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 wife have visited HI every year (at least once), only missing the Covid year between 1999 and 2023.
Contrary to the comments regards why folks are leaving, or not returning, we emphatically disagree. Our last visit was in December of 2023 and found the Aloha spirit alive and well, with the native Hawaiians profoundly grateful to have us back.
Yes the prices were higher – but where are they not? We have already made our reservations for October of this year for our return to Kauai (our favorite).
Aloha and Mahalo
Michael and Barbara
Oahu needed to get control of short-term rentals — limit the number, do regular inspections, respond to complaints. Instead, they banned them, which only creates more problems for everyone. I don’t want a hotel. I want a few weeks of local Hawaii. A little creativity, a little leadership, would be welcome here.
We have visited Hawaii annually since 2006. The room rates have doubled. The younger hotel staff are extremely rude and obviously anti tourist. My wife wishes to visit other places or Europe again. I can not disagree with her opinion. Hawaii needs to understand there are other places to vacation.
I don’t believe you are being truthful. I have Never found any rudeness on any island. Period. No employees are anti-tourist. Their jobs are tourism.
We feel like we’re reaping the benefits of having purchased timeshare in Maui 20+ years ago. Yes, our maintenance fees have increased, but nowhere near the increase in hotel/resort rates. From what others are saying, it seems like we will see much higher prices at restaurants, and car rental rates are crazy. But when commenters say they’ll be going to New Zealand or Australia instead – that’s huge travel time and cost from anywhere in the U.S. And the Caribbean? There’s just no comparison to Hawaii. We’ve been to all these places — there’s nothing like Hawaii, and particularly Maui and Kauai. Maybe we will go less often due to higher costs? But we will definitely keep going to Hawaii!
We just visited north Kaanapali and Napili for 2 weeks. I have been visiting since the seventies. Yes, its expensive on all levels: hotel(we stay in condos), car, food and activities. We split the cost between our family members and that helps. But we are taking a break for a year to save up to go. I am not going to replace our family vacations with Mexico or the Caribbean. It’s just Not the same. I’ve been to those places and it just made me long for Hawaii! I want to be in the middle of the Pacific and hear the crackling of shrimp and the low sounds of Humpback song. The scent of flowers on the trade winds and a slack key in the distance is a perfect vacation evening. Yes, expensive. But worth it to us.
Aloha All,
Please understand that homelessness is actually a symptom of a larger problem. There are a great many examples that I might provide but I defer to Noam Chomsky as a far more eloquent voice to provide background on what you are observing. I would only add that homeless people only become a problem when they are seen by their more privileged fellow citizens. For reference, when homeless veterans became a problem that was too embarrassing we directed enough funds to solve it. The fastest growing population of homeless people now is single women who are between the ages of 25 and 35 and heads of households. Generally they are the victims of domestic abuse. When Regan closed the psychiatric institutions where did they go?
These comments pretty much say it all. My only other issue is the request to be “mindful”. I always do my best to respect any location we visit, however we travel to get away and relax not to immerse in local culture. If that is a requirement for travel to Hawaii, I’m out.
I have gone to Hawaii, mostly Maui for more than 20 years. We bought Marriott & Westin timeshares, which people rent for various prices on Redweek. In a timeshare one can cook meals. However, I have always found the Hawaiian people warm & welcoming.
Don’t believe the hype.
Hi Rob+Jeff. I am commenting on your post today (Feb 20). You both are putting Maui on hold for now due to the high prices. And how less people are searching online for Hawaii travel. I still check on Kauai rentals and my spot went from $275 a day to $420. And the reviews for it are that it needs an update and better cleaning. The view is the best thing about the condo. Nice for you both that you both already live there. Any updates on the closed Foodland in Kapaa? I usually stay at my girlfriends home while there, but the increase in visitors has affected her. I noticed this on my last visit. Now I am not planning a trip there like I usually do which is twice a year. Cannot afford the high prices of places that are of mediocre ratings.
Hi Debra.
We’ve heard nothing about the vacant space that was Foodland Kapaa. Thank you for more than 150 comments!
Aloha.
The price to visit Hawaii has increased since our first trip in 2017. The only reason we are able to go so many times is because of our eligibility to stay at Hale Koa. The prices for lodging there have increased over the years. This trip we are paying $185/ night with no taxes or resort fees. Car rental prices have increased. We have found one for $760 (16 days).
We spent a week in Oahu and a week in Poipu last fall. We have always enjoyed shopping at Ala Moana Mall and the stores on Kalakaua. But for the first time in 30 years, we encountered clerks in 2 of our favorite little name brand stores that didn’t practice what we practice at our own small store, creating an atmosphere that makes your customer want to return. And while staying at the Hyatt on Kauai, it just worth spending over $1000.00 a night for a room, and $100 pp for buffet breakfast when we’d been paying a fraction of that per day for the last 30 years that we’d vacationed there. We were hoping Hawaii would be like it use to be, but it’s not, and sadly, not worth going back to.
Was this a surprise that the rate was over a $1000 a night? $100 per person for a buffet? I would have gone to McDonald’s before paying that.
For me, if I found out the rate was that much, I would have taken my business elsewhere and let the Hyatt know why.
As long as people pay the high rates, the rates will never go down.
We echo the comments. Let me add the spectacle of the homeless in their tents all over Oahu…2 years ago we saw less of this but now it’s far more disturbing. We’re done with the hyper inflated costs and seeing the misery which we can do little to help alleviate except send donations to local churches who seem to be the only ones doing anything to help.
Aloha Hawaii…it’s time to let Hawaii become an independent nation as the outsiders are bent on destroying it.
It’s been that way for 40 years, the homeless originally were just under the bridges on the Nimitz before getting to Sand Island, they’d work there way to Ala Moana, the Cab’s always used the H-1 so no one would see this. Since the millennia, Kuhio will always have homeless walking ‘open sores’, near the Foodland behind the Princess Kaiulani. I would wager, there is less foot traffic because of crime after 9PM.
We’ve been going to Hawaii nearly every year for the past 20 years. Since we have a timeshare the cost of accommodations hasn’t hit us as hard as it has those staying at the hotels, so perhaps our view of the cost of a Hawaii vacation is a bit different. I will say this. That over the last 20 years the cost has gone up, and so have the shear number of tourists. Frankly, a lot of the folks who complained the loudest about “lack of Aloha” are the ones I see that don’t have that Aloha spirit themselves.
We have been going to Hawaii every three years for the last 18 years. We visited last February. We got on the plane to come home and it was the first time we weren’t already planning our trip to come back. Some of the restaurants were three times the cost as they were before the pandemic. I love Hawaii but the Caribbean is a lot closer to South Carolina and cheaper. It makes me sad.
We’ve been to Hawaii 37 times since 1978, and love the islands. We’ve watched as prices have crept up and up. Our last trip in December was perhaps our last trip over there. Prices stopped creeping and have jumped up to a ridiculous level. We used to own a condo there at the Bill Fisher (Big Island). In the ten years we owned it the fees tripled. Much of that was for taxes. We were lucky enough to sell the condo for the same price which we bought it for. Our last trip was one of high prices for a condo, rental car & $20/hr parking. Upscale prices for very average restaurants. There are other nice places to vacation, like Cook Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia etc. where prices are still reasonable. Sorry Hawaii.
As a California resident Hawaii was always our go to vacation destination for the past 25 years. We have been to all the islands, but finally settled on going to the BI most of the time. We averaged 2-3 times a year with our 3 kids, family members, friends, and now our grandkids. My granddaughter who is 16 always brags she has been to Hawaii 13 times. Our last visit to the BI was in May 2023 with friends. And unfortunately, it was our Last visit. We recently fell in love with Costa Rica, beautiful beaches, reasonable priced hotels (even the 4 and 5 star resorts) warm water, and most of all…….very welcoming people. Since we are beach people, we are going to explore some of the less crowded Caribbean islands sad.
Will be going to Hawaii this summer because my 60+ year old sister has been saving to go there since she was very young so we are going this one time. Future trips we will go to the French Polynesians, New Zealand instead where the beaches are more beautiful and people are friendly. With the same cost of Hawaii we could visit Italy, Greece and Austria in the same vacation.
Living Aloha continues. Try to bring something to every home to which you are invited, we are all guests. Embrace the world with respect and civility. Honor the kupuna. Nurture the keikis. Care for the land. Find joy in small acts of kindness. Be grateful for the gift of being alive on these islands. We are here for such a brief instant. Blessings on us all, every one. Love is the heart of Aloha, and Aloha is love manifest.
We’ve been going to Hawaii for years. Typically, we spend 7 days on Oahu and 10 on Maui but our last trip was in 2022. Have no intention of returning other than a R/T cruise to Hawaii. Won’t have to spend any money on hotels as the ship is the hotel and food costs on the islands will be minimal. The voices heard from Hawaii residents have been heard loud and clear and they’re saying “stay away.”
Agreed – my wife and I have been spending 4-8 weeks in Maui, BI and Kauai yearly for the last 20 years. It’s gotten so bad politically that the culture, excess fees and expenses simply ruin the experience. We are people of means, culturally sensitive and conservationists. Our trip last year is our last. We decided that Italy now has more “Aloha”, cultural and environmental beauty (and great food) so we are taking the $30,000 monthly expenses we pay in Hawaii and enjoy Italy for less than 1/2 the costs.
That is a smart move, Dana D. There is no sense in throwing good money after bad. Enjoy Italy!
I feel I should observe as a frequent visitor (2 to 4 trips every year since 19940) from United Kingdom, I enjoyed another great Holidays on Kaua’i and have no intention of not returning. However I do think that Governor Green is not helping Hawai’i attract visitors. As an ER MD he shone out as a voice of sanity during Covid but his suggestions on helping the Hawaiian economy and attract the visitors who enjoy Hawai’i he has been far less convincing.
Venice, Italy is also conceding that while there will be tourism, the priority must be on those who call the city home: aol.com/venice-limit-tourist-groups-ban-132253415.html
There’s no such thing as the “Aloha Spirit”. We’ve been going to Hawaii since 1964, when you could plop down on Waikiki Beach and not be in the middle of a crowd. Locals weren’t friendly, only in restaurants and hotels or Matson Line greeters. It was all a facade. Locals used to mean those with Hawaiian blood. What’s a “local” now? Some kid from Wisconsin who arrived 4 years ago to surf and didn’t leave. They think they own the place. It used to be inexpensive to stay in Hawaii or for the locals to live there. That was before the rich and famous started buying up properties and driving up prices. Not unusual for desirable locals.
I love Italy but never got to go to Venice, a must do it at least once and dont mind paying the extra few bucks. I do understand the problem with overcrowded rude tourists though and cannot blame them. also Venice won’t be recognizable nor a wanted tourist spot with all the graffiti that is now covering the once great city so heavy tourist traffic wont be there much longer.