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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371 thoughts on “Longtime Hawaii Visitors Bid Farewell: The Why Behind Their Leaving”
Sorry to see so many writing off Maui. The people there suffered a horrendous trauma. Let’s give them some time and space to grieve and recover. Maybe even a donation to a Lahaina organization helping with the recovery….
Who is tracking the donations both time and money ?
We made reservations for another Kauai visit, but this is it. Like I read, it’s a big world, more welcoming locations with attractive prices. Getting around Kauai traffic is terrible.The airlines, food and lodging is no longer fun to consider.
Yeah, the traffic especially through Kapaa is really bad. My sister lives in Lihue.
As a long time resident of Oahu, Hawaii and now 31 years on Maui, I have seen tourism change. Before the pandemic, many tourists (mainly domestic) were rude, acted entitled, and showed little to no respect for the Aina and culture. I believe this is what created the animosity toward tourists. I was at a west Maui beach where young adults were taking selfies right next to a turtle that had beached itself. When I mentioned this was illegal and that it was important to give the turtle the appropriate space, I was told to “f-off” and that because she “spent alot of money to come to Hawaii I can do what I want”. It is this disrespect that makes locals cringe and not welcoming. Live Aloha and you are welcome anytime!
Wife and I are from Oahu. We’re staying home on da mainland and using our money at home. We have great weather where we live now (not Vegas, CA or FL). I use miles to visit friends for a week or two. OW we’re using our kala at home. Remember when I was young and surfing every day, I went around Oahu a million times. Now it takes all day just to go North Shore once. Choo choo train, and the track is falling into the ocean in Kaaawa. We’ve done the Crater many times and Maui No Ka Oi. Kaupo Gap is da bomb. Lived on the BI for many years. The Koolau Summit is my spiritual home, along with Maunalua Bay. Surfed 15-20 foot Portlock Point perfection. Along with 25 foot Sunset Beach perfection. Lived da dream. Secrets!
Since 1990 my wife and I have traveled to Hawaii 40 or 50 times, for work and more recently on vacation. I have seen a big change in attitudes, of the locals towards tourist, and a huge change in the cost. We have been visiting other Pacific countries, as they are more welcoming to tourist and the hotels are cheaper. We returned from our last vacation in October and we spent one night in Hawaii going out and about 6 hours in the airport on our return trip. We are now planning another Pacific island vacation and this time we will avoid Hawaii all together.
We own a place north of Lahaina so price wise we’re okay. Last trip we noticed restaurant prices almost doubled. But this is not just Hawaii. We used to go to bentayin Big Sur every year. Our last stay was $590/night. When I was going to make a reservation this past year the price was $3-$4,000/night. It just ain’t worth it anymore. Hotels everywhere are pricing themselves out of middle class and catering to the rich and famous. So it just isn’t Hawaii.
No Aloha ! For years the loud minority made noise about wanting their Hawaii back. They are getting what they have asked for. Going else where. We’ve visited the Islands every year since 1985. Missed because of Covid. Skipped last year due the messaging and cost. Love and respect the islands but not willing to somewhere that we are not wanted
I work at farmers markets around the Big Island, my customers are both tourist and locals. I have noticed a change in many tourists through the past four years. Some of this is due to Covid and technology. During Covid we had a huge flush of tourists many who have never been here before, and saw this more as a playground and treated many workers rudely. There was an influx of people who could work remotely, they rented or bought property in an already tight market. This drove housing prices higher.
With the phone, people now have to have a selfie moment and they’re posting videos about places that were more remote so now they’re crowded.
I love the tourist that come here with Aloha. I hope the prices come back down for all of us.
I was born and raised in Honolulu, but have lived in California since 1995. I’ve been coming back to the Hawaiian Islands at least once every year either as a true vacation or to visit local family and friends. Travel and lodging has been getting too costly and now that Alaska Airlines is buying out Hawaiian Airlines, I don’t expect to be returning as often. I’m planning to use all of my hundreds of thousands Hawaiian Airlines miles on first class flights to Aotearoa or Australia and Hawaii until I have no miles left. My loyalty to the airline and Hawaii has rapidly dwindled. Soon, I’ll be looking to Central America and Southeast Asia for my warm weather getaways.
Aloha to all.
Be safe.
Be well.
Enjoy stay.
If leaving sorry for leaving with regret.
Hawaii is a place but is a place where you are welcome to visit.
All are Always been welcomed in Hawaii.
I never felt rejected when I visited long ago in 1988. I said I would buy land in Hawaii someday.
My retirement kicks in 38 months then I will.
Waiting to buy land.
Have choice.
Any island.
After reading reviews I see some disgruntled due costs.
Find solution.
I could not afford resort living on my retirement.
I served US Navy until retired. Served US Treasury retiring.
My parents and I own a time share on Hawaii (Kona Coast) and have been staying two weeks every year for the past 25 yrs. but the prices are making it difficult. And shops are closed. We go next week but it could be the last time car rental costs activity costs and favorite restaurants closed make me wonder
We own a little piece of paradise on the sunny Kohala coast on the BI. It seems insulated from many of the issues the state is facing. It will continue to be our winter escape. Bill H from Idaho.
Too expensive, did not feel welcomed .
We love Honolulu, the hotel prices are not too bad but we hate all the extra charges. It’s like they are tricking us into more money like we can’t do arithmetic. Everything u do there has doubled like luaus and everything else. It’s like they have all turned money hungry.
My husband, daughter and son in law went to Maui for a week this past December. Every person we encountered whether a worker or local was kind and appreciative that we were there and actually told us! We have been going to Maui for 26 years and we go every other year. I will say our condo was not as upkept as previous years and the prices were much higher at the local restaurants and shops with lesser quality. We attributed it to everybody just trying to get back to some type of normalcy. There were displaced locals living in the condos while we were there. It was heartbreaking! We are willing to go again and give Maui another chance. I just think it will take some time to recalibrate after such a tragic event.
Sadly, we took our first trip to Hawaii and out last in February 2023. The cost of hotels being our biggest expense. There is no doubt the beauty of Hawaii is a big draw. The people were really friendly but we saw alot of locals with yard signs for us to go away. So we will comply and never return.
We are long time, annual visitors. For the last 10 years we go to Kauai, though have been to other islands in the past. Prices have skyrocketed on everything, and the messaging has been confusing about whether we are welcome or not. We are planning to come again before summer but we will see, we can change plans if needed. It’s become almost impossible to afford to travel there but we really love it so we try to squeeze and make it work. Our hotel has doubled, food is expensive, they are threatening to tax the beaches, the crowds have become unbearable in many places, we don’t visit certain areas because of the crowds. We have considered trying other places to see if we can find a replacement.
We used to love going. The local attitude has pushed us elsewhere. Best of luck, we go where we are welcome.
My aunt lives on the big island in Hilo when my 81 yr old mom wants to go see her sister we will be glad to leave mt airy nc for a couple weeks. So love the weather there,we lucky to have free place to stay I think big island is lot cheaper than Maui check ur prices b4 traveling
We lived on Oahu for several years in our early years of marriage and were so excited to finally bring our 3 children there for a family vacation. While it was still beautiful the island had lost its spark. The aloha spirit wasn’t there anymore, beaches were dirty and overall it wasn’t what we had remembered. We’ll probably still go but definitely looking into trips to Mexico over Hawaii for our next vacation
You are going to Mexico, because you think the beaches are dirty on Hawaii? Just wait till you see the beaches in Mexico and most of Mexico is dirty!
I’m currently in Cancun, and the water and beaches are pristine, and the locals are so happy to have us.
We spent 10 nights in Kona this past June with family who were visiting Hawaii for the first time. We felt welcome wherever we went and thoroughly enjoyed our time. Yes, food prices were higher than our past trips yet that was known when we planned the trip, although we found a decent car rental rate for our time on the island. We used our Wyndham points for the trip. We were considering trying to get rid of the Wyndham ownership yet when we looked at costs for resorts or Airbnb we found our maintenance fees were a decent amount less than what we’d pay for similar accommodations. This is not an endorsement of vacation ownership as we bought years ago on the mainland and have used it for several trips to Hawaii.
We own a 4 week Timeshare on Maui. Our maintenance fees continue to rise at an alarming rate. This year we were told insurance rates have dramatically risen because of the fires, prior was COVID. Add that to all the tourist fees and taxes on housing, car rental, every increasing costs of food and restaurants. Top that off with a.75 cent Canadian dollar. These cost increases every year means the average blue collar working family needs to look elsewhere. We are coming in February but will be selling our Timeshare and vacationing elsewhere in the future. Makes us sad.
They have made it clear blue collars are no longer welcomed. They want the rich with the fat wallets
Unfortunately I think this will backfire. The rich will buy up property instead of spending locally like the regular guy who truly goes for a vacation and not an investment
I own a short term vacation rental in Kihei, Maui. Been going there since 1984 & bought my 2 + 2 condo in 2010, intending to move
there. My life changed & I had to resort to vacation renters to pay my bills. I am lower on rent charges than others. I agree with everything that has been said. The prices are crazy. However the state keeps raising the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) & other taxes & Maui county keeps raising property taxes. A vast majority of the condo buildings were built in the 70s – 80s, now are in need of major repairs. Our building is in the process of a $6 million renovation just to upgrade for safety.
Don’t give up totally on Maui.
I am retired at Rockwell and the Air Force (22 years). My wife and I have been, worked and even laid over in Hawaii heading to Viet Nam in the 70’s. We have
three timeshares in Maui and were sickened by the devastation. We pray for the Hawaiian citizens there and pray for their return to normal one day if at all possible.
Just looking at those comments coming in on your site, I am surprised. They’re so snarky. It’s not what we saw at all. We were in Kihei from early November to mid-December. Doesn’t every normal person think $650 or $800 or $1,000 a night is stupid? Sure. It doesn’t even deserve comment. I bet the base price they’ve been paying in the past for “luxury” is dumb too. I don’t get it; there’s something strangely spoiled in these comments. Our prices in Kihei are absolutely nothing like that. And people were really nice. That’s the truth and I’m sticking to it. This sounds like whining by rich people to me.
We have gone to Maui 33 times in the last 36 years, but the greed has become too much. The obvious problem: Condo and hotel prices, car rental prices, restaurant prices, and restaurant tipping “demands”. There is another problem that the occasional visitor does not see: Most tourists do not see the degree of local government incompetence, and corruption. It’s everywhere on Maui. They want you to think that they have the aloha spirit, but now all they want is your money.
Been coming to Hawaii since 1990, averaging a trip every 18 months and staying usually 30 days many trips 2 months. Last few years it has sure gotten more expensive, exponentially, so much that we had to think hard about spending so much money for a 7 week 2024 visit. Added to that we keep reading that locals don’t want us to come and then they do and then they don’t. We want to support the local economy (with respect) but don’t want to come if we’re not wanted. Just let us know, soon please.
I understand the mixed messages about Maui and whether tourists should come or not. I’m curious if people are experiencing that on other islands. I’ve been on Oahu several times over the last few years and never encountered an unwelcomed feeling. If so, what are people experiencing that makes them feel unwelcomed? I’m just curious. Thanks for any thoughts.
I have been visiting Kauai for 20 years, I can think of only a couple of times when I have felt unwelcome. Once when checking into a hotel the person at the front desk referred to me as a haole and a couple of interactions with locals, nothing major though and I discounted them as an exception.
What has really brought this mentality to light for me is observing laws that have been passed/fees on the islands that create a double standard, these laws had to be supported and passed by local government which indicates how deep this mentality runs. What cemented how deep this runs is when I saw how Bissen, Green, and the police chief on Maui handled the Lahaina fire and the comments they made regarding tourists treating Hawaii like Disney.
Adding to my comment below, Green has tried to pass fees that would be charged to visitors only to visit Hawaii, he has spoke of trying to attract mindful visitors, high value visitors, is trying to attract more Japanese and European tourists instead of “mainlanders”.
On Kauai and other islands laws have been passed where visitors have to pay exorbitant fees for parking to access public beaches and other areas such as Waimea Canyon, locals do not have to pay. This 2 tiered system creates an us vs them mentality and the more you observe actions and comments being made by people in government and on forums, the more you realize how deep this mentality runs. Not all Hawaiians share this mentality, but it does make you feel unwelcome.
Aloha to All,
Locals and Visitors.
I have traveled to HI almost annually since 1982. Maui is my favorite. I was one of the displaced Visitors in Aug. 2023. We Were told not to come. I was unable to get a refund because of a natural disaster clause in the travel insurance, which I feel is a scam. Nonetheless, I re-booked for February 24. This may be my last trip due to age and health. My love for Maui transcends the price. I come not because I have excess money, ..because I don’t. But I love the Aloha spirit of the Hawaiian people. Those that seem to be making it difficult for tourists are interested in the money, and not the people who call Maui “home”. If the negative comments change your mind, you don’t understand Aloha!!
It’s is so sad to watch the downfall of Maui. I was gifted a timeshare(from my parents, who love Maui. I can take it or leave it) and have been a longtime yearly visitor. It’s sad to see what people, encouraged by tourism have turned the once, most beautiful place on earth as a local once informed me, into an island of perpetual growth!
The water is eroding away the island as the reef has been almost killed off. People are feeding fish gold fish crackers.
When people ask me about it I just say it’s turning into Waikiki! Pray Kauai doesn’t follow.
I’m finally glad that tourists see that visiting Hawaii means spending an arm and leg just for a week. Although Hawaii is dependent on tourism, it’s time we find another means to be sustainable. Tourists are just taking up too much space on the road and demand to be treated like the lords and queens.
Visiting elsewhere is the most reasonable idea.
Keep Hawaii, Hawaii.
Aloha on your new adventures.
We were planning at trip to Hawaii this winter. We have gone every other year since 2004. I was thrilled to see flights were priced decently but then when I look at the resort prices I about died. They have doubled since the last time we were there! I just can’t bring myself to pay $800 a night for just a place to sleep.
Many trips to Kauai, BI and Maui. Christmas is the only time we can get away, the time with the family is so precious. But now that the kids are older, it is more fun to discover cultural sights with them. Nearly same cost to go many places from DEN, can book an amazing luxury hotel in European or Sputh American cities for same price with Much better service. Trust me, the Swiss are not conflicted at all about welcoming you and your money.
We have been going to Maui since 2010. Like many travellers, vacations are sacred to our family. Maui used to feel like an investment in our wellbeing. It was a feeling of joy like no other place in the world. Thinking of going to Maui now makes me feel exactly how the messaging and prohibitive pricing wants us to feel. I am finally letting go. There are other beautiful places that will welcome us and not make us feel like human garbage for wanting to invest in the economy and share in the aloha.
Make Maui beautiful again. Plant hollyhaucks and snapdragons. There inexpensive and colorful. I love Hawaii and people who act like they’re entitled are usually treated rudely. I just wish I could bring my digging tools and replant some flowers and trees. Plumerias trees and Protea shrubs and a few nice fountains and a few nice little cottages. Maybe a couple small cottages, one to live in and one to rent out.
If they are not indigenous to Hawaii then that will Never happen. They would be considered invasive species.
Actually, I don’t mind seeing less visitors. If someone complains about prices, they can’t afford it in the first place and choose something according to their budget.
Last time we were on Maui it was sometimes unpleasant due to overcrowding. Yes, we will use our time share weeks next year and I hope for a more relaxing time.
Who
Is killing the Golden Goose
We went to Maui (Kaanapali beach) in March. $11k for 6 nights. I know my spouse loves it there but it’s just gotten to expensive.
Hawaiian airlines cancelled direct flights from Florida. Other airlines followed suit making it a very long trip. Not worth the effort or expense. Disappointed in the direction of your tourism strategy. Will miss you.
We love the Aloha spirit and beauty of each Hawaiian island. We have made more than 35 visits. But shortly before COVID an anti tourist group became active. This voice only seems stronger now. I don’t know if they only represent a small minority or most Hawaiians. Much of the Hawaiian economy is so dependent on tourism. But it is enough to take the fun and anticipation out of planning a trip. I find it sad, but there are so many alternatives. Rather than a long expensive flight, we are opting for Turks and Caicos this fall.
The anti-tourist group is very small, but they are enough to scare the pants off the mayor. When they say frog, he jumps. They don’t understand what would happen to Maui without tourists. It won’t be like life during COVID. That was artificial and non-sustainable.
8 trips to Maui over the past 10 years and we are taking a break from Hawaii. It’s evident that locals in Maui have anti-tourist attitudes. Signs along road to Hana warming people to stay out.
We got the message loud and clear.