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.
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.