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”
What’s happening behind the scenes in Hawaii travel. Clearly we aren’t close to being through this upheaval.
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.