It isn’t just about the money. Hawaii visitor fees reexamined and input needed.
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189 thoughts on “Hawaii Visitor Fees: Perception, Value And An Egregious Example”
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It isn’t just about the money. Hawaii visitor fees reexamined and input needed.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
I want to say I’ve been coming to beautiful Hawaii for 20+ years. Sadly I probably won’t be returning. I’m looking at other tropical destinations that welcome their visitors. I feel and have read where the locals no longer want us there. With the rising cost in Hawaii and going to a place where your not wanted just doesn’t make since. I’ve loved Hawaii and the people of Hawaii but if they do not want me there I will comply. Thank you for all the wonderful years.
I cant see how this is constutional under the equal protection clause. These are govt services after all.
At Waimea Canyon and Kokee State parks on Kauai they should build an entrance station like the one at Volcanoes National Park. Then offer daily entrance fees or weekly passes. The kiosks currently in use are poorly explained, ridiculously overpriced and to easily sidestepped since there are so few people that check. With the entrance station nobody can skip the fees bringing the overall price down to a reasonable figure. I stayed at the Kokee Cabins and had to pay the fee each of the five nights I was there. Not very fair. I’ll surely skip the kiosk next time like so many others. Very poorly thought out set-up. I also have no problem with residents paying a much lower fee or none at all.
Just to be clear, you are asking for a state park charge structure / system similar to that of the National Park System?
Yes. Just looked up the fees around installing a credit card kiosk. Pretty staggering! (about $20,000 for instillation and maintenance) This park has four so building a one time entrance station would be no problem.
Thanks BOH Guys;
Here are the issues as I see them.
1) Money connected from fees end up in in a big pot that is used to fund state government, the money is not directly used to improve the venue for which it was assessed. So any money for a given site improvement is subject to political budget negotiation. Since the tourists have no political clout there views really don’t count for much.
2) Where does it stop? One year it’s $3.00 the next year, $7.50, then $12.50. Even if locals pay half what visitors pay, they are still having their taxes raised. It is just simply too easy for politicians to raise taxes that way. If you give them an inch they are guaranteed to take a mile.
Facilities at the canyon top overlooking the ocean were very nasty dirty and unkept.No running water. Awful smelling. Just used the outside for relief. Do better please.
Count me gone! How does and how can anyone associated with Tourism and enticing visitors from out of state to visit your state, look tourists in the eye and say Welcome? Surely these people are not serious!
Maybe you could educate yourself on the modernt of Hawaiian people and development/tourism.
We are already charged high rates on places to stay (with now a smaller area to choose from on Oahu for STR- which the avg working person need),+ high taxes and resort fees which don’t cover anything really, +parking if you feel like spending more money. On top of the high & still climbing airfares & all the taxes and fees that come along with that. Now, to pay more and more at various places of interests, without any knowledge of where the money is really going (ie:are all workers getting living wages at the companies collecting all of these fees? Are they really helping to take care of the area?) Nevermind, the costs of food and gas, you get the feeling that HI does not want reg visitors who actually love there-only rich people
As a tourist and customer in any
State I visit, HI included, I have the choice to enter or participate when seeing these fees. Some are expected and reasonable while others are blatantly gouging the tourist. I’ll choose to forgo and take my business elsewhere. A fair price will only increase business numbers while overpricing will turn away business. A smart approach would always be to price fairly as it will always bring more revenue in the long run. Tourism is the bread and butter of many HI businesses so don’t push business away. If too many people are visiting and therefore damaging resources, limit the number in a different way.
If a charge for the Pali Outlook is a must, a $5.00 fee seems much more reasonable. As a former Hawaii resident, what will happen if the tourists stop coming? It’s expensive enough being in the middle of the Pacific, the Jones Act costs, and the tax structure. Be reasonable and fair.
Thank you for the alert does anyone know when this fee will be put in place. Am coming from the east coast in August I may not be able to afford the island after my air ticket and hotel. Thank you
Hi Yvonne.
Fees at many state (and federal) parks in Hawaii are already in effect.
Aloha.
My first question would be: do the fees create any enforcement or otherwise do anything to keep the homeless and other criminals living in the bushes at the “Lookout” from breaking into the cars? Doubtful…just another money grab so that HI can misuse more funds.
Fees for no residents ie. tourists are a necessary evil, if u will.
The wear and tear of a state that relies on tourism for revenue must be covered by cold hard cash.
Standby Hawaii! Faced with fuel shortages, increased fuel costs throughout the country and especially Hawaii, pilot shortages and the beginning of a recession which is causing food and other commodity shortages and increased prices Hawaii should be doing everything possible to reduce the burden on the volatile tourist industry….Hawaii’s primary source of income. Anyone who thinks further raising prices to shift the financial burden to tourists is setting the stage for further devastation to the Hawaiian economy. Tourists are already being overburden by rising prices and dwindling available commodities at home. Responsibility, accountability and Administration ethics with regard to spending and strategic re-investing are lacking.
You made one wrong statement or assumption:”the volatile tourist industry….Hawaii’s primary source of income.”
Tourism dollars, while significant, account for ~25% of annual GDP.
Tourism is their no. 1 industry in Hawaii. I think by definition it makes it primary.
Because the remaining 75% is spread out across various sectors. Not saying that tourism isn’t important to the economy. The naysayers posting a never return threat will simply be replaced by a fresh crop. Hawaii is perhaps the most beautiful archipelago in the world,and the 360,000,000 citizens don’t need a passport.
Wow, when I go back home for visits I may have to pay fees to access places that were free while growing up in the islands, Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head, Pali Lookout. Where’s the aloha?
These fees are a bunch of ku kai pipi kane, if you ask me.
Unless these visitor locations are legislated as state parks or federal parks, you cannot implement access fees. That’s what our taxes are for… to subsidize the care and maintenance of these wonderful locations.
So, since I live in CA, and am no longer a resident, I cannot go to the lookout without paying an access fee? Heck, I used to hang out there with my friends when I lived in Kailua in the late 1960s-1970 in junior high and high school… go Surfriders!, and my great-grandfather helped design and build the original Pali Hiway, well…. You’ll lose a lot of visitors who are actually kamaaina.
The fees are completely understandable. Hawai’i’s relatively low tax rate I believe does not generate enough funds to sustain it’s public works and tourism venue’s. The cost of living on the islands also makes raising taxes on it’s citizens an unfair burden. An idea! Find some means to display a low impact but up to date display where fee’s are charged so all visitors understand the impact and value of their fee’s. Next year will be my 21st visit to Hawai’i and I long to have your natural resources protected and the places that we are allowed to visit be maintained, kept clean and remain as natural as possible.
Perhaps the state of Hawaii shouldn’t dole out welfare dollars so easily. Last I checked, you could move to Hawaii and after a year there go on welfare and other state-sponsored entitlement programs to the tune of $65k. And that data is 10 years old.
Depending on which state you reside, the large, urban-dominated states (CA, NY, NJ) contribute far more in federal taxes than states who don’t tax their residents enough to pay their own freight. So, if you live in one of the southern states, for example, you are on the dole — taking federal tax dollars to support the same social welfare dollars you decry.
“…contribute far more in federal taxes than states who don’t tax their residents enough to pay their own freight.”
First, federal taxes are uniform across the nation, based on income. Some states do not have higher rates of federal income tax than other states.
And, if you are talking about low state income tax states, that would help the feds because state income taxes are deductible when computing fed tax. So, lower state tax = higher federal income tax.
Actually, if you will check on the actual dollars (of course federal tax rates are uniform!) contributed by largely rural and poor states, you will note that federal support dollars far outweigh the individual tax dollars received. And, yes, states such as:
Alaska
Florida
Nevada
South Dakota
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
with no state income tax collect zero dollars to support their residents’ needs, thus relying on the wealthier states to support their deficit payments to the federal budget.
Say what you will, but that is simply one example of why these residents actually live in a socialist republic.
And thanks to the previous administration, now state tax and deduction off federal taxes is limited to 10K/year.
Have you been to Tennessee, or Georgia, or Florida? You don’t know what you are talking about.
Thanks for your continued, interesting posts. Here’s my POV. Charge for points of interest. Charge for beach parking. For those of us that go to simply sit on the beach at their condo and have seen everything there is to see won’t really care. Here, in California, parks charge access fees and if I want to go, I pay it. As residents, we all pay. So should those that live on the islands.
I’m OK with paying these visitor fees, as long as there is a direct connection to the “site” we are visiting. Providing better infrastructure such as clean restrooms, maintaining the walkways, trails, fencing, parking lot security, etc.
Having lived on Oahu and the Big Island (moving back soon), one thing I know as fact: all of this money that flows into the state from tourists, be it spending or fees, is never used for what it was intended for. Also having lived in Connecticut where a lottery was started in the 1970s “for Education,” now sees that money going into the “general fund” and not used for its intended purpose. Same with casino money, which is why I have always been opposed to lotteries/casinos in Hawaii. As soon as politicians see money, they start seeing where they can unwisely spend it. The past two years have been eye openers for people who have come for extended stays for years. Hawaii needs to stop wasting money on foolish projects, like the “fail rail.”
You can’t give government enough money. I am in Oregon. They promised with the lottery all our problems would be solved. They still haven’t got enough money. Then the tax on marijuana was going to solve the school problems. Nope still not enough. They still beg for more money every single election. More gas tax was going to fix the roads. Nope. They still need more money.
As visitors to Hawaii for over 30 years, we recently had friends with us and was showing them around the island. We hadn’t been to the Pali is several years but it was always one of our favorite look-out spots. Driving into the parking area, we saw the $7.50 charge (for just a few minutes view). It is definitely not worth the charge and immediately turned around and left. Will not be sharing that with friends.
As a repeat tourist who has fallen in love with Hawaii, if the overlook had a donation box with a recommended donation of $5, I’d probably throw in a $10. Especially if the sign explained what good causes the collection would benefit. I don’t *think* I’m the only one…We love visiting Hawaii, have studied and abided by all the regulations necessary to visit three times since COVID happened. We are bringing friends with us (at considerably higher cost!) for their first visit in October. We aren’t at all interested in a high-dollar resort experience. We love meeting locals and living for a while amongst them, spending generously to support local business when we can…I hope that never changes.
I love stopping there when we are driving across the pass but for $7.50 I won’t anymore. Makes me sad but $3.00 was more then enough and yet they admit easy money.
I love the Islands of Hawaii but I am truly on a Budget not one of the big spenders.
Las Vegas made the parking all paid thus locals dont come to the Hotels etc near as much….what does that say….we don’t need or want you. That makes me really sad…I used to take my granddaughter down to her town dressed in her princess gown to see the Lions and the fountains and the Alligator(pretend) and then eat somewhere along the way. She threw tons of pennies in lots of different fountains and rode the monorail from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur and around again and chat, such fun.
If you can’t afford to spend money here to help protect our home then bottom line you shouldn’t be coming here we cannot afford cheap visitors anymore
If Hawaii “cannot afford cheap visitors anymore,” you will soon be unable to afford the rich ones as well.
The rich and not-so-rich tourists combine to make tourism $$$ possible.
So the islands are only for the well to do people. You call that Ohana? You need a lesson on how to be less discriminating about who can visit.
I think it would work better if everyone paid for entrance to parks. A new window sticker per year per car –resident owned or rental car owned. Rental companies would buy the tabs, and pass the cost to the renter pro rated to the time the vehicle is used —whether you go to the park or not. I live in a state recreation area (In Michigan) and have to have a permit to park just like everyone else, at the same price.
The Pali Lookout is a scenic viewpoint. An awesome one, but merely a place to pull over and take pictures. It’s not a park. It’s a place to steal from unsuspecting visitors.
Its easy to believe OPM (Other peoples money) is a solution to filling Hawaiian coffers – but its not! Didn’t the pandemic teach Hawaii some important lessons – locals are to blame for much of the damage blamed on tourists-such as locals party on Polihale Beach on Kauai and Makena Beach on Maui. Both were damaged so badly they had to be closed for weeks for repairs. Tourists didn’t that – locals did! The other is how many small businesses and restaurants closed for good as a result of not having tourists? One would think Hawaiian bureaucrats would want to create an environment that attracts tourists, not push them away, obviously not the case by the increase of fees and taxes. Hawaii’s main business is tourism – start acting like it!
Exactly. And, let’s define locals…
We’ve seen in the comments here that there are folks who consider themselves “local” who maybe live on the mainland, but grew up here, went to school here, their family still lives here. But they are charged a fee to go somewhere as benign as a highway view point? Are we defining anyone with a Hawaii driver’s license as local? Kamaaina? Maybe we should show an OHA card?
I will admit, this is a very sore subject for me, because somehow “local” has come to mean anyone who isn’t white.
When you go to Disneyland you have to pay a fee (and a pretty hefty one at that) to enjoy the amenities. This fee is on top of your travel, lodging and food costs. If Disney all of a sudden owned all of Hawaii and could charge for the experiences, how much do you think they would charge? For sure hundreds per day per person. So why do we get ourselves all worked up when the people who are using the amenities (us visitors) are asked to pay a small amount for their upkeep (this only applies to the state amenities like beaches and such….not the mega-corporations that charge an arm and a leg for things like golf). Personally, I get Way more enjoyment from a Hawaiian beach than anything at Disneyland. The state should be charging More!
Among the many problems with this theory is the fact that many people are eliminating the Disney of present day as a vacation choice for several reasons…but the main one is exorbitant prices for declining services.
Are you sure you want Hawaii to go down this same route?
Is there a distinction between visitors and property owners who do not live in Hawaii? Property owners pay as visitors or as residents?
Property owners (part time residents) currently pay as visitors.
It’s hard for visitors to Hawaii to not conclude that the State is a ripoff. Over a 100 bucks a day for a compact car rental, grossly overpriced hotels, largely mediocre food, $50 to snorkel for two, outrageous parking fees, and a more than occasional stink face from folks who don’t seem to realize that most of us sincerely appreciate and are respectful of the culture and natural resources of Hawaii.
Easy. Just add $5-10 dollars to the price of an airline ticket; nothing extravagant, but then make that money go towards conservation efforts, for example. As it is now, I have no assurance that a lot of these extra taxes and fees won’t simply wind up wasted by Hawaii’s historically less than efficient (some would say corrupt) government.
While we’re at it, and I’ve said this before, perhaps capping the number of flights coming in, as well as stopping the construction of multi-gazillion dollar condos and resorts might also be a way to cut down on overtourism. Nah, that would take guts and a willingness to take on the big corporate interests, and the state of Hawaii has no interest in doing that. Sight…
If we can see visible improvements as a result of tourist “contributions”, it may be a better pill to take for tourists. Marketing and signage to share that this is a way that visitors can contribute to maintaining the beauty would be really good, but I’m not confident that local politics and money distribution will return these tourist taxes back to where they need to go to show that it is a positive effort …
If somehow there could be another way for tourists to have an easy vehicle to contribute voluntarily, I’m confident that good people will do just that…
Please include a list showing resident/visitor fees for some sample attractions. If you can include major islands, that would be good. Thanks!
I’m a resident of Hawaii, of Hawaiian ancestry. Born and raised here, but often taken for a visitor. I’m embarrassed by what Hawaii is becoming–we are projecting incredible bigotry. I know what it feels like to be treated rudely in Hawaii these days and it’s not good. I’ve also been to every State, paid fees at parks and places of interest…$7.50 at the Pali Lookout is robbery. BTW, have you been to a beach park recently? Stopped by Spencer Park on Saturday and it looked like a homeless camp. Those aren’t tourists.
The truth of the matter is this: the cost of Paradise is expensive. Flights, food and lodging in Hawaii are all going up. I am a California native who has been visiting “the Islands” for over 50 years. $7.50 here or there will not stop me from continuing to visit. Truth is folks do not follow simple signage, such as “don’t walk here”, “carry out what you carried in” or “please throw away your trash”. Hopefully a charge here or there will discourage some from going off the beaten path. Also, all of us “visitors” will certainly agree that a 10 minute “view stop” in Hawaii is well worth the price of admission! Mahalo!!
This begs the question, what’s the next fee. And the next etc. When, if ever does it stop? Take a walk on the beach, pay a fee? Toll roads?, visitor sur charges at restaurants? Swim in the ocean charge? Sounds silly but ???
I really feel that all the hotel fees, park fees, etc. are going to take a toll on who can afford to visit Hawaii. I have been to Maui 3 years in a row to the same condominium units. We stay 2 weeks. It is our happy place. Next year the same condo rents for $2000 more. We are priced out. Your fees are exhorbitant. We will visit Mexico or the Caribbean instead, maybe a cruise. So long to our most loved place on earth.
Same thing happened to us on The Big Island. 10 years same condo..Hawaii used to be on the top of my list , now it’s close to the bottom. We are doing the same next year. Mexico! It doesn’t feel right to me anymore. I’m really sad about it.
The problem with these visitor fees is that many so called “visitors” who own Hawaiian property already pay more in Hawaiian taxes than many of the residents. Between property taxes, capital gains taxes, sales taxes and income tax from property rentals you could easily be paying several times more than a non property owning resident pays in income tax and still be treated like a second class citizen by the locals who your tax dollars support. This is far less than equitable. There needs to be more classifications than simply resident and visitor.
Unfortunately, what you have exposed is a much greater problem than visitor fees. The massive increase in out-of-state owned properties with many all-cash and buyer paid closing costs has sent real estate prices soaring and depleted the supply of affordable housing for local, working residents. Your example of using a property for, I assume, short term vacation rental adds to that problem, and anyone operating a rental business, resident or not, pays the same taxes you mentioned. Those visitor fees pale in comparison to the benefits you derive from owning a second or third home in Hawaii. If you can afford those purchase costs, the small amount you pay in visitor fees when you visit is irrelevant.
Hawaiian residents can barely afford to own property here, and you’d like sympathy for having a second home you have to pay taxes for? Please let me know if I’ve misunderstood.
I have been coming to Hawaii for 40+ years & I agree there has been a lot of damage done to the islands. But I also put blame on some of the locals too. I have been on beaches when they have cookouts or Birthday parties & leave trash strewn about.
Perfect example – the destruction to facilities at Polihale at the beginning of the Covid closures. There were virtually no visitors on the island when that happened – the only perpetrators were residents.
With any fee, no matter the attraction, a person has the ability to decide whether the fee amount is worth the cost charged. The value one receives is a personal rationalization that each person has to make. It’s just that simple. However, some fees are extravagant and should not be charged. Also, just because other states are charging fees for some attractions does not mean fees should be charged without all other costs a traveler has to pay to visit. It could and probably will affect future tourism. Remember people always vote and make decisions with their wallet!!
TB,
I think Hawaii needs to avoid such disparity in fees between residents and visitors that unhealthy anger between us develops.
As visitors, we also have to recognize that the outrageous cost of everything does not result in high wages for most Hawaiians.
Did you miss the part in the article about the exact same fees in 17 other states? You can always choose to make the choice of which locations you value enough to pay a fee. There are also excellent options for beaches, hiking, etc. that require no fees.
Darrell,
I hope someone is listening!
James,
No doubt a vacation to a specific state or attraction is not some constitutionally guaranteed right.
However, other than Alaska (which I have driven to before the road was fully paved), most of us can drive to other states and other attractions without the cost of airfare. So, for many Hawaii is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It would be nice if they could continue to afford it.
Cost? Checked the price of gas and diesel lately?
We as tourists pay high hotel taxes, and rental car taxes, where’s the money going??
There can be a sticker on the rental car letting parks know you already paid the tax. I will consider that before coming back to Hawaii for vacation. We have been coming every year since 1993.
Thanks, Richard S
Is there even a fair/responsible approach?
I’ve played a few rounds of golf and each time my cost was significantly higher than the fee charged to locals. Why? Do I have a greater impact on the course than does a local – no.
If locals are to get a break, I’d rather see it income-based – all income.
Perhaps an increase on locals and a decrease on visitors to achieve equality.
In February I had 2 jobs to do in Hawaii. I ran ads for local people at $50/hour (for work I typically pay my regular employees $20/hour). I got 1 local worker. So, I had to fly my workers over. These are not high-paying jobs, so, in their off time, they would have paid more than local people making the same kind of wage to see some of what Hawaii has to offer.
Please. If you can afford to pay green fees, paying the difference should matter little. There’s a logical reason that resident fees are lower. You may play a few rounds during your visit. Residents who regularly play golf play 40 or more rounds/year. Same holds true in the state where you reside. Courses see that volume discounts apply in almost any industry. Same for the golf industry.
And you have stats to verify your 40 times a year assertion. Get real.
Besides, it sounds like you are okay with tourists being ripped off because they only pay golf infrequently.
Stats simply require a brief search. And, no, I don’t feel that higher green fees are a rip-off. Local golfers in any state can show a resident ID and get a break on green fees.
This is incorrect.
According to “Golf Monthly”:
“The average golfer plays their home course 81 times a year and 79% of golfers are members of a golf club.”
This was a 2015 survey. In the pandemic years the numbers spiked 13.9% – 2020 survey by “Golf Datatech”, the leading market research company in the industry.
I have been coming to Hawaii too many times to count since 1965. My wife is part Hawaiian.
I understand the need for fees and taxes but with exorbitant almost 18% logging tax and all the fees. Enough. The Aloha is dim. We will be there again tomorrow but enough is already way too much.
Totally agree – have been to the Pali more times than I can count and would Never pay a $7.50 parking fee. That is beyond ridiculous and price gouging at its worst. While love Hawaii and have been over 30 times, my trip in January of next year may be my last. It appears that rather than welcome tourists, the goal is to nickle and dime them over every little thing possible. Every trip I find more things that are being charged for, and while some are worthwhile, many are just a way for the state to take in money, with little of the money spent on improving the park or area. And more than that, the fees keep skyrocketing every year. Aruba is closer and much more welcoming to tourists.
Hawaiian mantra has always been “Soak the tourists” since my first visit in 1978. As a former resident of Maui, I would not consider returning as a visitor.
Tourists are willing to pay the fees and want to see things like the Pali Lookout. Locals, having seen it before in most cases don’t really want to see it again even if parking was free. Not only that but this location is notorious for car break-ins. Maybe the fees can pay for security and restrooms, both of which have never been there.
With any fee, no matter the attraction, a person has the ability to decide whether the fee amount is worth the cost charged. The value one receives is a personal rationalization that each person has to make. It’s just that simple. However, some fees are extravagant and should not be charged. Also, just because other states are charging fees for some attractions does not mean fees should be charged without all other costs a traveler has to pay to visit. It could and probably will affect future tourism. Remember people always vote and make decisions with their wallet!!