What’s your reaction to thie controversy started about where the best Hawaii visitors come from?
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220 thoughts on “How Hawaii Marketing Just Dissed Almost All Visitors”
What’s your reaction to thie controversy started about where the best Hawaii visitors come from?
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So we are from central ca and have been to the islands almost yearly for the last 20 years. We used to fly out of San Francisco for a direct flight to Kauai but no longer will go to San Francisco as the city is not the safest place to be. Are we welcome when we fly from San Jose or L A? What an insult to all hard working Americans!
Done with the islands. It’d be nice if the mainland was done with the islands as well. Tax the islanders as they were mainlanders traveling there. Vegas would go bust. Yup. Give them the islands back. I simply don’t care anymore. That’s what the goal is and that’s just fine.
I’m really upset about this, because I just propped up the new HTA in a comment I left with you earlier. Getting off on the wrong foot? I think so… Sue H.
Thanks for your blog. We live in Seattle and don’t have as much money as SF techies but we are perennial good respectful visitors to Kauai. I have been appalled over and over by Hawaiian tourism’s rejection of tourists since the pandemic And am dismayed that this egocentric thinking of a minority is guiding the state’s messaging about tourism.
Hello! My name is Melissa and I am from the Chicago area. My family and I love to travel to see this beautiful earth and marvel at the beauty we are surrounded by everywhere we go! Be it Hawaii, the beautiful National Parks and Federal Parks of the mainland, or the countryside and mountains of other countries. Regardless of where we go, we are always mindful of our impact and are very upset when we see others abusing this beautiful earth. I think that the marketing message is very narrow-minded. It’s not simply where you are from, but rather what kind of person you are. Mahalo!
I am not sure if their comments were intended as a way to create controversy, or truly their opinion, either way its so off base. We were raised to pack in-pack out and leave places better than you found it. I am however not from SF. We do this and more when we visit. Hopefully they understand that there are a lot of people who try to be good visitors.
Wow, talk about a dysfunctional agency and conflicted messaging. Come, spend tons of money, but be “mindful”, and by the way there’s a $50 “admission fee” proposed for all arrivals.
How about Hawaii property owners coming back to the islands? They’re not tourists, will they also get charged? Lunacy from money hungry politicians. Can hardly believe how much my property tax on Kauai has grown over the past decade without a concomitant improvement in roads, public services, etc. Another fee is an insult.
How about those of us from Wisconsin? The rest of the world seems to appreciate our dollars!
Aloha!
In response to your article about the HTA preferring visitors from San Francisco (or anywhere on the west coast), I just have one question. How do they tell the difference between West Coast and East Coast money?
It just seems counter-productive, to me at least, to purposely alienate anybody seeing how Hawaii’s main income comes from tourist–not tourists from California only.
Just MY opinion.
Aloha & Mahalo
Quite frankly, I am insulted. We don’t live in the “holy land” of San Francisco. We live in the Midwest (Oklahoma), what many east and west coast people call “fly over country”. We have visited the islands more than 20 times (Maui mostly). I am not certain what HVCB means by “mindful travelers”. If it pertains to environmental issues, we volunteer for beach clean up each trip, we recycle, we limit our waste, and overall practice “aloha”. We study Hawaiian and Hawaiian Pidgin English and may know more about Hawaiian history than the members of HVCB. Apparently, that is not enough. Again, quite frankly, I am tired of the “demand” for respect. Respect is a two way street. If one “wants” respect, they must “give” respect. I am fully sympathetic with the plight of the Native Hawaiians regarding the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. But visitors are not always the bad guys. Breaking onto people’s car doesn’t show the Aloha spirit and doesn’t help their cause.
The “Green Fee” is a non-starter with me. It’s not the money, its the principle. Hawaii has already priced themselves out the market for many people. This “fee” is just one more nail in the coffin. HVCB needs to take a trip to San Francisco and look at what has happened to that city. They may change their mind on courting their people and making ridiculous statements such as this.
I don’t think it is as much geographical area as travel style. The problem is more the “cheap” bargain shoppers who are swayed by promises of Costco gift card rebates and are looking more for a cheap Cancun/Bahamas all-inclusive experience that can be found on Expedia and other discount booking engines. I live on the East coast and have worked in the luxury travel space since 1983 and many travelers here save for years for that bucket list Hawaii trip. That gives us a good opportunity to educate them on culture, acceptable behavior, history, respect, and aloha. There are excellent travelers out here who are seeking exactly what you want them to experience and will behave themselves. These are the travelers you want!
As a long time, frequent and repeat visitor, I’m offended by much of what is said and written by those who seem to be in charge of visitor messages and policy.
I’m from Seattle and have been going to Hawaii nearly every year for 38 years. Locals sometimes think I’m a kamaʻāina and offer me the kama’aina discount. I usually eat at locally owned upscale-ish restaurants, but am fond of the North Shore garlic shrimp and huli-huli chicken shops. I got over the cultural stuff years ago, but I’ve been known to frequent the Bishop Museum on rainy days.
I expect I am not the kind of tourist the HVCB targets because I’ve been sold on Hawaii decades ago. I’m thinking they are targeting young couples who are thinking about Hawaii for the first or second time and haven’t figured out how to stay in an Airbnb yet. They will stay in Waikiki hotel, attend a luau, and never make it out to the locations outside of Waikiki. They will spend a lot of money at Ala Moana. By their third trip, they are staying in an Airbnb or a timeshare, renting a car and getting out of Honolulu. The cultural stuff goes out the window because you can see only so many hula shows.
Citing a preference for visitors from San Franciso is a bonehead marketing move. On the other hand, I’m not easily offended. It won’t stop me from visiting the islands.
We’re from Wisconsin & we’ve been to Oahu twice, flying out of ORD.
We aren’t filthy rich, but neither are we riff-raff. We booked thru a travel site partnered with AAFES & got very reasonable rates on the hotel, airfare, & car rental. Had no interaction with the CVB or other marketers, however.
During our stay people were very friendly & welcoming to us. We were respectful, responsible & courteous, & we had a couple of the best vacation trips ever.
I think it’s disgusting & appalling for HVCB & HTA heads say such a thing! Las Vegas City officials said nearly the same thing- they wanted to cater to the $150K+/year visitors… & they were pushing away the middle & upper middle class away….It backed fired & nearly bankrupted the casinos & many new casino construction abruptly stopped & sat vacant for years; & still sitting unfinished. Vegas realized it’s the middle & upper middle visitors that kept business alive… All the casinos are forcing visitors to eat from out rageously over priced buffets (like your proposed Green fee) that are not all that great tasting except the variety of foods served… Now, Vegas is still struggling…Hawaii & it’s citizens are suffering as it is & it shows… I’m returning to visit Oahu because I am a Navy Veteran. I love traveling & immersing my self into many different cultures & I’m trying to understand the planet I live on….It’s unfortunate, that 10% of visitors/tourists screw up for everyone else. Everyone else should not have to be penalized for the 10% of the screwups. I say a “No Tolerance Behavior” citation should be enforced. The idiots keep doing what they do because no one speaks up… I for one speak up when I see wrong, & I don’t care what the age is….5-years & up!…One last thing, Hawaii gov has too many greedy chiefs & not enough good troops… Think more of the indigenous & local peoples. Not the Hauli’s…I wish you good luck! Aloha!
Aloha Adrienne, I live part time in Hawaii and part time in Las Vegas. My son works for MGM Corporate. I can assure you that Las Vegas is Not struggling. They are actually experiencing a Record number of visitors. And I’m not sure what you are referring to with your comment about casinos “forcing visitors to eat from out rageously (sp) over priced buffets” as most casinos have done away with buffets. Just to set the record straight. Mahalo.
As a resident of San Francisco and a haumana of a halau for 20 years, I speak from experience when I say I love and respect the Islands when I visit. I understand the fragility of the environment and do my best to support the culture and it’s kanaka. This may be the reasoning why Northern CA is being targeted for marketing. As far as the state of SF, many big cities have similar issues and we as a community are working together to resolve it. Just as Hawai’i is trying to resolve it’s issues also.
Hmmmm, seems like there needs to be more follow up here. I don’t see anything wrong with the host being able to say, we like people who are willing to take their shoes off before coming in our home. Money aside, I don’t think Hawaii people or those trying to figure out how to properly support the visitor industry should be penalized for recognizing that some “cultures” that come from any other state or country are “generally” easier to host. I don’t see anyone grumbling about them trying to get the Japanese people back. Known for being humble and mostly non-invasive. I think they are following their data on points that the community has made in the DMAP process to try to get more visitors that pay attention to the fact they are in fact a visitor in someone else’s home where we are desperate for “easier on our community and easier on our culture and natural resources”. Do I think it sounded like a nice comment to LA peeps where my family is? No. When you look at what has been happening at HTA, let’s not forget to look at what happened at the Legislature the last few years to understand the pressure they are under to have people there that make other people happy.
“,,,Japanese people back. Known for being humble and mostly non-invasive.”
My Korea wife would disagree; after a history of 50+ years of Japanese occupation and forced “comfort women.”
Hi Guys,
I love your articles and the comments from readers. This is kind of on the same subject. I received an email from a Maui based running group advertising a one mile, 5k and 10k race in Lahaina on September 16th. It sounds fun and since I’m going to be in town why not? There is one problem, if you are from out of state you pay an extra five dollars. The five dollars is not that bad, but I feel like I’m being discriminated against and I am considered a second class citizen. Just another reason why I will consider another destination next time.
Thank you again,
David from the unwanted Los Angeles area
Hawaii should change their Tourism motto to:
“Spend your money now go home”!
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Couldn’t start the week with an amazing historic story about Poi or who has the best donuts, I mean malasada, on Hawaii.
No went right for the red meat insulting 93.3 percent of the country.
Way to wakeup BOH’s fan base.
Hi Richard.
Good morning. We spent the past couple of days thinking about this, so least we didn’t upend your hopefully good weekend.
Aloha.
Reference: How Hawaii Marketing Just Dissed Almost All Visitors
The HVCB position makes complete sense to me. They are wanting financially well to do to visit. You are more likely to get that by targeting the SF Bay Area. Less visitors, spending more money and not offending the locals as much. It maximizes all of the metrics HVCB is probably looking to optimize for.
Well….looks like the people in charge of Hawaii’s marketing campaign haven’t been paying attention to the consequences of a bad marketing campaign and the lasting effect it can have on a company, or in this case a state. Does the name Bud Light ring a bell?
I am embarrassed for the islands, as a multiple property owner in Maui and visitor several times a year, watching the state try and make up for lost revenue from Covid is sad. They cannot do business as usual and their arrogance of trying to draw only bay area residents tourists is laughable and actually a form of bigotry and will only hurt the locals and business owners and is very short-sighted. We have henceforth sold all properties on Maui and will miss our trips over to scuba dive and eat at previously fun places and spend too much money and sad to see what is taking place over there. It’s heartbreaking. I think they hired the same city council from Seattle and Portland.
👍
Slap in the face to people in other states. We’ve been traveling from the Midwest yearly to HI for almost 40 years. We stay for 5 wks. In my experience, the wealthy visitors are used to being treated royally & are often rude &, demanding. Is that what HI really wants?
Shari:
Right those fees you talk about. help fund the Hawaii Tourist Authority … so that would be throwing good money after bad.
Pat G: To you point and comment … and they are waisting millions of dollars in the process. Marketing Hawaii is a waste of dollars, they don’t want people to come and the people who want to come know where to find them anyway.
Right, I actually heard them say as much. They said “We don’t have to market Hawaii, everyone already knows about it”.
The HVCB has morphed into an organization that is trying to bring back the Hawaii of old. That doesn’t include tourism.
I am incredibly disappointed to read this article. As a frequent visitor to Hawaii 1-2x a year, I wonder what they wish to accomplish with this message. I am from Washington state. I especially love Hawaii for its culture , history and people. So disappointed with whoever is making these marketing decisions!
Are the people who tun HTA & HVBC originally from California? Here in much of the northwest, Californian’s are often perceived as being well off (fitting with Hawaii’s recent apparent interest in only wealthy, free spending tourists). However they are sometimes felt to not to be very sensitive to locals and their ways, seeming to want to make everybody and everything here like it is in California. They may have succeeded in Seattle and Portland.
Have members of HVCB been to San Francisco recently? A once beautiful city is degenerating into something you’d find in a 3rd world country. It certainly doesn’t reflect a belief in “culture”, and “environment”. It’s sad. Thanks for keeping us up to date.
Hi Lee.
Thanks for all our input. We do acknowledge that this was done for a San Francisco publication, which as another comment pointed out, could have had a lot to do with the direction it took. That did not, in our minds, change how inappropriate it seemed, however.
Aloha.
Be nice to write an apology and welcome folks with the Aloha spirit.
Aloha….Been returning to Hawaii multiple times each year since I was stationed at Schofield Barracks in the mid-70’s. It’s how I came across my affliction for the islands. In spite of the high price, ever expanding fees to get into parks that used to be free and less than grateful residents who make us feel unwelcome at times, we persevere in our love of Hawaii…..Maui in particular. Mahalo. And BTW, I’m not from SF.
Hi Tom.
Thanks for that and your other comments. A returning visitor for 50 years, not from San Francisco. Wow!
Aloha.
“Affliction for the islands”. That’s a good way to put it.😂
BOH I’m sure they are getting from that info we fill out on the plan each time before we land.
We are done! My wife and I were annual visitors but have since switched gears on Hawaii. Watch what you wish for. We will spend our travel dollars where we are wanted! With out tourism, Hawaii will starve. Good luck!
When the govt of Hawaii doesn’t want SoCal visitors it’s time to look elsewhere. My first short visit to Hawaii was in 1965 courtesy of the USMC. Since the mid-1970s we’ve come at least 30 times.
We are in our late 70’s so what we do doesn’t matter much – our years are numbered. I’d like to convince my wife that it is time to visit places where the people and officials are more than happy to see us. But, I doubt that will happen – she loves the weather and the Hawaiian music (we do miss Bill who was a parking attendant at the Outrigger Reef – he hasn’t been there for years.
I’d like to visit a few different places before the final bell rings.
Hi Rod.
Based on your reports of so many times here and almost 500 comments on Beat of Hawaii, you’re about as regular a return visitor as there is. Mahalo.
Aloha.
Thank you Jeff and Rob!
Aloha
Aloha editors, I want to report that while I was around and about, from Hanalei to the Kalalau lookout near the Waimea Canyon, that 1. There were the usual summer crowds, finally, but 2. I must have heard 5 or 6 different languages as I got out of my van at various locations. The Europeans are here! It was really a joy to hear.
Hi Kauaidoug.
Thanks for the update. We have noticed that at the island’s largest farmers market too.
Aloha.
They better be careful! San Fran and the Bay Areas may just start sending their homeless and mentally disabled.
No worries….Mayor London Breed can’t afford the time away from her SF duties.
No worries….Mayor London Breed can’t afford the time away from her SF office.
My only reaction is: You have Got to be kidding me… As a Oahu native who tries to make it home to visit ohana at least twice a year for 2-3 weeks at a time, I’m really starting to question the fiscal (in)? sanity of continuing to do so. the sticker shock I get every 6 months or so is getting to be the definition of mental defect (continuing to repeat an action expecting to get a different result). This latest comment from the HVCB management just reinforces my belief that the agency (and state government in general) is starting to resemble a bad episode of “Monty Python”. Longtime lurker but just Had to post on this.
Thanks for keeping us informed guys!
Hi Jay.
Thanks for being a “longtime lurker” and your first comment. Hope to see you again.
Aloha.
Funny I wanted to move back to the bay area but I coudn’t afford it,
so I bought in Kailua-Kona. I read the review and didn’t find it insulting at all.
Hawaii should really encourage longer stays, people who will spend a few days in a handful of place, not people who just weekend and don’t really have to relax. The tourist authority should consider the high environmental impact of short stays, but encourage longer stays, which becomes a big ask as prices in Hawaii make it too expensive.
If this tension isn’t resolved, all the property will be owned by rich
people who don’t visit often. its sad to see so much economic angst in Hawaii. We already have a spiral where working families leave making services that much more expensive..
“ If this tension isn’t resolved, all the property will be owned by rich
people who don’t visit often.”
And your point is….?
Just kidding, but this is exactly the goal. “Quality, not quantity”.
Well we at least know where some of those “bazillions” of dollars are going…
“HVCB received $38 million for US marketing, while the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement got $27 million”
$65 million for what? To tell the Mainland that Hawaii is a nice place to visit? Me thinks it’s ending up in someones pockets.
65 million is a drop in the bucket. In Maui alone, this year’s budget is more than 1 Billion, and last year’s budget was also more than 1 billion. This is for 165K people.
And….they are not telling the Mainland that Hawaii is a nice place to visit. On the contrary. They are doing everything to alienate most visitors and dissuade them from coming, as evidenced by this article.
I just returned from Hawaii and do not agree with this article. I have been traveling to Hawaii for 50 years and I am from Southern California. Regardless of the airport the flights are always full.
This trip I did experience some some sad things. At the beach some locals were beating up a tourist and the lifeguards had to come to his rescue. A local girl got angry with my young grandson and grabbed the bracelet off his wrist and threw it in the water, one he had worn for several years but not found. Other then that everyone was friendly.
Your post reminds me of an old joke:
“Other than that” Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
That’s plain crazy. Many people come from all over the mainland. SF people are not the only great people coming to Hawaii. Infact SF people think they’re better than most.
And No $50 fee. What if Hawaii residents had to pay a fee to leave the Island? Unconstitutional.