked a last minute deal to BI thru Costco Travel. The package included a very good price plus No resort fee, 50 daily resort credit, daily breakfast and rental car, plus a 230 Costco gift card and I scored an excellent price on round trip airfare with Hawaiian for December Price was so good we couldn’t say no.
Hi Richard.
Glad you got a good enough deal that you couldn’t say no. Enjoy the BI!
Aloha.
I’m a working man. Not a high-end visitor. If I come, I will enjoy cycling and camping. I will gladly spend my money at locally-owned joints as much as possible, and stay away from corporations. I will not contribute to driving up the price of housing. But I am concerned and confused as to weather Hawaiians want tourists visiting right now. Many people are saying, “Stay away. We don’t want to be overrun.” I feel that. I am in the entertainment/hospitality business. Others are saying ,”Please come! We need the economic boost.” I visited Hawaii as a kid, in 1984, and have been trying to get back ever since, but I don’t want to come if I’m not welcome.
Hi Todd.
It’s hard to imagine that you won’t have a great time if you decide to return after a hiatus of 40 years. Please enjoy!
Aloha.
Todd,
Certain people would prefer no visitors ever. Don’t worry about it. I have come nearly every year since the late 1970s. Never had a problem.
If you like it, you’ll come again. If not, there’s always the American or British Virgin Islands, Europe, Asia, Africa. LOts of options if it doesn’t work out.
Another good article. But… Dear BoH, you’re in the business of journalism and are in a great and unique position, unlike many of us, to question and interview the politicians we vote for (or don’t) and get answers to your excellent question that everyone would love to know – “Everyone still wonders where Hawaii’s highest accommodation tax in the country goes”? It’s about time someone investigates and gets answers directly from those who are spending our money. After all, part of their job is accountability. Let’s see it. I’d nominate you for Pulitzer Prize if you can accomplish that. Mahalo.
Hi Keoki.
Thanks. We’ll see what we can learn.
Aloha.
Which politician was it that said, “Never let a crisis go to waste”?
The Governor of Hawaii, Josh $50 Green, has apparently taken that to heart by attaching it to the Lahaina disaster.
That would be Rahm Emmanuel, Obama’s chief of staff:
“You never let a serious crisis go to waste”.
“We’re going to need money to make sure we have more firefighters, that we have more equipment, and we have more money for investigations like this.”
Sounds like a personal problem to me. Maybe the Governor should raise the state sales tax. No way, as a tourist, should I be paying into funding Maui’s fire department. This is something that benefits the locals, therefore, they should be the ones funding it. JMHO
What does the governor consider “low-end traveler?” With r/t coach airfares around $1,500 from the east coast, the cost of hotel and car rentals, what figure is “low-end?” What an elitist attitude. Does he even want mainland visitors? Awful!
Apparently us cheap, wet, and cold west coasters are the low-end travelers. Well, he won’t have to worry about us this year. We’re headed the other way. Twice.
Listen, I don’t mind paying a $50 impact fee. It’s the huge increases in room, food, restaurants, and car rentals. The resorts continue to have poor marketing in welcoming us back. The first paragraph on every resort web page, is we are sorry for the fires, and we ask that you respect and honor”…. We all have the message by now. We are adults travelling and very heartfelt adults. I’ve spent 5k to donate to victims. However, dont also tell me to over tip. If I am spending all these monies coming to Maui, that money is allocated to different aspects including the salaries of locals. So Gov Greene needs to begin making it clear , if he can’t have the internatl $, start getting professional marketing advice.
I keep hearing about over tourism, so why is he promoting tourism??
That was my first thought. Then read how he wanted to reduce domestic tourism, but is courting Japanese tourism. Overcrowding caused by tourism and the “impact” on the islands will happen no matter what continent the travelers come from. I am confused does he want tourists or not?
Good luck to the governor with the is approach. As a “mainlander” Californian, we love Hawaii and we’re used to visiting annually, but it has become extremely expensive and the messaging from both the government and vocal anti-tourist locals is a huge turnoff. This year our vacation dollars were used to go to Europe, and next year we are going to Mexico. Despite spending thousands and thousands of dollars on our last trip in 2022, maybe we were the “low end” spenders they want to weed out? If so, mission accomplished!