88 thoughts on “Hawaii Spring Travel Slump Points To Tough Uphill Battle”
Brandi
My husband and I have been to Maui twice and Kauai once in the past several years. Originally we had planned to return, but many factors lead us to a different outcome.
1. High cost of accommodations and not very nice ones at that. A lot of falsely advertise properties, that once you get there, you’re worried for your safety.
2. Homeless on beaches – Kauai
3. Dirty towns not well kept at all – Kauai
4. Crazy lines to get into attractions or food establishments. Or the need to make reservations, several months in advance for the good eateries.
5. Several hour lines to get a rental car.
6. Horrible traffic to get anywhere.
7. Attitude towards travelers from islanders 🙁
Here’s how we “did” Hawaii.
We are in our 60s. Spouse has terrific job. But very limited time off. We plan 6-9 months ahead. We book Wailua Bayview (a tourist condo for the most part) for 2 weeks. Prep house, land, livestock food. Save money.
2 long flights, car rental, grocery. Mostly cook at condo, enjoy nature. Buy a year’s worth of gifts, send back “if it fits it ships!”. 2 long flights back, then 2 weeks of post-vacation chores. HTA says “not our kind of tourist”. Some locals nice, some tolerant, many angry, noisy. I am happy to hand over $100 per person to Malama Aina, I understand tourists can be destructive.
But it’s just too exhausting to deal with all the bad vibes.
I was a news reporter back in the day — Ariyoshi was governor then, Dickie Wong and Elmer were bossing the Leg. Every once in a while these folks would talk wistfully about finding some way for Hawaii to thrive without total reliance on tourism. Many decades have passed with zero progress toward that goal.
Inouye et al were trying to convince the money boys that the best play was to restrict development and keep Hawaii a luxury destination. The cheap-trick guys won. Rampant development followed. It’s very sad to admit that Hawaii is now screwed, addicted to cheap tourism with no obvious way out. Too bad. Such lovely islands and so many good people.
So, Hawaii is starting to sound like a moody boyfriend. Do you like us today or not? Do you want to hang out with us today or not? You say you want to end our relationship, but then pull us back in with “we neeeeed you” and “We are lost without you (and your tourism dollars)”. You treat us bad, then buy us flowers and tell us you didn’t mean it. I’m getting whiplash here. Make up your mind, already, or we will decide for you. There are plenty of fish (and great travel destinations) in the sea that don’t make it so difficult to keep coming back.
“The HTA said the Makaukau program will strengthen and empower organizations that offer regenerative tourism experiences tailored to mindful travelers. Those include volunteerism, cultural festivals, and more.”
Is the HTA staffed by NPR-tote-bag carrying cat ladies? They should stick to hectoring people who get within 100 yards of seals or turtles. At least, that is (sort of) useful.
Since discovering Hawai’i in 2016, I’ve come yearly for 2-4 months at a time, always staying in the same home in a remote area. I’ve come so often now that I know my way around as if it’s home, and the people in the area have become my neighbors and good friends.
You’re right about the curtailment of vacation rentals being a hindrance.
I can’t afford a hotel for 4 months, nor would I want to. I love being a part of the culture and getting to know my neighbors.
This quote says it all, “… marketing folks haven’t been helpful in their mixed and odd messaging about the visitors they seek to attract. Not only that but the curtailment of Hawaii vacation rentals is seen by many as a hindrance to the return of robust tourism.”
My takeaway about the mixed messaging is that Hawaiian lawmakers want only billionaires enjoying what I feel is an incredibly holy island.
The Hawaiian people can’t have it both ways. You’ve made it clear you don’t want tourists you just want our money. Now you want to dictate the type of people you want to come? Newsflash: ecotourism won’t pay your bills. Those tourists don’t have cash bags sitting around.
Hawaii is a beautiful place. No doubt. But i think they need to start referring to tourists as “guests”.
Whenever we have guests here in my part of California from other parts….we dont look at them as outsiders, evil people or walking $$$ to take advantage of. We help them and guide them as if they lived here. Sharing amazing hidden places to explore and places to eat that is reasonable/good value….what ever they are looking for. The last thing i want to see is them taken advantage of as it looks bad for my beautiful coastal town…..and not who we are.
When guests are in my home….i treat them with respect. Hawaii has forgotten that.
A couple of things here. First Hawaii wants us, then they don’t. Make up your mind. I do agree with price gouging on vacation rentals. Especially in the last couple of years – need to control that. It is getting cheaper to travel abroad. Second, how about the media focusing on some positive things verses all the doom and gloom. Hawaii and its people are special. My wife and I have been traveling to the island’s for over 25 years and we have had good experiences, with the exception of 2 vacation rentals that didn’t live up to the pictures or descriptions.
Hawaii is only for the rich where money is no issue. We have switched from going to Hawaii to Europe or the Caribbean you take a cruise you get all lodging and meals included plus if you watch the ads you can get free air also. Went to 4 countries in 3 weeks total trip was 9 grand.
Informative video on spring tourism slump. One comment in the HTA piece that many feel prices are hurting tourism hits home.
Our annual first of December visits just get more expensive every year and we are seriously reevaluating where we go this year.
Love the islands, the people and the relaxation but…
I just spent $40k in the last 2 years in Grand Caymans, Aruba and Costa Rica. Does Hawaii now want my money? Hawaii needs to stop talking about raising visitors taxes, parking fees at beaches, stopping short term rentals, etc. (stop talking negatives), and then maybe I’ll think about coming back.
The coming years will be calamitous for the entire world because of the revolution of technology. What about “ Virtual Tourism”? Content creators make virtual experiences that can reflect culture, history and showcase the natural beauty. No short term rental, no airline, no carbon footprint. Aloha from the Future! Get started now and you will scoop the market.
My family and I would love to vacation in Hawaii. We have visited many of the islands in the past and loved it. We live in Oregon and having a tropical destination that is convenient to travel to is awesome. However, we can no longer afford the price of vacationing in Hawaii. The cost of rental properties have made it unaffordable.
Hawaii tourism way down? Who saw that coming. Absolutely egregious price increases post-Covid combined with report after report of visitors not being welcomed, this was inevitable. Tourism dollars have gone elsewhere – beautiful places where people are welcomed and don’t feel gouged at every turn. For a region so absolutely dependent on tourism – it is the major sector of their economy – this has the potential to be disastrous. The goose that laid the golden egg is on life support – with the patient recover?
We have been to Hawaii many times starting 1973. We love Hawaii, all the islands, but it has gotten so expensive. The high cost of lodging, extremely high tax, high price for food and eating in restaurants has made travel to the islands extremely expensive. We can go to Europe cheaper.
I have been traveling to Kauai and Kona for over eleven years, but no more.
I went to breakfast and it cost over a hundred dollars for a party of two. I am
Tired of being robbed by exorbitant tourist gouging. I stay at reasonable lodging in Kapaa, but staying at nearby condos are horrible with being treated rudely by local staff. My last visit to Kauai was so over priced that I will really think hard before returning.
My husband and I have been to Maui twice and Kauai once in the past several years. Originally we had planned to return, but many factors lead us to a different outcome.
1. High cost of accommodations and not very nice ones at that. A lot of falsely advertise properties, that once you get there, you’re worried for your safety.
2. Homeless on beaches – Kauai
3. Dirty towns not well kept at all – Kauai
4. Crazy lines to get into attractions or food establishments. Or the need to make reservations, several months in advance for the good eateries.
5. Several hour lines to get a rental car.
6. Horrible traffic to get anywhere.
7. Attitude towards travelers from islanders 🙁
Here’s how we “did” Hawaii.
We are in our 60s. Spouse has terrific job. But very limited time off. We plan 6-9 months ahead. We book Wailua Bayview (a tourist condo for the most part) for 2 weeks. Prep house, land, livestock food. Save money.
2 long flights, car rental, grocery. Mostly cook at condo, enjoy nature. Buy a year’s worth of gifts, send back “if it fits it ships!”. 2 long flights back, then 2 weeks of post-vacation chores. HTA says “not our kind of tourist”. Some locals nice, some tolerant, many angry, noisy. I am happy to hand over $100 per person to Malama Aina, I understand tourists can be destructive.
But it’s just too exhausting to deal with all the bad vibes.
I was a news reporter back in the day — Ariyoshi was governor then, Dickie Wong and Elmer were bossing the Leg. Every once in a while these folks would talk wistfully about finding some way for Hawaii to thrive without total reliance on tourism. Many decades have passed with zero progress toward that goal.
Inouye et al were trying to convince the money boys that the best play was to restrict development and keep Hawaii a luxury destination. The cheap-trick guys won. Rampant development followed. It’s very sad to admit that Hawaii is now screwed, addicted to cheap tourism with no obvious way out. Too bad. Such lovely islands and so many good people.
Hawaii was the most welcoming and friendly tropical oasis on Earth. Do that again.
So, Hawaii is starting to sound like a moody boyfriend. Do you like us today or not? Do you want to hang out with us today or not? You say you want to end our relationship, but then pull us back in with “we neeeeed you” and “We are lost without you (and your tourism dollars)”. You treat us bad, then buy us flowers and tell us you didn’t mean it. I’m getting whiplash here. Make up your mind, already, or we will decide for you. There are plenty of fish (and great travel destinations) in the sea that don’t make it so difficult to keep coming back.
“The HTA said the Makaukau program will strengthen and empower organizations that offer regenerative tourism experiences tailored to mindful travelers. Those include volunteerism, cultural festivals, and more.”
Is the HTA staffed by NPR-tote-bag carrying cat ladies? They should stick to hectoring people who get within 100 yards of seals or turtles. At least, that is (sort of) useful.
Continued.
Since discovering Hawai’i in 2016, I’ve come yearly for 2-4 months at a time, always staying in the same home in a remote area. I’ve come so often now that I know my way around as if it’s home, and the people in the area have become my neighbors and good friends.
You’re right about the curtailment of vacation rentals being a hindrance.
I can’t afford a hotel for 4 months, nor would I want to. I love being a part of the culture and getting to know my neighbors.
This quote says it all, “… marketing folks haven’t been helpful in their mixed and odd messaging about the visitors they seek to attract. Not only that but the curtailment of Hawaii vacation rentals is seen by many as a hindrance to the return of robust tourism.”
My takeaway about the mixed messaging is that Hawaiian lawmakers want only billionaires enjoying what I feel is an incredibly holy island.
The Hawaiian people can’t have it both ways. You’ve made it clear you don’t want tourists you just want our money. Now you want to dictate the type of people you want to come? Newsflash: ecotourism won’t pay your bills. Those tourists don’t have cash bags sitting around.
Hawaii is a beautiful place. No doubt. But i think they need to start referring to tourists as “guests”.
Whenever we have guests here in my part of California from other parts….we dont look at them as outsiders, evil people or walking $$$ to take advantage of. We help them and guide them as if they lived here. Sharing amazing hidden places to explore and places to eat that is reasonable/good value….what ever they are looking for. The last thing i want to see is them taken advantage of as it looks bad for my beautiful coastal town…..and not who we are.
When guests are in my home….i treat them with respect. Hawaii has forgotten that.
A guest is someone who is invited.
A couple of things here. First Hawaii wants us, then they don’t. Make up your mind. I do agree with price gouging on vacation rentals. Especially in the last couple of years – need to control that. It is getting cheaper to travel abroad. Second, how about the media focusing on some positive things verses all the doom and gloom. Hawaii and its people are special. My wife and I have been traveling to the island’s for over 25 years and we have had good experiences, with the exception of 2 vacation rentals that didn’t live up to the pictures or descriptions.
Does decreasing demand equal lower prices?
Stay Tuned
Hawaii is only for the rich where money is no issue. We have switched from going to Hawaii to Europe or the Caribbean you take a cruise you get all lodging and meals included plus if you watch the ads you can get free air also. Went to 4 countries in 3 weeks total trip was 9 grand.
Informative video on spring tourism slump. One comment in the HTA piece that many feel prices are hurting tourism hits home.
Our annual first of December visits just get more expensive every year and we are seriously reevaluating where we go this year.
Love the islands, the people and the relaxation but…
I just spent $40k in the last 2 years in Grand Caymans, Aruba and Costa Rica. Does Hawaii now want my money? Hawaii needs to stop talking about raising visitors taxes, parking fees at beaches, stopping short term rentals, etc. (stop talking negatives), and then maybe I’ll think about coming back.
The coming years will be calamitous for the entire world because of the revolution of technology. What about “ Virtual Tourism”? Content creators make virtual experiences that can reflect culture, history and showcase the natural beauty. No short term rental, no airline, no carbon footprint. Aloha from the Future! Get started now and you will scoop the market.
My family and I would love to vacation in Hawaii. We have visited many of the islands in the past and loved it. We live in Oregon and having a tropical destination that is convenient to travel to is awesome. However, we can no longer afford the price of vacationing in Hawaii. The cost of rental properties have made it unaffordable.
Hawaii tourism way down? Who saw that coming. Absolutely egregious price increases post-Covid combined with report after report of visitors not being welcomed, this was inevitable. Tourism dollars have gone elsewhere – beautiful places where people are welcomed and don’t feel gouged at every turn. For a region so absolutely dependent on tourism – it is the major sector of their economy – this has the potential to be disastrous. The goose that laid the golden egg is on life support – with the patient recover?
It’s unreal
How bad they seem to be screwing this up.
We have been to Hawaii many times starting 1973. We love Hawaii, all the islands, but it has gotten so expensive. The high cost of lodging, extremely high tax, high price for food and eating in restaurants has made travel to the islands extremely expensive. We can go to Europe cheaper.
I have been traveling to Kauai and Kona for over eleven years, but no more.
I went to breakfast and it cost over a hundred dollars for a party of two. I am
Tired of being robbed by exorbitant tourist gouging. I stay at reasonable lodging in Kapaa, but staying at nearby condos are horrible with being treated rudely by local staff. My last visit to Kauai was so over priced that I will really think hard before returning.
I agree, hotel and rental car rates are outrageous. Until hotel rates fall, Hawaii will continue to see a decline in visitors.