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.
My hope for Aloha Hawaii is to utilize my reserve funds to buy several parcels of raw land adjacent of each other then split into 1 acre parcels each after putting in access roads with devoted space for outdoor activities, parks, restaurants with incredible views where property will not be developed further. Using only my reserve funds so no other investments are required by others. Then upon splitting into 1 acre parcels place 1 home individually designed upon each parcel of unique concept devoted to the location for optimal views.
Placing each home counter toward typical expectations. I want the experience to enable all after me to enjoy my concept years after. Devoted to Aloha.
Aloha,
With respect.
Please consider that many prices are established by corporations and individuals who are not local. Furthermore, local people are being taken advantage of by the same entities every day, all year. Being a Hawai’i resident often means two parents each working multiple jobs and living with relatives in modest circumstances.
The critical comments are legitimate, but are describing symptoms rather than the disease. If you are coming here to vacation then you have disposable income that far exceeds many residents. Has the value of your house appreciated over the last decade? Is your portfolio reasonably robust? What kind of education did you or your children have?
Thank you for the thoughtful and well written post.
I think most would agree with what you stated and understand the issues with corporations and local government creating this dynamic and high prices.
What is frustrating for me and many visitors who are outside observers, is that we see this dynamic playing out in Hawaii and other vacation destinations. It seems as though many Hawaiian locals don’t share the balanced perspective that you presented and instead place blame on the visitors.
The majority of visitors love the islands and the locals, I hope Hawaiians can find a way to hold the corporations and local government accountable and shift frustrations to them instead of directing blame and anger to visitors.
So true, there is no easy answer. I was born and raised in Hawaii but left like so many others to make a better living outside of Hawaii. High prices make visiting distasteful even for me when I go home to visit family. However, lowering all costs would only exasperate the already over crowding as then more visitors will come. There is only so much the island can handle. I am saddened by what has happened to my beautiful homeland, but the tipping point has happened and there is no going back. If everyone made the choice that I did, only the ultra elite would inhabit Hawaii. Many families share housing. Visitors need to show aloha to kama’aina, aloha goes both ways.
Sorry for you but we live in Oregon. Housing prices here are less but not much. My wife has a 4 yr degree and I have a 2 yr. We got married, stayed married, had 5 kids, bought land and eventually built a house, but right during 9-11. My job fell apart so we moved and downsized and I went back to college for another 2 yr degree at age 45. At 50 we went to Hawaii for the 1st time. We helped all 5 kids through college. They have married and bought houses though the house price to wage as doubled but they will get by.
Move, go to college, pay less and earn more. Aloha
All of life’s necessities, education, housing, food and gas, have all gone up dramatically, leaving those of us who have enjoyed a few vacations on Hawaii now less able to do so as these other items take priority. We have been limiting ourselves to vacationing closer to home and have seen many others doing the same.
I understand what you are saying. Here is my sister’s and my situation. Both seniors, don’t have the higher education/job but that doesn’t stop us. Sister who is trying to work is living on disability at $700 a month all because of an impaired driver. Sister has saved up all her life to go to Hawaii, literally. I make just a little more than minimum wage=18 an hour, no portfolio, pensions etc. And since we are Native Americans we understand the treatment of the Natives better than most and that’s why we spend our monies at the local native businesses as much as we can.
Pahoa area new homes start around $385,000 for a 3 bedroom home on .25 acre not seen one with HOA fees yet.
Consider a three person purchase. Vacation home or permanent home purchase would allow visits to home or live full time. Some rent out homes during summer months which pays mortgage rest of year.
Japanese families looking to vacation in Hawaii found resorts to be cost prohibiting. At $6,000 a week on average instead buy a house and mortgage lot less. Must serve selves and make own food but live in Hawaii. Down size. Smaller place less expensive than resorts. Resorts raise prices. Go where you can afford and buy. Florida has homes for $200,000 or buy in Hawaii less than $400,000 options exist.
Yes I agree with the previous posts. Hotel rates have skyrocketed in the past few years. Not to mention no beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach. And if you want a cabana $50.00 U.S. a day! Now they have raised the tourist tax as well.
The Hawaiians as far as I’m concerned can have the islands all to themselves as they wished for. Aloha!
$50/day for cabana, I was paying $600/day in Kauai. I need to find out where you are staying.
I agree though, everything is overpriced and you are having to deal with other fees, being charged for beach access, etc. I think locals think all visitors are wealthy and can afford additional fees for whatever they deem necessary. Even if that was the case, people view this as an insult, this has crossed a line where it goes beyond the monetary considerations and is more about the principle and ethics of what is happening.
I have followed these comments since the main article was posted. I have not experienced any rudeness or lack of Aloha from any of the residents of Maui, Kauai or Hawaii. Rather the rudeness is from entitled tourists in Waikiki but i expect that from the overcrowding in what is “The Manhattan of the Pacific”. Many of the comments seem to blame the rich just for being rich and I don’t think that is justified. What i grieve is that Maui to me has always been a place of much spiritual and emotional rejuevenation for me. All my friends see it when I returm. I am lower middle class but I have always been able to go once a year. This is now foreclosed to me by the sheer gouging greed that takes place at all levels in Maui.
I am 100% on board with the reasons so many are leaving and stating they are not coming back. Economy and prices are through the roof… The native Hawaiians are leaving because they can no longer afford to live there (we’ve interviewed several in person over dinner) OR the native Hawaiians are feeling used and abused and no longer desire to share the “Aloha” spirit. We feel the resentment in a number of ways and frankly we sort of understand it. We’ve been coming for 4-8 weeks each year and now we’ve decided the islands have been ruined. We’re switching to Italy for 4- 8 weeks each year now. I do not see us coming back.
There’s definitely other islands to explore in the Pacific at a more reasonable price and better service compared to the Hawaiian Islands. As a Pacific Ocean bum (from the Islands of Palau, Fiji, Micronesia, French Polynesia, up to the Catalina Islands in California), recommend going to the Cook Islands and discover what Hawaii might have been like 50 years ago in terms of hospitality and value. Safe travels and a Happy New Year to all!!
Aloha boh,
Yes, I agree with and do relate to most if not all the published comments. It’s a very sad situation.
My wife and I have been going to Hawaii bi~annually since 2007. We just looked at prices for our wedding anniversary trip and boy has it gotten expensive. We have decided to look elsewhere as we don’t feel as welcome as we have in the past. We cannot justify the expense when the bang for the buck has left Hawaii.
I should add to my post on Dec 26, that I have been going to Hawaii since 1973 and my wife since 1980, just not together until we met in 2006. My mother and father first went in the 1940’s before Pearl Harbor’s attack. Our family loves the islands and we have all embraced the Hawaiian culture and respect for the islands as it was taught to us by locals on my very first visit. It is a shame that things have changed so much, and visitors don’t share the respect for the islands. Due to the costs, I may not return to the islands before I die, but I still have the spirit of the islands in my heart.
It’s cruel what our government has done to us here. Most of our friends work three jobs and feel blessed to have them. We own a vacation rental in Kihei. When tourists don’t come, the cleaners don’t get paid, the restaurants can’t stay open, the whale watching boats can’t stay
afloat(sorry couldn’t help that one)There is a domino effect. Many places raised their prices to try and recoup what they lost in the last 4 months since the fire. We need your help. Don’t abandon Maui. If you have always loved her then don’t stop coming now in her time of
need!
My sister and I may not be able to afford going to Maui or any other island, wont stop this fellow Native American from helping Natives there and elsewhere as best I can-every little bit helps. We all share turtle island so you are not forgotten.
My wife and I have been to all of the islands. We like Maui the best. We recently looked to book a stay on maui. The hotel prices were staggering. The car rental situation there was even worst. The cheapest room there were in excess of $400.00 a night. Food, and beverage prices there are through the roof. We’ve essentially been priced out of the market to go there. This coupled with being unwelcome, I’ll spend my vacation dollars else where.
Sadly, we have little control over what (primarily mainland) companies charge for hotels and rental cars.
“Mainland Companies” are the face of mostly Foreign Ownership in Hawaii, where Japan oversee’s 40% of the Commercial Property, in Honolulu alone from the Halekalani, to it’s sister The Parc, The Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, Princess Kaiulani, Hyatt Regency, Sheraton Waikiki, to the Kaimana Beach, Lotus Hotel, Aqua and Park Shore, before getting to Blackstone’s recent purchase of Hilton. The Kahala, was Japanese owned, not sure any longer. Of course, ABC Stores and 7-Eleven as well as Waikiki Steakhouse Hy’s. On the Hotel side, the reduced amenities formally offered, is the result of Ownership, not Management.
Our Ka’anapali timeshare fees went up 15% for 2024 over 2022, thanks to the Maui County government greed and incompetence. We have loved it until now. We’re seriously considering selling next year if there are any buyers by then.
Options are up to each.
I plan on Pee Pekoe region for initial land acquisition for my primary residence.
Investment into farmers markets. Farms in lava zones cheapest. 1 acre typically costs $12,000 in lava zones do not plan on building anything. Grow food if has water supply.
Goodness! How to unpack this very complicated issue in a comment paragraph?! I’ll try my best. First, I’m a haole from the continental US who lived in Hawai’i(BI and O’ahu) and graduated from UH. I have family in the islands. What I think is happening is coming from 2 main causes. 1. It is true that airlines, resort owners, and tour operators have always tried to make a “killing” in Hawai’i and it has now almost reached the level of extortion. 2. There is a dynamic tension between visitors and locals due to colonialism and continued socio-economic oppression of local people, especially Native Hawaiians, that many visitors are not aware of or misinformed about. This can cause a lot of misunderstanding and unintentional offense.
Aloha!
I’m saddened to read the above comments, tho all have merit. Before I moved here 22 yrs ago, my husband and I did at least two trips/yr from SoCal. I have watched all the hotel and restaurant prices go sky high. I couldn’t afford to stay at the Kaua’i Sheraton Grand anymore. The locals have many of the same problems re rents, the restaurants and grocery stores. The messaging has also been very confusing and unhelpful. That said, the hotel rates in San Diego, NY and DC are also astronomically high as are airfares as a result of inflation. I hope that will change as most locals I know still have aloha and do want the visitors. Thanks to Rob and Jeff for all their info. Mele Kalikimaka!!
Some residents of Hawaii will greet you and treat you with Aloha, others won’t. Some tourists will behave with Aloha while guests of Hawaii, some won’t. I can see all sides of the issue as I was a transplant from the mainland and spent 5 amazing years living the Aloha on Oahu. Unfortunately as is so often the case in life, it only takes a few people to ruin it for everybody. I hope a balance can someday be found that creates a sustainable positive solution that is a win/win for both the residents of Hawaii and visiting guests of Hawaii.
Rude people are everywhere. Hawaii doesn’t have a corner on the market. Rude people expect everyone to speak English and have all the luxury of home. Rude people get treated rudely, nice people usually get treated with kindness.
The fact many of the quotes here are mainlanders who own multiple vacation rentals on our islands, is precisely the problem. People are tired of others, who do not live here, exploiting the island for financial gain, contributing to an absolutely dire housing crisis. And no, it’s not like Texas.
My brother and I have been traveling every year to Honolulu since 2005. But as years past we noticed hotel taxes being added, resort fees (cash grab) being added to your nightly stays and in general costing more to eat and get around. We use to joke about local politicians not being aware that there were other places in this world just as beautiful as Hawaii people can travel to, I guess they’ll now find out the hard way.
Tom
Locals don’t own the hotels or short term rentals. Rich mainlanders and corporations do. Locals don’t control food or gas prices. Rich mainlanders and corporations do. Tens of thousands of locals were displaced due to the horrific fire and there is a housing crisis because of it. They also don’t control this. Acting angry towards the locals shows how entitled we Americans are. Show a shred of compassion and a little bit of patience as people try to piece their lives back together. Do a little research about the history of corporate exploitation in Hawaii especially in the tourism industry. And direct a little bit of your petty anger towards those that are actually causing these deep rooted problems.
This is completely incorrect, though. Almost half of short-term rentals in Hawaii are owned by full-time residents of Hawaii.
There are people who will greet you with Aloha and people who are rude wherever you go. Take it with a grain of salt. Merry Christmas to all.
I Love Maui but we to will be taking 1 more trip to Maui, and then taking along break from there. Until the new Lahania is done. 😢😢