Hi Susan K, your dream/dreams may one day become a reality for you, don’t give up because of the Immature Adolescent behavior of a Minority. Most people will be Happy to have you visit, our money keeps their economy and lifeblood going. Currently the Costs are Outrageous and soon to be changes will probably stop many but wait a while, things will be changing for the better in a year or two. Until then, the Caribbean and West Indies are Spectacular, just don’t stay on the Atlantic Side.
Please do a little research. The vast majority of your vacation dollars goes to airline, hotel, and car rental chains not located in Hawaii. You are not hurting us like you think you are by vacationing elsewhere. This is exactly the attitude that aggravates locals…we are not beholding to you.
The pandemic proved this wrong. Suffering people out of work everywhere. It would be nice if the economy was more diversified, but don’t pretend that tourism isn’t critical to the livelihoods of the Hawaiian people. If they desire and need to work, that is.
Hi Pat G, only problem with short term rentals will be the New and Improved Private Rental Restrictions coming very soon. No more short term rentals allowed, you have to rent it for 3 full months! It’s a crazy new Law that effects all of the Islands. Thank the New Tourism Agency for this and let’s Not forget the other culprits that had their hands in this, the Resorts and Hotel Industry.
I’m not so sure that the 3 month minimum rentals affects all short term rentals, maybe just the homes in neighbors that restrict short term due to their HOA’s.
My whole life, I have dreamt of visiting the islands to view the beauty of the land and her people. My soul is crushed knowing that I am not wanted there. Perhaps it is time to give up the dream and visit another land that is welcoming to an outsider and willing the share the natural beauty of their homeland. And, yes, by true definition of the term, I am a haole, because my DNA is a huge melting pot. Proud of who I am and not hung up on who my ancestors were or were not.
I really don’t think you need to worry ab out it. In the countless times I’ve been there (mainly Kauai) I’ve never had a problem with any of the locals. I do tend to stay away from the big tourist areas but be nice, fit in, and you should be fine.
The possibility of a Recession should be Encouraging for all of the Hawaiians that would prefer the end of Tourism. I do Believe that the loss of Billions in Income to Businesses, and the Governments, will bring Unfortunate Consequences. Reality hits very quickly when the money stops abruptly, how many will see businesses shuttered for good? I Pray 🙏 and Hope that Hawaii is Prepared in case Reality and Recession Hits!
Ernie, I’ve lived here for 36 years and seen plenty of recession’s, downturns, 9/11 etc etc. Hawaii will always be Hawaii. There are always ups and downs and the current wave of politically inspired haters throwing stones from the mainland defines them, not Hawaii. Our Country’s democracy has come under attack and we are about to find out if we actually are a decent Country or not. Whatever happens people that aren’t so politically motivated from all over the world will flock here.
As a former resident and now, visitor, I’ve come to the sad conclusion that visiting isn’t in my budget at the current prices. I can understand prices going up at the rate of inflation, but hotels have more than doubled. I’d even pay for the car, but flights are outrageous. The jet fuel prices I can understand and justify, but the hotel room is the same room I paid half for in 2019. Hawaii needs to find a happy medium, cost-wise. Until they do, I’m looking elsewhere.
Have you tried short-term rentals? Most on Maui are half the price of hotels, some even less than that. Plus you get a kitchen, living room, washer/dryer, etc.
Why the downvotes? There is nothing wrong with short-term rentals, as long as they were built as short-term rentals, have always been short term rentals, are not taking housing stock away from locals (most locals wouldn’t be able to afford them), and they are in resort areas and not affecting residential neighborhoods. There are actually quite a few of these, at least on Maui. Just make sure they have been legally registered and permitted.
We just got back from 10 days on Maui and one week on Kauai. We stayed at the Hanalei Colony Resort that had ridiculous rates. When we checked in they said that their nightly rate was now $950/night and the restaurant on property was closed down. We didn’t notice any difference in the prices of food from last year at the same time since it has always been sky high! You just can’t help but feel you are being taken advantage of and the joy of being there is taken away because the only thing that is affordable is the airfare!
In February I needed help counting inventory. I ran ads offering $50/hour for 4 full days. I needed almost 20 people – I got 1 local. So, I flew 16 from the mainland.
I hope there’s more interest next year, especially from those who don’t appreciate all the visitors.
I don’t know about other islands, but as for Kauai, it seems to me that one problem is the large inventory of houses and condos for rent on AirB&B, VRBO, etc. There are issues with regulating rentals in areas where they are permitted, but I wouldn’t be surprised if most of those owners do not collect and pay taxes on the rents. If Hawaii enforced its existing tax laws through a more rigorous regulatory regime, volume might decrease significantly.
Airbnb & VRBO Require you to put in your TAT and GET numbers in the ads, and they are displayed, along with your property real estate ID numbers, the State of HI monitors those sites, so you’re incorrect. What the state doesn’t monitor is collecting the long-term sales tax on long term rentals, which isn’t collected those rents also probably go without reporting locally and on Federal income tax returns on the long-term rentals, so again the STR’s mainly support the island and state
We have lived through recessions, lockdown, & too much tourism and yearn for the return of sanity as numbers dwindle. Locals don’t benefit from tourism, big corporations do. After the last year and a half of revenge tourists ruining everything, a recession will be a welcome change. Our reefs that were teeming with fish during lockdown are now fishless and covered in sunscreen sludge even though reef safe sunscreen is required by law. Our store shelves are empty, traffic is a nightmare, and almost every local I know has been abused by a tourist with an attitude because “they spent a lot of money to be here.” I hope that every non-local who bought a home to rent out short term is forced to sell at an affordable price to a local family.
While I concur with others that balance in the numbers is essential, I disagree with the comment that “locals don’t benefit from tourism”. Tell that to the housekeepers, on-island managers, contractors, handymen, chefs, restaurant workers, tour guides, employees of airlines, rental car companies, etc., to say nothing of the state and county employees that receive, count and distribute the millions of dollars in TAT and GET monies generated by our vacation rentals.
Hi Irene, glad to hear from someone that enjoys solitude. Did you, and the others that complain, realize that You Do benefit from Tourism? All of the Money keeps people Employed with Benefits? It Pays for Improvements across the State, keeps Roofs over people’s heads and Food to eat? Everyone Enjoys those Benefits and More! The Fish are there, Sunscreen isn’t the problem. Think before you want Tourism to go away, Hawaii and Hawaiians can’t afford it! Have a Nice Day.
Can’t let your comment about sunscreen go unchecked Ernie….sunscreens with certain petrochemicals are definitely a problem for our coral reefs. Also it’s not a Hawaii only thing. Those sunscreens are also banned in the Virgin Isles and Florida Keys. Rightfully so.
Irene, would you sell your $20,000 car for $5,000 because someone else “needed/wanted” it? Would you go take an electric bike from someone because you want/need it instead of buying yourself a peddle bike?
Patrick, that was for 4 days in February – Oahu.
Take care!
Hi Susan K, your dream/dreams may one day become a reality for you, don’t give up because of the Immature Adolescent behavior of a Minority. Most people will be Happy to have you visit, our money keeps their economy and lifeblood going. Currently the Costs are Outrageous and soon to be changes will probably stop many but wait a while, things will be changing for the better in a year or two. Until then, the Caribbean and West Indies are Spectacular, just don’t stay on the Atlantic Side.
Please do a little research. The vast majority of your vacation dollars goes to airline, hotel, and car rental chains not located in Hawaii. You are not hurting us like you think you are by vacationing elsewhere. This is exactly the attitude that aggravates locals…we are not beholding to you.
The pandemic proved this wrong. Suffering people out of work everywhere. It would be nice if the economy was more diversified, but don’t pretend that tourism isn’t critical to the livelihoods of the Hawaiian people. If they desire and need to work, that is.
Hi Pat G, only problem with short term rentals will be the New and Improved Private Rental Restrictions coming very soon. No more short term rentals allowed, you have to rent it for 3 full months! It’s a crazy new Law that effects all of the Islands. Thank the New Tourism Agency for this and let’s Not forget the other culprits that had their hands in this, the Resorts and Hotel Industry.
Ernie, that new law only affects Oahu.
I’m not so sure that the 3 month minimum rentals affects all short term rentals, maybe just the homes in neighbors that restrict short term due to their HOA’s.
My whole life, I have dreamt of visiting the islands to view the beauty of the land and her people. My soul is crushed knowing that I am not wanted there. Perhaps it is time to give up the dream and visit another land that is welcoming to an outsider and willing the share the natural beauty of their homeland. And, yes, by true definition of the term, I am a haole, because my DNA is a huge melting pot. Proud of who I am and not hung up on who my ancestors were or were not.
I really don’t think you need to worry ab out it. In the countless times I’ve been there (mainly Kauai) I’ve never had a problem with any of the locals. I do tend to stay away from the big tourist areas but be nice, fit in, and you should be fine.
The possibility of a Recession should be Encouraging for all of the Hawaiians that would prefer the end of Tourism. I do Believe that the loss of Billions in Income to Businesses, and the Governments, will bring Unfortunate Consequences. Reality hits very quickly when the money stops abruptly, how many will see businesses shuttered for good? I Pray 🙏 and Hope that Hawaii is Prepared in case Reality and Recession Hits!
Ernie, I’ve lived here for 36 years and seen plenty of recession’s, downturns, 9/11 etc etc. Hawaii will always be Hawaii. There are always ups and downs and the current wave of politically inspired haters throwing stones from the mainland defines them, not Hawaii. Our Country’s democracy has come under attack and we are about to find out if we actually are a decent Country or not. Whatever happens people that aren’t so politically motivated from all over the world will flock here.
As a former resident and now, visitor, I’ve come to the sad conclusion that visiting isn’t in my budget at the current prices. I can understand prices going up at the rate of inflation, but hotels have more than doubled. I’d even pay for the car, but flights are outrageous. The jet fuel prices I can understand and justify, but the hotel room is the same room I paid half for in 2019. Hawaii needs to find a happy medium, cost-wise. Until they do, I’m looking elsewhere.
Have you tried short-term rentals? Most on Maui are half the price of hotels, some even less than that. Plus you get a kitchen, living room, washer/dryer, etc.
Why the downvotes? There is nothing wrong with short-term rentals, as long as they were built as short-term rentals, have always been short term rentals, are not taking housing stock away from locals (most locals wouldn’t be able to afford them), and they are in resort areas and not affecting residential neighborhoods. There are actually quite a few of these, at least on Maui. Just make sure they have been legally registered and permitted.
We just got back from 10 days on Maui and one week on Kauai. We stayed at the Hanalei Colony Resort that had ridiculous rates. When we checked in they said that their nightly rate was now $950/night and the restaurant on property was closed down. We didn’t notice any difference in the prices of food from last year at the same time since it has always been sky high! You just can’t help but feel you are being taken advantage of and the joy of being there is taken away because the only thing that is affordable is the airfare!
In February I needed help counting inventory. I ran ads offering $50/hour for 4 full days. I needed almost 20 people – I got 1 local. So, I flew 16 from the mainland.
I hope there’s more interest next year, especially from those who don’t appreciate all the visitors.
$50 an hour? I’d work for that. Give me a call and I’ll come over. Which island? 🙂
I don’t know about other islands, but as for Kauai, it seems to me that one problem is the large inventory of houses and condos for rent on AirB&B, VRBO, etc. There are issues with regulating rentals in areas where they are permitted, but I wouldn’t be surprised if most of those owners do not collect and pay taxes on the rents. If Hawaii enforced its existing tax laws through a more rigorous regulatory regime, volume might decrease significantly.
Airbnb & VRBO Require you to put in your TAT and GET numbers in the ads, and they are displayed, along with your property real estate ID numbers, the State of HI monitors those sites, so you’re incorrect. What the state doesn’t monitor is collecting the long-term sales tax on long term rentals, which isn’t collected those rents also probably go without reporting locally and on Federal income tax returns on the long-term rentals, so again the STR’s mainly support the island and state
We have lived through recessions, lockdown, & too much tourism and yearn for the return of sanity as numbers dwindle. Locals don’t benefit from tourism, big corporations do. After the last year and a half of revenge tourists ruining everything, a recession will be a welcome change. Our reefs that were teeming with fish during lockdown are now fishless and covered in sunscreen sludge even though reef safe sunscreen is required by law. Our store shelves are empty, traffic is a nightmare, and almost every local I know has been abused by a tourist with an attitude because “they spent a lot of money to be here.” I hope that every non-local who bought a home to rent out short term is forced to sell at an affordable price to a local family.
True, true, true!
While I concur with others that balance in the numbers is essential, I disagree with the comment that “locals don’t benefit from tourism”. Tell that to the housekeepers, on-island managers, contractors, handymen, chefs, restaurant workers, tour guides, employees of airlines, rental car companies, etc., to say nothing of the state and county employees that receive, count and distribute the millions of dollars in TAT and GET monies generated by our vacation rentals.
Hi Irene, glad to hear from someone that enjoys solitude. Did you, and the others that complain, realize that You Do benefit from Tourism? All of the Money keeps people Employed with Benefits? It Pays for Improvements across the State, keeps Roofs over people’s heads and Food to eat? Everyone Enjoys those Benefits and More! The Fish are there, Sunscreen isn’t the problem. Think before you want Tourism to go away, Hawaii and Hawaiians can’t afford it! Have a Nice Day.
Can’t let your comment about sunscreen go unchecked Ernie….sunscreens with certain petrochemicals are definitely a problem for our coral reefs. Also it’s not a Hawaii only thing. Those sunscreens are also banned in the Virgin Isles and Florida Keys. Rightfully so.
But how does one regulate that? I’m pretty sure bags aren’t checked upon entering HI for the bad stuff.
You are woefully misinformed.
Irene, would you sell your $20,000 car for $5,000 because someone else “needed/wanted” it? Would you go take an electric bike from someone because you want/need it instead of buying yourself a peddle bike?