Between-the-lines insights into what’s really happening. With Hawaii arrivals down but spending way up.
Leave a Comment
86 thoughts on “Hawaii Visitors Spending 40% More, But Enjoying It Less”
Between-the-lines insights into what’s really happening. With Hawaii arrivals down but spending way up.
Things are only going to get worse, not only for tourists but for the locals as well. The link below is an eye-opening article and one that makes you wonder if the powers that be in Hawaii are bent on destroying the islands and the people that live there. What is looming on the horizon is not sustainable in Hawaii or anywhere else. zerohedge.com/commodities/hawaii-electricity-prices-skyrocket-final-shipment-coal-arrives
Agreed. The money is removed from Hawaii, the people do not get enough benefit from the high costs to travelers. This imbalance is represented as two groups being irritated at times. Travelers get sour from paying some ridiculous prices. The locals don’t get compensated for labor performed during high travel times. It’s only fat cats seeing the money.
The Wealthy will continue to accumulate more wealth. The Tens of Thousands of Worker’s will continue getting paid, and the Governments will have money to pay relatives and friends to perform overpriced and sometimes shoddy work. Island life is wonderful isn’t it? Hawaiians, not all of them, must be poorly educated not to realize what is happening around them, they keep electing the same types of people. They have no idea that jobs are created by Tourism, plenty of them, and those paychecks keep many people in jobs and so on. They don’t even get taught their own Hawaiian History, not the Real One anyway. It’s Not Funny!
Resort fees are an issue with many. What are they for? We resent fees for something that we don’t need….or in many instance, do not receive.
Scam. Let’s see, you’re paying for your room, you should expect Towels and Sheets, there are Dining and Bars, so there’s added profit, if Hawaii, the Beach, that’s free, Parking, no, that’s already $35-$45/Day+ Tax, Wi-Fi, if one has any Brand Status, N/C, so it ends up being the two bottles of water they may give you the first day. Buying one’s own by the Litre @ABC, mo betta. Their Pool, I guess Towels and Chairs are extra, even though you probably buy Drinks and a Burger, see profit. To make matters worse, if it’s a Marriott Bonvoy Property and one is using Points, they still charge the Resort Fee + Tax on that Fee, not so Hyatt, if on Award Points, they eat the Resort Fee and Tax.
Resort fees And not only the cost of renting a car but the outrageous fees charged by resorts to park said cars.
Being charged the maximum daily rate at Resorts for “Valet” Parking and being forced to park your own vehicle because they don’t have enough “Valets” to park the vehicles or even retrieve them when you are leaving to go somewhere! Knowingly Stealing from you because you stay there. Depending on which resort you are staying at there can be an option just a short stroll away that may cost you Considerably Less if you know where to look.
The Chairs at poolside that are already taken, the pool towels, the odds and ends that are rarely seen, used, or available. All of these amenities plus that complimentary massage that you won’t get. All for $45 a day resort fee. They may even attempt telling you that the Valet to park your car is covered by that, it’s not. That’s why it’s $65 per day for parking!
We used to go to Hawaii once or twice a year. I’m not going back again, I think I’m done with them. The people there hate us. They’re mean, they don’t want to allow us to eat. Last week when I was there a car driving by dumped a drink on me and yelled at us to go home. In the North Shore a car aimed at us to run us down and yelled at us to go home. No thanks. I’ll take my money elsewhere. I live in a tourist town on the mainland and I hate the traffic too. However, I don’t dump things on people and try to kill them.
Always remember that Karma will repay those kindnesses that were extended to you. This kind of nonsense will eventually cause problems that aren’t expected, when it does the end results will be justified leaving little confusion over improper activities and consequences. Sad that Hawaiians have devolved to this, truly.
There’s an Example of Hawaiians that believe that They are “Privileged” while telling us that We Are! Hawaii is getting more Radical by the moment and making tourists feel unwanted, what happens when they can’t even afford their backbone, a six pack? Worrying about these types of problems will spoil a vacation, ever notice that they Prey on people that they assume won’t retaliate? Backbiter’s like those are Afraid of being paid back, it’s part of their history. As Hawaiians keep doing these things to others they are also hurting countless others, relatives friends and other Hawaiians.
Let’s also remember the impact of restrictions on AirBnB. Requiring 30-day minimums reduces the available accommodations for travelers.
If the Court doesn’t give relief to the situation it will be the end of AirBNB, it will be 90 days minimum! Ige has been waiting for the outcome to occur and if it is upheld by the Judge he plans on making it Statewide. Ige is making Oahu the “Test Case” and whatever They do He will pass it on Statewide Too. Green is on board with this also. Listen closely. Hawaii needs to begin an Aloha Campaign to Combat Negativity, It’s out of hand and getting worse. Is This the Hawaiian Way?
Resort fees…a killer.
1. These days it’s expensive to travel anywhere for vacation, but an informed traveler knows how to get high value for reasonable price.
2. Hawaii gets plenty of marketing from travel websites, like BOH, Facebook and Trip Advisor. We’re going to Aulani in October I joined a Facebook group who has had every answer to any bodies question about Aulani.
3. Isn’t that great lower fall bookings mean better deals.
4. Again traffic isn’t exclusive for Hawaii all tourist areas have this issue.
5. Ok if your looking for Anti-tourism sentiment you’ll find it again in any tourist destination, but I as many here have posted have never felt unwelcome when visiting Hawaii.
You’re very fortunate, too many tourists have experienced it and have told others about it. Odds are that eventually you, or someone you know, will experience the discontent of a Hawaiian. Play Nice.
The local governments believe they can add hotel & condo taxes & fees ad nauseum without fallout. Include in that group are hotels, airports, rental cars, etc. So when they raise their car rentals to $200 or higher a day it means I don’t spend money around different businesses which hurts the local economy & I spend less. Also, then aloha that I am use to receiving & giving back to & from locals has been missing mainly in the younger locals who seem to resent the visitors more but forget where their COVID unemployment relief money comes from and makes it possible.
As prices keep rising to meet the demands of their Wants, not needs, some things will suffer alongside me too. I don’t have unlimited funds and will not spend extra beyond what I have planned. Unfortunately businesses that are not causing the problems will suffer by my inability to purchase at their establishments as often if at all. If Hawaii would practice Fiscal Responsibility things wouldn’t be this way. My loss is their loss, maybe even worse for them. Juveniles, they think Uncle Joe in DC will give them more money and Handouts, they haven’t a clue and may never. Life’s a joke to them! The Houseless have more sense, isn’t that a shame and waste of life expectancy?
These were the taxes/fees which were added to my invoice for the hotel I was in early this year. In the meantime, the destination (resort) fee has been increased to about $40/day.
The fees/taxes below are all daily fees.
Accommodation Taxes 10.25%
General Excise Tax 4.712%
Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax 3%
Destination (resort) Fee $29.00
Destination Fee Accommodation Tax $3.00
Destination Fee General Excise Tax 4.712%
I still love coming to Hawaii but the taxes and all these fees are getting too much.
Here’s a thought, if you look at the numbers in problem #1 they reflect a huge increase in post pandemic travel. Obviously that’s going to realign with reality. As mainland travel returns to numbers similar to 2019, International travel is about to return. Hawaiian has just reinstated much of their Japan flying so I think that’s a good indication that the market is returning to a more balanced melting pot of tourism. That’s a very good thing. The mainland airlines are pulling back because they can redeploy their aircraft elsewhere for more revenue. Besides Intl travelers returning, rooms not yet booked will likely be booked with more last minute travelers if people hear the huge influx from the mainland has abated somewhat.
Last minute deals and bookings do occur, however, not in the amounts to make much of a difference. Using Assumptions to Dispell Actual Data and Historical Information doesn’t change the Validity of the Latter. Relying on Assumptions will only Disappoint those Relying on its proposed accuracy, it’s Inherently Inaccurate. If it holds true that 75% of Regular Year to Year Visitors will not be returning, that’s a Large Hole that Hawaiians have dug for themselves. Money Talks and You’ve Chased Lots Away, Not to mention “The Best Tourists You’ve Had!” Your Losses Are Climbing.
I’m not sure Problem 1 is really a problem…but could actually be a solution. A high-value but reasonably priced Hawaii vacation will only serve to attract more and more visitors to islands that are already feeling the extreme pressures of overtourism. A high-value but high-priced Hawaii vacation could serve to reduce the numbers of visitors but maintain the overall economic benefit of tourism in Hawaii. Is a 40% jump in the cost of a Hawaii vacation Really not sustainable? Even if you see a 40% drop in visitors at that price point, if they are all spending 40% more then the economics even out. We need to align the available local workforce and infrastructure with the number of tourists and higher prices will quicklyhelp that.
I think we agree Jeff that Hawaii’s problem going forward is not lack of demand, it’s going to be how the influx of future travelers is handled. As we see here plenty come to Hawaii and have a great time. That will always be the case. We had a little too much of the “SWA effect” as they attempted to swamp the market with their customers to get a footing in the market, now I think we’ll see some correction in that.
Buy local, fly local, anything that supports the State and the future of Hawaii is good for tourism here and that’s good for everyone.
This may come across as an unintended slight, however, here it is. If this is the Math that you were taught in school, don’t become an Accountant. If this is the Math that is used in local, county and state governments I can see Why and How Finances are so Screwed Up! Your example supposedly exhibits a “Same/Same” Outcome Dollar Wise. In all Honesty and Reality Hawaii would Lose anywhere from $1.12 Million and $3.92 Million per 1,000 Tourists based on a 7 day stay and spending a bloated $1,400.00 per day. This dollar amount includes Resort stay, resort fees, car and expenses, eating, attractions, parking, etc. A total stay of $9,800.00 and still No Value! That same amount would provide 5 Ten Day All Inclusive Stays in Punta Cana,that’s Valu
Now that’s High Value and Reasonable Cost in one. Depending upon which Resort I picked we, yes that is for 2 people, could stay 6 ten day vacations or just do the 5 and go heavy on the tips that we give anyway. Flight, Food, Liquor, King Room, Resort Transfers, Excursions, Amazing Beaches, Amenities, Lounge Chairs, Towels, Specialty Restaurants, Etc. All Included in the price! Scenery that Rivals Hawaii too! See a Difference, and they actually enjoy tourists.
When I take my children I prefer places where you can drink the water.
Except youre forgetting that is only resort fees. So nownthey are serving 40 $ less dinners and drinks, 40% less rental cars, 40% less rooms. That means job losses unless every store and restaurant raise their prices 40%. Then good luck enjoying thst for the locals