111 thoughts on “Hawaii Hotel Prices Increase Up To 70%, Helping Stifle Over-Tourism”
Gloria S
Hotels are jacking up their prices because they are winning their fight to abolish short term vacation rentals.
Because of limited availability, they can charge whatever they want, and provide less quality services than they have in the past.
Big corporations have won out yet again against mom and pop businesses.
And only because they’ve gotten into lawmaker’s pockets and perpetrated a myth to turn residents against short term vacation rentals.
My husband travels a lot for business, and he is seeing this same trend happening everywhere that short term vacations rentals have been mostly banned.
Actually our residents pushed to ban short term rentals because it’s annoying most of them and I don’t blame them. Visitors should be staying in hotels not in peoples’ homes in residential areas. They didn’t have to turn us against it we were already against it.
I agree that you have a right to voice your opinion, but I don’t agree with it. I’ve been coming to the Big Island of Hawai’i for 2-4 months at a time since 2016. I only stay in vacation rentals because I like to experience a new place at the neighborhood level, i.e. the culture. I have asked many of the locals where I stay if vacation renters bother them, and I have yet to find one who said yes. In fact, the last person I asked said, “We have never experienced a problem with vacation renters. They are kind and respectful, and are only here to see what we have the privilege of seeing every day.” For me, getting to be friends with a beautiful person like that is what keeps me coming back to Hawai’i each year.
Good riddance.Get rid of stvr and keep the tourists out of our neighborhoods and in resort zones, let’s keep it up. The airbnbers that show up on southwest, make one stop at Costco and eat Mac and cheese their whole stay in their Airbnb, offer little to the local economy except more strain on beaches and infrastructure. Hotels actually pay a living wage and provide great benefits to their employees
I respect your right to voice your opinion, but I completely disagree. And I bet if you ask the majority of housekeepers at any hotel if they’re paid a living wage, they’d likely look at you as if you were nuts for having asked the question. My guests dine at local restaurants and shop at local establishments that I recommend. I hire caregivers and gardeners. I pay my housekeepers $50 hourly.
No, not 40 hours a week. In season, it can be 25 hours.
That said, the team of women I used only service STVR’s because that’s where the money is.
They don’t have to work as many hours, and yet they’re paid a ton more than the hotels pay them. Plus, they are local, so they don’t have to spend 90 minutes each way driving. More, they are treated respectfully, so they are loyal to me.
I hope this helps.
Rob S
For us I have to disagree. It started with cheap airfare. After seeing costs of hotels. It was out of our reach to go and visit to where we could enjoy the culture,food, go diving,etc. If it wasn’t for STR we would not be able to spend our hard earned money elsewhere. Those that are eating Mac and cheese have to with what hotels are charging.
I would love to be able to sometines rent out my son’s room to a visitor or a person such as your husband. The zoning laws prevent that, as it would be considered a vacation rental. People say vacation rentals are annoying. Maybe restrictions should apply to rentals where the owners do not live here.
I’m one of those hosts. I purchased land that sat on the market for years on end so that I could be on island half the year, and host the other half. I have been doing this since 2013, without a single neighbor ever complaining about my guests. The only time my neighbors call when I’m off island is to ask if they can use my driveway!
It sure seems The Powers That Be are puposely trying to squelch tourism. Residents who live here should be allowed to rent out their extra room tax-free.
What they call “afforxable housing” isn’t really at all. A future where only the wealthy can live or play here is looming.
My wife and I are spending 16 days on Maui. It’s a to do list for us. After working and saving a combined 80yrs of work and savings. We have wanted to come for quite sometime. Life is too short. Every place,peoples,culture is unique.
If it wasn’t for the STR . We personally could not afford to come for sure. And do hope we live long enough to visit other islands.
Remember that almost all this revenue leaves Hawaii to the pockets of mainland investors. We keep the pay for our room cleaners, landscapers, maintenance workers and property managers. Local Workforce barely survives.
The main land investors bribe/donate to local lawmakers who are voted in by locals. Stop voting for the same people/party and expect a different outcome.
I’d like for BOH to do an article on the exact numbers of “Mainland” investors vs. world tourism dollars coming in. I hear these statement echoed but have not seen any statistics listed.
The article’s subhead: “Helping Stifle Over-Tourism” is a bit misleading.
The whole reason hotel rates are up is because tourism has Not been stifled. Just the opposite. Market forces are in play here. If tourists will pay it, the hotels will charge it. “Nobody goes to Hawaii any more…it’s too crowded.”
Hawaii is starting to bite the hand that feeds it. In time all of us here are going to feel the deep financial crisis the hotels and law makers made. People of Hawaii be careful what you wish for, you may just get it, and you have no idea where it going to leave you. I plan of leaving after 40 years.
Also, the island of Oahu is turning into a garbage dump and a lot of crazy homeless people, and youth violence.
Good luck.
And there you have it. Because the Governor and Mayor are taking away STVR the hotels are going wild.
If there’s no tourist then Maui will have no jobs or money to rebuild.
Think this one over! Greedy Hotels. Outrageous!
Actually most of said money that you people claim is helping them to survive most of it is not even staying in Hawaii because of big corporations and all that. Despite everything even the money they make in the hotel isn’t enough to help these people. I guarantee you they have other jobs they rely on. And most of them are not even local.
At the high end, those skyhigh Hawaii room rates are before fees, taxes, and the big rental car bill. Four or five nights of that all-in cost can get you a *monthly* short-term entire-home rental in some very desirable winter locales, including Florida (Atlantic or Gulf side) Arizona (including Phoenix or a small but nice Scottsdale condo), anywhere in Texas, Nevada, South America, Australia (Brisbane), even Spain and Greece. In fact, French Polynesia is a more affordable locale at these HI hotel prices.
Hawaii simply doesn’t pencil out. Any traveler can get twice the vacation length at half these Hawaii costs + fees + taxes.
Airbnb rentals at least are illegal here in Hawaii anywhere outside resort areas. So even for those who are staying in said rentals, the owner is doing it under the radar. But the governor is cracking down on those short term rentals, but most of our residents agree with him on it it is necessary. Make them into at least 90 days or longer rentals.
Beauuuuutiful!! Mahalo to our hotels working hard to making life better for both visitors and our residents alike! I think both are being severely affected by the overcrowding here! Our residents will be so thankful! Especially as the government begins to cut back on short term rentals! Considering Airbnb is illegal anywhere outside resort areas and having visitors staying in peoples’ homes can be annoying.
I’m glad you are comfortable with this and do hope you have the ability to farm or a sustainable income from the local market. The over crowding is a sad issue. I just don’t hear from my local friends stating they are making strides in building life and making income on local small businesses. Help stops coming in 2 years! If you enjoy the hotels and resorts, you will find out that the extra building of the expensive hotels/resorts will cost you more eco damage. People who stay in hotels/resorts most often do not give a crap about where they are staying , only just that it is nice and wealthy playground. If you think tourists are entitled now, ….just you wait Erika, ….sadly, just you wait…
So I have been reading the comments today and day that in addition to the hotels raising their prices, STR’s had already been raising theirs over the last few years. A 2 bdrm condo for a week was $1925 @$275 a nite@Pali me kua. A gorgeous view and very nice place. Quiet and spacious. That was before taxes. Then they changed from a weekly rate to daily rate and prices shot up drastically. People just cut their time from a week to 3 days. All lodging has been raised by taxes and greed. Mahalo to both of you as always. The locals are affected the most and this IS their home from the beginning. Unemployment will be on the rise and mental and physical health issues also from now on. SAD to see this happening.
When tourism is the number one industry and there are attempts to stifle it what are you really stifling?Its stifling peoples ability to earn a living.Hotel workers, car rental employees, tour guides, restaurants, farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers all the suppliers of items for tourism, its a long list.So as the government stifles tourism and goes soft on crime, allows rampant homelessness, epidemic drug abuse what will the end result be?This isnt being allowed to happen this is intentional.
Despite what you might think most of the staff in these hotels are not even local, and they don’t even get paid that much to begin with, so is it really helping? Besides most of the money said going to hotels is not even staying here. So who is it really helping?
You don’t have to pay that kind of price to stay in a condo. It’s kind of hard to believe that there are prices like that. But it’s equally hard to believe that people are stupid enough to think they’re so “fancy” as to deserve to be in one of those ridiculous hotels. Neither side is doing anything but overrating itself — the hotels and the obviously self-important wannabe “rich” clients. Get a condo. You can stay a month for the price of 5 days at Wailea. Live a little.
Rentals are illegal anywhere outside resort areas and our governor is cracking down on short term rentals, there has been a fight to extend it to 90 days or longer. So good luck there.
Well…some people simply want to enjoy life with a little luxury once in a while. I think calling them all “stupid” is rather harsh. Some condos are junk, and some people want a break from cooking and cleaning. Heck, my nephews enjoyed the 5 diamond hotels and restaurants at 4 years old, because their filthy rich father only took them camping so He could save a buck.
We have been spending 2 months each winter in Hawaii, but this is our last year. We are driven away by high prices made even worse by outrageous taxes and fees. The governor’s plan to reduce tourism is working quite well.
Just depressing. I now consider us totally priced out of a vacation in Hawaii. That said, we will continue traveling the world, and I’m counting on finding many other great vacation spots that won’t cost us an arm and a leg.
I have begun to find my new paradise. I Know there is another one, hope I find it quickly at this point in my life. A 60 year visitor, Hawaiian Islands (were) my second home….no longer can afford….sadly
Well here it comes! And then the Green Fee will add some more. Don’t forget beach/parks fee also. So yes, they have achieved their purpose in keeping people from traveling there. Just happy for all my pictures and memories of trips over there. Mahalo and keep up the great work reporting these updates for us.
Been there with family twice. Prices have gotten ridiculous. Not feeling the aloha. Leaving Saturday for Turks and Caicos. Won’t be back to Hawaii. Loved what it was. Dislike what it has become.
My bucket list trip to Hawaii has been canceled twice once in March 2020 due Covid and again last March.
I lost $350 in airfare from Hawaiian Airlines because I wasn’t able to rebook within the 2 year period even though Covid restrictions hadn’t yet been fully lifted.
I live in Toronto Canada where the exchange rate is currently $1.35.
I was booked to stay at Astin Maui Hill in March 2020 and now this property has tripled in price.
I rebooked for March staying in a VRBO accommodation.
If my trip happens I know that I will never return.
The continued increase in prices for accommodations, airfare, food, exchange rate, travel distance and tour prices are far too exorbitant
Be careful what you wish for because our governor is now cracking down on short term rentals, there has been a push to extend most of them to 90 days or longer. But they are working on a bill to minimize short term rentals at this time. e
Outlawing Ab&bs, really only helped the hotels. that is why the rates are so high and occupancy low. folks are finding Ab&b elsewhere. We are not the only tropical island in the world. Lots of other choices. (Not too many in US, but lots else waiting to be discovered)
Our economy will suffer since we are so dependant on tourism.
All those short term rental converting to long term– Lots locals are moving to the mainland for higher pay, lower housing costs. So will they really stay to fill those converted homes?
Mahalo, but i still love hawaii best. The natives are always nice to me, maybe because we’re long term comers, not sure, and can’t find my zebra dove bird anywhere else! Hawaii has a special smell in the air even when not standing next to a plumeria bush. And they have kitties and roosters!
Those converted homes, will taking a beating as they are not intended for a large family situation. After the 2 year departure and it will happen in 2 years, the owners, will have to deal with the remodel and rehab. Not everyone is a neat and tidy dweller. Many are angry and will allow their kids to live in nicer places but without the skills to take care and respect….When the money stops coming in,…..the issues will all start popping out….grandly!
Hotels are jacking up their prices because they are winning their fight to abolish short term vacation rentals.
Because of limited availability, they can charge whatever they want, and provide less quality services than they have in the past.
Big corporations have won out yet again against mom and pop businesses.
And only because they’ve gotten into lawmaker’s pockets and perpetrated a myth to turn residents against short term vacation rentals.
My husband travels a lot for business, and he is seeing this same trend happening everywhere that short term vacations rentals have been mostly banned.
Actually our residents pushed to ban short term rentals because it’s annoying most of them and I don’t blame them. Visitors should be staying in hotels not in peoples’ homes in residential areas. They didn’t have to turn us against it we were already against it.
I agree that you have a right to voice your opinion, but I don’t agree with it. I’ve been coming to the Big Island of Hawai’i for 2-4 months at a time since 2016. I only stay in vacation rentals because I like to experience a new place at the neighborhood level, i.e. the culture. I have asked many of the locals where I stay if vacation renters bother them, and I have yet to find one who said yes. In fact, the last person I asked said, “We have never experienced a problem with vacation renters. They are kind and respectful, and are only here to see what we have the privilege of seeing every day.” For me, getting to be friends with a beautiful person like that is what keeps me coming back to Hawai’i each year.
Good riddance.Get rid of stvr and keep the tourists out of our neighborhoods and in resort zones, let’s keep it up. The airbnbers that show up on southwest, make one stop at Costco and eat Mac and cheese their whole stay in their Airbnb, offer little to the local economy except more strain on beaches and infrastructure. Hotels actually pay a living wage and provide great benefits to their employees
I respect your right to voice your opinion, but I completely disagree. And I bet if you ask the majority of housekeepers at any hotel if they’re paid a living wage, they’d likely look at you as if you were nuts for having asked the question. My guests dine at local restaurants and shop at local establishments that I recommend. I hire caregivers and gardeners. I pay my housekeepers $50 hourly.
At 40 hours a week?
No, not 40 hours a week. In season, it can be 25 hours.
That said, the team of women I used only service STVR’s because that’s where the money is.
They don’t have to work as many hours, and yet they’re paid a ton more than the hotels pay them. Plus, they are local, so they don’t have to spend 90 minutes each way driving. More, they are treated respectfully, so they are loyal to me.
I hope this helps.
For us I have to disagree. It started with cheap airfare. After seeing costs of hotels. It was out of our reach to go and visit to where we could enjoy the culture,food, go diving,etc. If it wasn’t for STR we would not be able to spend our hard earned money elsewhere. Those that are eating Mac and cheese have to with what hotels are charging.
I would love to be able to sometines rent out my son’s room to a visitor or a person such as your husband. The zoning laws prevent that, as it would be considered a vacation rental. People say vacation rentals are annoying. Maybe restrictions should apply to rentals where the owners do not live here.
I’m one of those hosts. I purchased land that sat on the market for years on end so that I could be on island half the year, and host the other half. I have been doing this since 2013, without a single neighbor ever complaining about my guests. The only time my neighbors call when I’m off island is to ask if they can use my driveway!
It sure seems The Powers That Be are puposely trying to squelch tourism. Residents who live here should be allowed to rent out their extra room tax-free.
What they call “afforxable housing” isn’t really at all. A future where only the wealthy can live or play here is looming.
Be careful what you wish for, Governor Green!
My wife and I are spending 16 days on Maui. It’s a to do list for us. After working and saving a combined 80yrs of work and savings. We have wanted to come for quite sometime. Life is too short. Every place,peoples,culture is unique.
If it wasn’t for the STR . We personally could not afford to come for sure. And do hope we live long enough to visit other islands.
My wife
Remember that almost all this revenue leaves Hawaii to the pockets of mainland investors. We keep the pay for our room cleaners, landscapers, maintenance workers and property managers. Local Workforce barely survives.
The main land investors bribe/donate to local lawmakers who are voted in by locals. Stop voting for the same people/party and expect a different outcome.
I’d like for BOH to do an article on the exact numbers of “Mainland” investors vs. world tourism dollars coming in. I hear these statement echoed but have not seen any statistics listed.
The article’s subhead: “Helping Stifle Over-Tourism” is a bit misleading.
The whole reason hotel rates are up is because tourism has Not been stifled. Just the opposite. Market forces are in play here. If tourists will pay it, the hotels will charge it. “Nobody goes to Hawaii any more…it’s too crowded.”
Hawaii is starting to bite the hand that feeds it. In time all of us here are going to feel the deep financial crisis the hotels and law makers made. People of Hawaii be careful what you wish for, you may just get it, and you have no idea where it going to leave you. I plan of leaving after 40 years.
Also, the island of Oahu is turning into a garbage dump and a lot of crazy homeless people, and youth violence.
Good luck.
And there you have it. Because the Governor and Mayor are taking away STVR the hotels are going wild.
If there’s no tourist then Maui will have no jobs or money to rebuild.
Think this one over! Greedy Hotels. Outrageous!
Actually most of said money that you people claim is helping them to survive most of it is not even staying in Hawaii because of big corporations and all that. Despite everything even the money they make in the hotel isn’t enough to help these people. I guarantee you they have other jobs they rely on. And most of them are not even local.
At the high end, those skyhigh Hawaii room rates are before fees, taxes, and the big rental car bill. Four or five nights of that all-in cost can get you a *monthly* short-term entire-home rental in some very desirable winter locales, including Florida (Atlantic or Gulf side) Arizona (including Phoenix or a small but nice Scottsdale condo), anywhere in Texas, Nevada, South America, Australia (Brisbane), even Spain and Greece. In fact, French Polynesia is a more affordable locale at these HI hotel prices.
Hawaii simply doesn’t pencil out. Any traveler can get twice the vacation length at half these Hawaii costs + fees + taxes.
Airbnb rentals at least are illegal here in Hawaii anywhere outside resort areas. So even for those who are staying in said rentals, the owner is doing it under the radar. But the governor is cracking down on those short term rentals, but most of our residents agree with him on it it is necessary. Make them into at least 90 days or longer rentals.
Beauuuuutiful!! Mahalo to our hotels working hard to making life better for both visitors and our residents alike! I think both are being severely affected by the overcrowding here! Our residents will be so thankful! Especially as the government begins to cut back on short term rentals! Considering Airbnb is illegal anywhere outside resort areas and having visitors staying in peoples’ homes can be annoying.
Hear! Hear! Great comment, Erika!
I’m glad you are comfortable with this and do hope you have the ability to farm or a sustainable income from the local market. The over crowding is a sad issue. I just don’t hear from my local friends stating they are making strides in building life and making income on local small businesses. Help stops coming in 2 years! If you enjoy the hotels and resorts, you will find out that the extra building of the expensive hotels/resorts will cost you more eco damage. People who stay in hotels/resorts most often do not give a crap about where they are staying , only just that it is nice and wealthy playground. If you think tourists are entitled now, ….just you wait Erika, ….sadly, just you wait…
So I have been reading the comments today and day that in addition to the hotels raising their prices, STR’s had already been raising theirs over the last few years. A 2 bdrm condo for a week was $1925 @$275 a nite@Pali me kua. A gorgeous view and very nice place. Quiet and spacious. That was before taxes. Then they changed from a weekly rate to daily rate and prices shot up drastically. People just cut their time from a week to 3 days. All lodging has been raised by taxes and greed. Mahalo to both of you as always. The locals are affected the most and this IS their home from the beginning. Unemployment will be on the rise and mental and physical health issues also from now on. SAD to see this happening.
Mufi (Trolley Folly) Hanneman and Co. are laughing all the way to the bank after they drove a stake into the heart of STRs.
When tourism is the number one industry and there are attempts to stifle it what are you really stifling?Its stifling peoples ability to earn a living.Hotel workers, car rental employees, tour guides, restaurants, farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers all the suppliers of items for tourism, its a long list.So as the government stifles tourism and goes soft on crime, allows rampant homelessness, epidemic drug abuse what will the end result be?This isnt being allowed to happen this is intentional.
Despite what you might think most of the staff in these hotels are not even local, and they don’t even get paid that much to begin with, so is it really helping? Besides most of the money said going to hotels is not even staying here. So who is it really helping?
You don’t have to pay that kind of price to stay in a condo. It’s kind of hard to believe that there are prices like that. But it’s equally hard to believe that people are stupid enough to think they’re so “fancy” as to deserve to be in one of those ridiculous hotels. Neither side is doing anything but overrating itself — the hotels and the obviously self-important wannabe “rich” clients. Get a condo. You can stay a month for the price of 5 days at Wailea. Live a little.
Rentals are illegal anywhere outside resort areas and our governor is cracking down on short term rentals, there has been a fight to extend it to 90 days or longer. So good luck there.
Well…some people simply want to enjoy life with a little luxury once in a while. I think calling them all “stupid” is rather harsh. Some condos are junk, and some people want a break from cooking and cleaning. Heck, my nephews enjoyed the 5 diamond hotels and restaurants at 4 years old, because their filthy rich father only took them camping so He could save a buck.
The list does not just include Wailea!
We have been spending 2 months each winter in Hawaii, but this is our last year. We are driven away by high prices made even worse by outrageous taxes and fees. The governor’s plan to reduce tourism is working quite well.
Just depressing. I now consider us totally priced out of a vacation in Hawaii. That said, we will continue traveling the world, and I’m counting on finding many other great vacation spots that won’t cost us an arm and a leg.
I have begun to find my new paradise. I Know there is another one, hope I find it quickly at this point in my life. A 60 year visitor, Hawaiian Islands (were) my second home….no longer can afford….sadly
Well here it comes! And then the Green Fee will add some more. Don’t forget beach/parks fee also. So yes, they have achieved their purpose in keeping people from traveling there. Just happy for all my pictures and memories of trips over there. Mahalo and keep up the great work reporting these updates for us.
Been there with family twice. Prices have gotten ridiculous. Not feeling the aloha. Leaving Saturday for Turks and Caicos. Won’t be back to Hawaii. Loved what it was. Dislike what it has become.
My bucket list trip to Hawaii has been canceled twice once in March 2020 due Covid and again last March.
I lost $350 in airfare from Hawaiian Airlines because I wasn’t able to rebook within the 2 year period even though Covid restrictions hadn’t yet been fully lifted.
I live in Toronto Canada where the exchange rate is currently $1.35.
I was booked to stay at Astin Maui Hill in March 2020 and now this property has tripled in price.
I rebooked for March staying in a VRBO accommodation.
If my trip happens I know that I will never return.
The continued increase in prices for accommodations, airfare, food, exchange rate, travel distance and tour prices are far too exorbitant
Be careful what you wish for because our governor is now cracking down on short term rentals, there has been a push to extend most of them to 90 days or longer. But they are working on a bill to minimize short term rentals at this time. e
Agree Cheryl and for me all this is Stress…Angst should never be part of paradise planning.
Outlawing Ab&bs, really only helped the hotels. that is why the rates are so high and occupancy low. folks are finding Ab&b elsewhere. We are not the only tropical island in the world. Lots of other choices. (Not too many in US, but lots else waiting to be discovered)
Our economy will suffer since we are so dependant on tourism.
All those short term rental converting to long term– Lots locals are moving to the mainland for higher pay, lower housing costs. So will they really stay to fill those converted homes?
Mahalo, but i still love hawaii best. The natives are always nice to me, maybe because we’re long term comers, not sure, and can’t find my zebra dove bird anywhere else! Hawaii has a special smell in the air even when not standing next to a plumeria bush. And they have kitties and roosters!
Those converted homes, will taking a beating as they are not intended for a large family situation. After the 2 year departure and it will happen in 2 years, the owners, will have to deal with the remodel and rehab. Not everyone is a neat and tidy dweller. Many are angry and will allow their kids to live in nicer places but without the skills to take care and respect….When the money stops coming in,…..the issues will all start popping out….grandly!