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.
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!