73 thoughts on “Hawaii In A Sometimes Visitor-Unfriendly World”
Kauaidoug
Very nice article. I talk to a lot of visitors in my business and what you describe happening here with shortages of labor and rising costs is not unique to Hawaii. The people I talk to say the same thing is happening wherever they are from on the mainland? Of course we’re tourism based here but we are not alone. During COVID we were it and people now are going other places and will as long as the perception of Hawaii as low value, meaning high prices and and perceived local animosity, is widespread. It’s all good, lucky live Kaua’i.
Paradise lost from my recent trip. It appears that if one has not been to Maui, one will not recognize the detriment changes. The Whaler Walkway that goes up along the hotels south: The walkway beautiful grass is now filled with plastic water toys, massage tables. Several of the resorts are looking worn and need of repair and updating. Some are getting remodeled. The beautiful sculptures are being swallowed up by selling shacks, etc. It appears the “new condo/resort” area heading north of the Sheraton is the new updated area. But full of artificial beauty taking away so much green space. Too many humans on Earth. Obvious rodent issues with feral cats to chase them away at every resort now. Locals clearly do not like tourists!
Aloha. As a former mainland Airport Commissioner for a tourist town Hawaii needs to accept responsibility for increased visitors. County decision makers have approved airport expansions adding additional gates to airports. Perhaps it’s time for decision makers and Hawaiian voters to reflect on their past actions and stop approving more airport expansions allowing more visitors
We have done that at Lihue airport I’m very glad to say. Well take the extended runway and modernize what we have, no need extra 300,000 people a year.
You know nothing about that matter…. The airport do what they like without the publics opinion… They don’t care about Hawaii and what Hawaii needs… Hawaiian airlines have been Robbing us blind after aloha airlines was no more. thanks to Southwest airlines making travel more affordable within the islands.
That simply isn’t true. As the article clearly states, the FAA has Long Required certain upgrades and the County and State have failed for many years to make those Safety Upgrades. There is no question that the airport needs more services as the options now are not adequate. I was just there a couple weeks ago and while it’s a fine little airport; the services do not match the number of flights coming in and going out of Lihu’e. The biggest problem of course, is who will staff these businesses. The Royal Sonesta, which is a lovely hotel and the staff there is wonderful; can only clean rooms every other day which is atypical of a 4-diamond resort. As you know, they simply don’t have the people to clean daily. Every restaurant we went to had the same problem which is why so many now operate food trucks which take far fewer employees. You obviously have to wait far longer than the optimal normal time, but what can you do? If you have 2-3 employees and a line at a sushi truck or at 1/2
Hamura Saimin or The Shrimp Station is inevitable. Fortunately, the weather is so perfect that we didn’t mind waiting and we had a great time talking with employees and other tourists so time went by quickly.
I strongly disagree that locals are unkind to tourists. In our 12 days on Kaua’i and Hawai’i Island, we didn’t find a single person that didn’t show the full spirit of Aloha. Whether in Waimea, Lihu’e, Volcano, Pahoa, Naalehu, Hilo or Kona, we were met with extreme kindness. We adore Hawai’i and the people of Hawai’i and will return again and again.
Hawaii is finding itself a “paradise lost” due to many reasons. Most of this is can be summed up to the Obnoxious, Relentless, Greed of the Hoteliers, including Resorts. Secondly, there’s the Politicians at all levels that shouldn’t have any problem getting future employment with the Hotel and Resort industry. Beyond that, the treatment of visitors/tourists by some residents should be realized as vocal terrorism, it truly is. Hawaii is a State, there I’ve said it, get over it! Without Statehood, Federal Aid, your Islands would be very different. Think pineapple fields.
Politicians and many locals play the blame game for environmental impact from “over tourism.”
In the meantime, Oahu has nearly 5,000 homeless people, most of whom defecate in the streets and waterways, vandalize parks and businesses, commit crimes at will, harass law abiding citizens, and leave trash and hypodermic needles everywhere! For the most part, tourist come here, spend money, and leave. I wish I had in laws like that! Hawaii, (especially Oahu) need to clean up their own houses first and foremost!
The Grand Wailea Resort on Maui is owned by Blackstone. I think Blackstone will be ok? In case you are wondering – they are not local. The Grand Wailea is the largest user of water on Maui, where residents and farmers are sometimes required to conserve water. Current job listings at the Grand Wailea: $21.85/hr for a Housekeeper, $23.15/hr for a laundry attendant, $14/hr for a Bellperson. Rates at the Grand Wailea start at: $1086/night.
Very interesting. Somehow in my head I thought it was still owned by Michael Dell. Looks like he unloaded it to Blackstone. Ugghh, Blackstone, private equity. No wonder about all the stuff you posted and the problems.
Maybe they can unload the debt onto pension funds.
I couldn’t care less for the hotels or the STR junk (most of the STR junk is run through corporates……VRBO, Airbnb – they have almost no assets and put all risk on owners, and skim the rest…..smart). They could all care less about local communities.
The wages you stated that Grand Wailea are not to shabby.
That is about average of what people make in the mainland states.
Coconuts Cafe is hiring for $26 and hour. That is alot!
Grand Wailea workers recently filed a class-action lawsuit alleging owners of the luxury hotel giant misclassified hundreds of spa and salon workers, groundskeepers, facilities maintenance personnel and window washers as independent contractors in a “fraudulent scheme” to avoid pay and benefits.
“Bolos is believed to be representative of a victimized class of vulnerable workers, including Native Hawaiian and immigrant communities, who have been systematically exploited and historically reluctant to question their working conditions out of fear of losing their jobs and suffering further economic hardship,” according to her lawyers.
Exploitation of Hawaii’s resources and people? Bill Now you are really onto something!
What type of “immigrants” are you speaking of being exploited?
If they are illegal invaders, they need to be deported.
Hawaii has alot of illegal non American citizens.
And those illegals got free Goverment Aide both Federal and state funds from the fires on Maui.
Why is no one speaking of that in the mix of the state of Hawaii’s problems?
I spent my life in corporations. I was literally in the room as we shifted profits offshore and to countries where it couldn’t be tracked (creating losses). I was also in the room when we shifted ownership of assets every few years in order to make them losses (using corporations spread throughout the world.) And there are myriad ways to control assets and cash without legally owning them. My point is that accounting has largely become a fiction, and many people get quite rich as companies are sold or declare bankruptcy. (And we routinely entertained Congressmen, Presidents, and Vice-Presidents – who crafted the laws needed to keep everything secret.) If you didn’t already know, we live in a very corrupt world. I wish this weren’t so.
It may be simplistic, but how about banning corporations from owning any sort of residence? This means that only individuals could buy homes and rentals. Corporations are not humans and don’t need housing.
It would be nice if you shared with us what projects have been completed using all the TAT and additional Maui 3% TAT tax. The government is always raising taxes “to go towards upgrading tourist experiences etc.”, and yet we don’t hear exactly what the money has been applied towards. Thanks for any insight you may have on this subject. We always pay pay pay and yet we don’t hear (transparency) when these funds are used and to what they are used for.
Laurie,
The state used to kick back the 3% (about 25% of the total tax collected) to the counties. Then, the state decided they wanted to keep that money, so the counties added the 3%. Of course, the state and counties knew this was the plan. So, the state gave itself a 25% raise, and the counties break even.
I feel a bunch of different ways about this. Plenty of my friends make really good money owning or working at ST(V)R’s on different island in Hawaii (I live on the Big Island). In 30 years I’ve seen and heard it all but the underlying needs and wants are still the same: we need more housing and we need our tourists to support jobs and our economy. We need to stop making “enemies” of the tourists and those nasty STVR’s /s. I feel like the war on tourism is so short sighted and cringe worthy. We need to be aloha: Honor the past but be in the present. Build some more housing instead of using it for cattle!! Let folks make money and afford to live here!! Welcome our lovely wonderful tourists!! Ran out of space!!
I am sure there are others like me that are just weary of the years of mixed messages who have just decided to take a wait and see approach and see what the next 5 or so years brings. My hope is that somehow this plan works for the many locals that desire nothing more than the rest of us… Affordable housing and job security. As so many of the comments have pointed out in the past, the governors plan seems unlikely to really be able to pull that off with or without anti tourism sentiment.As much as I love HI, travelers just need to move on and find other places to enjoy & just let this shake out and let the locals have the old days and old ways back. Prayers for HI
Is affordable housing even real on an island way out from anything?
You choose to live on an island, its going to be more expensive.
To think it will not be, is out of touch with reality.
Almost everything that you have an on island with modern day amenities & housing will cost you more.
Shipping it to the island via ships & planes cost a lot!
Quite frankly, I am tired of some Hawaiins complaining of affordable housing.
The mainland states are having the same issues.
In Hawaii, yes its more comparatively to some places on the mainland, but again it costs more to get the lumber, gas, food, etc to you.
If all the Hawaiin islands want to live like the real natives on Niihau, then you will have no tourism & no cost of living.
I grew up in Hawaii, lived and worked in Hilo, Honolulu, and Kauai until I was 25 and came up to California to graduate school. Since then I have traveled extensively and seen tourism bloome everywhere in Europe, Japan, Hawaii, Australia, Mexico and our own Alaska. Just got back from Cozumel, Mexico where change on that island and the opposite Yucatan coast is faced with the same issues as is Hawaii. Fees are one way to preserve natural and cultural resources. Heading for Barcelona this fall with cruise along the French coast down to northern Italy. We’ve been informed by the travel site that I use of tourism fees in various locations. Traveling off season, has been one way we use to mitigate our discomfort with the tourism crush.
Hawaii is riding on the razors edge. On one hand you want “the right kind of visitors”, but you also want the money. There is the problem! The big corporations that run the huge resorts want to make their money. Less visitors equals higher prices (they still want their profits) Higher prices equals less, more entitled visitors. Plus the corrupt state government still wants it’s money, so more taxes, fees and duties on the visitors.
Good luck Hawaii, you will be missed.
It’s very short sighted to dismiss all STR and expect it to fix everything. First off, for those working in the STR world they will be losing their jobs which means they can’t afford to live on Maui, so they move. If a little over 3000 houses burned in the fire, why are they removing over 7000 rentals, it’s pretty clear many will sit empty…it seems the intent is to eliminate the STR and force owners to sell at a substantially reduced rate so locals can afford them, is anyone even looking at what the STR segment has brought to Maui from a dollars and cents perspective. Stop putting it all on our backs and come up with solid plans to build affordable housing and still allow tourist to bring their hard-ear dollars to the island –
Well, Liz, you can take comfort in knowing that those that lose their STR cleaning and maintenance jobs will have plenty of much better opportunities on the island, such as with the County which has 1,100 positions open right now, many with full benefits. As rents and home prices fall those same people won’t be forced into low-income housing that you propose, because their higher income and lower normal housing costs will match up better and they can live a normal life.
Unfortunately, speculators will have to take a loss, but that’s just part of gambling in the housing market.
Still with the raising cost of living and a lacking labor force They are trying to build new hotels and luxury condos on native Hawaiian cultural sites. I have been telling tourists for decades No Forget Go Home
We diverted to the Virgin Islands last winter, as we had fond memories from the numerous cruise stops there over the years.
We would never go back- beaches filled with sargassum and pot smoking everywhere ( to each his own, but I don’t want to smell it non stop…)
Our rental had cockroaches- we since found out ” cockroach island” is another name for the VI. I know Hawaii has them too, but we’ve never experienced them in our kitchen and bathroom drawers.
We love Hawaii, its culture and people. Sincerely hoping we won’t lose the ability to find accommodations ( which is why we chose VI- Big Island prices were out of control)
Hawaii is my happy place. I especially appreciate Hawaiians’ love for the land and the spirit of aloha. I have not been anywhere else that feels the same love and respect. I understand the problems with vacation rentals, but I hate the push to only stay in a hotel in Honolulu or Ko Olina. Might there be a program to build small rental areas in other parts of Oahu like Kailua, Kaneohe, and Haleiva? Not big resorts, just little enclaves that could accommodate a couple hundred visitors each? At least as a test to spread out the impact.
Hawaii should kiss the grounds for having tourists. Streets , bathrooms are neglected, prices are high, attitude is sour. To many homeless and crime . Hawaii is never been a paradise for jobs and now we will have more people on sidewalks!!!
Oh my goodness! You make some really great points! Hawaii must have been a cesspool before the glorious tourist came along! Thank goodness for them!
And oh boy, I guess Hawaii will return to its’ cesspool days when all of the tourists don’t return. Have you picked up on my sarcasm yet? I’m hoping you have a sense of humor. We definitely need it during these times. Let’s hope we find the balance we need in this important matter. All the best to you, Mareva
There’s another commonality between Spain & Hawaii – the number of upper middle class / wealthy retirees moving to Spain. In recent years, Spain is constantly promoted as a great place to retire. This influx of expats has to impact the real estate market similar to Hawaii, potentially resulting in anti-U.S. tourists attitudes.
Hi In your report it says ” returning Hawaii visitors to lower sustainable levels from a decade ago”. If the airlines had not offered such cheap prices to fly there, then this overabundance of visitors would not have happened. I think that your readers have gotten the clear message that Hawaii is not the same anymore. For long-time visitors, this has convinced them to take vacations elsewhere. They have brought these problems upon themselves and the residents are the ones who are suffering for it. It is a very sad situation now.
We’ve had a condominium on the “South Island” of Maui for five years and spend the winter months there. Five years ago, we splurged twice a week at the three highest-priced restaurants in the immediate neighborhood. This past winter we dined twice at two of them and skipped the third after checking out the menu prices online. A small local deli close by moved a few blocks away and opened a deli and restaurant open weekend evenings. We loved the deli, so we tried the restaurant. We were shocked to find the menu was Prix Fixe at — $195.00 per person – for a mini portion 7- course meal – with upgrade options for a steak at $85 and caviar for $225. We have the resources to pay these prices – but not the desire. Very sad.
Some of the hotel websites are misleading. If you look at the grand Hyatts site it shows you a price of $700 a night but then when you click to book it, you find out that $700 doesn’t include the 18% tax and the $50 per nighy resort fee. Hilton Hawaiian Village at least spells it out before you click to buy that the price shown includes the resort fee but not the tax. Biden administration has been trying to make the hotels show us the price right away up front and I’d appreciate that!
I can fly anywhere I’d like to, but won’t visit where I’m unwanted, so please continue the very useful information on where not to visit. Secondly, “if only” Hawaii’s leaders had chosen to diversify Hawaii’s economy decades ago, as did many other States, then Hawaii would not be so very heavily dependent upon tourism.
Those who created the problem (Josh green) would be incapable of finding a solution. In Hawaii we depend on tourism income, where Spain has other options.
We need to look at the school system representing trades that equip us to be independent and work at skilled labor jobs, so we are not controlled by working for the government, which creates zero income. Your article did a good job of presenting the situation.
I couldn’t disagree more. With respect, Josh Green didn’t create the explosion of post COVID visitors. Josh Green didn’t create the explosion and proliferation of those wanting to cash in on owning a vacation rental.
A decade ago, there weren’t nearly as many vacation rentals as there are now. Failure to constrain unlimited growth and greed has created an untenable situation. At least Green is trying to mitigate the damage caused by previous administrations.
We spent a month in Spain last fall, and a month in Portugal a year ago spring. We did not run into any anti-tourist sentiment, but we did not stay in Malaga. We mostly stay in hotels, and never stayed in Airbnb, in both places. The most tourists I’ve even seen was in Barcelona. San Sabastian (opposite direction) also crowded with tourists. We spent a lot of time in parts of the cities/country where no one spoke English, and my Spanish is not good. But we figured it out (the phone translator changes things) and they were happy to get our business. We are currently in Australia. they have also been very friendly. Maybe you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
If you look at Hawaii’s daily visitor count Maui is currently going through a tourism reset. Arrival numbers are running almost 50 percent less than same time in 2023.
My husband and I used to come to Hawaii twice a year pre-pandemic since the 90’s. Post-pandemic, our extended family visited Oahu after the Lahaina fire. The sense we got during this trip was, “leave your money here, and get the heck off of our island.” We felt exploited and gouged at the resorts and eateries. Yeah. Our money says we’re going elsewhere.
You have vacant STR homes that will eventually be sold due to low occupancy. Let the market correct itself. Do not issue new STR permits. Stop bullying the tourists that eat in your restaurants and support your economy. You restricted access to IAO Valley and now numbers are down noticeably. There is a path and most people don’t hike into the jungle. $20 per car now+ and the restroom is still not functioning. Where does the money go??????
Yes, I seemed to notice a less than usual ‘friendliness’ with the ABC store pers since the fire last year. Not much “Aloha” around, a little ‘grim.’ Not my fault, but locals don’t need to take it out on the visitors/haoles who just come to relax and have fun. Things could get better in HI, but they need to wean themselves back from the dependency on tourism and develop more ‘industry’ and redevelop agricultural enterprise. Visitors shouldn’t be the ‘ones you love to hate’, when so many depend on them, in one way or another, to make a living. Someone, with Hawaii’s best interests at heart (not the hotel owners and big land owners), needs to take charge of the rudder and turn this state around.
First of all, whoever wrote this article was remarkable articulate,
and demonstrated a well balanced view of all sides. In a way, the
author shows that there is no solution that works for all sides. Only
a compromise, and that means that all sides have some disappointment. After 35 winters on Maui since 1983, it’s become
unaffordable, with the lodging, food, tip expectations, car rental prices and costs of activities. I will leave it to others to discuss the
corruption, incompetence, and political grandstanding.
We have to make other plans, in part, because Maui wants us to make other plans. I do look forward to the new discoveries of winter
locations.
Chris C
Bravo, local politicians think they can pull people s strings . Green only sees Japanese tourists . He has totally neglected to see that people from the mainland have supported the economy .
Trying to navigate the undefined line between encouraging tourists to “want to come to Hawaii because it’s a welcoming place” and “discouraging too many tourists from coming” is tough to find, and most people hear the negative easier than the positive. Good luck to the residents and especially the politicians! You may get what you wish for, but at a “price” that supports fewer people, resulting in some residents still having to leave because there are fewer jobs.
BOH- “What happened took us somewhat by surprise.” “An incident in Southern Spain”, “Having encountered far too much visitor push-back in Andalusia, Spain to feel comfortable, it turned out to be easier to head towards France”
Please elaborate, your readers could benefit from details of the “incident”. Were you threatened or worse? Is Spain unsafe for American tourists? Heading to France from Spain would be a huge change of plans and likely expense for most of BOH readers. Thanks.
How many times was I posting examples of how over-tourism was not just a Hawaii problem? The proliferation of STRs everywhere and the huge problems and imbalances they’ve created? It’s nationwide. It’s global.
The travel and housing boom was a result of global Central Banks easing monetary policy far too low for far too long, coupled with governments crazy fiscal policy of deficit spending in the many, many, many trillions. In short, far too much money injected into the system.
Regarding STRs, huge liquidity injections encouraged a lot of inexperienced and overzealous investors into the space in a highly distorted market with inflated prices, which is horrible for local populations and society as a whole.
We are experiencing the same thing here in Sedona AZ. However our tourist boom began during covid because folks didn’t want to fly anywhere.Then the vacation rental thing got completely out of hand.driving up prices and shutting out locals. The city gov does nothing for the residents and only focuses on wooing more tourists while our infrastructure has fallen by the wayside. state gov no help. So i completely understand the situation in Hawaii. I don’t know what the answer is but one does have to keep in mind fueling the economy. I have visited Hawaii every year for decades. I see the changes. i fear soon it will out of my price range. Best wishes to finding an amiable solution. Maybe we can follow your lead.
“Sedona officials have started a new program aimed at reducing the number of short-term rentals in the community.
Prices have risen in the city over the past several years, leaving many residents unable to afford a place to live. Sedona is often held up as a poster child for some of the problems that can arise when too many of a community’s homes are used as short-term rentals.”
Having also been to Malaga/Marbella in Spain, Venice Italy and Dubrovnik for both business and pleasure, I can attest to the same attitude. However, the change in attitude was only noticeable between staying in an AirBnB in an actual neighborhood, as opposed to being in one of the nice hotels. The overarching theme here is that we all went through a pandemic, we all learned (reinforcement for some) that life is short and you need to see the world. So we all did.
I am curious as to what specifically Hawaiian tourists should do to respect the local culture, encourage sustainability, and promote the local economy. We visit Hawaii often, adhere to the suggestions to visit respectfully, we tip generously, don’t harm or destroy any landscape or property, promote sustainability. What is expected of us?
You will never get a logical answer to this question because they don’t what is expected of visitors either, it seems like just a bunch of complaining and blaming others for their problems.
we just got back from maui in april and it was wonderful. I surfed every morning, then we would go out to help at the humane society. We love going to local restaurants and shops or taking long walks. When I broke my surfboard leash I went to a surf shop for a new one and no one batted an eye. At no time did i feel uncomfortable or unwanted. My hope is the government, locals, visitors can find i good middle ground. just because something might be difficult to do does not mean it should not be attempted. Change is hard but the status quo cant continue.
Thanks
One thing attracts many is the closeness of the Hawaiin islands to western mainland, in addition to not needing a passport and visa .
All one needs is an airline ticket.
Kids can still enjoy Big Mac !
It is that comfort zone
What we are seeing in tourist spots everywhere is a “mindset” that if you don’t see it person, it isn’t real. This has caused a cultural shift in the concept of value from “things” to experiences. Sadly, this causes vast overtourism on one hand, and in the long term, a bunch of starving seniors, who spend all their long term investment and savings on experiences, having nothing to retire on.
I lived in San Jose CA for years, then Boulder CO for 6 years, then Cambridge MA for a few years before again living in Silicon Valley. Every one of those places has become unaffordable for local residents. Should they have figured out ways to increase costs for newcomers? I think that some places identify easy to blame groups, such as tourists, who they then hold responsible for a broken economic system – a system which has created winners and losers. So they choose the intellectually easy and emotionally satisfying solution. This blog isn’t political – yet our lives are defined by politics – we ignore it at our peril.
Meanwhile, some of us short-term rental owners will be going bankrupt.
Meanwhile, the trash and abandoned cars alongside the roads are absolutely not tourists. It’s locals who try to blame everything on tourists…Lots of locals are way more disrespectful of their own island. Very sad.
Excellent post. BTW – do you know what law (or County “policy” or whatever) is responsible for the abandoned cars on the sides of the roads. Three years ago, a relatively new car was left in the middle of the road in front of our condominium. The Wailea Community Association Security Patrol could do nothing. Three days later it was driven away (towed?) in the middle of the night.
Bizarre.
Fred,
It’s not a law. It is a part of the local culture that so many commenters on this site claim to love. The ones on the main highways are eventually removed (at least on Kauai), but the ones sitting on privately owned land may rot there forever.
Aloha
I would disagree. We must revisit the history books so that we can better understand how the dynamics have played out over the years, and never in favor of hawaiian culture and people.
One would remiss and be inaccurate in paralleling
financial and political climate to stateside cost of living vs. that of tourism in Hawaii. It’s much more involved.
Wow. I think a lot of “old timers” in San Jose would be stunned to hear their centuries of history dismissed so casually. Same thing for those “old timers” I knew in Cambridge – with proud roots that go back to European immigrants and well-before. So I’m not sure that any appeal to an argument of “well, our history is special” has ever justified the actions or inactions that we all see being done in our society. We do agree though that “it is much more involved” – with more serious thinking needed all around.
Very nice article. I talk to a lot of visitors in my business and what you describe happening here with shortages of labor and rising costs is not unique to Hawaii. The people I talk to say the same thing is happening wherever they are from on the mainland? Of course we’re tourism based here but we are not alone. During COVID we were it and people now are going other places and will as long as the perception of Hawaii as low value, meaning high prices and and perceived local animosity, is widespread. It’s all good, lucky live Kaua’i.
Paradise lost from my recent trip. It appears that if one has not been to Maui, one will not recognize the detriment changes. The Whaler Walkway that goes up along the hotels south: The walkway beautiful grass is now filled with plastic water toys, massage tables. Several of the resorts are looking worn and need of repair and updating. Some are getting remodeled. The beautiful sculptures are being swallowed up by selling shacks, etc. It appears the “new condo/resort” area heading north of the Sheraton is the new updated area. But full of artificial beauty taking away so much green space. Too many humans on Earth. Obvious rodent issues with feral cats to chase them away at every resort now. Locals clearly do not like tourists!
Aloha. As a former mainland Airport Commissioner for a tourist town Hawaii needs to accept responsibility for increased visitors. County decision makers have approved airport expansions adding additional gates to airports. Perhaps it’s time for decision makers and Hawaiian voters to reflect on their past actions and stop approving more airport expansions allowing more visitors
We have done that at Lihue airport I’m very glad to say. Well take the extended runway and modernize what we have, no need extra 300,000 people a year.
You know nothing about that matter…. The airport do what they like without the publics opinion… They don’t care about Hawaii and what Hawaii needs… Hawaiian airlines have been Robbing us blind after aloha airlines was no more. thanks to Southwest airlines making travel more affordable within the islands.
That simply isn’t true. As the article clearly states, the FAA has Long Required certain upgrades and the County and State have failed for many years to make those Safety Upgrades. There is no question that the airport needs more services as the options now are not adequate. I was just there a couple weeks ago and while it’s a fine little airport; the services do not match the number of flights coming in and going out of Lihu’e. The biggest problem of course, is who will staff these businesses. The Royal Sonesta, which is a lovely hotel and the staff there is wonderful; can only clean rooms every other day which is atypical of a 4-diamond resort. As you know, they simply don’t have the people to clean daily. Every restaurant we went to had the same problem which is why so many now operate food trucks which take far fewer employees. You obviously have to wait far longer than the optimal normal time, but what can you do? If you have 2-3 employees and a line at a sushi truck or at 1/2
Hamura Saimin or The Shrimp Station is inevitable. Fortunately, the weather is so perfect that we didn’t mind waiting and we had a great time talking with employees and other tourists so time went by quickly.
I strongly disagree that locals are unkind to tourists. In our 12 days on Kaua’i and Hawai’i Island, we didn’t find a single person that didn’t show the full spirit of Aloha. Whether in Waimea, Lihu’e, Volcano, Pahoa, Naalehu, Hilo or Kona, we were met with extreme kindness. We adore Hawai’i and the people of Hawai’i and will return again and again.
Hawaii is finding itself a “paradise lost” due to many reasons. Most of this is can be summed up to the Obnoxious, Relentless, Greed of the Hoteliers, including Resorts. Secondly, there’s the Politicians at all levels that shouldn’t have any problem getting future employment with the Hotel and Resort industry. Beyond that, the treatment of visitors/tourists by some residents should be realized as vocal terrorism, it truly is. Hawaii is a State, there I’ve said it, get over it! Without Statehood, Federal Aid, your Islands would be very different. Think pineapple fields.
Politicians and many locals play the blame game for environmental impact from “over tourism.”
In the meantime, Oahu has nearly 5,000 homeless people, most of whom defecate in the streets and waterways, vandalize parks and businesses, commit crimes at will, harass law abiding citizens, and leave trash and hypodermic needles everywhere! For the most part, tourist come here, spend money, and leave. I wish I had in laws like that! Hawaii, (especially Oahu) need to clean up their own houses first and foremost!
Everyone saying how the hotels have it great and all is well.
Not so fast:
The Grand Wailea Resort in Maui has been added to the default watchlist on an $800 million unpaid loan @ 46% occupancy rate
twitter.com/MacroEdgeRes/status/1790740646187192677
46% occupancy rate and the economy is just starting to slow!
The Grand Wailea Resort on Maui is owned by Blackstone. I think Blackstone will be ok? In case you are wondering – they are not local. The Grand Wailea is the largest user of water on Maui, where residents and farmers are sometimes required to conserve water. Current job listings at the Grand Wailea: $21.85/hr for a Housekeeper, $23.15/hr for a laundry attendant, $14/hr for a Bellperson. Rates at the Grand Wailea start at: $1086/night.
Very interesting. Somehow in my head I thought it was still owned by Michael Dell. Looks like he unloaded it to Blackstone. Ugghh, Blackstone, private equity. No wonder about all the stuff you posted and the problems.
Maybe they can unload the debt onto pension funds.
I couldn’t care less for the hotels or the STR junk (most of the STR junk is run through corporates……VRBO, Airbnb – they have almost no assets and put all risk on owners, and skim the rest…..smart). They could all care less about local communities.
The wages you stated that Grand Wailea are not to shabby.
That is about average of what people make in the mainland states.
Coconuts Cafe is hiring for $26 and hour. That is alot!
Grand Wailea workers recently filed a class-action lawsuit alleging owners of the luxury hotel giant misclassified hundreds of spa and salon workers, groundskeepers, facilities maintenance personnel and window washers as independent contractors in a “fraudulent scheme” to avoid pay and benefits.
“Bolos is believed to be representative of a victimized class of vulnerable workers, including Native Hawaiian and immigrant communities, who have been systematically exploited and historically reluctant to question their working conditions out of fear of losing their jobs and suffering further economic hardship,” according to her lawyers.
Exploitation of Hawaii’s resources and people? Bill Now you are really onto something!
What type of “immigrants” are you speaking of being exploited?
If they are illegal invaders, they need to be deported.
Hawaii has alot of illegal non American citizens.
And those illegals got free Goverment Aide both Federal and state funds from the fires on Maui.
Why is no one speaking of that in the mix of the state of Hawaii’s problems?
I spent my life in corporations. I was literally in the room as we shifted profits offshore and to countries where it couldn’t be tracked (creating losses). I was also in the room when we shifted ownership of assets every few years in order to make them losses (using corporations spread throughout the world.) And there are myriad ways to control assets and cash without legally owning them. My point is that accounting has largely become a fiction, and many people get quite rich as companies are sold or declare bankruptcy. (And we routinely entertained Congressmen, Presidents, and Vice-Presidents – who crafted the laws needed to keep everything secret.) If you didn’t already know, we live in a very corrupt world. I wish this weren’t so.
It may be simplistic, but how about banning corporations from owning any sort of residence? This means that only individuals could buy homes and rentals. Corporations are not humans and don’t need housing.
It would be nice if you shared with us what projects have been completed using all the TAT and additional Maui 3% TAT tax. The government is always raising taxes “to go towards upgrading tourist experiences etc.”, and yet we don’t hear exactly what the money has been applied towards. Thanks for any insight you may have on this subject. We always pay pay pay and yet we don’t hear (transparency) when these funds are used and to what they are used for.
Laurie,
The state used to kick back the 3% (about 25% of the total tax collected) to the counties. Then, the state decided they wanted to keep that money, so the counties added the 3%. Of course, the state and counties knew this was the plan. So, the state gave itself a 25% raise, and the counties break even.
I feel a bunch of different ways about this. Plenty of my friends make really good money owning or working at ST(V)R’s on different island in Hawaii (I live on the Big Island). In 30 years I’ve seen and heard it all but the underlying needs and wants are still the same: we need more housing and we need our tourists to support jobs and our economy. We need to stop making “enemies” of the tourists and those nasty STVR’s /s. I feel like the war on tourism is so short sighted and cringe worthy. We need to be aloha: Honor the past but be in the present. Build some more housing instead of using it for cattle!! Let folks make money and afford to live here!! Welcome our lovely wonderful tourists!! Ran out of space!!
I am sure there are others like me that are just weary of the years of mixed messages who have just decided to take a wait and see approach and see what the next 5 or so years brings. My hope is that somehow this plan works for the many locals that desire nothing more than the rest of us… Affordable housing and job security. As so many of the comments have pointed out in the past, the governors plan seems unlikely to really be able to pull that off with or without anti tourism sentiment.As much as I love HI, travelers just need to move on and find other places to enjoy & just let this shake out and let the locals have the old days and old ways back. Prayers for HI
Is affordable housing even real on an island way out from anything?
You choose to live on an island, its going to be more expensive.
To think it will not be, is out of touch with reality.
Almost everything that you have an on island with modern day amenities & housing will cost you more.
Shipping it to the island via ships & planes cost a lot!
Quite frankly, I am tired of some Hawaiins complaining of affordable housing.
The mainland states are having the same issues.
In Hawaii, yes its more comparatively to some places on the mainland, but again it costs more to get the lumber, gas, food, etc to you.
If all the Hawaiin islands want to live like the real natives on Niihau, then you will have no tourism & no cost of living.
I grew up in Hawaii, lived and worked in Hilo, Honolulu, and Kauai until I was 25 and came up to California to graduate school. Since then I have traveled extensively and seen tourism bloome everywhere in Europe, Japan, Hawaii, Australia, Mexico and our own Alaska. Just got back from Cozumel, Mexico where change on that island and the opposite Yucatan coast is faced with the same issues as is Hawaii. Fees are one way to preserve natural and cultural resources. Heading for Barcelona this fall with cruise along the French coast down to northern Italy. We’ve been informed by the travel site that I use of tourism fees in various locations. Traveling off season, has been one way we use to mitigate our discomfort with the tourism crush.
Hawaii is riding on the razors edge. On one hand you want “the right kind of visitors”, but you also want the money. There is the problem! The big corporations that run the huge resorts want to make their money. Less visitors equals higher prices (they still want their profits) Higher prices equals less, more entitled visitors. Plus the corrupt state government still wants it’s money, so more taxes, fees and duties on the visitors.
Good luck Hawaii, you will be missed.
It’s very short sighted to dismiss all STR and expect it to fix everything. First off, for those working in the STR world they will be losing their jobs which means they can’t afford to live on Maui, so they move. If a little over 3000 houses burned in the fire, why are they removing over 7000 rentals, it’s pretty clear many will sit empty…it seems the intent is to eliminate the STR and force owners to sell at a substantially reduced rate so locals can afford them, is anyone even looking at what the STR segment has brought to Maui from a dollars and cents perspective. Stop putting it all on our backs and come up with solid plans to build affordable housing and still allow tourist to bring their hard-ear dollars to the island –
Well, Liz, you can take comfort in knowing that those that lose their STR cleaning and maintenance jobs will have plenty of much better opportunities on the island, such as with the County which has 1,100 positions open right now, many with full benefits. As rents and home prices fall those same people won’t be forced into low-income housing that you propose, because their higher income and lower normal housing costs will match up better and they can live a normal life.
Unfortunately, speculators will have to take a loss, but that’s just part of gambling in the housing market.
Still with the raising cost of living and a lacking labor force They are trying to build new hotels and luxury condos on native Hawaiian cultural sites. I have been telling tourists for decades No Forget Go Home
We diverted to the Virgin Islands last winter, as we had fond memories from the numerous cruise stops there over the years.
We would never go back- beaches filled with sargassum and pot smoking everywhere ( to each his own, but I don’t want to smell it non stop…)
Our rental had cockroaches- we since found out ” cockroach island” is another name for the VI. I know Hawaii has them too, but we’ve never experienced them in our kitchen and bathroom drawers.
We love Hawaii, its culture and people. Sincerely hoping we won’t lose the ability to find accommodations ( which is why we chose VI- Big Island prices were out of control)
Hawaii is my happy place. I especially appreciate Hawaiians’ love for the land and the spirit of aloha. I have not been anywhere else that feels the same love and respect. I understand the problems with vacation rentals, but I hate the push to only stay in a hotel in Honolulu or Ko Olina. Might there be a program to build small rental areas in other parts of Oahu like Kailua, Kaneohe, and Haleiva? Not big resorts, just little enclaves that could accommodate a couple hundred visitors each? At least as a test to spread out the impact.
It doesn’t surprise me in the least that other popular destinations besides Hawaii are rebelling against this rampant over-tourism.
Great reporting BOH and very well-balanced. Kudos.
Hi RP.
Thanks! We appreciate it. That was not an easy story to tell.
Aloha.
Hawaii should kiss the grounds for having tourists. Streets , bathrooms are neglected, prices are high, attitude is sour. To many homeless and crime . Hawaii is never been a paradise for jobs and now we will have more people on sidewalks!!!
Oh my goodness! You make some really great points! Hawaii must have been a cesspool before the glorious tourist came along! Thank goodness for them!
And oh boy, I guess Hawaii will return to its’ cesspool days when all of the tourists don’t return. Have you picked up on my sarcasm yet? I’m hoping you have a sense of humor. We definitely need it during these times. Let’s hope we find the balance we need in this important matter. All the best to you, Mareva
There’s another commonality between Spain & Hawaii – the number of upper middle class / wealthy retirees moving to Spain. In recent years, Spain is constantly promoted as a great place to retire. This influx of expats has to impact the real estate market similar to Hawaii, potentially resulting in anti-U.S. tourists attitudes.
Hi In your report it says ” returning Hawaii visitors to lower sustainable levels from a decade ago”. If the airlines had not offered such cheap prices to fly there, then this overabundance of visitors would not have happened. I think that your readers have gotten the clear message that Hawaii is not the same anymore. For long-time visitors, this has convinced them to take vacations elsewhere. They have brought these problems upon themselves and the residents are the ones who are suffering for it. It is a very sad situation now.
We’ve had a condominium on the “South Island” of Maui for five years and spend the winter months there. Five years ago, we splurged twice a week at the three highest-priced restaurants in the immediate neighborhood. This past winter we dined twice at two of them and skipped the third after checking out the menu prices online. A small local deli close by moved a few blocks away and opened a deli and restaurant open weekend evenings. We loved the deli, so we tried the restaurant. We were shocked to find the menu was Prix Fixe at — $195.00 per person – for a mini portion 7- course meal – with upgrade options for a steak at $85 and caviar for $225. We have the resources to pay these prices – but not the desire. Very sad.
Some of the hotel websites are misleading. If you look at the grand Hyatts site it shows you a price of $700 a night but then when you click to book it, you find out that $700 doesn’t include the 18% tax and the $50 per nighy resort fee. Hilton Hawaiian Village at least spells it out before you click to buy that the price shown includes the resort fee but not the tax. Biden administration has been trying to make the hotels show us the price right away up front and I’d appreciate that!
I can fly anywhere I’d like to, but won’t visit where I’m unwanted, so please continue the very useful information on where not to visit. Secondly, “if only” Hawaii’s leaders had chosen to diversify Hawaii’s economy decades ago, as did many other States, then Hawaii would not be so very heavily dependent upon tourism.
Those who created the problem (Josh green) would be incapable of finding a solution. In Hawaii we depend on tourism income, where Spain has other options.
We need to look at the school system representing trades that equip us to be independent and work at skilled labor jobs, so we are not controlled by working for the government, which creates zero income. Your article did a good job of presenting the situation.
I couldn’t disagree more. With respect, Josh Green didn’t create the explosion of post COVID visitors. Josh Green didn’t create the explosion and proliferation of those wanting to cash in on owning a vacation rental.
A decade ago, there weren’t nearly as many vacation rentals as there are now. Failure to constrain unlimited growth and greed has created an untenable situation. At least Green is trying to mitigate the damage caused by previous administrations.
“Failure to constrain unlimited growth and greed has created an untenable situation.’
Couldn’t agree more Drew. This is the problem at hand.
We spent a month in Spain last fall, and a month in Portugal a year ago spring. We did not run into any anti-tourist sentiment, but we did not stay in Malaga. We mostly stay in hotels, and never stayed in Airbnb, in both places. The most tourists I’ve even seen was in Barcelona. San Sabastian (opposite direction) also crowded with tourists. We spent a lot of time in parts of the cities/country where no one spoke English, and my Spanish is not good. But we figured it out (the phone translator changes things) and they were happy to get our business. We are currently in Australia. they have also been very friendly. Maybe you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
If you look at Hawaii’s daily visitor count Maui is currently going through a tourism reset. Arrival numbers are running almost 50 percent less than same time in 2023.
My husband and I used to come to Hawaii twice a year pre-pandemic since the 90’s. Post-pandemic, our extended family visited Oahu after the Lahaina fire. The sense we got during this trip was, “leave your money here, and get the heck off of our island.” We felt exploited and gouged at the resorts and eateries. Yeah. Our money says we’re going elsewhere.
You have vacant STR homes that will eventually be sold due to low occupancy. Let the market correct itself. Do not issue new STR permits. Stop bullying the tourists that eat in your restaurants and support your economy. You restricted access to IAO Valley and now numbers are down noticeably. There is a path and most people don’t hike into the jungle. $20 per car now+ and the restroom is still not functioning. Where does the money go??????
Yes, I seemed to notice a less than usual ‘friendliness’ with the ABC store pers since the fire last year. Not much “Aloha” around, a little ‘grim.’ Not my fault, but locals don’t need to take it out on the visitors/haoles who just come to relax and have fun. Things could get better in HI, but they need to wean themselves back from the dependency on tourism and develop more ‘industry’ and redevelop agricultural enterprise. Visitors shouldn’t be the ‘ones you love to hate’, when so many depend on them, in one way or another, to make a living. Someone, with Hawaii’s best interests at heart (not the hotel owners and big land owners), needs to take charge of the rudder and turn this state around.
First of all, whoever wrote this article was remarkable articulate,
and demonstrated a well balanced view of all sides. In a way, the
author shows that there is no solution that works for all sides. Only
a compromise, and that means that all sides have some disappointment. After 35 winters on Maui since 1983, it’s become
unaffordable, with the lodging, food, tip expectations, car rental prices and costs of activities. I will leave it to others to discuss the
corruption, incompetence, and political grandstanding.
We have to make other plans, in part, because Maui wants us to make other plans. I do look forward to the new discoveries of winter
locations.
Chris C
Bravo, local politicians think they can pull people s strings . Green only sees Japanese tourists . He has totally neglected to see that people from the mainland have supported the economy .
Trying to navigate the undefined line between encouraging tourists to “want to come to Hawaii because it’s a welcoming place” and “discouraging too many tourists from coming” is tough to find, and most people hear the negative easier than the positive. Good luck to the residents and especially the politicians! You may get what you wish for, but at a “price” that supports fewer people, resulting in some residents still having to leave because there are fewer jobs.
BOH- “What happened took us somewhat by surprise.” “An incident in Southern Spain”, “Having encountered far too much visitor push-back in Andalusia, Spain to feel comfortable, it turned out to be easier to head towards France”
Please elaborate, your readers could benefit from details of the “incident”. Were you threatened or worse? Is Spain unsafe for American tourists? Heading to France from Spain would be a huge change of plans and likely expense for most of BOH readers. Thanks.
Hi Rob.
We will write more about the situation in Europe. Thanks for asking and we were both fine.
Aloha.
Great article.
How many times was I posting examples of how over-tourism was not just a Hawaii problem? The proliferation of STRs everywhere and the huge problems and imbalances they’ve created? It’s nationwide. It’s global.
The travel and housing boom was a result of global Central Banks easing monetary policy far too low for far too long, coupled with governments crazy fiscal policy of deficit spending in the many, many, many trillions. In short, far too much money injected into the system.
Regarding STRs, huge liquidity injections encouraged a lot of inexperienced and overzealous investors into the space in a highly distorted market with inflated prices, which is horrible for local populations and society as a whole.
‘inflated prices, which is horrible for local populations and society as a whole.’
agree completely with the above statement.
We are experiencing the same thing here in Sedona AZ. However our tourist boom began during covid because folks didn’t want to fly anywhere.Then the vacation rental thing got completely out of hand.driving up prices and shutting out locals. The city gov does nothing for the residents and only focuses on wooing more tourists while our infrastructure has fallen by the wayside. state gov no help. So i completely understand the situation in Hawaii. I don’t know what the answer is but one does have to keep in mind fueling the economy. I have visited Hawaii every year for decades. I see the changes. i fear soon it will out of my price range. Best wishes to finding an amiable solution. Maybe we can follow your lead.
It’s the same story, everywhere…
“Sedona officials have started a new program aimed at reducing the number of short-term rentals in the community.
Prices have risen in the city over the past several years, leaving many residents unable to afford a place to live. Sedona is often held up as a poster child for some of the problems that can arise when too many of a community’s homes are used as short-term rentals.”
More:
kjzz.org/content/1864884/here-are-2-ways-sedona-trying-stop-more-short-term-rentals
Having also been to Malaga/Marbella in Spain, Venice Italy and Dubrovnik for both business and pleasure, I can attest to the same attitude. However, the change in attitude was only noticeable between staying in an AirBnB in an actual neighborhood, as opposed to being in one of the nice hotels. The overarching theme here is that we all went through a pandemic, we all learned (reinforcement for some) that life is short and you need to see the world. So we all did.
I am curious as to what specifically Hawaiian tourists should do to respect the local culture, encourage sustainability, and promote the local economy. We visit Hawaii often, adhere to the suggestions to visit respectfully, we tip generously, don’t harm or destroy any landscape or property, promote sustainability. What is expected of us?
You will never get a logical answer to this question because they don’t what is expected of visitors either, it seems like just a bunch of complaining and blaming others for their problems.
we just got back from maui in april and it was wonderful. I surfed every morning, then we would go out to help at the humane society. We love going to local restaurants and shops or taking long walks. When I broke my surfboard leash I went to a surf shop for a new one and no one batted an eye. At no time did i feel uncomfortable or unwanted. My hope is the government, locals, visitors can find i good middle ground. just because something might be difficult to do does not mean it should not be attempted. Change is hard but the status quo cant continue.
Thanks
One thing attracts many is the closeness of the Hawaiin islands to western mainland, in addition to not needing a passport and visa .
All one needs is an airline ticket.
Kids can still enjoy Big Mac !
It is that comfort zone
What we are seeing in tourist spots everywhere is a “mindset” that if you don’t see it person, it isn’t real. This has caused a cultural shift in the concept of value from “things” to experiences. Sadly, this causes vast overtourism on one hand, and in the long term, a bunch of starving seniors, who spend all their long term investment and savings on experiences, having nothing to retire on.
Please, what does going to the paradise of Hawaii have to do with “starving seniors”?
I lived in San Jose CA for years, then Boulder CO for 6 years, then Cambridge MA for a few years before again living in Silicon Valley. Every one of those places has become unaffordable for local residents. Should they have figured out ways to increase costs for newcomers? I think that some places identify easy to blame groups, such as tourists, who they then hold responsible for a broken economic system – a system which has created winners and losers. So they choose the intellectually easy and emotionally satisfying solution. This blog isn’t political – yet our lives are defined by politics – we ignore it at our peril.
Meanwhile, some of us short-term rental owners will be going bankrupt.
Meanwhile, the trash and abandoned cars alongside the roads are absolutely not tourists. It’s locals who try to blame everything on tourists…Lots of locals are way more disrespectful of their own island. Very sad.
There is certainly a victimhood mentality with certain people. It’s sad to see people deprive themselves of their own agency.
Excellent post. BTW – do you know what law (or County “policy” or whatever) is responsible for the abandoned cars on the sides of the roads. Three years ago, a relatively new car was left in the middle of the road in front of our condominium. The Wailea Community Association Security Patrol could do nothing. Three days later it was driven away (towed?) in the middle of the night.
Bizarre.
Fred,
It’s not a law. It is a part of the local culture that so many commenters on this site claim to love. The ones on the main highways are eventually removed (at least on Kauai), but the ones sitting on privately owned land may rot there forever.
Aloha
I would disagree. We must revisit the history books so that we can better understand how the dynamics have played out over the years, and never in favor of hawaiian culture and people.
One would remiss and be inaccurate in paralleling
financial and political climate to stateside cost of living vs. that of tourism in Hawaii. It’s much more involved.
Wow. I think a lot of “old timers” in San Jose would be stunned to hear their centuries of history dismissed so casually. Same thing for those “old timers” I knew in Cambridge – with proud roots that go back to European immigrants and well-before. So I’m not sure that any appeal to an argument of “well, our history is special” has ever justified the actions or inactions that we all see being done in our society. We do agree though that “it is much more involved” – with more serious thinking needed all around.