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?
Hawaiins’ disdain for tourists in general is the biggest turn off. Tourism is the economy there, but even courteous, respectful tourists are given the side eye. So many other places to travel to instead.
Hawaiian travel board appears to have reached the same short-sighted conclusion that Disney World has been operating pn over the last few years: it costs more time and money to accommodate one thousand visitors who are spending $1,000 each, as opposed to one hundred visitors spending $10,000 each. Both scenarios total a million dollars of income, but the latter has far less overhead.
In Disney’s case, it’s mainly just greed. Hawaii has the added burden of trying to manage ecological conservation, and reducing traveller numbers is a good place to start. But it’s foolish and disrespectful to cater only to the ultra-rich, implying that they’re inherently more respectful of cultural and environmental issues beause… I dunno, because the Bay Area has nicer public parks?
Bob M,
“reducing traveller numbers is a good place to start”
Would you start with me and my family, who come nearly every year and thus support the economy of the people of Hawaii?
So, Bob, if not me, then who would you tell to stay home?
I work for a major US carrier and was based in Honolulu, San Francisco and Los Angeles and worked multiple Hawaii flights from sea, lax, Sfo, east coast, Midwest, Las Vegas. And here is my honest opinion. They are totally right. Working flights out of lax to any vacation destination was a total hell. On a full flight 10 or 20 bad apples can totally make the flight hell for everyone else. Refuse to follow rules, packing way to much huge bags that will not fit, refusing to follow crew directions, trying to board a plane with a pizza box in 1 had and a extra large coffee and phone in another while FaceTime calling talking loud with multiple bags hitting other people acting like they are the only person on the plane. And when they get here the attitude is the same. So I totally agree. This was made clear during the pandemic when we had to enforce mask rules. Lax flights constantly boarded by police bc passengers refused to comply w rule to wear masks 20 min on the ground.
Lived on Maui for a while, going through LAX was utter hell. No way I’d ever want to see the city after that. Worst airport experience(s!!!) ever. Every single flight delayed/canceled multiple times every single airport “worker” snarling, aggressive. Lucky I was never arrested tbh.
You do realize that both LAX and SFO Airports have travelers from all over the country/world? They aren’t all residents of those cities.
I have been reading “Beat of Hawaii” as we will be traveling to the island at the end of October. All the airline info is a bit scary. Plan on being on Kauai for 2 weeks. Know the traffic is bad but hope to still get around to the places we love. Learning a lot from your articles. Thannk you.
So our 26 trips to the Islands in the last 30 years, from Philadelphia don’t count as welcomed tourists.
We have been to many magical places, and are aware, don’t tell them what to do to improve the issues.
I love Kauai and Oahu. I haven’t been to the other islands. I am deeply saddened that native Hawaiians cannot afford to live on their homeland. I feel that anything Hawaii can do to protect their own people should be considered. The massive influx of people is a detriment to the islands. I came last year and it had changed… while it’s great to make more money… it is sad the people who deserve to be there..cannot afford and ate going elsewhere to live. I hope efforts will be made to protect the land and people… I will mot be back because I don’t want to contribute to the over crowding of the beautiful land. I love the people and hope they all don’t move to Michigan!!! Keep Aloha alive.. Jeff Zuckerburg needs to go.
You don’t understand tho, the money won’t go to the people, it will go into a few chosen pockets. Sad
Wow! This was a bad statement from HVCB. Personally, Hawaii needs to care more for their beaches, land, bus transit centers, any State Care facility is horrible! Kapiolani Park and Ala Moana need to be better cared but they are not! The beaches have no functional bathrooms, example, Duke Kahanamoku Beach is the perfect example. The beach if front of the Hilton…..dirty….I contacted the Hilton when my family when they visited and the Hilton Management told me, the beach is to be handled by the City & County…..Shameful!
If we are going to market Hawaii as great destination, learn from places like Singapore, with more tourist per year than Hawai’i….Paris among other destinations 🙂
Aloha,
Xavier
Aloha! This comes as no surprise to me as many islanders have family and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area (I know because I have friends here in the Bay Area who are native Hawaiian and who tell me that tourists aren’t welcome there). So, this Bay Area-born and raised gal will be keeping her money here at home. Mahalo for this forum to speak. Be well.
WOW!!! The HTA has gone lolo.
Mahalo Beat of Hawai’i for reporting on this topic.
I think it’s absurd that they’d even talk story amongst themselves, let alone say it out loud. I find that comment to be snotty and uninformed.
My personal experience is that when I need to go to the mailand, I do fly in and out of SFO or LAX.
There’s no discernable difference between visitors utilizing LAX and SFO. Zero.
HTA needs to issue an immediate apology for their tasteless comment.
Tourism is a necessity,
HTA isn’t.
Much Aloha to you and blessings always.
Hi Pam.
Thanks for your input on this and countless other issues. We appreciate you!
Aloha.
Aloha!
My wife and I have been extremely fortunate to travel to Hawaii for over 40 years now. We have brought our family with us when we could, so that they could experience the “Aloha Spirit ” as we did the first time we stepped off the plane. It’s a 15 hour trip from New Hampshire (!!) Please dont forget about people like us who happen to live on the East coast and love the islands like our home.
I’ll agree with this… Bay Area travelers are better, kinder, and more experienced travelers than the “LA crowd” for sure! (In my experience)
Your comment seems to be a gross generalization. I’m truly interested to know how you came to this conclusion, and what metrics you utilize to make your determination. I’m not from either city, just truthfully curious.
S1x of one – half dozen of the other…all California.
Um…. whoever wrote that they only want people from San Francisco hasn’t been to San Francisco in awhile San Fran is now a dump .
Sad but true. I went to a Giants game with my kids last week. On our walk along the Embarcadero we had to step over drugged out crazies and lots of garbage. We were also concerned about our car being vandalized considering how much broken glass was present on the street.
It’s great to escape to the islands if you can avoid this mayhem that’s tolerated and encouraged by the voting habits of the citizens of SF.
I’m frankly stunned to see a comment like the one made by the HVCB. Most intelligent people who had those views wouldn’t advertise them, because they’re certainly not inclusive and they reek of class warfare and discrimination. Really Hawaii? Do you want to be the playground of the rich and famous or do you want to welcome keikis who might be seeing their first sea turtle (from an appropriate distance)? This is bad press for the state and the tourism board. Thanks for keeping us informed, BOH.
It is crystal clear that Hawaii wants only the richest tourists. As well as the richest residents. Politicians of the bent most found in Hawaii (and in SF) are extremely elitist, and openly mock and belittle working people.
I was born and raised in So Cal. Went to UC Berkeley and lived my adult life in Palo Alto. So I sort of get the evaluation of SF vs LA mindset. I now live in Oregon and travel to Hawaii almost annually.
While I sort of agree with the ‘mindset’ expressed by HVCB I can’t imagine why such a statement would be made by an agency promoting tourism in Hawaii.
We thoroughly enjoy Hawaii and encourage all effort to educate visitors to respect and appreciate all the Hawaii has to offer.
Rich E.
Key West, Florida tried a similar visitor reduction scheme by limiting cruise ships. That + Covid about ruined the economy. A tax disguised as a Green Fee is still a tax & funds raised will not benefit the tourists who pay them.
I see they hired the bud light exec as a consultant 🙂
So, what is the problem with hiring the Bud Light Executive?
Assuming you’re not joking or unaware of current events, Bud Light’s 30-something newly hired Marketing VP was relieved of her job because of an even more egregious marketing debacle. Google it and learn how not understanding your customer base and subsequently insulting and ostracizing them is not a good business strategy. This is precisely what’s occurring with the HTA’s senior marketing person.
Inclusion is good. That is what the Bud Light folks went towards. If some others who felt butthurt(ha!)by that felt excluded, then idk. What this post addresses is (emphasis) exclusion. Glad I could clear this up.
If losing $10B in company valuation and forfeiting your #1 US brand for what will likely be decades is your goal in order to massage the bruised egos of 00.1% of the population…then you win!
Budweisers marketing never excluded anyone of any preference until their recent debacle that cost them 30% of their market share. It was the opposite of inclusion, as is HTA’s new marketing comments. Money talks and they’ve since changed their tune, as has Target stores. Hopefully, HTA learns from these completely avoidable, self inflicted wounds.
Actually, despite the noise to the contrary, Bud was looping its marketing share to Modelo Light for years. Guess what, Modelo’s parent company is InBev, the same company that owns Budweisser. Everything about the Bud Light fiasco is just political noise.
You have to ask? How about alienating all but a small sample size of tourists?
If your goal is to destroy your brand then she’s the one you want.
San Francisco?! Are they Kidding??? The demographics of well-to-do from the Bay area and Silicon Valley have already demonstrated that they are leaving California due to crime and taxes. I am in contact with mainland visitors and potential visitors regularly. I advocate for Hawaii tourism and conservation of the land and many are on board for this. Hawaii land groups have done a good job getting the message out about coming to Hawaii and protecting it. Hawaii is not the only state needing conservation. The same is true for caves and lakes around the U.S. Let’s face it, vacationing across all America needs consciousness!!
Amen to that! Very well stated.
I used to live on the Big Island and now I reside in NorCal. I get where you are coming from with this article. But I don’t feel it is accurate in painting all travelers with a broad brush…..
As a frequent flyer that works coast to coast, I see very civilized people from all areas and some very uncivilized people from all areas.
One’s character is based on their upbringing and their conscience. We should all attempt to be more respectful of one another and respectful to ourself. Be kind.
There are many great places on earth to visit… Why go where I’m not wanted?
I’ve been multiple times, but do Not plan on returning. The first 3 times we always felt welcome and appreciated, but since 2020 we felt like we were intruders or those unwelcome cousins you never wanted to see.
Even some of the restaurants that we over-tipped wanting to assist the workers that we knew have hard times, as we left didn’t even get a thanks or come back soon.
Aloha spirit has left the islands.
If Hawaiians do not want SoCal visitors like myself, I can take the hint. Last April was my 23rd visit there and it will be my last.
Not feeling the love-. We are a family of 6, now all adults, returning to Kapalua after a several year absence. We used to stay for a three week visit, but given the sky high prices and much talked about “bad vibes”, we’re only committing to a one weeks stay.
Sad, hope for the best but haven’t seen any proof that things will be fun and welcoming like they were in the past. Looking forward to family time, but maybe that old expression, “ you can’t go back” will apply here.
Don’t let the miserables ruin your trip. I was in Kauai last November with 7 other family members. There was a small percentage of pathetic sad sacks around, but they’re everywhere, not just Hawaii. When one of them gives you a dirty look, just smile and feel pity for anyone who could be a hater in such a paradise. (Btw, it’s downright funny when an obvious transplant from the mainland tries to pull that crap, but some will!).