75 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel Brand Confidence Eroded Amidst Bungling”
Edgar
My wife and I have been going to Maui for over 20 Years. I do not understand the comments on being respectful to the natives. I find all people care about Hawaii and have never seen anyone be rude to the locals. On a few instances I have seen locals be rude but it is rare. It seems like as time goes by Hawaii wants the money form tourism but not the tourism. We love it so much I never thought there would come a day when we would not want to go, but it does enter our conversations now.
2
Gary L
I have been coming to Hawaii every year for the past 25 years,and the disorganized mess that is the Hawaiian Safe Travel program with the local mayors on the individual islands arbitrarily issuing different mandates than the state has made the prospect of traveling to Hawaii this year impractical. I also when looking for a house to rent was met with $650 per night up to $10,000 for some homes was word ridiculous and made the decision easy not to come to Hawaii this year.
2
Pam G.
ALOHA! My husband and I spent the first two weeks in Sept. in Kauai. We were greeted and treated with Aloha the whole time we were there. Many of the people we met went out of their way to help us in any way they could. What we noted more than anything was the lack of businesses that were open. So many stores closed due to lack of staff or business. It broke my heart to think of all Hawaii has gone thru in the last couple of years. We understand why they may be upset! Mahalo!
2
Linda T
Sorry to say, We had plans cancelled and remade more than once, each time costing us money. No thanks, I’ll wait to see that the Islands are back in business for at least a solid year before I attempt planning again. In the mean time, I will be traveling, but to places other than beautiful Hawaii.
2
George H.
I will be flying to Honolulu in 2 weeks (Nov 30, 2021) from Kansas City, MO. I have had both Covid shots and the booster. Also, I tested negative for covid last week. Is this everything I need to fly to Hawaii on Nov 30? Also, is my covid test date timely enough for my trip?
1
Kjoy
Aloha George
If you have been vaccinated, you do not need a Covid test to go to Hawaii. Just set up an account in the Hawaii Safe Travels website, fill out your trip details and upload a pdf picture if your vaccination card. Then 24 hrs before your flight, go back into your Hawaii safe travels account and fill out the health questionnaire. Take your vax card with you. Be sure and get the All Clear wrist band from your airline at the airport if they offer it. Have fun!
Ed C.
We’ll be back in 2022, but there are many messages saying we’re not welcome. Hawaii tourism will not suffer for many years to come because a lot of people will continue to be drawn by the allure of Hawaii’s well-deserved paradisiacal reputation. I believe Hawaii will see less repeat visitors, however, as tourists become more aware of the fact that they are not really wanted.
3
Griffy
Must be an election year, or coming up soon. A welcome by govt won’t be enough; it’s ultimately the residents who will make visitors welcome, or not.
3
Sherilyn P
We love Hawaii. We had a trip planned April 2020 and have cancelled three times due to covid restrictions. We wanred to be safe and keep the islanders safe too but now it is getting too expensive for most to travel there. Our airfare is double from the midwest. Now we jave to pay more taxes on a condo paid for in april 2020. If you are not Mr Facebook or Mr Amazon you do not feel wanted. Everyone should be able to visit there once in their lifetime. We do for our wedding anniversaries. Frustra
Glen M
I went to Oahu twice this year: once in June and then again in September.
It was great both times. No issues whatsoever.
We were respectful of everyone we encountered and were retreated in kind.
In January, I plan to go Maui. I’ve only been there once & that was over 20 years ago. In looking at hotel rates & prices for tours, I was stunned at how expensive these items are on Maui. How can there be such large price discrepancies from one island to another?
I’m still going but dayum…
SarahinAZ
We will likely never be returning to Hawaii ever again…. with all the bad vibes from the locals not wanting tourists there to all the mandates and Covid stuff it’s just not worth it. We have found Mexico to be much more inviting and pleasant… now we are looking at buying a place there. There are other places that are close to the US that are also tropical and beautiful without all the nonsense of Hawaii. I feel bad for people who are in the tourism industry as it’s just going to get worse.
14
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My wife and I have been going to Maui for over 20 Years. I do not understand the comments on being respectful to the natives. I find all people care about Hawaii and have never seen anyone be rude to the locals. On a few instances I have seen locals be rude but it is rare. It seems like as time goes by Hawaii wants the money form tourism but not the tourism. We love it so much I never thought there would come a day when we would not want to go, but it does enter our conversations now.
I have been coming to Hawaii every year for the past 25 years,and the disorganized mess that is the Hawaiian Safe Travel program with the local mayors on the individual islands arbitrarily issuing different mandates than the state has made the prospect of traveling to Hawaii this year impractical. I also when looking for a house to rent was met with $650 per night up to $10,000 for some homes was word ridiculous and made the decision easy not to come to Hawaii this year.
ALOHA! My husband and I spent the first two weeks in Sept. in Kauai. We were greeted and treated with Aloha the whole time we were there. Many of the people we met went out of their way to help us in any way they could. What we noted more than anything was the lack of businesses that were open. So many stores closed due to lack of staff or business. It broke my heart to think of all Hawaii has gone thru in the last couple of years. We understand why they may be upset! Mahalo!
Sorry to say, We had plans cancelled and remade more than once, each time costing us money. No thanks, I’ll wait to see that the Islands are back in business for at least a solid year before I attempt planning again. In the mean time, I will be traveling, but to places other than beautiful Hawaii.
I will be flying to Honolulu in 2 weeks (Nov 30, 2021) from Kansas City, MO. I have had both Covid shots and the booster. Also, I tested negative for covid last week. Is this everything I need to fly to Hawaii on Nov 30? Also, is my covid test date timely enough for my trip?
Aloha George
If you have been vaccinated, you do not need a Covid test to go to Hawaii. Just set up an account in the Hawaii Safe Travels website, fill out your trip details and upload a pdf picture if your vaccination card. Then 24 hrs before your flight, go back into your Hawaii safe travels account and fill out the health questionnaire. Take your vax card with you. Be sure and get the All Clear wrist band from your airline at the airport if they offer it. Have fun!
We’ll be back in 2022, but there are many messages saying we’re not welcome. Hawaii tourism will not suffer for many years to come because a lot of people will continue to be drawn by the allure of Hawaii’s well-deserved paradisiacal reputation. I believe Hawaii will see less repeat visitors, however, as tourists become more aware of the fact that they are not really wanted.
Must be an election year, or coming up soon. A welcome by govt won’t be enough; it’s ultimately the residents who will make visitors welcome, or not.
We love Hawaii. We had a trip planned April 2020 and have cancelled three times due to covid restrictions. We wanred to be safe and keep the islanders safe too but now it is getting too expensive for most to travel there. Our airfare is double from the midwest. Now we jave to pay more taxes on a condo paid for in april 2020. If you are not Mr Facebook or Mr Amazon you do not feel wanted. Everyone should be able to visit there once in their lifetime. We do for our wedding anniversaries. Frustra
I went to Oahu twice this year: once in June and then again in September.
It was great both times. No issues whatsoever.
We were respectful of everyone we encountered and were retreated in kind.
In January, I plan to go Maui. I’ve only been there once & that was over 20 years ago. In looking at hotel rates & prices for tours, I was stunned at how expensive these items are on Maui. How can there be such large price discrepancies from one island to another?
I’m still going but dayum…
We will likely never be returning to Hawaii ever again…. with all the bad vibes from the locals not wanting tourists there to all the mandates and Covid stuff it’s just not worth it. We have found Mexico to be much more inviting and pleasant… now we are looking at buying a place there. There are other places that are close to the US that are also tropical and beautiful without all the nonsense of Hawaii. I feel bad for people who are in the tourism industry as it’s just going to get worse.