Have we killed the golden goose? Now something other than Hawaii travel will help boost the economy.
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143 thoughts on “Hawaii Tourism Boom Bursts | Troubled Waters Lurking”
Have we killed the golden goose? Now something other than Hawaii travel will help boost the economy.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
People keep voting for the same party/people and keep getting the same results.
This economic dumpster fire could have been entirely avoided but poor policy decisions will always sink Hawaii until the voters wake up.
For example, Green declared a housing emergency But within weeks walked back many of the regulatory suspensions that could have helped ease the housing crisis? Why? Special interests.
You want to solve this problem ? It’s simple:
1) Remove regulations hindering affordable development.
2) Think outside the box and bring in 3D printing to create homes. There is a startup in Kona ready to act on this Now .
3) Stop targeting STRs and doing the hotel lobbyist dirty work for them.
It is so sad that the Hawaii government sees tourism as a bad thing and obviously they dislike those who own vacation rentals. Maybe the government should have used revenue from tourism to repair the airports. All the high fees, hotel, and rental prices will likely keep people from visiting Hawaii. Without tourism Hawaii’s economy will suffer. I am so glad we no longer own a vacation rental. I hope the governor and all involved in the decisions involving tourism really think about what they are doing and the long term effects their decisions will make. We will never visit Hawaii again because of these reckless decisions & obviously disdain for tourists.
Hawaii has become so expensive that we are considering other options, have been visiting Oahu for 41 years and are truly appalled at the increased cost since the pandemic, also really starting to feel the anti tourist sentiment.
Kauai all excited in the Garden isle paper about the county bringing in 1.9 billion dollars for 2023
Sit down talk it out,figure it,pay someone to figure it out,
1.9 billion dollars fix the infrastructure stop acting like it’s impossible and do something with the 1.9 billion dollars your bragging about such a small place I guess 1.9 billion dollars can’t fix nothing anymore? Yea OK somebody sees that money..again I guess 1.9 billion dollars can’t even fix 1 pothole out of thousands and defiantly a couple more things again 1.9 billion dollars figure it out 1.9 billion dollars what going on?1.9 billion dollars 1.9 billion dollars Do Someething
Wow what mixed messages to visitors! Where did all our fees go in past years? Why hasn’t the State used it for infrastructure? Every asset- including tourism- needs maintenance. Also every place has its limits, especially islands! The only thing that keeps growing is cancer. Ok to stabilize numbers. Locals deserve an affordable place to live!! How about limits on how much empty land rich absentee people can own? How can the State eliminate an asset class? America land of the free? Hawaii is lovely but I won’t be back. One less person to soak for money and take up space! All the best to you.
I’m very sad to see what is happening and believe driving tourists away with excessive fees is probably going to be devastating for Maui. My wife and I have been coming to Maui for 35+ years. We love it, but fear we will not be able to afford it in the future.
I am planning a vacation with my family to Maui in June. We are renting condos and plan on cooking some meals ourselves plus dining out. Traveling to the islands has always been a favorite destination for us. We visit this way because it’s what we can afford. It concerns me that affordable vacations there might become a thing of the past and I won’t be able to enjoy one of my favorite places on earth. I also like to think we are thoughtful and respectful visitors, so it saddens me that our presence might be resented.
I feel for the people of Maui who have suffered such a catastrophic blow with the wildfires. I wish them a successful recovery from all their loss.
I am very glad that we sold our rental property in Hawaii.
With new fees and taxes it’s not worth to invest in Hawaii.
I live in Hawaii for 18 years 1992 to 2009.It was great But now things have changed.Now they want to screw over the tourists .By paying this fee and that fee.What going to happen us the tourist will quit coming to Hawaii and go someplace
And in addition, HI has a very shortsighted governor who thinks he knows everything. For a state that is virtually dependent on on social welfare programs, it is not well managed and decisions are not well thought out.
Is the proposed moritorium on short term rentals for only maui or for all islands………..We like to go to kauai and hawaii islands,
So many ways this can go south very fast. There will be decades of litigation when trying to restrict ownership and usage of vacation rentals. When the residents of this state are subject to the onerous taxes and fees imposed by the state it becomes increasingly difficult and expensive to seek adequate medical care when we are forced to seek life saving care on another island. We need and deserve a good comprehensive plan to help those that call these islands home.
The other thing Green is missing is that by putting fire victims in STR’s will eliminate jobs for management co.s, cleaning staff and victims won’t be eating at restaurants as much as visitors. Very short sited.
Very sympathetic for the Tragedy that Lahaina suffered. But that was not the sole result of tourism. There were a lot of contributing factors that had nothing to do with tourism. We have been visiting Maui for a long time and very respectful of the people and the land. And bring a sizeable amount to the local economy. But understand the taxation on the tourists is extreme. And we have other options. Sadly some of the States economic resources have shifted over the years. Pineapple Sugar Beef. I would be cautious of overburdening the industry that employees so many people.
comments pertaining to the Honolulu Airport, we fly out in late evenings, no place to sit, no food vendors, service to assist people lacking, empty buildings, as not being used, I agree, makeover required.
Flew out of Honolulu this week. My flight was 4:50 pm local time. The one food place near my gate closed at 3:30 pm. The other options were on the other side of the terminal. I was so hungry and wanted to eat poke one last time. My gate was the only one being used on that side. The whole building was empty otherwise. It was baffling to me. I wanted to shop and spend money before my flight and I couldn’t.
Arrived back last night after a 4 HR delay due to mechanical issues on Ha air. You can see the difference in travel, not full flight. I left last year 2 days before the fire. I typically come twice a year for a total of 4 weeks. I pay lots of maintenance fees and taxes for a timeshare, I’ve had and used for over 30 years. It seems Hawaii is doing the same thing all the other states are doing tax tax and tax instead of learning to manage the wasteful spending going on. Oh and the impact fee they have been trying to get that tourist tax for years change the name. People are starting to fight back on all these taxes by not using, not buying not flying, so Hi isn’t the only one shooting themselves in the foot, but it will hurt them more.
KG… Re: Timeshares vs short term renters. The difference is that timeshare owners are deeded property owners while short term renters are not.
Hi Bob, Yes, as I said, I understand the technical, structural ownership difference between a timeshare and a STVR. However in effect isn’t the use of a “living unit” essentially the same? A timeshare is essentially a condo with many supposed owners tied into a scheme with lengthy contracts and fair to say none of these “owners” live in Hawaii.
So, my question is, why is the Governor of Hawaii not looking to take over Time shares as well as potential housing units? How is a timeshare any less of a an housing unit that excludes locals than a STVR? Fair to say that no time share owners live in the units but they are perfectly livable units and they could be made available to locals as living units??
So I am puzzled by the obsession of negative views toward short term rentals aka “vacation rentals.” How is this different than Time-share’s? I understand the technical difference. My question is the reality how these properties function. Don’t both essentially cater to “short term” visitors rather than residents?
So why the negative bias towards “short term rentals” and no mention of Time shares?
I would be happy to convert to a long term rental from STVR. Tell me how;
I am a part time resident of Hawaii Island and travel in and out of the Kona airport all the time. I’ve never seen it how you described. I love the Airport with it’s open-air design and tiki style hut roofs. I mean your on a tropical island. It’s hard to step outside (which you are at the airport) and not see stuff (Gecko’s, Mongoose, centipedes,…etc)
Maybe the airport they are talking about is the Honolulu one.
I have come to Hawaii about 7 times in my life with Friends and family. We all saved up and so carefully and reverently studied Hawaiian history and the wrongs committed to the Hawaiian people and State. I find that those who have come to learn about the people, history and land, become advocates and proponents of the rights and improving the future of this wonderous place that is a gift from above to all who know her.
We have stayed in vacation rentals which afforded us to stay longer and bring family. I hope we can come in the future and be an asset and friends to the people and makes things better for all.
Mahalo and love,
Marie O
And now you have Gov Green committing wrongs against hawaiians like the latest Senate Bill proposal to control development, rights of ways, and calling landowners “land users” in the west Maui area. In other words you don’t own the land so the government can do what it will. Read the proposed bill. Maybe BOH can publish a story about this and shine some light on it. Thanks
Our reasons are the same as yours. It is the idiot governor who sent out misinformation that fouled up peoples vacation plans. And the idea of requiring owners to give up their properties for fire victims is blatantly unconstitutional. Also, can you imagine large families crowded into a one or two bedroom condo and the damage they would do, not intentionally but due to crowding and kids. The restoration what would be required at the end. Reportedly many of the hotel rooms have to restored due to excessive wear and tear from temporary families. It just ain’t gonna work and is not legal
This is a big eye opener to those that do not vote, or vote & really do not research the candidates. Just voting for a certain party is not beneficial.
It would be interesting to see how the bank accounts increase for politicians once they are in office.
We really do need to go back to the politicians in office are here to serve the people. Not the other way around.
They shouldn’t be paid high salaries, daily food stipends, bonus’, free cars to ride around in. Be treated like movie stars.
Heck years ago, Mayors, Govs, Senators, got paid about $20 bucks a day. You had a real job besides.
Again, they are here to serve the citizens of the USA.
We are not here to serve them!
In this case, Gov Green
I agree 100% with everything you said. We are so glad we sold for the reasons you stated. It is so expensive to do any work to a condo in HI. After l8ng term use it will cost the owners a lot to fix and repair. The liberal stupid govenor doesn’t care about what he is doing. I believe he and the 1 land official he appointed is trying to take people’s property so they can’t rebuild & the developers have free rein. So disgraceful. He has no shame.
Maybe Hawaii should reduce their hotel prices and drop the resort fees. The airlines should also do the same.
Hahaha, you get what , who you vote for!
Belize is now our go to vacation spot! Southwest flies there.
Placencia in the southern peninsula of Belize is wonderful. Great food, friendly people, lots of things to do and the exchange rate is 2 to 1 and never changes.
We were there in 2018 and I still remember going to a restaurant called Dawns where we each had 2 lobsters for dinner—price for both was $24, including excellent coconut rice.
I highly recommend Placencia—the only downside is most travelers have to take three flights to get there.
hard not to laugh at mayor pete coming to offer advice and people taking him seriously. guy literally has zero experience in anything transportation related and his opinion is no more valid than yours or mine on what can help hawaii
the average hawaiian tourist is not aware there is a rail system in honolulu and spending money on it in the name of propmoting tourism is probably missing the mark
Killing hosted STVR’s (vacation rentals from owner occupied homes) as we kill off the STVR ability for those who operate several to many airbnbs is the height of idiocy. Many people who operate hosted STVRs can only afford their houses or farms if they short term rent.
Incredible that they are going to increase the current 18% transient accommodations tax. They just increased it recently when the state decided to keep the entire tax for itself and stop sharing it with the counties. Then telling the counties that they could tack on the lost 3% to the amount. Then if you figure that the tax is a percentage of the nightly rate, and rates have increased. Now they are receiving more money for that as well.
Interesting how Hawaii: A) doesn’t want vacationers although almost the entire economy lives on tourism. B) wants to restrict or do away with short term rentals many of which were purchased by locals as income producing vehicles. Hawaii is shooting itself in the foot with the anti tourist track it is taking.
The prices last year of accomodations and entertainment have made the decision for this year obvious my friends and I have decided against Hawaii. In the California desert where the golf courses are well maintained and though pricy have friendly and helpful staff. Hawaii has fallen drastically in the hospitality arena.
Robert b
Hawaii is the most beautiful place on earth. I live on the mainland. My brother lives in south point. I visit when ever I can. I pray for the family loss of lahina. It sounds like complex problems for residents and tourist. Moratorium on short term rentals probably good idea. I would like to buy a home near my brother. I will be a community volunteer to help out I have many talents. Aloha.
We are going on our third whole-family vacation to Hawaii in May. There are 20 of us. The other two trips were in 2019 and 2022. It is astonishing how much prices of everything have shot up since 2019 and 2022! Unfortunately the week we picked in May this year is much more popular than we thought it would be. Air fare and lodging are unreasonably expensive and have stretched our budget. We use short term rentals, and we are paying high prices for units that are sub par to what we used to be able to rent. 2024 will be our last family-vacation to Hawaii. Sadly we feel Hawaii resources are Over Priced and Underdelivered.
Hawaii is no different than anywhere prices are high everywhere and anything
Bring more money and have a wonderful time.
Inflation has devalued everyone’s spending power over the past 3 years and is likely to continue. It would be nice to think tourists have a money tree in their backyard where they can just go picking and ‘bring more money…’.
The anti-tourist attitudes of island isolationists will have dire consequences for those that can’t envision a life they are creating for themselves, without jobs, infrastructure and social services paid for by visitors. Careful what you wish for.
Hawaii is very different. It’s the highest accommodation tax on earth.
My wife and I have been coming to the islands for over 35 years, at least once a year. We’ve never had any issues from locals. However the cost of vacationing has risen dramatically and it appears we’ll make this year our last visit. We just spent 12 days traveling to Costa Rica, incredible sights, welcoming locals, fantastic food and much lower priced than Hawaii. You may get your wish of fewer visitors at a higher price but then again you may not. Please don’t expect us to support your economy in that case. Plus your local governments have no clue on how to spend your tax dollars properly. Even the golden goose can lay only so many eggs. Best wishes on your recovery.
Because there is no place else like beautiful Hawaii (in the US), we will continue to go. I’ve usually felt welcome, even this past fall in Maui, when our timeshare told us we could not cancel. Governments are usually out of touch, so I still believe Hawaii will always needs respectful, responsible tourists to spend their money. Really, is there anywhere else that compares…?
Appears the political leaders of Hawaii need to spend more time understanding the best way to solve Hawaii, delima. Penalizing the tourists will bring A troubled economy.
We visited Maui many times,always stayed in the same condo. But rates went crazy from 210 a night to 420. We haven’t visited now for 3 years.
As a visitor to Hawaii every couple of years and recently to Kona, Hawaii, we were so saddened by the fire damage to Lahaina that we didn’t want to intrude into that area that has been our favorite. Instead we visited Kona. We were totally shocked at the filth of the airport in Kona. Cochroaches coming up from holes in the filthy concrete floors that looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in years. That is the first impression of your state. We did enjoy the culture of the area, restaurants and some beaches but the lasting impression is the airport at our entrance and departure. Infrastructure really needs attention. We do agree that Maui has become so commercialized with big box shopping centers that are a detraction.
Isn’t slowdown of tourism a good thing and what Hawaiians wanted? Shouldn’t this be celebrated? Our family and many others we know on the mainland have decided not to return to Hawaii anytime soon due to the anti-tourism sentiment combined with out of control prices and declining service.
Who owns that shut down sugar cane land and structures on Maui? That area behind Target.
Can that not be turned into residential living?
Turn it into a bunch of condos.
That is done everywhere in our country. They take old breweries, and other buildings and turn them into condos. They end up being really beautiful.
It is hard and very expensive to ship building materials to the islands since it is out to nowhere in the ocean.
Remodeling that sugar cane factory, you already have the structure built and some.
This thought of Hawaii closing down short term rentals, condos etc makes me wonder if the Hotel industry and the Restaurant industry on Maui are in cahoots on closing up the short term rentals.
You can cook you own meals in the condos and short term rentals. Does Maui want you to go out and eat at the restaurants more? To put money in the restaurant’s pockets.
The restaurants are already so crowded there. How is that going to work.
And you come there with your family with young kids, having to go out to eat for every meal is not realistic.
Something I have been thinking about is the newer Safeway, Target, Longs Drugs in Kauai (I am sure other islands have seen similar growth), I suspect part of the reason these stores have opened is demand from STR and people cooking for themselves or need other supplies.
What happens if STR is reduced or eliminated and those visitors are no longer cooking for themselves or just stop coming all together, there won’t be enough “high value visitors” to support the stores, lets face it a large percentage of shoppers are most likely not locals.
David, that’s a really good point. I hadn’t even considered the impact on the grocery stores, Target, etc. The problem is that those stores are not owned on-island, and the thinking is, right or wrong, that the profits don’t stay on-island. The current climate is if it doesn’t directly benefit the on-island residents (even if it will indirectly affect them later), the elected officials don’t really care what happens to them.
It’s the voters that count.
Very good points… I think what Hawaiians might end up finding out is that a lot of the amenities they have grown accustomed to and use regularly, could cease to exist if tourism declines.
I can appreciate wanting to have businesses owned on Island, but I suspect the reality is that there is probably not anyone local that could open those types of business, even if they could they they would not have the same buying power and be able to pass along the savings that people are accustomed to and rely on.
It is interesting to learn that the hotels are against short term vacation rentals. Well, no wonder. They seek to reduce the competition of lower cost and more economical accommodations. Duh! For tourists to be able to cook their own meals enables families to make affordable trips to Hawaii and avoid or reduce reliance on outrageously priced hotel rooms and restaurant dining.
We used to stay at Kapalua for 1 month each year, with current prices your bubble will burst, so sad….get serious about your prices.
We have have been regular visitors since the 70s. The evolution of the experience over that time has been profound but understandable. Everything changes and you can’t go back to the way it was. However, what is going on now is shocking and shows complete ignorance of what has made a visit to the islands so special to so many for so long.
We will never stay in a hotel/resort. We have had great experiences and flexibility with the various STRs we have used.
Our love of Hawaii will now just be great memories. We’re moving on to greener pastures.
Hawaii officials are taxing every thing to death ! Yet the
infrastructure of the State continues to crumble. Areas around Honolulu and Waikki are disgusting and I will definitely look else to vacation after going there for 30 years .
I first traveled to Hawaii 55 years ago. Follow up with 14 more trips. I still believe it to be a paradise, but a troubled Paradise due to over saturation and more dependency on tourism they should be be. I truly hope that a successful solution will be enacted.
U.S. travel has driven the Hawaii travel industry and economy since the bust of the Japanese economy in the 80’s. Covid has caused a stop and revaluation. The results have been a steep rise of the cost of everything from room rates, food, taxes (on everything that deals with tourism), poor service due to the lack of staffing. There are many alternatives from visiting the islands that are way move attractive. I have visited Hawaii many times, but I will not be back. There will be day when the state will be pleading with people to come. But the state is heading the wrong direction.