Based on your research, you found a place to stay on the Big Island for about $101/night. We host a studio with full kitchen and ocean view via Vacasa that rents for about $150/night over a week including taxes & fees – when you consider you can save +/-$100/night cooking dinner at “home” that’s a bargain compared to a hotel where you’re dining out every meal.
Am I remembering correctly a BOH post that the average nightly cost of a Hawaii hotel room was nearing $1000?? Maybe I’m dreaming (which at todays skyrocketing inflation, dreaming is all I can afford to do about my beloved HAwaii)??
If so, vacation rentals still seem cheaper to me. I know on one popular and reputable timeshare rental site, which I have myself used to rent out my oceanfront Maui villa, there are still decent deals to be had in comparison to the Hoyle rates I see. JMHO
And, with a timeshare, one usually gets a kitchen + large size fridge (compared to the mini fridge in hotel), cooking facilities and most likely laundry machines in the unit. That equals light packing and lower bag check fees. And I don’t know of any that have all the service charges and housekeeping since many timeshares already include that, Yes Hawaii taxes are still charged though.
I visited Maui in September and stayed in a vacation rental because it was significantly less costly than any of the hotels I looked at. I would have preferred staying in a hotel for a variety of reasons, but simply couldn’t afford it. Maui – Kihei specifically – is unique because of the glut of vacation rentals there. Even so, you definitely have to watch out for extra fees and odd rules if you go this route.
Vacation rental owners are getting hit with sky high cost increases, so they are raising prices. Here in Kona, a 20-30% increase in property taxes (due to an overheated real estate market), contractor fees sprialing out of control (some plumbers make $500/hour, no joke), gardeners, cleaners, hurricane insurance, flodding etc. etc. There is almost no skilled workforce and who is out there is charging as much as they get, often for shabby work. Blame the pandemic and now high energy prices. Compounding the problem is that many off island people bought vacation rental real estate for unrealistic prices a year or two ago, renovated it for more money, and are now stuck with sunk capital expenses that they have to recapture.
I understand Alex’s post. The owner that was willing to risk paying high $ is now smiling but the reality what goes up does come down. 2021 and until recent 2022 people kept throwing more and more money but the economy has drastically changed the last 90 days! Time will come when people will finally say enough and will stop paying the exorbitant prices. Some of it is the “peoples” doing they are willing to pay for it! The owners are taking advantage the high times. I miss HI we use to go at least every other year. We went last yr 2021 to Oahu and it was at the peak before things got so out of hand. We felt it and do not plan on returning for years. HI people were not as loving and happy to see us there. I can’t justify the price.
The state of Hawaii seems to be trying to kill tourism. I’m not an anti tax person but things are getting out of control for timeshare owners in Hawaii. On top of the yearly property taxes we pay for the 2 months we own we are now charged an outrageous nightly occupancy tax on our owner weeks when we stay. The state should rethink this double taxation before they end up in court. Tugs wrote about this a few months ago. I hope the state can come up with a model that serves its constituents, property owners and visitors.
It is my understanding that not only are the taxes to blame, but all the remote workers during the pandemic. I have heard horror stories from long term renters that suddenly had their rents raised like crazy because everyone was raising their rates.
Aloha gents❤️
As a resident of Kauai I am amazed at the number 85,000 vacation rentals—actually all the county vacation rentals numbers are a lot larger than I would have guessed.
Could you possibly expand the explanation on how that (those) figures are derived? I envision issues for houseless/resident rentals resolved with some of those rentals could be resolved. Wonder how our County could make that a win-win situation…thanks for the insightful articles you write.
Something isn’t right here. 229,000 vacation rentals on Maui? The US Census Bureau reports only about 72,000 “total housing units” for the entire Maui county. To what “state report” are you referring because I think we’re missing some important context.
You are going to lose lots customers and busy too . Tourist going down. How does the local survive. Do we care bout the people , land beautiful??
On Oahu, it is only legal (except for certain specialized areas) to rent for 30 days or more.
Try to afford a hotel for 30 days.
Based on your research, you found a place to stay on the Big Island for about $101/night. We host a studio with full kitchen and ocean view via Vacasa that rents for about $150/night over a week including taxes & fees – when you consider you can save +/-$100/night cooking dinner at “home” that’s a bargain compared to a hotel where you’re dining out every meal.
Am I remembering correctly a BOH post that the average nightly cost of a Hawaii hotel room was nearing $1000?? Maybe I’m dreaming (which at todays skyrocketing inflation, dreaming is all I can afford to do about my beloved HAwaii)??
If so, vacation rentals still seem cheaper to me. I know on one popular and reputable timeshare rental site, which I have myself used to rent out my oceanfront Maui villa, there are still decent deals to be had in comparison to the Hoyle rates I see. JMHO
And, with a timeshare, one usually gets a kitchen + large size fridge (compared to the mini fridge in hotel), cooking facilities and most likely laundry machines in the unit. That equals light packing and lower bag check fees. And I don’t know of any that have all the service charges and housekeeping since many timeshares already include that, Yes Hawaii taxes are still charged though.
I visited Maui in September and stayed in a vacation rental because it was significantly less costly than any of the hotels I looked at. I would have preferred staying in a hotel for a variety of reasons, but simply couldn’t afford it. Maui – Kihei specifically – is unique because of the glut of vacation rentals there. Even so, you definitely have to watch out for extra fees and odd rules if you go this route.
Vacation rental owners are getting hit with sky high cost increases, so they are raising prices. Here in Kona, a 20-30% increase in property taxes (due to an overheated real estate market), contractor fees sprialing out of control (some plumbers make $500/hour, no joke), gardeners, cleaners, hurricane insurance, flodding etc. etc. There is almost no skilled workforce and who is out there is charging as much as they get, often for shabby work. Blame the pandemic and now high energy prices. Compounding the problem is that many off island people bought vacation rental real estate for unrealistic prices a year or two ago, renovated it for more money, and are now stuck with sunk capital expenses that they have to recapture.
I understand Alex’s post. The owner that was willing to risk paying high $ is now smiling but the reality what goes up does come down. 2021 and until recent 2022 people kept throwing more and more money but the economy has drastically changed the last 90 days! Time will come when people will finally say enough and will stop paying the exorbitant prices. Some of it is the “peoples” doing they are willing to pay for it! The owners are taking advantage the high times. I miss HI we use to go at least every other year. We went last yr 2021 to Oahu and it was at the peak before things got so out of hand. We felt it and do not plan on returning for years. HI people were not as loving and happy to see us there. I can’t justify the price.
Oh, Alex gets it alright.
You are totally right Alex!
I understand the increase in vacation rentals. My question is don’t they still compare favorably to hotel prices?
The state of Hawaii seems to be trying to kill tourism. I’m not an anti tax person but things are getting out of control for timeshare owners in Hawaii. On top of the yearly property taxes we pay for the 2 months we own we are now charged an outrageous nightly occupancy tax on our owner weeks when we stay. The state should rethink this double taxation before they end up in court. Tugs wrote about this a few months ago. I hope the state can come up with a model that serves its constituents, property owners and visitors.
It is my understanding that not only are the taxes to blame, but all the remote workers during the pandemic. I have heard horror stories from long term renters that suddenly had their rents raised like crazy because everyone was raising their rates.
Aloha gents❤️
As a resident of Kauai I am amazed at the number 85,000 vacation rentals—actually all the county vacation rentals numbers are a lot larger than I would have guessed.
Could you possibly expand the explanation on how that (those) figures are derived? I envision issues for houseless/resident rentals resolved with some of those rentals could be resolved. Wonder how our County could make that a win-win situation…thanks for the insightful articles you write.
Hi Kitty.
The vacation rental data was derived from the monthly state report.
Aloha.
Something isn’t right here. 229,000 vacation rentals on Maui? The US Census Bureau reports only about 72,000 “total housing units” for the entire Maui county. To what “state report” are you referring because I think we’re missing some important context.
Busted…