Hawaii is finally shifting its tourism focus back to its core, aiming to quickly reinvigorate its faltering travel industry. This strategic pivot seeks to integrate hard-learned lessons for a sustainable future.
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Hawaii is finally shifting its tourism focus back to its core, aiming to quickly reinvigorate its faltering travel industry. This strategic pivot seeks to integrate hard-learned lessons for a sustainable future.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
I’m a local boy who long ago moved to the New England area. Those I know who speak of going to Hawaii aren’t even aware of the negativity against Mainland tourist. The absolute number one issue I hear as to why people here don’t vacation in Hawaii? It’s Too Expensive.
Plus, enjoying a “Hawaiian vacation” means 12 hours in the air each way – not including layovers (which is Grueling). When you combine that with the time difference, 3 days (1 going/2 coming back, then you have jet lag) of your vacation time is consumed just for traveling.
Considering the average Hawaiian tourist saves for years to take a trip to Hawaii, It will take twice as many years to recover and repair the damage that has been done – and continues to be done by the governor. Many people have explored and successfully found alternate beautiful destinations to enjoy – and more welcoming area businesses to spend their vacation dollars.
The arrogance of government and that local vocal minority to think that all they need to do is say its’ OK to come back” is pathetically shallow, and insulting to former loyal vacationers.
Good luck with courting domestic travelers back to Hawaii…
I’ve children in the 30-45 age range they’re not talking about travel let alone going to Hawaii it’s all about how many of their friends have received layoff notices from six figure tech jobs.
Staycation has become fashionable again…
If they really want to encourage increased Tourist visits from the mainland, they will need to take a closer look at their attempts to cater to the Hotel lobby and shut down the Short Term Vacation Rentals that are preferred by a wide swath of visitors from the mainland.
Sorry Hawaii! Vacations for the next 2 years are booked. You’re not included because of you attitude towards tourists. Don’t know if we will ever return.
Agreed!. We had been traveling to Hawaii islands for years last went to Honolulu summer of 2021. That summer we did not feel the Hawaii love. Almost everyone was unappreciative of us being there. From lodging to restaurants. It was an unforgettable experience that we did not look to returning anytime soon. Even then the prices were skyrocketing with “I don’t care attitude” “What are you going to do about it?” Went abroad – they like our money + in return give us smiles + great service. Tips are not expected they are icing. The state needs to invest and Encourage business construction.
There’s a well know saying, “be careful what you wish for”.
They can say “we really do love you” but they have successfully turned locals against the dreaded mainland tourists. Are they now going to try to convince the locals that those tourists are really “mindful” and not the root of all the problems on the islands? Won’t they have to admit that total mishandling of funds and political greed are the real reason for Hawaii’s problems? Good luck with that. Yes, it is too little too late, at least for this visitor who spent the last 30 + years traveling to the islands. Have not been in 2 years and likely won’t go back any time soon. We found other places who appreciate our support.
Well, reality appears to be setting in….You can try to encourage the Japanese to visit, but oops, the Yen is Very weak against the dollar. Hawaii is already expensive without a huge currency disadvantage to aggravate the problem. Maybe more Canadians? Canadian dollar is stronger than the Yen, but still weak against the dollar. Maybe the HTA has finally figured out that getting Americans to visit makes sense again.
Treat people like crap and has t b ird world amenities and you get these results.
I am an international tourist, and at the risk of being blunt, the state of Hawaii doesn’t seem to know wether it is coming or going. Since the pandemic specifically, the elected officials really enjoy putting down the gas pedal while standing on the brake. I am just too confused to care anymore.
So sad. I will truly miss my time on the islands.
As a Canadian who lives 5 minutes from the U.S. border, I have never thought of myself as an International visitor like Japan, Europe etc. I consider myself like many Americans, as a ‘mainlander’. There has been no increase in promotional advertisements on T.V., in newspapers or magazines in regards to luring more Canadian visitors to Hawaii. I’ve always included myself in all the anti tourism sentiments. The vacation rental fight for STR’s and the exorbitant prices. (P.S. add 30% to those prices for us die hard visitors from Canada.) Like the inscription on the Peace Arch, at the B.C./Washington border “children of a common mother”.
As much as we love Oahu and Ko Olina in particular, the price of flights and the fees that have piled up make it not worth it anymore. Flights have doubled in price in 3 years. There is way less bang for your buck going on. Mexico is by far the cheaper route and a shorter flight to boot!
I do hope they turn things around, airlines stop gauging visitors, the fees need to go away, and hotel prices need to come down.
Poor, short sighted leadership and even worse messaging from the governor, mayor and HTA started the downwards spiral. Compounded by gouging hotels rates, over transient taxation and fees, have driven travelers elsewhere. It may get worse before better as vacationers have begun to look elsewhere (myself included).
Our first visit to Hawaii was for our 10th wedding anniversary, which we spent in the Sheraton Princeville. Since, we’ve been to all the islands save Moloka’i, some a half dozen times. Our last visit, just pre-pandemic was to a rental condo in Princeville. As always, it was paradise. While there, we began talking with a realtor about buying a rental, where we’d live during the winter once I retired. Understandably, during the pandemic the message was “Stay Away”. Since then, the Clown Show government of HI has done everything possible to amplify “Stay Away,” and the latest proposal to legislate rentals out of existence is so amazingly, unconstitutionally, economically brain-dead as to be the last straw. Distressingly, We’re out.
People vacation to be happy. Reminders of sensitivity to grief and loss, no matter how well intended, are a turnoff to people seeking to get away from stress and unhappiness. Anyone who has walked through Maui’s airport, hotels, and other businesses knows that we are in dire need of tourist dollars, especially West Maui. Let’s hope the Governor and Mayor Bissen stop the pandering and start promoting mainland tourism. That’s the best way to provide jobs and income for those needing both and housing.
The damage may have already been done, with potential tourists choosing to go elsewhere. Time will tell if visitors feel like Hawaii is worth their time and travel dollars.
Sorry, I cannot hold back. Hawaii does not want us, they only want our money. Evidentially no one gave them the message that Government bail-outs are not a permanent thing. Also a heads up, if you ban short term rentals, the shortfall in taxes will have to be made by someone. Won’t be the tourists and won’t be the feds. Do the math. They will need to collect from someone. Guess that will be.
Unbelievably schizophrenic, Hawaii needs to decide if they love tourists or hate them. And you might want to let your governor know to that 80% of your economic health comes from visitors, And 80% of that 80% comes from mainland, USA.
Maui shot herself in the foot. Ridiculous accommodation prices with even more ridiculous taxes & fees attached. Rental car prices are ridiculous, especially for those of us who have extended visits. While food costs are high, there are ways to economize. It’s a bit offensive to keep being told to be respectful for those of us who are respectful. Those who naturally aren’t won’t pay attention to those signs posted everywhere. Please make it economically easier for middle class visitors.
“we love you, we really do,” (but we’re going to continue to raise our fees and taxes because, well, that’s what we do). And until Hawaii changes its administration to a more fiscally conservative and responsible one, people will stay away. But the residents keep voting the same people in, hoping for a different result. Hawaii needs a total overhaul.
Too little, too late for me. Take a potato and make cuts in it with a knife. Will that potato heal? Words having been said about “go away” or “we don’t want you here” cut like a knife. Those wounds will never heal. The beauty of paradise on earth is lost without the true aloha among its people. I have found more beauty in the people of other lands than I will ever find on an island that closes itself off to welcoming and sharing the aloha of their home. I continue to grieve for Hawaii and her people.
Sadly, there has been so much negative press regarding the “dislike” of tourists and talk of visitor fees that alot of people I believe have decided that Hawaii is not for them. I am sure people who feel that they are not welcomed have told that to others and that people who have never been to Hawaii hearing this have chosen to vacation elsewhere. The politicians have cut their own throats with fees etc and I am not sure tourist will ever come back in the numbers needed to sustain a healthy economy. They got what asked for.
Shame on them and the locals who showed disdain for the visitors.
Hawaii has become too expensive car rentals and hotels. Spending a little more Tahiti is an hour more to fly from the west coast and cars are not required. Same time zone as Hawaii. We do love the Big Island and will return but other places are resonable.
Significant damage has been done chasing away past regular travelers. My wife and I have come to the islands around 50 times and due to the negatively, poor infrastructure and higher costs will maybe come a couple more time over the next 10 years.
What happened to “stay home” and “don’t come”? Was it all performative nonsense?
When your average hotel rates are $400.00/per night for a basic room coupled with sub par service and greeted with animosity not Aloha, why are you not surprised that mainland tourism is declining?
It seems too little too late to me. Gouging Hawaii Hotels which have priced the middle-class out of a Hawaii vacation; industry wide frequent last minute flight cancellations, diverted flights, rising prices of flight; gouging on everyday necessitiess, beach fees, overpriced tours; rampant greed amongst all Hawaiian providers. All conspire to turn visitors away and to other vacation spots. Hawaii has made its own bed and it appears there is no going back.
Well, at $1,000.00 per night for a decent room, ridiculous car rental fees, the most expensive food on the planet, angry locals, the need for a security guard for your car every time you park, it’s no wonder we’re going elsewhere.
I wish you all the love imaginable, but it’s gone way too far…
I think the new focus on mainland USA visitors will bear fruit. After all, I doubt that most potential visitors have a clue as to how the HTA really wants tourists from Japan and not their fellow Americans.
Hawaii Tourism needs to make up its mind whether they truly want the visitors or not. Some people felt insulted by recent tourism programs that seemed to imply that many visitors from the mainland were disrespectful or cheap. If the tourism office insults people they may well have a hard time luring them back, especially with the soaring prices of a Hawaiian vacation.
Mufi is in bed with major hotels based elsewhere. He wants to eliminate more affordable vacation rentals in an effort to keep the inflated hotel prices where they are. That strategy is backfiring badly.
Trying to attract “mindful” well-to-do tourists from other countries is failing badly due to a multitude of reasons. Encouraging mindful domestic tourism is the way to go, and offering more affordable accommodations to domestic tourists are the way to go.
Eliminating vacation rentals as a more affordable alternative is a recipe for disaster. Mindful hosting is just as important as mindful tourism. No matter how you cut the cake, tourism is Hawaii’s lifeblood.
Too expensive in Hawai’i. Go to Europe, Japan, Fiji
Even a world cruise is more affordable than a week in Hawaii for 2.
I understand your intent but your analogy is ridiculous unless you happen to be taking that world cruise on the S.S. Minnow!
The cost of vacationing has skyrocketed making it unattainable to many visitors. We have been going to Hawaii for the better part of 40 years and have one more trip planned for June. But the cost of all the taxes involved is equal to if not more than the actual nightly rate of the condo we are staying in. We always stay in the same condo in Kihei. Our seven day stay this year cost us more than our 12 day stay in the past. Not to mention the airfare is ridiculously expensive. If they need more mainland visitors, there has to he something done about the cost of visiting. We love Hawaii? But our pocket books just can’t afford us another trip after this year.
“Who knows, maybe Governor Green will even speak out next about the importance of U.S. mainland visitors returning to Hawaii.”
He can work it in the same press conference in which he announces he signed the law aimed at getting rid of vacation rentals.
So sad, too bad, too late. The only reason I go is to continue the work I do with the monk seals on Kauai. The way we were treated during covid over there was so abysmal that, were there seals in Ohio, I would never bother to go back.
Trying to dance the tango whilst the Governor shoots them in the foot…
‘Jekyll & Hyde’ resonates, Green’s 2 trips to Japan obviously were fallow, despite the Wining and Dining, the variable now, is the Airlines have made their changes because of the Hawaiian anti-Mainland Haole climate, by reducing Flights, changing to smaller more efficient aircraft from the West Coast, Phoenix, Las Vegas. Time will tell.
Wintering in the south and southwest U.S., as well as South America, is much, Much more affordable — and much easier — than Hawaii this past year. This will continue for a decade at least.
On the mainland, a very nice STR or Airbnb can be had for $3k a month, including at least two bedrooms, full kitchen, even a garage. You can pay Much less on the mainland if all you need is a studio or small condo for one or two people.
For $3k, you can’t get three Days in a laughably overpriced Hawaii hotel, after you add in all the fees and taxes. Then tack on the ultra-expensive rental car + fees + taxes, the outrageous restaurant prices. Forget it.
did they lift all the crazy tourist fees?
are hotels back down to sane levels?
if not… i think theres plenty of sand to pound on those islands!
Too little too late for us. We’re going to Turks and Caicos. Much more reasonable cost wise and actually not a complicated place to get to from Las Vegas.
Again, the MSM isn’t going to tell you that 26 states area already in recession. California is a huge state, Hawaii’s biggest market, and is leading the pack with rising unemployment. People and businesses are broke from the crazy inflation created by the Fed and huge government deficit spending.
Layoffs are mounting around the country. The BLS keeps putting out garbage headline news jobs numbers, which keep getting revised heavily downwards (not headline news).
Hawaii’s non-diversified economy, the 3-legged stool, of tourism, construction and military is hilarious. With an obvious downturn coming in tourism, construction is laughable as commercial is way overbuilt. Tons of empty buildings.