The most ever long-time readers just left comments about why they aren’t returning to Hawaii. Let officials take note, as this is unprecedented.
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370 thoughts on “Longtime Hawaii Visitors Bid Farewell: The Why Behind Their Leaving”
The most ever long-time readers just left comments about why they aren’t returning to Hawaii. Let officials take note, as this is unprecedented.
I have lived and vacationed in Hawaii since 1976
The state and local governments are the problem. Regulations Corrupt politicians Crime crime crime is Rampant. And you hate mainland people. South Florida is cheaper and the appreciate us spending $35000 on a vacation for a 3 month stay. Same weather sand. And. Sun. Sorry you all need to elect better people to run your unions, cities and state.
Was just in Maui for a week.
Noticed a victim mentality has spread throughout Maui.
Happy to have our money on the island…”leave the green was a slogan we heard” It appears many service industry workers are unhappy and don’t really care if tourists are visiting or not. Up country a bit friendlier…
The attitude of the governor, police chief along with FEMA have destroyed my desire to return to Maui.
The native Hawaiians deserve respect and received none.
The Dew used in Lahaina to being scorched earth for a 15 minute city performed it’s evil in front of the whole world. Left me such sadness I’ll never return. God Bless The Indigenous Hawaiians and their Aloha Spirit. They are the kindest, sweetest people on earth. Their most sacred space was destroyed. Their a’ina desecrated.
My family and I happened to get a rental abnb right before the Maui incident and were able to get better rates than what we see now. But I’d agree with most Commenters that prices now are outrageous. When we visited Maui, we had a little combination of both, some that didn’t care for us visiting but surprisingly most were welcoming and wanted more visitors to shop their mom & pop shops. So we did. Either way, I can say we enjoyed our trip. We felt welcomed. Then again, it was our 1st time visiting. We’d go again if they’d drop their hotel prices.
The locals and native population don’t like us main landers.love our money but not friendships.Us Howloe’s have been judged many years ago So I will never go back and spend my time and money with joyous and appreciative people,not judged.My two cents
The islands of Hawaii are my home, my mom was born in Puna(BI), raised in Kalihi, Oahu. She graduated from Farrington, joined the Air Force, met my dad in TX, also AF.
They married 6 wks later. Dad was no fool,Mom was the epitome of a strikingly beautiful Hawaiian woman, turning heads everywhere we went. 5 kids later we lived in a small, block home in Kailua, while Dad served in Vietnam.When I visit HI I am home. I don’t stay with extended family,I stay in a hotel or Airbnb, never near Waikiki. I know where to eat, My visits are reasonable$$. Dad’s last station was Luke AFB, AZ. I still live in AZ & the rich have arrived.Raising our once reasonable real estate market. Hawaiians were priced out of their own Paradise.Leave AZ alone plz
We have been visiting for the last 8 years ( except during covid ). The place we stay advertised prices like 2016 and to my surprise they were the same prices we paid in 2023 per night. We have decided to visit somewhere else in 2024 as it’s just not worth the money. Last trip we didn’t really enjoy.
Hawaii also needs our dollars! Yes, hotel prices are high, but I am usually able to find deals on a popular rental app. I won’t stop visiting, as my grandchildren live on Big Island, but thats not the only reason. I have traveled there multiple times beforehand, and will continue to do so. Aside from visiting the 4 main islands, I also travel to other places in the world, but my heart remains in Hawaii. Be there in 2 weeks!!
Lived in hawaii for over 30 years and finally retired – left hawaii and my kids to move to mainland, I paid over 2000.00 for apt – tourism isn’t the only thing suffering, because of the cost of living and bad over the top governor- people who helped to grow and live aloha are leaving for other lower cost of living areas.
I’m a repeat traveler to Oahu. I love it so much. We know so many Hawaiin locals and could never stay away from their true Aloha. We do some touring, but generally visit them. We go looking for them, eat with them sit with them, tell stories, listen to their stories. This is true Aloha. I’ll pay the hotel price to visit them. They’re the one’s who are truly impacted by all of you selfish tourists. Yes, go somewhere else and take advantage of the locals wherever you go. I’ll always return and visit other destinations to visit Indigenous locals. They’re the ones to see no matter where you go in the world. You get to see the real beauty. They know all of the beauty of their land. Much Aloha.
Lenora
I have made over 30 visits to Hawai’i in the past 25 years, most recently to Hawai’i Island in October 2023. I didn’t encounter any more negativity this year than I have on past trips. Folks that deal with tourists are tired and overworked and they’ve dealt with a lot during the pandemic and the destruction on Maui. The increased hotel prices are ridiculous (I didn’t face that). On the other hand, for those of us who love Hawai’i I feel that it’s our responsibility to bring a little Aloha to a place that we’ve absorbed it from for so many years. But those for whom it’s all about receiving I suppose they’ll enjoy being treated like royalty in the poor countries they mention.
Comments are on point. We lived in Hawaii for 13 years between 1989-2017, the place has regressed exponentially. Overbuilding the housing market, cost of everything, and complete loss of any Aloha spirit. Too many better options.
I moved to Hawaii in 1974 and again in 1988
I have lived here in California since 1994 and I miss Hawaii every day. I miss the wonderful people and the great. Chicken Katsu. I want to return with my new 3 dogs and find a place to live in Hawaii
The People are Lovely. Hawaii is Magic and the historic Tourism Authority is a Blessing to Hawai
With ALOHA to you All with every
Beat of my HEART
The message is clear. We’re overwhelmed with tourist. Especially sense American tourist act like they’re vacation is more important than the lives of people that live here. Just read the comments above. Hawaii is nothing like it was 20 years ago. Tourist should go somewhere else for their sake and ours.
I want to add, in a respectful way, that Hawaiians are not the cause of rising costs associated with tourism. In fact, many locals are being pushed out of their beautiful homeland by outrageous cost of living expenses. While tourism supports the islands, many tourists are irresponsible and destructive. The islands, and the locals, deserve to be protected. I’d like to see postings from individuals who love the islands enough to demand change to support Hawaii, Hawaiians, and tourists who take actions that demonstrate their dedication to sustaining the beauty of the Hawaiian islands.
Rising costs are happening everywhere, and people realize Hawaiians are not causing this on the islands.
And don’t blame just tourists… there is plenty of blame to go around on both sides. I have been at Poipu beach and heard lifeguards have to warn locals about approaching turtles, backpacked and camped out at Kalalau beach more than once and saw locals that had a summer camp setup to bring visitors in by boat and the local Hawaiian campers area was full of trash, try walking by Whalers general store at Poipu shopping village in the woods and you will see an unbelievable amount of trash (not visitors). I also know that visitors don’t abandon couches, destroyed cars/parts, other trash by the road or in fields (Maui 2019).
I would also like to mention that I have met some very welcoming locals that truly appreciate visitors and have expressed this to me as recently as this past August (these were not people that worked in the resort or tourism industry, I believe they realized the negative sentiment from some and were making an effort to show that not all locals shared the same negative viewpoint.), I believe some locals do truly appreciate/respect tourists and realize the challenges that face both visitors and locals. I am also not going to defend myself as a respectful or mindful visitor, judge people for who they are and how they treat you.
Additionally, I think the amount of money people donated and volunteers that helped in Maui demonstrates how much people care about the islands. People that have helped don’t expect to be recognized for this, however when the Maui Mayor Bissen, Gov Green, the Chief of Police and vocal locals complain about visitors on TV and in the news, and on forums, it is a slap in the face to the people that care enough to help on vacation and/or donate money to help. Remember, these are the people that Green considers to be “low value” visitors, and that some locals are insulting and tearing down.
Other places in the US experience disasters and do not receive the outpouring of help in many forms that Hawaii has received, this is aloha.
David: This is so true. What a slap in the face to have the Green say they want a higher income visitor from San Francisco and parts of Los Angeles. Where is that even coming from? Hopefully those higher income people donated to Red Cross, Jose Andreas’ World Kitchen and gave $$ directly to the workers at the Time Share where we stayed in October. If he is going to dictate where people come from, I suppose he should start with the airlines, and ask them to not have direct flights from San Diego, Los Angeles, etc.
I’ve been coming to islands for 50 years, most of the time I go to Kona. However, high hotel prices, parking 12.00 an hr and rental cars going for 215 a day has made me realize it’s to expensive. It seems HI is doing everything it can to drive away the common man. I’m sad and will be looking at alternate destinations now.
Hawaii doubled its tourist carrying copasity years back. That’s how many tourist can be in a location without significantly undermining local residence. They definitely messed up because life here has been different ever since. On top of just to many people, tourist don’t seem to realize that locals aren’t on vacation and have places to be like work. Isn’t it just common courtesy to pull over when you’re sight seeing and have 30 cars lined up behind you because your doing half the speed limit? To the people saying there’s other places to visit and acting like we’ve shot ourselves in the foot, we know. We’ve been hoping you’d realize that. Hopefully more people do.
35+ trips to the Hawaiian Islands and I have Never seen a backup of 30 vehicles behind somebody that is “sightseeing”!
Bought the discounted airfare, then stunned by hotel prices. Buyer beware!
Sorry for the way you all feel.
I love seeing tourist enjoy our islands. Shame on our people who don’t share the Aloha anymore.
What saddens me is all of the reasons you all mention for not coming here is what is chasing our native children away.
Our Hawaiian people are moving to big America.
Maybe the government of Hawaii should look at how they are selling the land and forcing prices up.
It is hard for even us Kanaka to live here.
There are many good, beautiful, Hawaiian people who welcome you here.
Aloha from someone who still shares her love for all people.
My wife and I used to visit Maui at least once per year, sometimes more. Since covid and the fires, the message is clear to stay away. The prices are insane now. We have the financial means to visit Hawaii. However, we have decided to never travel to Hawaii again. Instead we will vacation where we feel welcome. Its sad to see the residents and government so short sited.