I’m sorry to hear this news as it becomes more and more expensive to visit Maui or any of the islands. Why do Hawaii’s officials continue on the ‘pay to play’ philosophy?
I would like to know what they are doing with the fees. We dont do many “ tourist “ things as we have done them all multiple times we had some visitors this year and drove them up to Waimea Canyon. We pulled into one of the vista points parking lots and the restrooms were all plugged up and disgusting. They obviously aren’t using the fees to maintain the parks.
If Hawaii puts a tourist tax on things I’m going to go back to Puerto Rico same climate beautiful beaches. I’m from camp smith my dad was a marine my younger life I lived in pearl city but now I’m a tourist if locals don’t want people there refuse everyone for a month you will go broke.
Never had an issue parking at Iao Valley. Just another money grab by the state. Already booked for next Jan., but it will be my last trip. 37 visits and the aloha is gone. So many other places much more welcoming.
And what about returning residents – born and raised: like my grown grandchildren coming soon: one to celebrate her graduate degree with family, and her brother who has been serving in the Air Force since he graduated Baldwin??
They don’t have Hawaii licenses – but grew up with Iao Valley!
This past week Maui 24/7 ran a post that the Valley was going to be closed indefinitely. I was saddened by this as a resident who enjoys going up and getting away from the crowds on a hot summer day. I would be thrilled of they are truly reopening May 1!
Bravo Maui County. Some thoughts:
1. Locals don’t pay entrance fee? Locals deserve a break. They pay more taxes than any other US state but one.
2. Where will the money go? To pay for the upkeep. Like the work that was just completed to make the park safe and accessible. Tax dollars in action.
3. Reducing car congestion is paramount. Suggestion: shuttle bus service from various Maui locations could bring in many visitors to the park and not overwhelm the parking lots. Paying an extra few dollars to avoid the hassle of driving and the cost of fuel is well worth it.
Most of the states charge visitors to enjoy their natural resources, but they also charge the residents, at a reduced rate. That’s because in Wisconsin if we are going to protect our 10,000 lakes, 1,000’s of streams, and the largest resource for freshwater in the world, we all need to contribute to protect them.
In Wisconsin all Native Americans are granted special rights and treatment based on treaties established long ago.
Native Hawaiian citizens should have special privileges and rights not afforded to every Hawaiian resident. Most citizens in Hawaii are just transplants and should not be granted anything.
They are all just long term tourists.
Just another example of Hawaii biting the hand that feeds them. If the tourists don’t come, you can’t afford to live there. If you nickle and dime people for everything they will spend elsewhere. Hawaii is already very expensive, policies like this will people to go elsewhere. The locals don’t want the tourism because of the crowds. I can understand that. But let’s face it that’s the economy the state has. If you want to fix the problem vote in politicians that will get companies and jobs to move to Hawaii and diversify the economy.
If by purchasing airfare and hotel you somehow think you are entitled to Everything the islands offer, maybe a different destination is for you. Yes, it is expensive in Hawaii, but your brief stay only entitles you to pay those high taxes, fees, gas etc. while you are visiting. Residents pay them all year, every year.
Let’s face it! Haena State Park makes it “impossible” to make a reservation. There were no times available at exactly midnite Hawaiian time. That made a 3 hr time difference for us, which made trying to make an appointment at 3:00AM our time. I believe that they want the tourists to pay the $30 shuttle ride to the park. What if you only wanted to experience the view for 20 minutes? Tourist eyes are deteriorating the environment and they need to preserve it for the so called locals. Talk about outright discrimination against the mainlanders or haoles!
Thanks for nothing. It will be our last time of spending nearly 2 weeks and plenty of $$$.
We did the Haena shuttle last month. I was under the impression that you could not drive past the shuttle stop without a reservation. Apparently you can drive and park (without a reservation) all the way until Ke’e beach. That’s where the parking for cars and a reservation is checked. After a trip to Ke’e, we just went back and got our car and stopped at all the other beaches in between without issue. This was in the afternoon so there was parking here and there for the various beaches. So unless you don’t care about visiting Ke’e or the hike, you can still visit plenty of beaches nearby.
Aloha Guys!
Since it is not a Federal park, I don’t have a problem paying the fee; it seems reasonable enough. I also appreciate that they are setting aside more parking for visitors. And I also don’t mind having to make a reservation ahead of time as it will enable me to enjoy a less-crowded viewing and hiking experience. I wish they would do the same at Emerald Bay in Tahoe.
Mahalo for keeping us informed.
Wow!! Just absolutely precious.
So, as a resident I can come and go, but if Ohana from mainland with me..then they pay? If I can go without reservation, they have to have a reservation???
The money stream, pardon the double entendre, is going to what??
A general slush fund, most likely.
More government= worst case scenario.
This literally makes my heart sick.
Don’t forget the battle that raged there when the river ran red with blood.
How far our great State has fallen.
Mahalo Nui Loa Beat of Hawaii.
Aloha always.
(At least some of us remember the Aloha that once prevailed)
It’s pretty obvious where the money goes: to upgrade and improve the park, which is what they’ve been doing for the last year. The article mentioned that several times. Aloha!
I don’t understand the legality of visitor-only fees. If the argument excusing locals from paying stems from suggesting locals already support the parks/sights through their taxes, surely that applies to non-locals as well who pay exorbitant taxes when visiting Maui by way of massive hotel taxes, air taxes, car rental taxes, as well of course as sales tax on meals and other transactions. I am hard put to think of any similar penalizing of non-locals in other U.S. states and wonder if this is not going to encourage lawsuits related to Hawaii erecting selective barriers to interstate commerce. I certainly hope a lawsuit results.
Aloha,
If a local rents a car, stays in a hotel or flies, we also pay those same specific taxes that visitors do. Keep in mind though, that all year long (for basically everything we buy to survive including on rent and food), we pay a general excise tax over 4% (which visitors pay only during their vacation timeframe). Visitors also don’t pay a HI state tax rate that is almost as much as the federal tax, depending on the tax bracket. I don’t mean the high earners either: in 2022, HI state tax for someone making $40,000 was 8.25%, and the federal rate for that same person was 12%. This same income would be out of range of getting state assistance btw. Any state that doubles the tax rate of residents should allow them free access to parks.
I don’t know if it i in place now but in the 1970s Oregon charged out-of-state users an additional fee to use their state parks. Washington then added a surcharge to residents of any state whose state had a surcharge for non-residents. Should also note that probably every state charges a fee of X for hunters and fisherman and a significantly higher fee of Y for non-residents. This has been going on for decades so I suspect that a fee for non-Hawaii residents is legal. Maybe unpopular, but legal.
Visitors only pay those taxes when they’re traveling and staying on Maui. Locals paying high taxes every single day of the year. Big difference.
“If you wanna play, then you gotta pay.”
As always, your articles are as timely as they are informative. I head to Maui for 3 weeks on May 9. This is something that I’ll definitely try to do. Now I can’t wait for the site to open up for registration on May 1st so I can experience this beautiful park. Thanks so much BOH!
It’s about time we need to support keeping hawaii hawaiian and not overrun and damaged.
Iao
Valley. I live in Wailuku Do I need to have a Hawaiian drivers license to get in free?
I’m sorry to hear this news as it becomes more and more expensive to visit Maui or any of the islands. Why do Hawaii’s officials continue on the ‘pay to play’ philosophy?
Thank you for your responses.
I would like to know what they are doing with the fees. We dont do many “ tourist “ things as we have done them all multiple times we had some visitors this year and drove them up to Waimea Canyon. We pulled into one of the vista points parking lots and the restrooms were all plugged up and disgusting. They obviously aren’t using the fees to maintain the parks.
Sad!
Wow 10.00 vehicle plus per person.
If Hawaii puts a tourist tax on things I’m going to go back to Puerto Rico same climate beautiful beaches. I’m from camp smith my dad was a marine my younger life I lived in pearl city but now I’m a tourist if locals don’t want people there refuse everyone for a month you will go broke.
It seems that would be exactly what they want you to do.
Just tax visitors out of existence, then only the rich will come. Isn’t that what everyone seems to want? Less tourism?
yes, thats what they want. big spending tourists from asia welcome! Cheap americans stay away.
Never had an issue parking at Iao Valley. Just another money grab by the state. Already booked for next Jan., but it will be my last trip. 37 visits and the aloha is gone. So many other places much more welcoming.
What bothers me is the locals are the ones who make the mess. Littering with camp fires etc. it already has shown up on their free beaches.
And what about returning residents – born and raised: like my grown grandchildren coming soon: one to celebrate her graduate degree with family, and her brother who has been serving in the Air Force since he graduated Baldwin??
They don’t have Hawaii licenses – but grew up with Iao Valley!
Do these relatives of yours pay Hawaii state income tax, and the additional General Excise Tax? If so, they should get in free! Otherwise… Sorry.
They are not residents anymore-It’s the same for mainland transplants who visit the parks on the mainland,they don’t receive resident prices
This past week Maui 24/7 ran a post that the Valley was going to be closed indefinitely. I was saddened by this as a resident who enjoys going up and getting away from the crowds on a hot summer day. I would be thrilled of they are truly reopening May 1!
Bravo Maui County. Some thoughts:
1. Locals don’t pay entrance fee? Locals deserve a break. They pay more taxes than any other US state but one.
2. Where will the money go? To pay for the upkeep. Like the work that was just completed to make the park safe and accessible. Tax dollars in action.
3. Reducing car congestion is paramount. Suggestion: shuttle bus service from various Maui locations could bring in many visitors to the park and not overwhelm the parking lots. Paying an extra few dollars to avoid the hassle of driving and the cost of fuel is well worth it.
Most of the states charge visitors to enjoy their natural resources, but they also charge the residents, at a reduced rate. That’s because in Wisconsin if we are going to protect our 10,000 lakes, 1,000’s of streams, and the largest resource for freshwater in the world, we all need to contribute to protect them.
In Wisconsin all Native Americans are granted special rights and treatment based on treaties established long ago.
Native Hawaiian citizens should have special privileges and rights not afforded to every Hawaiian resident. Most citizens in Hawaii are just transplants and should not be granted anything.
They are all just long term tourists.
Just another example of Hawaii biting the hand that feeds them. If the tourists don’t come, you can’t afford to live there. If you nickle and dime people for everything they will spend elsewhere. Hawaii is already very expensive, policies like this will people to go elsewhere. The locals don’t want the tourism because of the crowds. I can understand that. But let’s face it that’s the economy the state has. If you want to fix the problem vote in politicians that will get companies and jobs to move to Hawaii and diversify the economy.
If by purchasing airfare and hotel you somehow think you are entitled to Everything the islands offer, maybe a different destination is for you. Yes, it is expensive in Hawaii, but your brief stay only entitles you to pay those high taxes, fees, gas etc. while you are visiting. Residents pay them all year, every year.
Sounds like your state has high taxes, little return problems. you need better leadership.
Let’s face it! Haena State Park makes it “impossible” to make a reservation. There were no times available at exactly midnite Hawaiian time. That made a 3 hr time difference for us, which made trying to make an appointment at 3:00AM our time. I believe that they want the tourists to pay the $30 shuttle ride to the park. What if you only wanted to experience the view for 20 minutes? Tourist eyes are deteriorating the environment and they need to preserve it for the so called locals. Talk about outright discrimination against the mainlanders or haoles!
Thanks for nothing. It will be our last time of spending nearly 2 weeks and plenty of $$$.
We did the Haena shuttle last month. I was under the impression that you could not drive past the shuttle stop without a reservation. Apparently you can drive and park (without a reservation) all the way until Ke’e beach. That’s where the parking for cars and a reservation is checked. After a trip to Ke’e, we just went back and got our car and stopped at all the other beaches in between without issue. This was in the afternoon so there was parking here and there for the various beaches. So unless you don’t care about visiting Ke’e or the hike, you can still visit plenty of beaches nearby.
Aloha Guys!
Since it is not a Federal park, I don’t have a problem paying the fee; it seems reasonable enough. I also appreciate that they are setting aside more parking for visitors. And I also don’t mind having to make a reservation ahead of time as it will enable me to enjoy a less-crowded viewing and hiking experience. I wish they would do the same at Emerald Bay in Tahoe.
Mahalo for keeping us informed.
I’ll be visiting Maui in May. I’d be very grateful to a website link for these places.
Hi Sandy.
Suggest you just do a Google search for Iao Valley and you will have all you can ever hope for.
Aloha.
Wow!! Just absolutely precious.
So, as a resident I can come and go, but if Ohana from mainland with me..then they pay? If I can go without reservation, they have to have a reservation???
The money stream, pardon the double entendre, is going to what??
A general slush fund, most likely.
More government= worst case scenario.
This literally makes my heart sick.
Don’t forget the battle that raged there when the river ran red with blood.
How far our great State has fallen.
Mahalo Nui Loa Beat of Hawaii.
Aloha always.
(At least some of us remember the Aloha that once prevailed)
Hi Pam.
You realize of course that we all looking forward to your comments over here!
Aloha.
It’s pretty obvious where the money goes: to upgrade and improve the park, which is what they’ve been doing for the last year. The article mentioned that several times. Aloha!
Been there a few times, Don’t see this as the most popular place, Never had a issue with parking.
I don’t understand the legality of visitor-only fees. If the argument excusing locals from paying stems from suggesting locals already support the parks/sights through their taxes, surely that applies to non-locals as well who pay exorbitant taxes when visiting Maui by way of massive hotel taxes, air taxes, car rental taxes, as well of course as sales tax on meals and other transactions. I am hard put to think of any similar penalizing of non-locals in other U.S. states and wonder if this is not going to encourage lawsuits related to Hawaii erecting selective barriers to interstate commerce. I certainly hope a lawsuit results.
Aloha,
If a local rents a car, stays in a hotel or flies, we also pay those same specific taxes that visitors do. Keep in mind though, that all year long (for basically everything we buy to survive including on rent and food), we pay a general excise tax over 4% (which visitors pay only during their vacation timeframe). Visitors also don’t pay a HI state tax rate that is almost as much as the federal tax, depending on the tax bracket. I don’t mean the high earners either: in 2022, HI state tax for someone making $40,000 was 8.25%, and the federal rate for that same person was 12%. This same income would be out of range of getting state assistance btw. Any state that doubles the tax rate of residents should allow them free access to parks.
I don’t know if it i in place now but in the 1970s Oregon charged out-of-state users an additional fee to use their state parks. Washington then added a surcharge to residents of any state whose state had a surcharge for non-residents. Should also note that probably every state charges a fee of X for hunters and fisherman and a significantly higher fee of Y for non-residents. This has been going on for decades so I suspect that a fee for non-Hawaii residents is legal. Maybe unpopular, but legal.
Visitors only pay those taxes when they’re traveling and staying on Maui. Locals paying high taxes every single day of the year. Big difference.
“If you wanna play, then you gotta pay.”
As always, your articles are as timely as they are informative. I head to Maui for 3 weeks on May 9. This is something that I’ll definitely try to do. Now I can’t wait for the site to open up for registration on May 1st so I can experience this beautiful park. Thanks so much BOH!
Hi Lo.
Thank you! Happy travels on Maui!
Aloha.