With over 100 engaging comments. What’s ahead in Hawaii travel needs your input too.
224 thoughts on “New Fees, Fines And Systems Coming To Maui and All Hawaii Visitors”
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With over 100 engaging comments. What’s ahead in Hawaii travel needs your input too.
Comments are closed.
We just returned from Oahu and were amazed at the number of tourists on the island. We don’t usually visit in June, so perhaps it’s normal, but it seemed very crowded to us. Our son, who lives in Kaneohe, prefers not to go anywhere near Waikiki. I don’t blame him, the other side of the island was much more peaceful. I don’t blame Hawaii for wanting to add taxes and fees on tourist sites, but I also know that the island needs the income from tourism. It’s a difficult problem. How much is too much? How much is needed for people to make a living? Since our family is from Hawaii, we’d support fees that will help protect the environment, and reserve some space for the people who live there.
I think this post-CoVid surge makes for a good excuse to levy fees on tourists visiting the Islands. Once it all settles back down the fees will remain. It wasn’t all that long ago that so many small businesses were suffering due to CoVid and the complete lack of tourist dollars. Too much of a good thing today, which I believe will prove to be temporary, shouldn’t be exploited with new layers of fees levied on visitors.
Aloha,
I think this is a kneejerk reaction. Folks pent up on the mainland from the pandemic needed a place to visit, a change of scenery and time to reflect on life and what’s important. I think once that’s satisfied over the next year or so, the spike will subside.
Current circumstances means Hawaii cannot bite the hand that feeds it, so leadership needs to come up with alternatives. Business friendly business or taxe relief makes more longer term sense.
Mahalo for you website!
I think it’s great that they despise us tourists soo much, and yet now they intended to make money off us with all these “fees” (aka taxes). After reading all the articles lately about how the Hawaiians think we are ruining Hawaii, I’m surprised anyone even goes there anymore. You can cut the animosity with a knife. Who are the idiots though? Locals or us, the tourists, for going where we really are not wanted? I’ ll tell you….Us.
Trying to discourage people from coming to Hawai’i? It sounds like the you are working on that. There are other places in the World to visit.
The fees will be squandered on inept, union dominated government agencies and employees that neglect the parks, roads, and public safety or our beautiful state. Just more money to feed the bureaucracies that already fail so miserably in most branches of Hawaii government!
Sad but true!
The simplest and most effective way to reduce tourists is reduce the number of flights. Maui could easily makeup the loss in tourist revenue by severely raising taxes for the residents from sales taxes to property taxes.
I think impact fees would create more awareness of and respect for Hawaii’s unique natural and cultural resources. They would be a positive step toward regenerative tourism which nurtures these resources rather than depleting or damaging them. For example, impact fees could provide funding to hire interpreters who explain the importance of maintaining respectable distance from endangered species. Someone that the man who was shoving his go pro into a sea turtle’s face for at least 30 min at Kua Bay yesterday could have learned from.
The “extra fee” issues are just stupid. Comparing Maui to the Galapago makey no sense at all. Sounds like just another tax that will not end up being used for what it is supposedly being collected for. Taxes and fees are always what politicians want in order to “fix” problems.
Aloha!
It’s sad to see the possibility of higher fees to visit any of the islands,but at the same time I understand if all the fees will be being used towards beautifying the island’s most trafficked areas. As far as the Road to Hana, maybe a reservation system;just like the beach system. Entrance booth can be set-up allowing those with reservations to go through. That would suppress the heavy traffic flow, making it easier for residents. I understand the desire of driving to Hana because we did it 15 year’s ago, but there has to be a point where visitor’s need to respect the beauty. Aloha.
I understand the parking fees but I find the per person entry as nothing more than grabbing money out of my wallet. While in Kaua’i last month it cost us just over $31 to go to Ke’e beach and another $31 to go up Waimea Canyon and park to enjoy the views. I know that is not much compared to the entire cost of the trip but it was still sticker shock, especially at the Waimea Lookout. We are currently scheduled to be back for the last 2 weeks of October but I am seriously considering another venue. We have enjoyed visiting Kaua’i since 1991 and have never been so disappointed as we were for this last trip. Impact fees would be another reason to check out other areas.
Thank you for your updates. You’re the best source of information. I have two trips booked to Maui for September and October. A special treat for two of my grandchildren’s graduation, a last trip before they’re off to college. A rental. At is more than my airline tickets or my condo. Now I’m thinking of canceling everything and find a more welcoming place to take them.
If you want to limit the number of tourists, then the pocketbook is the best target. Bad plan in my opinion.
These proposals do not seem to be unusual at all. Oregon charged different rates for state residents than they did for those out of state to camp at campgrounds, and use of parks – and that was 35+ years ago.
Many states now require day-pass fees or annual fees for many of their parks, beaches campsites and other attractions. Those who benefit from using those places and amenities have a responsibility to support the cost of maintaining them.
Looks like its all about money – kinda losing that Aloha spirit. Have gone over 25 times and scheduled for next year already – may be my last.
Not likely to return to Maui for a while. Way too busy for me. If I want busy, I’ll go to Florida, or Caribbean, or Cancun. Keep your fees too. Cheaper to take a tour bus, get in all the parks! Hah!
Maui Councilmember Shane Sineci’s wish to impose impact fees on tourists to Maui is a lovely middle finger to island visitors. The cost of visiting Maui is already prohibitive. I just want to understand… do members of the Maui Council want visitors or not? Or maybe they prefer just wealthy visitors? As a 30 year annual visitor to Maui, I’m baffled.
Parking at Wainapanapa State Park has a limited number of spaces, and always has. Most folks traveling to Hana for the day may stop for a few minutes, maybe an hour if they are having lunch, then move on or you are driving on dark roads back to North and South and West Maui. The reservation thing is silly. NOW, non-residents will feel like they HAVE to go for the entire 2 1/2 hours to get their money’s worth.
Iao Valley has parking fees, and Makena too. I heard Disabled Non-Residents park free. Is that true?
Every park, county or state, has a limited number of spaces. Friday night at county beaches, you stake out your weekend pavilion under the trees for your family. Get to the beach early to get a spot to park. EVERYONE knows this. But, now PAID parking for non-residents? Does that mean that residents have their own parking area? Or, is it still a “get there early” thing.
Is there an UPSIDE to Residents for the Fees based Non-Resident Parking? Or, is it just the State making money?
Hawaii has become so popular, in part due to the fact that traveling outside the US is severely limited. Flying to Hawaii is already very expensive, and once you have arrived all food, dining, attractions and car rentals are very high. If I knew how the fees would be used and that it would benefit both the natives and travelers, then it might be ok. But as in all fees, that is not usually the case.
I guess I will take this opportunity to visit other places …seems like what i loved about Maui isnt there anymore…
It appears the “aloha” spirit that welcomed tourists to Maui is going by by. Just a perspective, but I feel is a valid one. I know my tourism dollars will be welcomed in many other places. Just saying . . . Aloha always.
Agree!
Please enjoy your new places. Thanks for being considerate of our home.
Agree.
I am grateful for the time we have spent on Maui. Protecting the land and its people is key and always has been a consideration for us. We don’t mind following rules and paying for parking but If we aren’t welcome, there are other beautiful places to go.
Sadly, completely agree. They are choking to death the very thing that feeds their people – tourism. It’s palpable that they don’t want tourists, even fellow Americans, so we will take our money and go elsewhere. What a shame.
Give it a few months maybe it’ll wane just like consumer spending 🙏🏽
Pretty much!! They tax the heck out of tourists already with all the fees they add on to rental cars, hotels, airfare etc !
Sadly, there will be no push back
+1
i feel this a bit. glad i got to see all these places before they were so over-run
but remember,thats the goal, to disincentivize a portion of the people
I agree. It seems like Maui wants to limit travel there and increase fees, making it harder to justify the long flight from the east coast.
You mean, respect for the local people, land, resources, etc.? Probably best you do go elsewhere.
It sounds more like an effort to preserve what you love about Maui.
It appears that Hawaii doesn’t want us back. Increased fees, expensive flights and hotels, the continued COVID restrictions…our annual trip to Maui last year was a travel nightmare. Mahalo but maybe not.
Outside of the resorts, Maui is a bit of a dump. Burned out cars everywhere. People living in crappy minivans along the beaches.
No, it is definitely not the same as even 5 yrs ago…
First most everyone is complaining that they are going out of business and need tourists back. Now they want to charge us even more. Many other places to visit that welcome visitors. So much for sharing the Aloha spirit with all that come…
I am beginning to believe that also.
I love Maui..Have never set out to destroy it’s natural beauty just as I respect the state I live in. But I will change back to visiting the continental USA if they proceed this direction.
Good.
Maui lost itself when there became more transplants than locals on the island.