75 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel Brand Confidence Eroded Amidst Bungling”
Sheila M
Aloha BOH. Your commentaries are of great value and certainly made getting to Kauai a whole lot easier. I have found the local people as gracious and friendly as ever, letting us out into traffic, greeting me as I go about my daily activities, smiling and making sure that all is well for me here. I do think that the messages from the powers that be have been erratic as all get out and have made life difficult not only for the travelers but for the locals as well.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Sheila.
Thanks. We appreciate the feedback from your trip to Kauai.
Aloha.
Sharon K
The Rental Owners are being Taxed out of business. Visitors can only take so much when rental prices are raised to cover raised Taxes
10
David B
“The Rental Owners are being Taxed out of business”
Feature, not a bug.
FWIW, Kauai did decide to waive the new 3% TAT on transient rentals in which the contract was entered into on/before Sep 15, and which contract does not allow for additional taxes to be added later. This is the case with our vacation rental contract, and I was even able to get the county Finance Department to review it and confirm.
1
GLORIA G.
Rental Owners or not the increased taxes make it cost prohibitive. We are paying more and getting less for no reason other than greed.
john
Weve been coming to Hawaii every year for nearly 20 years, staying 4 to 6 weeks each year. We canceled in 2021 and now again in 2022 for the reasons mentioned in your article. We’ve found new areas of the U.S. that we enjoy traveling to and don’t plan to go back to Hawaii anytime soon. Before COVID we experienced many instances of rudeness from some locals, unlike i have ever experienced anywhere else We’ve traveled to. I’m hopeful that it’s a small percentage of locals, but i sense it’s growing
13
Tammy C
We visited Hawaii and we Loved it!! Yes we checked the information for safe travels and loaded all the information needed. I double checked the information on the website just to make sure I also spoke to the airline representative to make sure information was correct. Our visit was wonderful but some of the customer service just was not up to the standards that we received two years ago, but we looked past some of it. Please everyone use your manners. Thank you and respect everyone! Mahalo
5
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Tammy.
Thanks for the feedback on your recent Hawaii trip.
Aloha.
Bill T.
Mahalo nui for this excellent commentary. Your observations are spot on. And yes, one of the BIGGEST problems throughout all of this has been the responses and messages from the Governor’s Office. We were going to try to visit Hawai’i this year, but it’s such a mess that we’re not even going to think about it until 2022, or maybe even 2023. Auwe!
7
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Bill.
Thanks. We hope you will return again soon! Please let us know.
Aloha.
James B
I always appreciate your analysis as your business depends on keeping your fingers on the tourist pulse. In your analysis, however, you contradict your opinion in the third graph — specifically “And while the governor asked them not to come, that did nothing to actually curtail fall travel.– Most people post their opinions when frustrated. So, postings aren’t a metric I would consider. Finally, our archipelago is the most beautiful in the world and travel here is inevitable. Don’t fret.
4
John
“I have been to Hawaii 10 times – a week in Waikiki and a week in Maui each time. The last time we were there was 2019… When I checked out the rates they are double what we paid in 2019. If this is the way you trying to cut down on visitors well it worked for me. Sorry to say goodbye.”
Same here. We got married on the beach in Kaui. I love the islands, but it’s now too difficult and expensive. And apparently the islanders don’t want us anyway. 😢 we won’t be back. Very sad
7
TRACY Y
Mahalo, BOH! I’d like to add that the Governors “easing” of restrictions – more specifically, allowing 100% capacity in restaurants – is basically “for show” and a Net Zero. Allowing restaurants to serve at 100% capacity while maintaining the 6-ft distance rule is the same as telling folks they can smoke inside restaurants even though all dining rooms are smoke free environments. Restaurants arent allowed to add back tables because of the 6-ft distance rule; so, how then, can they serve 100%?
6
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Tracy.
Thanks. We added your suggestions to the post. Appreciate the input.
Aloha.
2
Susan C
I am so sad to say we agree with your article. We visited Maui in March. We were SO eager to get back to the Islands! Most Islanders were gracious and friendly, but man! We’ve never before been the target of so many angry Hawaiians! Hana Hiway was the worst and it wasn’t even crowded! We had at least 2 other instances of rudeness from the locals. Strange way to welcome people who want to spend money in your town. Costa Rica, here we come!
9
Wendi
Agreed. I’ll never go back to Hana. What I saw a group of native Hawaiians do to an elderly man was heartbreaking and scared us back to our car. Which I suppose was the whole point.
6
Jacl
To further add to the frustration, Maui County’s 3% TAT increase is being applied retroactively to hotel bookings made in 2019, 2020 and 2021 prior to the tax increase effective date when the tax rate was lower. Many visitors had to postpone vacations several times due to Hawaii travel restrictions and now are subject to higher hotel taxes. Not a positive message for tourism.
11
Greg M
Hi….I agree with the terrible increase in the Maui TAT tax however we were told that any bookings made by 10/31/21, regardless of travel dates. We have 2 bookings in 2022 and another in 2023 that our “landlord” has assured us we would not incur because we booked them this past May. As they say, every little bit helps, especially when we are dealing with 16-24 night stays!!! Lol
2
Nita C
Aloha BOH- if it was not for you I would have no idea what’s going on any given day of the year! With ever-changing goal posts moving, inconsistent messaging, political posturing, etc… it’s a wonder you guys can keep on top of it. We are coming up on our third trip to Maui since December 2020… we’ve only experienced positive aloha vibes… but again we would have no idea of what’s up and what’s down on any given day without BOH- Mahalo for trying to untangle & navigate it all =)
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Nita.
Thank you! Glad to hear you will be returning to Maui again.
Aloha.
Comments are closed.
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Aloha BOH. Your commentaries are of great value and certainly made getting to Kauai a whole lot easier. I have found the local people as gracious and friendly as ever, letting us out into traffic, greeting me as I go about my daily activities, smiling and making sure that all is well for me here. I do think that the messages from the powers that be have been erratic as all get out and have made life difficult not only for the travelers but for the locals as well.
Hi Sheila.
Thanks. We appreciate the feedback from your trip to Kauai.
Aloha.
The Rental Owners are being Taxed out of business. Visitors can only take so much when rental prices are raised to cover raised Taxes
“The Rental Owners are being Taxed out of business”
Feature, not a bug.
FWIW, Kauai did decide to waive the new 3% TAT on transient rentals in which the contract was entered into on/before Sep 15, and which contract does not allow for additional taxes to be added later. This is the case with our vacation rental contract, and I was even able to get the county Finance Department to review it and confirm.
Rental Owners or not the increased taxes make it cost prohibitive. We are paying more and getting less for no reason other than greed.
Weve been coming to Hawaii every year for nearly 20 years, staying 4 to 6 weeks each year. We canceled in 2021 and now again in 2022 for the reasons mentioned in your article. We’ve found new areas of the U.S. that we enjoy traveling to and don’t plan to go back to Hawaii anytime soon. Before COVID we experienced many instances of rudeness from some locals, unlike i have ever experienced anywhere else We’ve traveled to. I’m hopeful that it’s a small percentage of locals, but i sense it’s growing
We visited Hawaii and we Loved it!! Yes we checked the information for safe travels and loaded all the information needed. I double checked the information on the website just to make sure I also spoke to the airline representative to make sure information was correct. Our visit was wonderful but some of the customer service just was not up to the standards that we received two years ago, but we looked past some of it. Please everyone use your manners. Thank you and respect everyone! Mahalo
Hi Tammy.
Thanks for the feedback on your recent Hawaii trip.
Aloha.
Mahalo nui for this excellent commentary. Your observations are spot on. And yes, one of the BIGGEST problems throughout all of this has been the responses and messages from the Governor’s Office. We were going to try to visit Hawai’i this year, but it’s such a mess that we’re not even going to think about it until 2022, or maybe even 2023. Auwe!
Hi Bill.
Thanks. We hope you will return again soon! Please let us know.
Aloha.
I always appreciate your analysis as your business depends on keeping your fingers on the tourist pulse. In your analysis, however, you contradict your opinion in the third graph — specifically “And while the governor asked them not to come, that did nothing to actually curtail fall travel.– Most people post their opinions when frustrated. So, postings aren’t a metric I would consider. Finally, our archipelago is the most beautiful in the world and travel here is inevitable. Don’t fret.
“I have been to Hawaii 10 times – a week in Waikiki and a week in Maui each time. The last time we were there was 2019… When I checked out the rates they are double what we paid in 2019. If this is the way you trying to cut down on visitors well it worked for me. Sorry to say goodbye.”
Same here. We got married on the beach in Kaui. I love the islands, but it’s now too difficult and expensive. And apparently the islanders don’t want us anyway. 😢 we won’t be back. Very sad
Mahalo, BOH! I’d like to add that the Governors “easing” of restrictions – more specifically, allowing 100% capacity in restaurants – is basically “for show” and a Net Zero. Allowing restaurants to serve at 100% capacity while maintaining the 6-ft distance rule is the same as telling folks they can smoke inside restaurants even though all dining rooms are smoke free environments. Restaurants arent allowed to add back tables because of the 6-ft distance rule; so, how then, can they serve 100%?
Hi Tracy.
Thanks. We added your suggestions to the post. Appreciate the input.
Aloha.
I am so sad to say we agree with your article. We visited Maui in March. We were SO eager to get back to the Islands! Most Islanders were gracious and friendly, but man! We’ve never before been the target of so many angry Hawaiians! Hana Hiway was the worst and it wasn’t even crowded! We had at least 2 other instances of rudeness from the locals. Strange way to welcome people who want to spend money in your town. Costa Rica, here we come!
Agreed. I’ll never go back to Hana. What I saw a group of native Hawaiians do to an elderly man was heartbreaking and scared us back to our car. Which I suppose was the whole point.
To further add to the frustration, Maui County’s 3% TAT increase is being applied retroactively to hotel bookings made in 2019, 2020 and 2021 prior to the tax increase effective date when the tax rate was lower. Many visitors had to postpone vacations several times due to Hawaii travel restrictions and now are subject to higher hotel taxes. Not a positive message for tourism.
Hi….I agree with the terrible increase in the Maui TAT tax however we were told that any bookings made by 10/31/21, regardless of travel dates. We have 2 bookings in 2022 and another in 2023 that our “landlord” has assured us we would not incur because we booked them this past May. As they say, every little bit helps, especially when we are dealing with 16-24 night stays!!! Lol
Aloha BOH- if it was not for you I would have no idea what’s going on any given day of the year! With ever-changing goal posts moving, inconsistent messaging, political posturing, etc… it’s a wonder you guys can keep on top of it. We are coming up on our third trip to Maui since December 2020… we’ve only experienced positive aloha vibes… but again we would have no idea of what’s up and what’s down on any given day without BOH- Mahalo for trying to untangle & navigate it all =)
Hi Nita.
Thank you! Glad to hear you will be returning to Maui again.
Aloha.