Global news outlets raise big concerns for Hawaii visitors.
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Home » Blog » Culture and Events » Hawaii Public Relations Nightmare as Media Frenzy Fuels Unrest
Over the years my wife and I have made numerous visits to Hawaii, usually accompanied by our children and more recently our grandchildren. We’ve had memorable experiences, spent many tens of thousands of dollars, and always felt welcome. We’re now thinking that Hawaii’s aloha image is based much more on marketing than reality, and like others we’re reconsidering the trip we had planned for next year.
I am looking forward to returning to Maui just as soon as I can and there is no quar antine!
I agree with all of the comments from TJ and Colleen, I too am an avid fan of Ohau and especially Ko Olena My wife and I travel to the island 2 to 3 times a year, but we are finding the same things Taxes, food, hotel or condo rentals are now becoming so expensive, maybe it is time to find another paradise. We are from Canada and to covert to USD is very expensive right now.
Aloha
Hi Ken.
Thanks.
Aloha.
First, I like what you guys do. Thanks for providing updated information daily. I read your blog religiously.
What will it take for me to return to Hawaii? The leadership on the islands needs to step and develop a plan for reopening. There doesn’t appear to be one or a sense of urgency to develop one. I thought that the mayor of Kauai would be more aggressive to reopen Kauai but then he surprised me by extending the order until the end of June just last week. The inertia that is gripping Hawaii from the lack of good leadership by the governor and the mayors is suggesting that tourism in Hawaii for 2020 could be dead. Until the governor and the mayors start articulating a plan for reopening the hospitality industry, no one should plan a trip to Hawaii. We had a trip scheduled for mid-June which we have begun to cancel because the visitor quar antine was extended on Kauai. We have a trip for September also scheduled but we are considering other options based on a lack of confidence that the leadership in the islands will recognize that the Hawaiian economy has to restart and visitor dollars are essential to the resumption of the economy. We spend about 30 days a year in Hawaii over the course of three trips. This year we were able to travel to Maui in February. That trip could be it for 2020. We live in California and have never been to Yosemite. Why? I would rather be in Hawaii. This year and next year that will probably change. We could be doing some serious road trips with the dollars we would normally spend in Hawaii.
Hi WR.
Thanks very much!
Aloha.
I love Hawaii! I’ve been four times and am always trying to figure out a way to get back before my plane ever leaves the island at the end of my vacation. But reading comments from a lot of locals has made me question my love affair with our 50th state. I don’t want to spend my money or time where I am not wanted or disliked. There are too many other options. I live the Orlando so I am familiar with tourists. But I am glad they are here. They are an integral part of our economy and the good far outweighs the bad.
Kristin, I couldn’t agree more. I live in Orlando, too, and ours is largely a tourist-related service economy. We will be happy when visitors return!
As for you and me, to go to Hawaii from Orlando is not a small deal. I would hope when and if we return (and that is seriously up for debate) that we would feel as welcome to as we have in the past.
Mahalo for all your wonderful coverage and thoughtful columns.
Hi Vicki.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Thank you for this discussion, it’s our family’s concern exactly as our reunion was rescheduled from March 2020 to April 2021. Some in our group are asking if we’ll be welcomed or should we consider staying on the mainland instead. We’ve seen so much negativity in our local California news about Hawaii visitor arrests e.t.c, and I certainly understand the concern with your limited resources. I keep reading your discussions and the local’s postings to get a feel for the current vibe towards mainland tourists. But I must admit from our side, that we are a little concerned currently that there may be some anti-tourist sentiment brewing, and we’re hoping that’s not a majority. We’ll keep watching. Stay safe everyone, wishing all the very best. Thank you.
Hi Judith.
Thank you.
Aloha.
We have a son and daughter-in-law with two grandchildren who were born on Kauai, so we are not likely to stop coming to visit with them and the many friends we have made over the last twenty years. However, the trip from the eastern US (which was always a challenge) has become more and more difficult as we have grown into our 70s and late 70s. In our discussions we ask ourselves if we would come for two monthly periods each year if the “kids” were not here, and the answer is probably not. The answer probably never, as we have other things to see and other warm climates closer to home and cheaper. But the Aloha spirit has always been a major factor in making Hawaii shine, and I do not think that the spirit has weakened in any but the minority of negativists who exist in any group. The Aloha spirit is what makes Hawaii a place to go in spite of a long hard journey and some additional expense, and the majority of Hawaii citizens must and will strive to keep that spirit alive.
As a very frequent visitor (32 times in 20 years) and as a follower of social media, I have seen a definite increase in the we versus us mentality. The “this is ours, not yours.” I feel that when I travel to Hawaii, I’m respectful. I don’t trash the island as many posters think visitors do. We spend a lot of money to get to Hawaii, spend even more to stay there, and we support local tour companies on a daily basis while we are there. We support local restaurants as well. There are many places to travel in this world, and honestly many cheaper and beautiful places. We choose to come to Hawaii because of the feeling we get when we get there. We can finally exhale. But it’s starting to shift and the feeling of being targeted for being a visitor is becoming more palpable. I don’t know how to tell you to fix It. You can’t change the way some people speak on social media… but I can tell you….that is one area that needs to be resolved. I don’t want to be in a place where I’m not wanted. I also don’t want to spend money in places that only want my money but don’t want me. It’s a big challenge, but I’m hoping it turns around and I’m really glad that someone is taking notice of the future problem that will occur when enough people decide to go elsewhere. Of note, I live in an area where our population doubles in the winter. I would never think about protesting at our airports for those visitors to go home. Anyhow. My two cents! Aloha, Lisa
Hi Lisa.
Thank you.
Aloha.
I’m scheduled to attend the Kauai Writer’s Conference in November. Hoping it’s not canceled, but also hoping that this goes away this summer and doesn’t come back. Massachusetts is about the 3rd or 4th highest state out of the 50.
I went last year and enjoyed myself. I had gone to NY writer’s conference and both sites lived up to their what’s been said about them. New York was alive and exciting. The city felt like the opening of the Mary Tyler show. 🙂 The hotel was in the center. Times Square was nearby and not a square :). Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall. That was the day after the conference.
Hawaii was peaceful, relaxing and calm. It was lovely. The Marriott was perfect and the first day I was lost. The resort is big. I’m bad at reading directions. The gift shop is near the hotel. I took the long way round. Every morning before the conference, I picked up my water and a delicious packaged pastry. The last day I bought my souvenirs. Lots of nice t-shirts, hats, ornaments, Hawaiian gifts.
The buffet was delicious. It was included for breakfast and lunch. The hotel restaurant and the locals had delicious food for supper. Hoping to go and that it’s safe. Pre pan demic, I got serious colds from shaking hands at church.
Hawaii isn’t the only place having to adjust to the loss of tourists. In Europe there have been similar complaints from residents in the past about too many tourists and now there are none. Barcelona, Amsterdam and Venice are all now tourist free. And the locals are finding that their cities are now ghost towns.
I just hope that when things do start to get back to normal, a new balance can be found as there is an obvious need for tourism, but perhaps other industries can develop to offer other sources of employment so it is no longer all or nothing.
Lockdown, gives you time for perspective and I hope that I don’t have to go back to the 9 to 5 rat race. And many other people are finding that too. I suspect this will also translate into our vacation plans.
I visited Oahu and Molokai last October so understand the two extremes of those islands. Seeing the large numbers of tourists around Honolulu means that you can understand the local perspective of their being too many tourists (while being one myself). But equally I can see the benefits that having tourists around was able to add to the local economy of somewhere like Molokai. It’s about striking that balance, and I think it would be a shame if we rushed straight back to where we were instead of using this opportunity to make things better for the future.
I do hope that I’ll be able to visit in the future. However, I suspect that this year I won’t be leaving my slightly larger island on the edge of the Atlantic (Great Britain) where we’re having similar debates about the loss of the tourist (while wondering why we didn’t stop people entering as the virus took hold).
Personally I’ve been following your updates with great interest as I think Hawaii is actually part of the poster boy collection of places who’ve treated this seriously and dealt with it appropriately. And everything I hear makes me want to come visit again. Thank you.
Hi Fran.
Thank you. Since you mentioned Europe, I’m sure you saw that Italy is open to domestic and international tourism starting June 3.
Aloha.