Hawaii visitor data in for 2023. On Kauai, for example, December spending was up more than 50% with fewer visitors.
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133 thoughts on “Hawaii’s Tourism Woes Unfold: Unfazed Downturn Continues”
Hawaii visitor data in for 2023. On Kauai, for example, December spending was up more than 50% with fewer visitors.
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We were saddened to hear of Lahaina’s fire. We have been going for 12 years. We can’t afford the accommodations or restaurant costs anymore and sadly our dream winter holiday comes to an end. We love the people and culture and these costs are driving holidayers away, thus, the young Hawaiians are leaving to get work elsewhere. I fear the loss of this beautiful culture. The government should step in and cap all rental rates for at least 8 to 10 years until its rebuilt. Good luck.
Just what we need, more government help. They have screwed the pooch and most of the problems are because of the mayor and/or governor.
I’ve traveled to Hawaii (mostly Oahu) 2-3 times a year for 7-8 years.
The hotel prices have gotten insanely high. Resort fees are egregious. Restaurants are unreasonably expensive. Even our favorite take out poke place “Off the Hook” in Manoa has doubled the price of their poke platter – it’s over $40 now. Was $20 before.
The only thing that is affordable are flights and – sometimes – rental cars.
My wife and I were just there with her parents in November 2023. The bum situation is out of control. Walking back to our hotel on the main drag in Waikiki some lunatic lunged at us shouting expletives.
Between the greedflation and the crazy bums, we won’t be back.
I am tempted to pick up my bags and leave the very moment I am presented with the charges that include these resort fees. They seem to serve no purpose other than to overcharge. There is never a good explanation in regard to what they are actually for.
I can tell you right now, they do not go to help the locals that live there or to the environment.
One of the issues that never gets addressed is the condition of restrooms in Hawaii. Many are managed by the State, counties and businesses. The facilities have never seen disinfectants and are not kept clean or sanitary. In all my travels Hawaii gets the award for neglected restroom facilities.
PS: Let’s make sure we take some of the surcharge dollars and address this issue!!!
We are currently spending the month along coastal South Carolina. The cost of our lodging for a lovely 2 BR 2B is equivalent to three nights in Hi. We are experiencing warm southern hospitality, lovely scenery and realistic costs in regards to dining out, groceries and spending at local shops. This is our 4th visit here versus 23 visits to Hi. It just make sense for us personally.
Not ready to spend $600+ on a hotel room for 1 night. I support the people of Maui in their challenges since the fires. I also do not want to anger or frustrate locals being there. Looking forward to when Lahaina is rebuilt and a good disaster plan is implemented in case of future incidents. God bless!!! Aloha.
My wife and I have visited 4 of the Hawaiian Islands multiple times over the past 25 years. The taxes and prices have gone up so high we have decided not to return anymore. It is not worth it to us. There are many places on the mainland we like to visit and cost far less. If you want tourism, then you have to be friendly tourist, otherwise you will need to tax your own residents to death.
The taxes on rentals are minimum 17.43%, the politicians want to tax guests per head fee? To pay for costs that should be shared by all. If the mainland instituted such a policy, there would be no visitors. I noticed on this, my 100th plus trip to Maui that, I could get a golf tee time on the same day and almost all courses offered discounts. The lines are diminishing on the courses as well as the restaurants I visited, no reservation needed, It appears the plan is working, I feel for the unemployed and hope good planning is brought to the table. We are all heartbroken over the tragedy in Lahaina and pray that the restoration and healing is forthcoming.
I’ve been to Hawaii 6 times on the last 20 years, and have reservations for October 2024. Unfortunately, it will be our last visit. We canceled our Maui reservations amid the governor’s proclamations of canceling short term rentals on Maui, and ended up with studios on Oahu instead of the 2 bedroom Maui units we originally had, (it was what we could find). Not excited about studios, and not excited about the governor’s apparent attitude about “the wrong kind of visitors.” Paraphrasing, but how we interpret his speeches. That, and the high prices, have made us realize that Mexico and the Caribbean are much more appealing. We’ve been there a number of times also, and we feel welcome and appreciated by the people there.
We have been to Hawaii many times over the years. Oahu Maui and the big island. But last few years we find it’s too expensive. Travelling to Mexico now.
You are creating a situation that is not conducive to people wanting to come here to the islands. Instead of fixing the infrastructure, making less coastline available for tourists and locals instead of more you take the easy and lazy way out by just raising taxes adding more fees limiting the number of permits available for people to run charters. Eventually you’ll have no tourists and you have no exports from the island. You were supposed to export thousands of acres of eucalyptus trees from the Big Island but you squashed that for some political reasons and now those trees are changing the climate on the big island.
This article should say people are charging more on credit for these vacations. Very little was learned after the last financial crash. Living within ones means is a poor man’s burden.
So let me see? What does Hawaii make or produce that brings in an income for the State?
Between high exorbitant fee’s and taxes to tourists maybe the Governor can tax Hawaii into prosperity. Once a tax is implemented how do you get rid of it. Another news article brought up a fee for arriving tourists from 2 separate cities in other countries. It’s offensive to those that want to see your State. Maybe the other 49 States would like return the favor.
Also a good way to make all Public Hawiian Beaches private is by making parking unavailable and prohibitive with your nonsense.
Hope the local residents like paying for incompetence.
Only rich people, please!
We visited Kauai for 6 straight years in October/November. Price gouging was observed to be happening in 2023, so we won’t be back. Many location across the globe have better value.
Rich,
Your post sounds like what is happening in Hawaii is fallout from politicians running Hawaii since it became a state 😉
Maybe this will wake them up?
As long as residents vote for the same type politicians things will never change. One party rule does not make good for good government.
We had originally booked a hotel in Kaanapali for February but were informed that our hotel would not be available as they were still housing people displaced by the wild fires. We then decided to go to Honolulu instead as it was cheaper booking another hotel in Kaanapali. I also thought I would feel uncomfortable going to Maui for a fun holiday knowing residents there were still struggling.
Not sure what data Josh Greene is talking about because in a previous edition he pretty much claims his intent is to ruin STVR, forcing owners to sell their properties. Reducing options and focusing solely on hotels will drive the prices up and people out.
We have been yearly visitors to Kauai for over 30 years. We are respectful and take care of our rented condo and the environment. In addition, we spend considerable dollars every day with local establishments. We spent 6 weeks in 2022 and 4 weeks in 2023 for exactly the same amount of money. Our airline cost doubled. The condo rent went up $200 per night, then there were the new taxes on top of that. The car rental was the only reasonable part of our trip. We feel like we were gouged every time we turned around, particularly with the condo rental. We are disappointed and very sad. We have made the decision to go to Mexico for 2024 and the foreseeable future. We don’t feel welcome.
I have owned a STR on Maui since 2011. The messaging coming from the state has been terrible. I regularly book about 300 nights per year but I am way down for 2024. I have had 2 cancellations for April already and one of my 30-day Guests of many years is going to “pass” on booking next year. A couple of my other long-term Guests are also giving serious thoughts to skipping a year or two and have not booked 2025. As a mainlander I feel like a villain even though my condo brings in tourist dollars. It provides a job for my cleaners, the restaurants across the street, the food trucks, nail salons, etc. All those dollars stay in the local economy unlike the hotels and resorts that send their dollars back to corporate and shareholders.
Seems there is a disconnect between perception and reality. The perception is that there is over tourism and increasing numbers. The reality is fewer tourists and decreasing numbers. Unfortunately, the politicians are reacting to the perception and not the reality. Revenge tourism is so 2021.
I was just in Oahu for two weeks. I’m from the Midwest and visited 5 islands during my prior visit in 2017.
I didn’t want to fly back this time but the family really wanted to visit.
It’s fairly obvious that most islanders don’t want the tourists. While the weather is nice, it’s just as nice in the Caribbean and they appreciate the tourists and its half the price, half the flight and in the same time zone.
Aloha spirit is a catch phrase by the government and the hotels, not real, at least for tourists. Governor doesn’t want tourists, people don’t want tourists. The charges for visiting are outrageous. Happy to spend my money elsewhere and spread the news to others. Good luck.
We have had a 3 week holiday to Maui booked since last year, for this Spring. We go every year. We are concerned that the price of food and restaurants will have gone up substantially, since the Lahaina fire. It has always been so expensive to buy food there but if it goes up anymore we will definitely have to find a new place to go on holidays.
We went to Waikiki in September and are heading back tomorrow. For years we’ve gone to other islands mostly Kauai and Big Island. However, things there are so expensive we just head to Waikiki to get a taste of Hawaii.
Last time we visited our snorkel tour was cancelled due to lack of passengers.
Also, I’d made a bunch of dinner reservations that were unnecessary. Every place we went you could just walk right in, including House Without a Key.
I find this information interesting. I’ve been to Hawaii once, in 2008, but you will never drag me back there. I’m a conservative individual and find the atmosphere and attitude there to be decidedly hostile to white mainlanders in general and conservatives specifically. I can’t be the only one who feels this. Good luck.
The reason why spending is up is because the cost of everything has doubled or tripled. I remember buying the local peanut butter for $6 for a small jar. It’s now $10. And i Saw it selling at the airport for $18. The cost for things is ridiculous there now not the mention how much hotel and vacation rentals have gone up and tacked on all the service fees and cleaning Fees and taxes. I have come to Hawaii every year but if this continues , might have to look into something more reasonable
I think that people are tired of paying so much for hotels and fees. Now there’s another tourist fee. It’s time for Hawaii to be reasonable again. It might take a year or two slowdown.
It is the price of accommodations that discourages visitors. We found a significant drop in costs between Thanksgiving and Christmas and went to the Big Island then.
Increasing hotel and airline costs are higher than most families can afford. Our family use to travel for up to 8 weeks a year. Even though we can afford to still do so, we have cut our travel vacation time to 2 weeks a year. We are of the opinion that there is no longer any value for the dollar. So many resorts have gone “all inclusive ” in areas that have many dining opportunities and from my experience all inclusive resorts attracts the worst kind of travelers as a great many do not venture outside the resort ground except for tours. Why travel to a new area if you are not going to emerge yourself into the local culture. These travelers want everything americanize
Hotel prices out of control, $45 a day event fee now coming $25 visitor fee, can’t use some beaches, pay parking everywhere. $25 a day parking fee at hotel! 12 time visitor, never again!
We are about to go back to Hawaii (honeymoon’d 27yrs ago) and this time via a Disney Cruise to Vancouver. We’ll visit Kaui, Maui, and Hilo on our floating hotel w. most meals on-board. 3 days in Oahu prior.
I am skeptical of the whole ke ea Hawaiʻi movement as it is unrealistic to expect a U.S. state to transform to, say, Samoa or Bora Bora.
The USA by our history, is a land of refugees, immigrants, colonists. Sad history, but not going back.
Hawaii, has awesome beauty, and is a land of big-business-government: cattle, military, Jones Act, agricultural protections & regulations, etc. All those laws exert some group’s interest to force others to behave, pay, subsidize a certain way. Complicated w. many unintended consequences.
Re: Downturn in visitors but an uptick in spending: The reason is simple. We have been coming to Maui for over a dozen years, and are currently in the middle of our usual January vacation. While Canada and US have higher inflation this year, the prices here in Maui have really shown an exceptional hike. It seems that in addtion to the inflation rates, there is another about 20-25% price hike buried all prices from retailers, crafters, restaurants, hotels and everyone. Clearly there is a recovery element in prices due to the Lahaina fire, and we accept that. However the state and the hotels in particular need to reassess whether they are being opportunistic and gouging. We love coming here, but you are grinding away at our goodwill.
Every previous time that I have visited Hawaii, I carefully filled out the tourism survey on the back of the required agriculture declaration form. For the first time recently, I did not. Surprisingly strong feelings of anger and disgust came over me when I looked at the survey and thought about the demeaning, petty, and negative comments made about visitors by various Hawaii tourism officials, government officials, and others that I have been hearing for a while now. I was tempted to write something about that on the form, but just decided to fill out the required side and leave the tourism survey side blank.
Aside from a weak yen, the increasing homeless problem coupled with our feckless government’s unwillingness to do anything about it is one of the main reasons Japanese are no longer coming to the islands. This has major ripple effects throughout the state and is one of the reasons Hawaiian Airlines finds itself so heavily in debt. Japanese tourists want to feel safe. Hawaii no longer does that for them.
Hawaii is no longer the place to go..it’s convenient..that’s all.you take great pride in finding new ways to squeeze tourists for every nickel
Quite frankly hawaii isn’t special at all
.bunch of whiners.stay home but feel.sorry and send us your money.
Tourists are told they aren’t welcome. Your Governor makes public comments about intentionally pricing lower budget tourists out. So much for aloha spirit.
Cost of hotel stays have increased and it has been harder to find Air BnBs or Vrbos.
Unfortunately the government is trying to get rid of vrbos and Airbnbs (there’s legislation beibg discuessed right now, SB2919). With new restrictions and requirements, licensing fees and renewals, not to mention having to pay almost 20% of our earnings in taxes, plus losing our homeowners tax exemption, and also with costs to just run a vacation rental… Families like ours have had to close down our super cute, unique spot which has helped us make ends meet. I wonder if we work too hard to stay here, but my husband does not want to leave.
Went to Maui 3 months ago.
PROS:
most beautiful visit.
Left an impression of memories.
Spent $10k+ in Hana, Kapalua, Makena, you name it….
CONS:
The locals are hateful.
The locals are a wet blanket.
I’ll never go back. I have my good memories
How did the locals know you weren’t one of them in order to treat you poorly? Was it really obvious or did you let everyone know in some other way?
“Locals” means something different in Hawaii than it does in other states. It means “people who have roots in the islands, particularly those of mixed ethnic heritage, including Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and other ethnic groups.”
Big Rip.
I grew up in a tourist town… identifying a visitor is like a 6th sense for locals, no matter how much you think you fit in as a visitor.
Just look at their shoes….
The declines will continue and worsen because of the total mismanagement of the wildfire aftermath and the overall mismanagement by the one party political unqualified people in key decision making positions. As more of these unqualified people get placed into key positions the Hawaiian Islands overall tourism industry will slowly decline. I am one such potential visitor who is looking elsewhere for vacation spots becausethere of what I have seen going on by the political hacks in charge there.
Base your vacation on politics. Texas called they would love to have you visit them.
It’s one thing to hold your nose at the political leanings of a particular area, but to go someplace, with unreasonably exorbitant prices for everything, while they (the entire population and their political representatives) are actively calling you a white supremacist, deplorable or domestic terrorist is not something I’m interested in. Apparently, neither are a lot of other people. The Gulf Coast of Texas is a very underrated destination.
Paul you are absolutely correct about Hawaii’s one party incompetent clown car administration. It has being going on for decades and effects both the state and county governments.
Total miss management from the top down. Disgustingly very sad.
I tried to plan a trip to Maui, to help the locals, and spend money locally…But the hotel/condo/short term rentals that were still available were doubled in price. My regular places that were charging $200 a night, are now charging Over $400. So much for having anything left to spend on local food and products. I LOVE Maui, but now it’s time to find a new place that actually wants people to come.
Higher prices + less visitors look great on paper, but that will only last this season, with families booking holidays almost 6-12 months in advance, most of the visitors in Dec were likely already coming, any stats on prebookings for the next 6-12 months?
Instead of Maui we’re going to Phoenix for Spring Training ⚾️. We get to watch Shohei in a Dodger uniform for 20 bucks a game and bask in some Arizona sunshine. In addition our resort does not have those outlandish fees and taxes like Maui!
This isn’t just a Hawaii issue every popular vacation spot is more expensive. A 4 day 3 night stay at Disneyland is as much as a week’s stay in Oahu. Las Vegas is crazy expensive especially restaurants. Yet when we were at Hapuna Beach resort early last December it was at 95 percent capacity. We’ve been to Hawaii 5 times after shutdown never felt unwelcome, going to Maui in May to BI in October.
AAAh, this is not a surprise article for BOH readers. One BOH issue stated the goal was to earn high-end tourists to ease the island footprint. Whatever one charges, some will pay, affordable or not. People by nature, are followers, & this can go many directions, but if it goes the downward direction, it will slide down rapidly and the results will not be good for the island and its people. Only time will tell. Right now, the islands are suffering from the impact of the fire. My biggest worry are the fire toxins that will be carried in the air and water. I’m wise enough to know that any effects one experiences may take years before our bodies know the damage. I am heeding this warning.
Many of you are assuming that we had it better here before all the inflation started, when tourist numbers (and spending) was up. Not so.. Tourism was actually suffocating us; our beaches were flooded with tourists, our homes and neighborhoods priced into oblivion by vaca rentals run from elswhere, our nature retreating behind a sea of rental cars, homeless everywhere you look. Hawaii Nei in 2019 was a dying place and it hasn’t changed much. So, what is more important , tourism dollars or the world around us that sustains us?
Gosh, I hear you! Over population is a huge World concern. Birth control is a hush hush word, but if we don’t start lessening the foot print, your mentioned concerns will continue to grow. We must not be afraid to offend those that are screaming so loud, but hurting our fragile world and in this case, your beautiful islands. Higher end tourists will not make the grass any greener.
I think Leilani is barking up the tree of tourism. When we were in Oahu a couple of years ago, we were amazed at the amount of abandoned cars, tires, and broken-down appliances that littered the roads alongside piles of trash. I think that the locals need to do a little soul-searching before they blame tourism for all of the ecological damage.
In the end, the parasite always kills the host.
Firstly, technically you are incorrect about the parasite killing the host. Wouldn’t be much of a parasite if it did. That’s called a disease.
Secondly, if you are implying that tourists (aka vistitors) are a disease to Hawaii, you should be ashamed of yourself.
The relation is/should be symbiotic. If the relation gets out of balance (which it apparently is) then the relation needs to be adjusted. Which people of good faith are trying and willing to do (at least some of them anyway).
“Parasitoids are small insects whose immature stages develop either within or attached to the outside of other insects, referred to as hosts. Parasitoids eventually kill the host they feed on…”.
Technicalities aside, I was commenting on what Leilani posted at the start of this thread. She made the implication that tourism is a disease to Hawaii, not me. In fact, she pretty much said that outright. I simply threw in a colloquialism appropriate to the idea that she expressed. And I happen to agree with her.
When Hawaii pushes through legislation to shut down vacation rentals there will be far less families vacationing in Hawaii and hotels will be so expensive only wealthy people will come here.
I think that’s exactly what they want… billionaires need only apply. one only needs to look at Big Sky Montana to see the direction Hawaii is headed. Hawaii already has Ellison Island. Zuckerberg island and Maui appears to be becoming Bezos island.?
That is their plan.
I am currently vacationing in Kauai. I am blown away by the prices. The cost of everything such as milk, potato chips, all food pretty much is up 50 percent from my last trip in 2018. I am not surprised that spending is up even while visitor count is down.