According to Amadeus, in 2025, nostalgia is influencing global travel like never before. People around the world seek to reconnect with simpler, happier times. Amadeus, who directed the survey, is one of the world’s top ten travel technology companies and has a presence in over 190 countries.
Hawaii is uniquely positioned to tap into this new global trend, offering visitors a way to revisit childhood favorites or introduce the next generation to the islands’ enduring magic. Its timeless pull remains undeniable.
What makes Hawaii so timeless? For generations, it has served as a backdrop for life’s most precious moments for countless millions. From honeymoons to unforgettable couple and family vacations, Hawaii has become a place that travelers return to, time and again, for the emotions it evokes and the memories it preserves.
As one reader shared on Beat of Hawaii, “Our first visit to Kauai was a honeymoon dream. Fifteen years later, we brought our kids to show them the exact same spot where it all began.”
Nostalgia travel is reshaping the world.
This trend, often called “New Heydays,” is reshaping how and where travelers spend their vacations. From revisiting childhood destinations to recreating milestone trips like honeymoons or anniversaries, travelers are looking backward to move forward.
As the world increasingly values experiences that offer emotional connection, Hawaii stands out as a destination that continues to deliver.
For many, the emotional pull of Hawaii goes beyond the tangible. The sound of the waves, the warmth of the trade winds, and the familiar Aloha spirit create an environment where time seems to stand still. This connection, deeply personal for many, aligns seamlessly with the broader nostalgia trend shaping travel.
Revisiting lifelong vacation experiences.
Now raising families of their own, millennials are leading a wave of multigenerational trips aimed at recapturing the joy of childhood vacations. It’s not just about nostalgia—it’s about sharing the experience.
A Beat of Hawaii commenter recently reflected, “My parents brought me to Waikiki every summer in the 90s. Now I take my kids there, and even though it’s busier, the same magic is still there.”
Iconic destinations like the Road to Hana, Waimea Canyon, and even Waikiki Beach remain virtually unchanged through the generations, creating a bridge between past and present. Travelers find comfort in the enduring charm of historic hotels like the Royal Hawaiian and Hilton Hawaiian Village, where time seems to stand still. These landmarks hold stories of generations who have stood in their presence.
Hawaii’s nostalgic landmarks.
However, the tension between preserving these places and modern challenges is real. Articles like Hawaii’s public beach access blocked highlight how the need to protect Hawaii’s treasures often intersects with private development pressures. Yet, these challenges reinforce the importance of preserving the places that make Hawaii timeless.
Food that feeds the soul.
Few things evoke nostalgia as powerfully as food. Hawaii’s culinary staples, like shave ice, plate lunches, Leonard’s Bakery and saimin, transport visitors back in time. While the food scene evolves, places like Rainbow Drive-In or Matsumoto’s Shave Ice continue to provide the flavors that define island memories.
One Beat of Hawaii reader shared, “We always stop at Rainbow Drive-In. It’s the same food my dad loved when he was stationed here, and now it’s our family tradition.”
These flavors don’t just satisfy hunger—they tell stories, bridging generations through taste and tradition.
The emotional pull of Hawaii.
Hawaii still has a way of making people feel like they belong despite problems of cost and over-tourism. The connection visitors feel often becomes deeply personal.
Psychologists call this “rosy retrospection”—the tendency to remember the past more fondly than it may have been. In Hawaii, it’s more than nostalgia; it’s an enduring truth. Visitors don’t just see Hawaii as it is—they feel it as it was and always will be.
As one Beat of Hawaii reader said, “No matter how much changes, Hawaii still feels like home.”
Share your memories.
Do you have Hawaii memories that have brought you back to the islands? Please share your story and tell us what keeps calling you back.
Beat of Hawaii photo at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Ali’i Tower.
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Hawaii is kind of like Austin but with good Pacific air and a beach. (: The great thing is both accept faux-o-prah’s, ipay, and the US dollar. Californian Alohas Hawaii about says it, without saying Nancy’s… but Yes i still love the Islands.
I get the “unaffordable”. But we are talking about a feeling of nostalgia,
memories made you can’t recapture anywhere else. Especially when you can see them realized through the eyes of children and grandchildren. The whales in Jan/Feb seem to be coming just to see us there in Maui. 36 years now annually and some years more. I believe it more than nostalgia it is a beckoning spirit. Hard to put a price on. Aloha Hawaii. See you soon.
Well, since I never really could stay away for too long, I ended up staying and love living here.
In 57 days we return to Maui for our annual two week stay in February.
Why, because the “Aloha Spirit” has gotten deep into our hearts ( and DNA).
Prior to the wildfires we stayed at the Lahaina Shores Beach Resort. The oceanfront experience in Lahaina Town was one of our “happy
places” on this planet. She loved watching the whales frolic, I loved the “vibe” of Lahaina Town.
The horrible tragedy last year forced us to realize there is a lot more to Maui than just oceanfront. So this past February we explored
“upcountry Maui” in detail.
This February we are staying at a “5.0” Airbnb in Kula for a while, then
down to the oceanfront for whales!
Nostalgia does Not pay for anything and considering the 11 day cruise I am on and the costs for it I could not even get to Maui for what I have paid. Color me gone but I will Never forget the 37 trips and the great times that I have had!
Nostalgia is getting pretty expensive.
Going to Big Island in January. Send ongo.
I loved this post – thank you! Hawaii does indeed draw us back every year, going back 40 years ago. We have so many beautiful memories that include family – both when our kids were little and now when they have their own kids and meet us in Maui or Oahu or Kauai. But my husband and I also love our time in Hawaii just the two of us. We do a lot of repeat experiences that we love and that are part of what makes Hawaii special for us, but always intentionally add one or two new things to keep it fresh. This coming January, we are bring good friends, one of whom has never been to Hawaii, and his wife last went 50 years ago. We’re excited to show them everything we love about Maui! Because yes, it is like home for us.
Aloha, when i was little we lived on 3006 Pualei Circle..the Gregg apartments, well so close to the zoo, beach, my school next door lol but you wanna’ know what was something else was after a storm early in the morning before 6am I’d go for a silent walk past the zoo animals were calming down pretty cool.. it was quiet on Kalakaua past the the boards..the old ones beside the cop shop..always nice too me as a kid- Mahalos to you and my Dad…but it was a nice sprinkle the fragrances like no other fallen Plumeria and Gardenia..oh man Wow!! ..the smell of the ocean washing ashore the smells of it all the sand that washed up onto the Avenue curbside and the other side too i still smell it ..Then Smells..🌴🌊🌺🌦️🌈🌈
Simply put as well as myself I have spoke to many people who visited Maui over the years and what it was vs. what it is today are two different things. I wish to remember the what it was over the garbage, the homeless, the greed, and the fee’s that exist today. Don’t be fooled it’s all changed and not for the better.
I’m sold! Be there this coming Tue. Already ordered a couple of Sashimi and Sushi party trays from Donqi’s for pickup on the 24th for Christmas eve parties. Pier 38 Fishmarket (Not Nico’s)is also accepting orders for their fresh sashimi platters now if you don’t need the giant sized ones the local supermarkets sell.
Best Regards
Strange how the wealth gap is greatest in overly Liberal States. Green (and Ige) are poised to keep it that way.
Great thoughts and well said BOH editors! The magical pull of Hawaii is definitely irresistible and eternal for all who will just let go and let the Polynesian spirit in. I will always remember my first trip to Hawaii in 1965, especially staying at the old historic Halekulani Hotel, with a gravel drive at the end of Lewers Street, and two story wooden bungalows that oozed a true faraway tropical atmosphere, with no A/C. House Without a Key was magical and captivating with charm.
Hawaii has changed so very much over the years, but the tropical irresistible charm and pull to visit often still remains very strong.
Aloha to all.
We spent many Christmas holidays in Maui with our two sons-it was our family gift to each other and we have lots of good memories. The current costs of holidaying in Maui are simply unaffordable now, and Green is doing his best to keep it that way by finding new ways to tax and restrict visitors. So goodbye Maui-we won’t be back.