What’s happening behind the scenes in Hawaii travel. Clearly we aren’t close to being through this upheaval.
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74 thoughts on “Hawaii Travel Industry A Shambles and Why”
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What’s happening behind the scenes in Hawaii travel. Clearly we aren’t close to being through this upheaval.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
We have been traveling twice a year to Hawaii for family vacation for 14 years. We did not go while covid restrictions were in place. We went as soon as they stopped them. Found a cheap flight, no problems with our flight. However our top 3 hotels were outrageous! Used some points at marriot resort. Ok. Staff shortages were o virus. Car rental very difficult and expensive. However. When we returned home began planning for the family to go in june> not happening!
Flights skyrocked in the 3 weeks since we returned home almost 2.5 times the usual! Ridiculous. Hotel is usually $250 night now $450!Will abolutely not be paying that. I will miss Hawaii but not going to be scalped to go.
We stayed in Waikiki Beach the week of Memorial Day and had no issues. Southwest was on schedule. We Ubered instead of renting a car. Rented a Turo for a day trip to North Shore. Food is expensive everywhere, but a wonderful time overall.
Having recently visited Kauai we find these observations spot on. It was our most difficult visit since shortly after Iniki. We we saddened by the stories told by locals as they try to navigate these times. They are frustrated and the ever growing housing shortage for service industry employees seems to have reached a critical level, especially in the Princeville area. We are lovers of Kauai, would accept any condition to enjoy its beauty, and will keep visiting no matter what. We have advised “Hawaii nevers” to not visit for now. It is too difficult to find dining or an activity. Many locals have understandably lost touch with the Aloha Spirit.
Praying for the balance to return. Thank you. Don and Amy T, Pittsburgh PA
We had plans to visit the islands in 2019 and cancelled due to Covid. Fortunately we received refunds on most everything we prepaid. Now after after canceling subsequent year plans we’re making the trip this year. Rental car rates havve increased at least 3x. Our hotel reservation in 2019 was about $500 a night at a 4+ star resort on the Big Island. This year it’s $3,000 a night, so we made reservations elsewhere. We’re expecting this years trip will cost about 3x what we expected in 2019.
I hope you can help me with a question about a recent change in Oahu rentals.I am a yearly visitor and I found out that a new law, Bill 41, will change short term rentals from 30 days to a 90 day minimum requirement. (The unit I rent in Waikiki is not included in the exempt resort zone) I do understand the need for affordable housing and think this is positive in many ways. However, since this bill affects so many visitors I was just wondering if you had heard of any recent developments on this issue. I heard rumors that some rental condo owners will challenge bill 41 in court and I thought you may have an insight into the status of the new 90 day rule.
Only for new units. Any existing Permitted vacation rentals will remain the same.
To Ken G, Happy 50th Anniversary! Very glad to hear that You haven’t found any of the negativity that some have encountered. Not many people have been inconvenienced by this, it’s unfortunate that anyone has. Ernie.
Editors, I can tell you that here on Kauai we are experiencing the tsunami of visitors right now. In Waimea the canyon is bulging with folks eating and shopping. My favorite eating place in Waimea had people lined up and out the door. What used to take 2 minutes to place an order is now a 15 minute wait. Good for them but patience for the hungry. I just wonder where are all the workers? Not everyone can start their own business?
Keep beating the golden goose and don’t be surprised when it flies away for ever. Good luck with those high paying manufacturing jobs oops they don’t exist
We love Hawaii but with hotel costs and car rental so high we are waiting for lower costs. Sitting on free flights but can wait for things to get back to more normal. Alaska airlines same problems flying in US had to wait 20 minutes for a ground crew to get us into our gate in Seattle. Resort fees also turn us off to some properties.
Jim, my pet peeve – Resort Fees. First just tell us what the cost of a night at your dive costs, including Resort Fees.
But, what is a Resort and when should a hotel be able to call itself a resort. The 2 absolute minimums are an on-site golf course and an on-site swimming pool. Without both, it’s not a resort.
Why do they separate the nightly rate anyway – in my opinion, so they don’t have to pay commission on the resort fee which is always collected at the hotel.
It is confusing when they don’t include it. Just when you think you found something affordable, they pop up with the Real price…..which ends up being almost double….
No one loves Hawaii more than us but all of this can be summed up with: we are still in a global pandemic that governments and people are trying to ignore and rush back to “normal”. Covid is coming wave after wave and if we don’t tamp it Way down with indoor masking, ventilation infrastructure, Far UV technology, and sterilizing mucosal vaccines then it will continue to get worse. Unfortunately it may take much longer than another year for people to realize we have to fight Covid like a war, not like a minor issue we can wish away.
By now you have noticed that 3x the people disagree with your factual statement. Sadly, our post truth world leaves no room for those who believe that facts and common sense matter. Our islands, as with many counties in the U.S., are experiencing the next surge. This time the numbers reported are probably undercounted by up to 10x the actual infection rates due to home tests and unreported infections.
It’s as if people have decided that the previous WWII was over two years in because they said so.
Currently in the midst of our first trip to Hawaii. Planned and booked everything, flights, hotels, cars, dining, etc in March and April. We are enjoying this so much. Staff has been great, no long waits, friendly people. Can’t understand why there is so much negativity on these posts. 50th Anniversary vacation: 5 days on Oahu, our 5th day on Kauai and heading to Maui tomorrow. This is truly paradise.
I have little sympathy for executives who fired/laid off/downsized people over the last five years and are now whining about being being understaffed. All of these issues originate from stupidly made rash decisions made by executives in the past.
Instead, execs are being rewarded because they’ve used their screwups to justify price gouging. They’ll reap record profits in spite of their mismanagement because demand is so strong.
I use to live on Oahu years ago. I have a business that is needed there and would make so much money. I wanted to move back with my daughter. My daughter was accepted to UH Manoa. We have been looking forward to moving out there. I also had a few job interviews set up until my business started bringing in money. Was ready to move out there but the cost of housing is crazy! A crummy 1 bd place is 1800. In Atlanta 1800 gets you a nice 1 bd. If you want a nice place in Hawaii you have to spend almost 3000. Who has that kind of money? I can rent a mini mansion for that in Atlanta. I understand the locals want their land but if prices keep going up how will the locals make it if no one is able to visit or bring new business or money?
That Hawaii rent is pretty much the same as here in San Diego. I know nothing about Georgia rentals but in California we’ve dealt with this for decades and it keeps getting worse.
When you mix the homeless, with the criminal element, who have no respect for the law (burning surfboards near mini police precinct), then you have a recipe for disaster, because the liberal arguments that the homeless and the criminal element have the right to terrorize the tourists.
The Airlines have a responsibility to their bottom line. Pilots are finding that they are being pressured for more hours and flights. Covid forced many Pilots and other Airline Employees out of their jobs for no good reason. Now everyone is paying the increasing prices of poor decisions coupled with Higher Fuel Prices and Expenses across the board. Not a thing that Hawaii can do about this problem but sit back and wait for it to turn around. This hurts everyone including the Tourism Industry. Thanks.
Whether a native Hawaiian or not, a transplant or Tourist the State of Hawaii is a special place and should be treated as such so that it shall be here for centuries to come. Choose to keep Hawaii Beautiful, do your part and show that you care, treat it as someone’s home that you’re visiting, because it is, showing respect and manners to everyone isn’t difficult. Thanks!
Housing Costs have Skyrocketed and with no end in sight many could be faced with homelessness before too long. Subsidized Housing seems like a possibility but will take a large investment in land and money to achieve. The amount of Housing will be Substantial as more families fall through the cracks every moment. Is this going to be the fate of Hawaii? What other options are there? It will be a very interesting conversation to find out. Something Needs to be Done.
You are correct, housing is the WW III of this generation.
We must get corporate and foreign ownership out of US housing. For example,do you know a Canadian company Tricon has purchased 35,000 US homes as rentals? Would we allow someone to buy up all the food and medicine and charge double or triple?
One home allowed per one social security number would fix the problem.
Ridiculous. So, if I could afford a 2nd home, I would not be allowed to buy it under my SSN.
Sounds like China’s old one-child policy.
Next, you’ll be telling us we can only buy one roll of toilet paper a week.
We live in a country with many freedoms, you would take them away. In your world, people are unable to take care of themselves.
To add insult to injury, Canada just passed a law banning all foreign home buyers for the next two years while Tricon from Canada and other Canadian companies are buying up US homes. Rod W you offer no solutions, the system is rigged by big government and big business colluding to pick winners and losers.
Have you seen ” A Wonderful Life”? Young people live in Pottersville.
People can’t take care of themselves when money is printed out of thin air and given to US oligarchs.
Rob T, you are right, I offer no solutions. Because no govt imposed rule will help. Only time and balancing supply and demand will fix the problem. That balancing will come sooner without govt interference.
If the govt blocked corporate and foreign investment in the US housing market what would the result be? Answer that honestly and you will know why it makes no sense.
Aloha!
Without government regulations, your life would be incredibly different in so many ways. To lay your bended knee at the foot of corporations with only one objective — increased profits — has as much relevance in today’s world as oil companies who would rather rake in absurdly high prices than increase supply. A Libertarian island is not a vacation destination.
Why do people always end rude comments with aloha? Try to have polite discourse if you want to persuade others.
First you make a snide comment about toilet paper as if that is equivalent to housing.
Then you admit you have no constructive ideas.
Prices of houses will fall and supply will increase if corporate and foreign buyers are no longer allowed.
I think that would be awesome.
Young people need help now.
I wrote this to you:
If the govt blocked corporate and foreign investment in the US housing market what would the result be? Answer that honestly and you will know why it makes no sense.
I’m waiting.
Also, be sure to tell me how limiting supply will help anyone – young, old, or middle-aged.
And if you think my reply to you was rude, you don’t know rude.
I wrote “Prices of houses will fall and supply will increase if corporate and foreign buyers are no longer allowed.”
I mean corporate buyers should be forced to sell all their houses now. That would increase supply instantly and prices would plummet.
Problem solved.
I agree with you, but foreigners should not be able to swallow up the housing market making it unaffordable everywhere for US citizens.
There’s Many Complexities to the problems facing Hawaii, you’ve identified many. Addressing the Entire problem is Impossible, too many Uncontrollable Circumstances. Hawaii needs to realize this and then take on what They are Responsible for. Improving Airport Services, Demanding more Trained TSA Staffing, Decreasing Reliance on “Social Assistance” to Encourage Employment, and Whatever can be done to make Hawaii Better for Itself and in turn for Others. Much Can be done if a Better Hawaii is the Goal!
All of the problems facing the State of Hawaii may begin to turn around, at least portions of it,when people are forced to find jobs. Another debacle was caused by not continuing with the prior Agencies for Tourism and Business. If it is True that problems existed with them the AG of Hawaii should have stepped in and Investigated Irregularities and presented charges. Taxing anything that is alive drives prices, Tourists seem to be looked at like Banks full of money to erase Societies Ills, they’re Not. Time to clean up the messes that have been made and maybe that portion will turn around quickly. If Not, can Hawaii Afford to pickup the costs of less Tourists? Think about that!
We and friends traveling separately had some interesting experiences in May, contrasting experiences:
1. It took them 2 hours to get their rental car on Kauai. I got mine in 25 minutes on Kauai and 3 minutes on Oahu. Biggest difference I was a member of the customer affinity program.
2. Maui to Kauai on HA, took 90 minutes to check bags. Kiosks worked buy no one to accept the bags. We had no problem.
3. Checking rental car back in…. On Kauai, they asked if I could wait until I could get the car in the driveway. Maybe 10 minutes max.
4. Checkin at resort was a little slower on Kauai, fast at second place, and ok on Oahu.
5. One-stop flights in were on time, bags reasonably fast. One stop to the mid-west likewise good.
Firing the HVCB for Hawaii tourism marketing is a big mistake I think. The new culturally focused entity is just going to fumble the ball. The airlines and hotels will probably do a better job of marketing Hawaii over the inexperienced entity.
As for me, it is far more cheaper to just stay at home.
Planning my annual Fall trip to Waikiki. Ocean front hotel prices seem about the same as usual, maybe up 5-10% max. Never rent a car…always take bus where I need to go such as Kaimuki, Hawaii Kai or Kahala. Great local restaurants there! Spend only an hour on the beach daily, afraid of skin cancer!
With the new regulations in place for no short term AirB&B, VRBO, etc rentals and the high cost of hotel rooms, I am priced out of the market.
If pilot shortage persists look for FAA to change certification rules allowing newest aircraft to be operated by a single pilot. With the advent of AI most flight duties including takeoff and landing will be turned over to flight control computer.
I believe current travel crush will end soon do to the economy going into recession. 401k’s are taking a hard hit and credit card usage is off the charts. I’ve read that American’s have about 6-9 months worth of buying power left on their credit cards.
Service employee shortage will end when laptop tech workers are laid off in 60-90 days. These folks jobs are worthless they usually carry high education loan debt which will force many to take a service industry jobs.
Spicy times be a coming.
The key to this mess is cheaper housing ? How do we accomplish this ? The only way is 3d printing ! There is a nacesent company on the big island that will be building a demo this year. If we can get the govt to subsidize this inexpensive form of building we can lure back service workers and that
is how we get some Aloha back
A high percentage of residents who live here realized, during the Tourist free period pf Covid Lockdown, how negatively their lives had been impacted by overtourism.
We don’t need more Tourists, especially not the Buget travel ones that the super low airfares from the west coast have attracted here. The number of tourists using and degrading our trails, beaches and parks needs to be addressed.
In California we experienced the exact same things. No traffic on the roads or freeways.
No lines at restaurants, No crowds at the beaches or parks. It was paradise.
The difference between Hawaii and California is I never heard one person in California believe that we could live on pie in the sky government spending and rich tourists forever.
Good luck with your fantasies, I hope you don’t end up like Haiti.
Margaret O, Your comments are very interesting. You’ve stated about Tourists degrading Hiking Trails and Parks which is interesting, most tourists stay in the resorts and cities with very, very, few venturing out to these places. The Beaches are in Great condition and clean. Walking on and using the beaches typically doesn’t degrade sand, unless it becomes finer and more powdered. High tide and storms actually do more damage. Just letting you know. Thanks!
Margaret – take your “aloha” and ___! Been coming to Hawaii the past 18 years – just cancelled my next (and last) trip because of being tired of comments and attitudes like yours! Obviously you feel Hawaii tourism is just fine without “tourist dollars”! How has that worked out for your economy during the past two years? Enjoy! (And, by the way, don’t come to the mainland. Don’t need you or your money!)
Aloha, we were fortunate enough over the last 10 years, yes even during covid, to visit Paradise nearly each and almost every year.
We hope to return again, someday, but looking at how the inflation has hammered us here on the Mainland, loss of monthly revenue due to nearly 40% increase in expenses from fuel to food to energy, coupled with the increase of prices on the Islands rental cars being #1 we could not afford the excursions we enjoy while there, it wouldn’t be prudent to travel 6.5 hours just to lounge on the beach…
Hopefully, in a few years we can return, we love it there so much, Mahalo for making our stays wonderful…
Hi John.
We look forward to welcoming you again soon. Thanks for your comments over the past couple of years
Aloha.
I think that Maui would really benefit from expanding and rerouting its public bus service to allow it to be more usable for visitors. More frequencies, a hub at the airport, etc. They could sell day or week passes like European cities do that include site admissions and make it pay, and also benefit from less traffic.
Thank you for this topic. Well, we are all on this journey called life. I think we need to live out the Golden Rule and treat others how we would like to be treated from the top down (airlines to employees to customers) and back up. I read comments about the $ Biden gave out and how the airlines required the vaccine. Everyone did what they thought was best at that time. We just need to roll with the punches and be understanding. Right now is when we need the aloha spirit the most. I do what I can by trying to be at the airport as little as possible but when I am there I follow the set procedures and try not to get in anyone’s hair with a smile on my face.
Hi Jasmin.
Thanks so much for that input!
Aloha.
“… airline CEOs are meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg …”
I feel so much better now.
We love Hawaii; have been coming every year for 10+ years. For this summer, I am using all the best strategies: combo of picking late summer dates, using hotel points, booking a (legal!) vacation rental early and focusing on location over amenities or view, renting an old car from a local car company, flying on a Wednesday out and a red-eye return, using an Alaska companion certificate, etc.
I’m confident it will be great. That said, so is Mexico…
We bought our tickets for our July visit last October and rented our car twice, second time several hundred dollars cheaper than the first go around. We expect crowds and know restaurant reservation are hard to come by. We reserved those in February, where we could. It takes a bit more forethought but planning early pays off in dividends. If you’re just starting to plan while reading this… probably too late. See you, Maui, in less than a month.
So is it even worth coming to Hawaii? All I hear is doom and gloom
Mike,
Gotta get past that gloom and doom and think of your own experiences in Hawaii. Were they positive – then keep on going.
I can’t remember a personally bad experience (as in physical or verbal abuse) and will be there again this September.
Aloha!
Yeah… it’s worth going, I have always had a good experience (20 yrs, including this past fall), with a few minor exceptions that you could experience anywhere you vacation.
As some others have mentioned, the unfortunate part of some posts is there are a vocal few who really don’t understand tourism or economics that will never be happy, no matter what.
What is frustrating to people that have been visiting for a long time is it feels like some (including local government) think it is justified to milk visitors for everything they have at every turn as they think we are all rich and it is the price we have to pay to visit.
John,
I see it much the same way. At least 3 dozen visits or more.
No one has ever ruined my vacation. I did meet a jerk at Pali Lookout once. So what, I could have just as easily met his twin jerk back home in So Cal.
It’s my vacation – it’s not the vacation of the airline pilot, hotel housekeeping, the waitress, the shuttle driver, or anyone else. Just me and my family.
The best thing to do with govt: understand it’s a legal gang. They will steal our money (locals’ & visitors’ $$), don’t let them steal your good time.
As to any locals who don’t want me, eff off, & please don’t take pay from any company in the hospitality industry. I’ve been coming to Hawaii 57 years, more than most of them have been alive. My Hawaii as much as yours.
Employees, across the board, are MIA, doesn’t matter what industry you are in. Where have all the working class gone??? I believe this is the only question to many problems, travel just feels it more quickly.
We love Hawaii and travel at least twice per year and have been to Maui twice already. Both flights from the mainland were delayed, but return flights were on time. Many of our favorite eating establishments were unavailable without reservations, but we survived and had wonderful trips. If you can overlook the issues and just enjoy the sand, sun and sea, it’s still our favorite spot. Our favorite condo increased over last year about 30%, next year it increases another 65%!! We may be looking elsewhere if this continues.
I would say, blame our wonderful President who thought it was a good idea to pay people more to not work than to work. Where is the incentive to go back to work?
Those enhanced unemployment benefits ran out months ago and people still aren’t going back to work. Who you going to blame now?
I don’t think it’s fair to say “blame the president” when Congress were the ones who enacted the legislature for enhanced unemployment. And it did keep people from starving who didn’t have work during covid-19, especially those in the hospitality industry. All those folks have been off unemployment for quite a while now and they certainly are not “on the dole” anymore. A lot of people chose not to go back to work in the hospitality industry because of its long hours and low pay. Obviously they’re now doing other jobs if you look at our rate of unemployment, which is very low. Anyone who didn’t foresee great inflation and supply chain issues as a result of an unprecedented 2 year pandemic were pretty naive.
Unfortunately whether you like it or not, the buck stops at the president’s desk. Ultimately he is to blame for his policies.
Have you considered that many young people dont’ seem to feel the need to work at what they consider to be jobs beneath them? In too many cases on the mainland where I am, the won’t be caught dead bussing tables or waitressing. And when things opened up months ago, they were subjected to so much abuse – who wants to put up with that?
Right or wrong – has anyone considered that immigrants worked so many of the jobs that were beneath young people? Perhaps the immigrants were the working class – something to consider.
Not to be political. Just think about the types of jobs you are talking about, and who in your family will work those jobs? your kids + grandkids?? food for thought
One thing I believe we can all agree on – right now, travel Anywhere is at best a crapshot from the standpoint of whether or not you travel arrangements have any reasonable chance of being executed as scheduled. We are fortunate enough to be able to travel in the shoulder and low seasons and our future travel plans will definitely be made with the calendar in mind first and foremost.
Thinking back to our recent trip to the BI, Avis should be ashamed for the operation they are running at the Kona Airport, although some changes to the arrival schedule at the Kona Airport are in order as well. Arrivals should be more spread out throughout the day in order to relieve stress on the shuttle system and (in turn) the car rental counters.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on all of the changes, and challenges. I guess it’s to be expected that after losing business for several years due to COVID that it’s going to take time to rebuild staffing levels to pre-COVID levels. We recently stayed in a hotel on the mainland that had low housekeeping staffing levels, so the hotel offered the option of having cleaning only when requested. I suspect we’ll see that in Hawaii too. We stay in our time share, so we don’t have cleaning every day, but when we were there last November we observed unusual levels of maintenance that had not been done. I think it will take some time to meet the expectations of people who have been traveling to Hawaii for years, and want the same experience.
Hi Lee.
Thanks for your input on the industry. Yes housekeeping in Hawaii is an issue, but it’s just one of many areas that have problems.
We appreciate your 100 comments over the last five plus years. Mahalo.
Aloha.
Returned from Maui yesterday. TSA at the airport was a disaster. 1-2 hour security delay. The TSA security line filled all available space in the building and also spilled out onto the sidewalk and across the entire front of the building. Many people were missing their flights, even when they arrived 1.5 to 2 hours early.
TSA made zero attempt to prioritize for passengers about to
Miss their flights.
All airlines went thru the same security line.
TSA Pre was slightly better.
The “extra help” non-uniformed TSA employees were very rude and unhelpful. They were obviously not trained and just stood around and yelled orders to “stay in line” and “wait here”.
I don’t know about cancellations – we aren’t going for another 5 weeks – but I do know that our outgoing flights on Hawaiian have now been rescheduled for 4 times now. Even though sometimes it’s just been by minutes, it makes me nervous!
Hawaii’s marketing quagmire as the state’s Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) abruptly canceled its 20-year marketing contract with the century-old Hawaii Visitor And Convention Bureau (HVCB). The contract was awarded instead to a member-based non-profit with no apparent travel marketing experience.
Self inflicted ills from implementing a social justice based policy instead of an economic development and management based policy.
Airline turmoil….firing pilots and ground staff due to vaccine mandates has consequences that they are all living through. The vaccine does not ward off catching COVID so end it and get key people back to work! Follow the dam science!
The science is that the vaccine will reduce your symptoms when contracting COVID. The latest case and point. My daughter is away at college and in the middle of doing a big research project. One of her best helpers had to drop out this week as this person had to go and take care of their spouse who has contracted COVID and is very Ill. They also have COVID but display no symptoms. Guess which one got vaccinated.
All the people I know who were unvaxxed and got COVID also had mild symptoms, including my wife. Guess the vaccine does not matter.