99 thoughts on “Kauai Tourism Plan Will Include New Fees And Enforcement”
Suzanna G
Aloha BOH,
We will be making our 2nd trip to Kauai in Sept for the Kauai 1/2 marathon, staying in Poipu. We’re excited to bring our 3yr old granddaughter along & visit the Salt ponds. We don’t mind paying visitor fees to preserve local areas. I actually rather do that than pay all the tacked on hotel fees & taxes that keeping growing exponentially! It would nice to be able to go to a website & learn how the monies are supporting conservation. Ex. This past Feb we became members of the Pacific Whale Foundation & appreciate seeing how our donations is used.Mahalo!
My wahine and I have a trip planned for Kauai in March 2023. I’m all for paying a fee to visit some of the beautiful places on the island as long as the money goes back into the community and towards maintaining the beauty of these places
BOH, your perspective is spot-on, ‘Solutions in Search of a Problem’! Without the return of Japan or China to date, it would appear that Hawaii as a State (D), by vast margin believes anything can be cured with a Tax (see Fee or whatever the vernacular accepts). So one stays at the Hyatt Grand Poipu, they cannot use the beach, without a Fee if this is rolled out? Not trusting Politicians, one would have to ask, how likely is it that American Citizens, Canadien’s and those from ‘Down-Under’ would bare the weight of these Fee’s with Asian Tour Operators skirting the issue, and Hawaii being complicit, selectively deciding by Race, who pays the Tariff! Closing in on 100, with 95 finally here in September, this could be the last.
Better vegetation management around the parking area of Wailua Falls is important to help keep people from going around to get a better view. A bridge would be great, if possible.
Less flights into the islands would solve this overcrowding of Hawaii’s natural beauty.
Really unfortunate that Kauai will be adding fees to the beaches. I can understand State parks but beaches, no. I pretty expensive traveling & staying in Kauai now.
I discovered Kauai 13 years ago and kept coming back, eventually buying two houses. I have never seen it so crowded. While I’m not a “tourist,” I’m not a permanent resident, either. That makes me a visitor, although property ownership makes me a stakeholder. Clearly, Island life is less beautiful and less peaceful. There is less Aloha, no doubt about it. But what to change? I park at Black Pot Beach to surf almost every day I’m on the Island. I would gladly pay for a parking spot!
Micro managing a visitors Hawaii experience may turn a lot of people away from visiting there. I know that when I go on vacation, I expect to be free to move about and enjoy everything the destination has to offer. Of course, I always respect my surroundings and those I interact with during my stay. But having a possibility of “limiting the number of visitors” to the Islands, I find to be counterproductive to profit margins for the Local merchants and businesses. Just my opinion!
I would gladly pay a “vistor’s fee” rather than be nickel-and-dimed every day when I want to visit a beach. I totally understand that concept of visitors participating in maintaining Kauai but please don’t hit me over the head every day of my stay!
Aloha BOH,
We will be making our 2nd trip to Kauai in Sept for the Kauai 1/2 marathon, staying in Poipu. We’re excited to bring our 3yr old granddaughter along & visit the Salt ponds. We don’t mind paying visitor fees to preserve local areas. I actually rather do that than pay all the tacked on hotel fees & taxes that keeping growing exponentially! It would nice to be able to go to a website & learn how the monies are supporting conservation. Ex. This past Feb we became members of the Pacific Whale Foundation & appreciate seeing how our donations is used.Mahalo!
My wahine and I have a trip planned for Kauai in March 2023. I’m all for paying a fee to visit some of the beautiful places on the island as long as the money goes back into the community and towards maintaining the beauty of these places
BOH, your perspective is spot-on, ‘Solutions in Search of a Problem’! Without the return of Japan or China to date, it would appear that Hawaii as a State (D), by vast margin believes anything can be cured with a Tax (see Fee or whatever the vernacular accepts). So one stays at the Hyatt Grand Poipu, they cannot use the beach, without a Fee if this is rolled out? Not trusting Politicians, one would have to ask, how likely is it that American Citizens, Canadien’s and those from ‘Down-Under’ would bare the weight of these Fee’s with Asian Tour Operators skirting the issue, and Hawaii being complicit, selectively deciding by Race, who pays the Tariff! Closing in on 100, with 95 finally here in September, this could be the last.
Better vegetation management around the parking area of Wailua Falls is important to help keep people from going around to get a better view. A bridge would be great, if possible.
Less flights into the islands would solve this overcrowding of Hawaii’s natural beauty.
Defund HTA.
Really unfortunate that Kauai will be adding fees to the beaches. I can understand State parks but beaches, no. I pretty expensive traveling & staying in Kauai now.
I discovered Kauai 13 years ago and kept coming back, eventually buying two houses. I have never seen it so crowded. While I’m not a “tourist,” I’m not a permanent resident, either. That makes me a visitor, although property ownership makes me a stakeholder. Clearly, Island life is less beautiful and less peaceful. There is less Aloha, no doubt about it. But what to change? I park at Black Pot Beach to surf almost every day I’m on the Island. I would gladly pay for a parking spot!
Micro managing a visitors Hawaii experience may turn a lot of people away from visiting there. I know that when I go on vacation, I expect to be free to move about and enjoy everything the destination has to offer. Of course, I always respect my surroundings and those I interact with during my stay. But having a possibility of “limiting the number of visitors” to the Islands, I find to be counterproductive to profit margins for the Local merchants and businesses. Just my opinion!
Our state sells a $10 state park pass when you renew your registration. It’s good for all state parks.
Hawaii could do that and then have a higher “Visitor Passport”, like $50-$100.
I don’t think anyone would mind that.
Kellyp, we might not mind for the State Parks but very much mind for the beaches!
Well, Kellyp, according to all of your “down votes”, most people mind!
I would gladly pay a “vistor’s fee” rather than be nickel-and-dimed every day when I want to visit a beach. I totally understand that concept of visitors participating in maintaining Kauai but please don’t hit me over the head every day of my stay!