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.
![](https://beatofhawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PSX_20231221_193349-720x290.jpg)
![](https://beatofhawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PSX_20231221_193349-720x290.jpg)
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 moved to the big island in 1986. Very loose. Could sleep on any beach and food and hotel prices were relatively affordable. Bought a 31/2 acre parcel over looking the ocean for 7500. Now gas prices up to 5 a gallon, milk at 8 dollars a gallon. During COVID it was totally ridiculous. Closed Parks and hassled people on the beach, where it was the safest. I lost my property to the volcano in 2018. I want to go back and get things going again, but am really concerned about the cost of living. Imy not supposed to say anything political but the cost of living is totally the result of the policy that only allows American ships in the harbor. Guaranteed high prices from California shipments. Even oil has to be off loaded on American ships in California then shipped to Hawaii. I’ve been looking at property on the big island and just about everything I see are real estate prices falling. Which is fine with me. The recession is coming so I’m holding off longer
I visited for the first time. It was beautiful but I thought it was odd that there was no sun for a week where I stayed, I had no choice where to stay due to heavy demand, I had no choice in type of air fare paid or airline. I went because it was my goal to visit Hawaii. Maybe things have changed a lot like many things have since the pandemic. The biggest turn off is the ugly history. I felt no excitement before going and that’s uncommon for me when visiting a far away place. The food was cheap and good and Huber was reliable. I definitely did not get the Hawaii I imagined or my ideal vacation. The beauty is there though. The lack of choice, price gouging, monopoly by the airline with most flights from the mainland is concerning and a good reason to go elsewhere.
Sadly, the history of the US Mainland is just as ugly if not more so…