The record influx of visitors in Hawaii is something to behold. For those of us here, we went from almost no tourism to the verge of breaking records in about four months.
Changes are coming, and with those, a Hawaii vacation could have additional costs and require more planning as new measures are implemented.
Visitor impact fees.
On Maui, for example, the county council may consider the idea of visitor impact fees. While not new globally, these could be a first for Hawaii. Shane Sinenci of east Maui is spearheading the concept. He wants to see an extra fee added to every airline ticket to Maui. He said, “Places like the Galapagos, it’s expensive to get there. Galapagos, you would have to pay an extra $100 for impact fees if you’re visiting the Galapagos.”
How would this help control the volume of tourism? He said his goal is to create a higher level of respect for the islands, although how fees would accomplish that goal also isn’t clear. Would returning residents of Maui be exempt from any fee? And is that legal, and how would it be enforced? You can’t expect the airlines to determine who is visiting and who lives on the island.
Traffic mitigation, fines and surcharges.
Maui Mayor Victorino also addressed tourism issues this week, and specifically, the traffic on the Hana Highway, where up to 600 people a day drive that small winding road.
The mayor said that traffic congestion is a serious problem that’s preventing police access on the island. He said that “a choice must be made between enforcing parking violations or responding to the thousands of calls that MPD receives each week. I’m sure our citizens agree that enforcing crime is a higher priority than parking violations, but we are working toward other solutions.”
New Hana Highway warning signs.
Recently, the Hana Highway has had 70 new parking enforcement signs installed in conjunction with the state. They warn of both a $35 fine for parking in a no-parking zone and an additional $200 surcharge for illegally stopping on a state highway. Signs notwithstanding, the mayor indicated that the police issued nearly 500 parking citations and warnings so far in June along the Hana Highway.
Other mitigation efforts apparently include the county working with airlines to reduce flights into Maui voluntarily. Also, the mayor plans to work via accommodation providers and car rental companies to help visitors better coordinate travel on-island. Maui is also in the process of creating paid parking locations along the Hana Highway.
Other Examples Where Visitor Conservation and Impact Fees Apply:
Kauai – Access beyond Hanalei to Haena State Park and Kee Beach requires advance reservations and sells out normally 30 days in advance. This controls the number of cars and people daily. While the fee is nominal ($10 per car and $5 for each person without), the system works by limiting cars and traffic. Today, the state DLNR announced a community-based manager to oversee Haena State Park, which will manage the reservation system, entry and parking fees, and a shuttle bus service. A focus will be on the cultural aspects of the park.
Big Island and Maui – Volcanos National Park and Haleakala National Park – Fees have increased to $30 a car and $15 for pedestrians.
Oahu – Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve – The entry fee has increased to $12.
HTA stated that “Hawaii’s unspoiled natural beauty is the foundation of Hawaii’s tourism product.” Fees are likely to be subject to significant increases ahead.
Hana Highway: why it’s so popular.
A top favorite on Maui and statewide, this is one of the great road trips globally, not just in Hawaii. The 65 mile-long drive takes you from Kahului to Hana town in east Maui. This is not a road to be rushed, and the time to cover the distance is longer than expected. The road is narrow and winding, with some 59 bridges, of which most are one-way. Many of the bridges are over 100 years old.
Along the way, you are greeted with waterfalls and unparalleled views of the Maui coastline and rainforest.
There are many stops possible along the way. The first stop might be Paia town, where you’ll have plenty of chances to refill both your trip supplies and the gas tank. Nearby you’ll find epic windsurfing at Hookipa Beach Park, another favorite stop along the way before getting serious.
Hana town is a step back in time, and if you continue even further, you’ll be greeted with even more fabulous views and beaches.
What’s your reaction to fees and other changes ahead?
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Everyone needs to realize that everything has changed since Covid. The ability to work from any location will put incredible pressure on the places that were typically only visited (on Vacation). Every beautiful and remote and sacred destination will be basically be overrun by the masses of the world as they will be able to earn a living anywhere there is an internet connection. Quick and drastic measures will be the only way to save places like the islands from becoming a distant memory of there former beauty and seclusion. Fees might have worked in the past but this new era will demand drastic and quick action to slow down or stall the coming Tsunami of people and the trash and overt exploitation of natural resources that follow. It is incredibly sad that this pandemic has harmed so many and yet still will negatively impact people and place long after it has ended. Do something now while there is still a chance and do it for all islands. Please save them while you can. Thanks
We are regular visitors to Maui. We drove Hana Hwy again his spring (April, 2021). The only answer to protecting the flora and the traveler is regulation. At one point, 2 vehicles had parked just off a single-lane bridge, blocking the roadway. The owners were among the crowd clustered on the bridge taking pictures or gawking at the waterfall. Traffic was stopped on either side, and tempers were high. The LAST way you want to drive Hana is when you’re angry. As much as I hate to say it (because it will eventually affect me) is that to protect the beauty of the Island, there must be fees, controls and high-cost consequences for breaking laws.
I see where the added fees are thought to slow down the tourism, but it’s mostly people with means that can pay now for traveling to Hawaii. And I don’t feel that it will slow that down any. And someone once commented on your post that some of those with means expect to be waited on and picked up after (meaning not picking up their own trash). So what good will that do? My husband and I have camped for many years and have always left our sites cleaner than when we found them. We have taught our kids the same. Respect the places you visit so that when you come back, they will still be there and still be clean. We are not “of means” so when we get to Hawaii, we save for years to be able to visit. The added fees may make it impossible for us to ever come again as we are getting up there in age and on a fixed income. I understand the issues Hawaii is having with tourism and wish for everyones’ sake there was an easy answer but I don’t feel that extra fees are the answer. Limiting flights may help though! Mahalo for listening to my opinion.
Hi Pam.
Thank you. We hope you can still return, and the value paradigm in Hawaii travel is definitely not going away.
Aloha.
Don’t mean to throw any cold water on the “rich people are the problem” but even IF the federal government were to limit the number of flights, the airfare on those flights will go up. Way up. So if you want to ensure that only the “well to do” will travel to Hawaii, cutting back on supply while demand is surging is a great way to make that happen.
And, perhaps my life experience is difference, but I’ve seen plenty of “poor” people trash their campsites. Do rich people camp these days? And I don’t mean “glamping”
I can imagine the negative impact this will have on people of color who statically survive at lower income levels. They will be economically excluded from enjoying the natural beauty Hawaii has to offer.
This will only benefit the rich and while excluding the economically disadvantaged.
Seriously, you had to play the race card? People of color that are poor probably never went to Hawaii before! It’s always been a pricy vacation! Stop with your hatred of white people!! I’m not rich but I can afford vacations because I worked all my adult life!!!
I don’t think Maui leadership is thinking this through from all sides. You are essentially trapping the residents of Maui in with the portion of visitors that lack tribal and cultural ancestry. Maui is one of the last civilized places governed by a sacred reverence for the land and a respect for the values of Ohana, Aloha, Ha`aha`a, Ho`omau, to name a few. Instead – the audience that will be left to afford Maui is the one that sees things as replaceable and able to be bought.
With unrooted high Impact fees, you might be converting this land rich in ancestry – a tribal land – into a rich people’s playground. Pricing out other tribal people and making Maui inaccessible with high impact fees seems to make you guilty of a similar crime as the accused. Why not charge $100 per Traveler plus require that they watch a 10 min video class on the history&preservation of the Island(s)? Why not create a regulation that requires a disclosure of what resource tourists agree to contribute in place of what they consume (offering)? Use your platform to educate and set an example while the world is watching.
Hal M: If only the money would go where it is supposed to go after it is collected. Unfortunately, there is always corruption. Look at this story from today.
sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2021-06-30/san-diego-pays-out-200k-to-whistleblower-fired-after-alleging-illegal-use-of-city-water-sewer-funds
I see the idea behind increased use fees to help control excessive tourism. I like the idea that visitors might help pay for bathrooms (which they will use) but can’t shake the discomfort of the elitism it could engender. Is money the answer to everything? Do we only want to invite rich people to visit Maui? Is there some other way to vet the malihini based on decent behavior? Well, I didn’t say I had easy answers…
It is about money. Restrooms don’t grow on trees, and they must be maintained. Residents pay local taxes (property and such) to support infrastructure but they need to find some way to tap into the hordes of non-residents.
Aloha Hal! I agree restrooms don’t grow on trees anywhere in America. My question is should Las Vegas, for example, do the same for visitors from other states?
Mahalo!
For Las Vegas, at some point they may need to consider it. They had, or had, a really high car rental tax. They are a place where people go to spend a lot of money, so there is a thriving economy that gets something from the visitors. At the bottom of the argument, facilities and infrastructure cost money. Somebody has to provide it. We can do the “we all need to support them” and send them, say, mainland tax money. Or, we can let the users pay. It should be an interesting discussion.
Debram: The same people who are getting all the inter island Covid testing $$. Locals don’t pay to get tested but tourists do!
I made my first trip in 1985. Maui is my FAVORITE vacation spot. “IF” all works out I will be there this September/October to meet up with an OLD friend from Canada. Yes I miss the OLD Maui. It was NOT crowded in 1985. I’ve taken family members several years. Super great vacation spot. I love all the islands but Maui is #1 for me. Early on all the flights come through Honolulu. I saw the airplane with the roof missing one year when I landed. I flew a NON STOP Honoulu St. Louis one trip years ago. Spent the entire night on the plane. Now I can fly DFW-OGG non stop.
NO do not enact Visitor Impact Fees!!
During the pandemic the governor of Hawaii made it literally impossible to go to the islands. Then the islands complained that their jobs/livelihood were being taken away because no tourists. Now, that tourism is picking up on the islands, they want to tax the heck out of the tourists who want to come!! You cant have it both ways!
It may be necessary to enact some road access fees (road to hana) and others.
But most likely the boom in travel to Hawaii will lessen back to normal in 6-8 months or so when other countries reopen their borders…
Federal coronavirus money is being used by the County of Kauai to study beach and local parks parking situation for visitors. Why are they not using that money on what it was intended for. I am upset by this when so many other things need to be fixed on the island. Just charge the fee and forget the “study”. Sounds very suspicious and sneaky to me. Who’s getting paid the money to do the study?????
Thank you for the information, it will be useful for our trip there next month!
Rather than simply complain, just what are the Islands supposed to do? The tourists require transportation, food, shelter, energy just the same as the residents. How do you get money from them for necessary infrastructure? The land base is limited, how do you control use so that people, whether resident or visitor, can access beaches and such? Hawaii has a crying need for restoration of many of its lands that visitors want to see/hike/bird/photograph. And so on. The money has to come from somewhere; what ideas are out there? How can the Islands limit the total amount of people on the Islands so that there is something to visit besides vast urban areas?
I’m a local on oahu but many friends and Family live on the mainland. It is already hard enough for them to come visit. I feel this would make it even worse. Plus the money never really goes anywhere but into the pockets of politicians and justs make it that much more expensive for us locals who live here. Definitely against.
Karen L… to fund ridiculous projects like the white elephant rail system! I am in the same situation as you are, friends and family are already saying they won’t be able to visit as often.
Really helpful article re Fine System Coming To Maui. Thanks.
Mahalo!
I don’t blame the islanders for wanting some controls on the number of visitors. They will ultimately have to do something to maintain a nice environment for themselves and their guests.
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Aloha.
Visitor impact fees?
How would the residents of Hawaii feel if they were charged a $400 Visitor impact fee to visit Las Vegas? I know this is a favorite place for Hawaii Residents to visit.
I don’t think this idea will fly!
It’s not cheap to get to Maui for everyone. It depends on where you live and if you’re lucky oR quick enough to get a good deal. It’s starting to sound like they want to close off to tourists. If they make it too difficult, sure you’ll get the diehards that will come no matter what, but you could also end up with more years like 2020. IMO.
Definitely a great idea! Hawaii needs less tourists – less quantity and more quality ($$). The quantity of tourists today damage the environment and the local quality of life. We need to minimize the number of tourists and the only way to do it is to increase the price – via taxes. This added revenue would allow us to make infrastructure improvements, etc. Ideally Hawaii would diversify their industries, to have less reliability on tourism, but if we have tourism at all, they need to pay for it. It’s the cost of paradise! Locals pay high dollar to live here, tourists need to as well.
Completely agree with the fees for tourists only.
Think there should be days where it’s closed to tourists not locals or limit the amount of tourists that go to Hana on a daily basis and same with Hanama Bay. Maybe a lottery of how many can go on a daily basis. On Oahu there’s way to many tourists on the roads it’s causing road rage.
I love Hawaii and have been there several times. I don’t understand the high increase of prices luaus, dinner cruises and everything else. While I love doing these touristy things, I will not pay those outrageous prices. And now you want to charge everyone an extra $100, just for visiting the island?? It’s insane!
Susan F: It is insane! We were on Maui for 5 nites in May and Kauai for 10. Prices for Restaurant food … when you could actually eat in a restaurant were outrageous. Unfortunately, this will become the new normal. Our favorite Restaurant on Kauai, Keoki’s Paradise has closed their bar kitchen and only has 1 menu. Instead of entrees in the bar @ $18 or $19, now you only have a choice of the main menu @ a minimum of $30+. Have two drinks and 2 entrees and a tip and it is more than $100 every time. We love Hawaii and endeavor to go twice a year, once to Maui and once to Kauai, but honestly, I don’t know if we can continue to do it.
Thank you, BOH, for all that you do to keep those of us on the mainland up to date with what’s happening in paradise! It is greatly appreciated.
Cannot wait for our next trip to Kauai & Maui in a few months, but this article and the subsequent comments has me feeling a bit apprehensive. Personally when we visit we show the islands nothing but respect. We live and and we love The Aloha Spirit.
Mahalo!
Dennis
Hi Dennis.
Thank you! Don’t be discouraged. Every place has issues that need to be worked out. You should still be in for a great vacation! And in our minds at least, the more you know, the better off you’ll be.
Aloha
Gotta love that Aloha spirit…. Stab the hand that feeds you. Maybe they should just get it over with and charge us white haoles . I think my next $10,000 vacation will be in Mexico. At least there I’m welcome. How do you say ‘adios’ in Hawaiian?
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Yet another opportunity lost to solve over tourism on the Hawaiian islands.
Like all politicians yours have been talking out both sides of their mouths.
Left side for locals, we want to control and address over tourism. While the right side acknowledges the issue, but has no solution other than continuing to raise taxes and fees on tourist to fill empty government coffers with easy money.
I love this line in the article this as BOH posts weekly about additional flights added by Southwest Airlines:
“Other mitigation efforts apparently include the county working with airlines to reduce flights into Maui voluntarily” Hahahaha.
All I have to say is Hawaiians got a nice break form tourist, but get used to what is happening now cause you’ve lost control of your islands to Big Corp and Big Government.