304 thoughts on “New Hawaii Tourist Fees: Creative Hikes Set to Curb Tourism”
Richele D.
Do the powers that be in Hawaii not realize that tourism is the only thing that supports Hawaii?? I have been visiting since 1969 and the changes have been heartbreaking. What will residents do to support themselves without the tourist industry? Does the state have exports, etc. that I don’t know about? Me, and now for the past 30 years my family, have been respectful and joyful visitors! Hawaii is our happy place. We are going to Kauai in May and are now wondering what kind of situation we will be going into. Will it be the Aloha we have always been given and give in return, or will we face hostility and animosity? It is heartbreaking.
While significant, tourism accounts for 25% of GDP annually. That’s a lot, but over tourism reaps its own impacts on an already over stressed ecosystem. For example, dive off Maui. It is heartbreaking to see the amount of dead coral from toxic sunscreens, runoff and literally damaging coral from divers and boat operations.
Agree. When we dove off Kehea many of the turtles had major tumors, but this is not caused by tourists, rather pollution caused mostly by local farming runoff.
Regarding the non-mineral sunscreens, nobody will check it when you come in. In addition, the agricultural inspection is only when you “leave Hawaii”, not when you arrive. I have asked them why they protect the mainland instead of protecting the islands, but never received a clear response.
Eva, it goes a long way that because the sunscreen law was passed, not a single non-mineral sunscreen is sold on the entire island of Maui.
I agree that the agricultural inspection should go both ways.
1
sandi
while this is patially true, “dead coral from toxic sunscreens, runoff and literally damaging coral from divers and boat operations”. Everyone living on the islands, the past use of plastics, many many other factors and each individual is to blame. Any store owner, any farmer, any local, any visitor….the list goes on. Too Many People In The World Now.
I lived in Oahu from 84-87 and have since gone back more than 30 times, sometimes making more than one visit a year. My daughters, who are 13 and 15, have visited Hawaii seven times in their young lives. My entire family loves going there but I wonder if this next trip we have planned this year might not be our last.
I’m not here to tell the Hawaii state government or its residents what to do. At the same time, if they enact policies that are not to my interest, I’ll just take my tourism business elsewhere. It just seems to me that, even though tourism is the lifeblood of Hawaii, the issue is being politicized and tourists are being targeted as the main reasons for Hawaii’s myriad problems.
You all did read about the purpose of all of these new fees, right?
The purpose is to reduce tourism.
So you leave a post here saying “Fees and prices are getting too high, I’m not coming anymore”. Hundreds and hundreds of these posts.
Not saying there is something alternative to post, but it’s interesting to see how effective these high-fee strategies are working and having an immediate effect!
Dont believe everything you read., especially with greed, and politics being in full force. The officials who state this are not making an intellectual statement. The fees would not keep me away, it is the constant whining.
Did a comparison BVI 3 weeks. Flight & lodging $5022. A $10. Environmental Fee on arrival. $20 upon departure… $15 for locals. No sales tax. Same 3 weeks LIH $8167. + the two proposed fee increases $75. + hidden lodging fees in package 47.50 resort fee+ 47.50 imposed tax + 25 self park fee each per day. Total $10,762. Plus sales tax on purchases, beach fees, park fees.Well over double.
Higher taxes and additional fees will cut tourism numbers, but there are few places in the world that compare to Hawaii’s plethora of beautiful, natural wonders. I have visited French Polynesia, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Guinea as comparable, but each requires a long flight, passport and considerable planning. Each had their beauty, but try to pick a comparable, accessible mainland location that compares. Except for a few Caribbean islands, most are flat atolls. Pretty sand and water with little variation.
In the long run, those reduced numbers will reap visitors with the resources and respect for what Hawaii needs to retain.
This is getting ridiculous, tax the tourist so all they can afford when they’re hear is a Costco hotdog, we will see most of the tourism, which we are seeing now go to Mexico and Costa Rica so much for the greedy politicians did want to make more money on the back of the tourists, tourists have many other choices for destinations if all these taxes go through, you will see next to nail for tourists here, these politicians with these ideas need to go 😡
As far as higher taxes are concerned, I view that as just another biproduct of inflation caused by our own Federal Reserve Board authorizing the U.S. Treasury to print more and more paper dollars. It can all be traced back to inflationary monetary policy because it simply takes more paper dollars to acquire the same amount of anything, whether it’s a vacation in Hawaii, a dozen eggs from the grocery store, a pound of good coffee, or a meal out in a good restaurant. The only way to overcome that is to stay invested in assets that will do better than inflation. What better place to accomplish that than in Hawaii, where everybody wants to visit or live. The Kona Costco makes that even more possible with their $4.99 rotisserie chicken. 🙂
I have 4 weeks timeshare in Hawaii and I will no longer tip for anything! All tourists need to immediately stop tipping and spend as little as possible while in Hawaii
Please boycott Hawaii’s economy in any way possible.
well, that will hurt our poorest , least well paid workers and won’t hurt the big hotels or the restaurant owners or the politicians at all. But, yeah, thanks for coming, I guess
from a Hawaii resident tryingto surive with our cost of housing, food and car maintenance and taxes etc
Outrageous taxes! And rental cars are already so high priced. This won’t stop people from visiting; just an unconscionable taxing and feeing us to death! Vote out these legislators and Governor.
And I’m not the least bit surprised that the belief on behalf of the Hawaii legislature that you can actually tax your way into prosperity is something they still believe in while it has failed Everywhere else the concept has been applied. And Green has now become a complete embarrassment in any and all ways possible because of this and his role during the scamdemic!
Agree. When we dove off Kehea many of the turtles had major tumors, but this is not caused by tourists, rather pollution caused mostly by local farming runoff.
I totally agree with your reader Allan! We have skipped Hawaii for 2024 because the airfare was $2000…up from about $1300-1400 when we went in January2023! Car rentals for a month now top $2,000! I also question how much longer I will be able to visit Hawaii. I just hope the residents can make a living when we all stop coming.
Personally, I get the impression that the politicians in Hawaii are making a bet. And that bet entails that, no matter how much they raise taxes, people will still pay outrageous prices to vacation and possibly live in Hawaii and the goose will continue to lay golden eggs forevermore.
It’s a dangerous bet to make because Hawaii, without the massive funds that tourism injects into its coffers, can easily become another failed developing state. I mean, there’s nothing that Hawaii produces that the rest of the world can’t live without or isn’t better or cheaper elsewhere.
Not sure where you are coming from and I assume the $2K airfare you are mentioning is not per person? There might be certain days where the airfare is more expensive, but generally they haven’t gone up that much to and from Hawaii…that said, I am generally flexible with my dates.
If you live on the West Coast, then you can still get good deals on flights to Hawaii. If you don’t, then you can pretty much resign yourself to paying anywhere from $800-1200 per person on the low end. For our next, and more than likely last, trip to Hawaii, at least as a family, we decided to drive to LA from Salt Lake City because the fares were so much lower.
I can’t believe that we have another state that wants to cut their own throat. If tourists stop going to Hawaii, lets just see how they plan to maintain their way of living without the tourist dollars. Are tourists expected to pay for all their ineptitude? Now it looks like the runways on 4 of the islands need major maintenance, who’s going to pay for that, another tourist tax?
I doubt these new taxes will affect tourists coming to the islands. What it will do is affect the spending that is done in local businesses
Instead of shopping and taking tours they will hang out at beaches and hotel pools. They will have the same budget just spend it differently
What is the Hawaiian government thinking?? This sounds like gross mismanagement of collected funds and a desire to pander to locals perhaps in an effort to stay in office.
To the best of my knowledge no other state directly asks tourists to fund their fire and climate efforts.
Hawaii you are losing your core economic engine!
I do understand the attempt to balance tourism dollars (and face it, folks, they’re not generating revenue with semiconductor facilities or other internationally significant manufacturing facilities which, but the way would help the locals and the local governments) with environmentally friendly pressures from the locals, but I’ll bet if a substantial effort to reduce tourism to a trickle of what it has historically been (think 10%), they would be falling all over themselves to figure out how to get that back. That’s my solution. Send a message by not visiting. With family on Oahu and a regularly scheduled visit to Maui, I’ll suffer personally. Time to help the elected people understand. Don’t. Go. Back. Until. They. Get. It.
I guess it was my “resort fee” that was waived at the Outrigger in Honolulu. I do know that car rental fees are the same for residents than for tourists, but how often do local residents need to rent a car?
We are from Canada, the expense of the exchange rate is already a burden. Which is not in our control but increases the trip costs. we have been coming for 8 years now and love our trips.
we consider ourselves well aware of environmental issues and respect all of the Hawaiian cultural aspects.
Car rental and staying costs have increased enormously.
I dont mind fees for environmental and park uses.
There will reach and endpoint when we can’t afford to come anymore.
All respect to Hawaii .
As a Maui resident, I simply want to say hi and thank you for your appreciation of this special place and all your economic support of our tourist industry over the years. Some of my family work in tourism (as a second or third job cuz expensive here, yeah?). It is one big slice of our economy. I also wanted to say (and I’m a US citizen) that generally speaking, I find Canadian folk to be very responsible and mindful visitors (ah, all these modern buzzwords). You guys may still smoke but you don’t leave your butts on the beach. And you no whine like some Americans. You all seem to be real happy to be here. I would be too if it were January and I lived Alberta..
We have been coming to Maui from the east coast for 17 years spending thousands of dollars. If taxes and fees start making it harder to visit, while we will be disappointed, there’s plenty of other destinations that will welcome our tourists dollars
If those taxes went to better roads, nicer bathrooms at parks and beaches, and supported the airports and functional runways maybe it would be less objectionable.
Do the powers that be in Hawaii not realize that tourism is the only thing that supports Hawaii?? I have been visiting since 1969 and the changes have been heartbreaking. What will residents do to support themselves without the tourist industry? Does the state have exports, etc. that I don’t know about? Me, and now for the past 30 years my family, have been respectful and joyful visitors! Hawaii is our happy place. We are going to Kauai in May and are now wondering what kind of situation we will be going into. Will it be the Aloha we have always been given and give in return, or will we face hostility and animosity? It is heartbreaking.
Check out “Pacific Biodiesel”. Looking forward to the next sunflower festival on Maui!
While significant, tourism accounts for 25% of GDP annually. That’s a lot, but over tourism reaps its own impacts on an already over stressed ecosystem. For example, dive off Maui. It is heartbreaking to see the amount of dead coral from toxic sunscreens, runoff and literally damaging coral from divers and boat operations.
Agree. When we dove off Kehea many of the turtles had major tumors, but this is not caused by tourists, rather pollution caused mostly by local farming runoff.
The figure for tourism reliance is Much higher for Maui – more like 40% of GDP, and 51% of jobs that are directly related to tourism.
About the coral, Maui passed a law at the end of 2022 that banned all non-mineral based sunscreen products. Hopefully, that will help the coral.
Regarding the non-mineral sunscreens, nobody will check it when you come in. In addition, the agricultural inspection is only when you “leave Hawaii”, not when you arrive. I have asked them why they protect the mainland instead of protecting the islands, but never received a clear response.
Eva, it goes a long way that because the sunscreen law was passed, not a single non-mineral sunscreen is sold on the entire island of Maui.
I agree that the agricultural inspection should go both ways.
while this is patially true, “dead coral from toxic sunscreens, runoff and literally damaging coral from divers and boat operations”. Everyone living on the islands, the past use of plastics, many many other factors and each individual is to blame. Any store owner, any farmer, any local, any visitor….the list goes on. Too Many People In The World Now.
I lived in Oahu from 84-87 and have since gone back more than 30 times, sometimes making more than one visit a year. My daughters, who are 13 and 15, have visited Hawaii seven times in their young lives. My entire family loves going there but I wonder if this next trip we have planned this year might not be our last.
I’m not here to tell the Hawaii state government or its residents what to do. At the same time, if they enact policies that are not to my interest, I’ll just take my tourism business elsewhere. It just seems to me that, even though tourism is the lifeblood of Hawaii, the issue is being politicized and tourists are being targeted as the main reasons for Hawaii’s myriad problems.
You all did read about the purpose of all of these new fees, right?
The purpose is to reduce tourism.
So you leave a post here saying “Fees and prices are getting too high, I’m not coming anymore”. Hundreds and hundreds of these posts.
Not saying there is something alternative to post, but it’s interesting to see how effective these high-fee strategies are working and having an immediate effect!
Dont believe everything you read., especially with greed, and politics being in full force. The officials who state this are not making an intellectual statement. The fees would not keep me away, it is the constant whining.
Hopefully that will stop further construction of new resorts ….
Did a comparison BVI 3 weeks. Flight & lodging $5022. A $10. Environmental Fee on arrival. $20 upon departure… $15 for locals. No sales tax. Same 3 weeks LIH $8167. + the two proposed fee increases $75. + hidden lodging fees in package 47.50 resort fee+ 47.50 imposed tax + 25 self park fee each per day. Total $10,762. Plus sales tax on purchases, beach fees, park fees.Well over double.
Thank you for this analysis.
It’s been proven a reduction in tax rates increases tax revenue.
Increased tax rates result in the opposite.
Higher taxes and additional fees will cut tourism numbers, but there are few places in the world that compare to Hawaii’s plethora of beautiful, natural wonders. I have visited French Polynesia, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Guinea as comparable, but each requires a long flight, passport and considerable planning. Each had their beauty, but try to pick a comparable, accessible mainland location that compares. Except for a few Caribbean islands, most are flat atolls. Pretty sand and water with little variation.
In the long run, those reduced numbers will reap visitors with the resources and respect for what Hawaii needs to retain.
So only rich people can appreciate or respect the islands and people? I have observed just the opposite. Perhaps I misunderstood your comment.
This is getting ridiculous, tax the tourist so all they can afford when they’re hear is a Costco hotdog, we will see most of the tourism, which we are seeing now go to Mexico and Costa Rica so much for the greedy politicians did want to make more money on the back of the tourists, tourists have many other choices for destinations if all these taxes go through, you will see next to nail for tourists here, these politicians with these ideas need to go 😡
As far as higher taxes are concerned, I view that as just another biproduct of inflation caused by our own Federal Reserve Board authorizing the U.S. Treasury to print more and more paper dollars. It can all be traced back to inflationary monetary policy because it simply takes more paper dollars to acquire the same amount of anything, whether it’s a vacation in Hawaii, a dozen eggs from the grocery store, a pound of good coffee, or a meal out in a good restaurant. The only way to overcome that is to stay invested in assets that will do better than inflation. What better place to accomplish that than in Hawaii, where everybody wants to visit or live. The Kona Costco makes that even more possible with their $4.99 rotisserie chicken. 🙂
I have 4 weeks timeshare in Hawaii and I will no longer tip for anything! All tourists need to immediately stop tipping and spend as little as possible while in Hawaii
Please boycott Hawaii’s economy in any way possible.
We’ve upped our tipping to 25-30%. It’s not the restaurant servers who are anti-tourist. We need them – and we need to help them feed their families.
well, that will hurt our poorest , least well paid workers and won’t hurt the big hotels or the restaurant owners or the politicians at all. But, yeah, thanks for coming, I guess
from a Hawaii resident tryingto surive with our cost of housing, food and car maintenance and taxes etc
Just when I’m thinking about another 3 week trip… this happens….
Outrageous taxes! And rental cars are already so high priced. This won’t stop people from visiting; just an unconscionable taxing and feeing us to death! Vote out these legislators and Governor.
And I’m not the least bit surprised that the belief on behalf of the Hawaii legislature that you can actually tax your way into prosperity is something they still believe in while it has failed Everywhere else the concept has been applied. And Green has now become a complete embarrassment in any and all ways possible because of this and his role during the scamdemic!
Agree. When we dove off Kehea many of the turtles had major tumors, but this is not caused by tourists, rather pollution caused mostly by local farming runoff.
I totally agree with your reader Allan! We have skipped Hawaii for 2024 because the airfare was $2000…up from about $1300-1400 when we went in January2023! Car rentals for a month now top $2,000! I also question how much longer I will be able to visit Hawaii. I just hope the residents can make a living when we all stop coming.
Personally, I get the impression that the politicians in Hawaii are making a bet. And that bet entails that, no matter how much they raise taxes, people will still pay outrageous prices to vacation and possibly live in Hawaii and the goose will continue to lay golden eggs forevermore.
It’s a dangerous bet to make because Hawaii, without the massive funds that tourism injects into its coffers, can easily become another failed developing state. I mean, there’s nothing that Hawaii produces that the rest of the world can’t live without or isn’t better or cheaper elsewhere.
Not sure where you are coming from and I assume the $2K airfare you are mentioning is not per person? There might be certain days where the airfare is more expensive, but generally they haven’t gone up that much to and from Hawaii…that said, I am generally flexible with my dates.
If you live on the West Coast, then you can still get good deals on flights to Hawaii. If you don’t, then you can pretty much resign yourself to paying anywhere from $800-1200 per person on the low end. For our next, and more than likely last, trip to Hawaii, at least as a family, we decided to drive to LA from Salt Lake City because the fares were so much lower.
I can’t believe that we have another state that wants to cut their own throat. If tourists stop going to Hawaii, lets just see how they plan to maintain their way of living without the tourist dollars. Are tourists expected to pay for all their ineptitude? Now it looks like the runways on 4 of the islands need major maintenance, who’s going to pay for that, another tourist tax?
I doubt these new taxes will affect tourists coming to the islands. What it will do is affect the spending that is done in local businesses
Instead of shopping and taking tours they will hang out at beaches and hotel pools. They will have the same budget just spend it differently
You are so right. I love BI. Taxes and fees go up we will spend less on restaurants and more at Costco.
What is the Hawaiian government thinking?? This sounds like gross mismanagement of collected funds and a desire to pander to locals perhaps in an effort to stay in office.
To the best of my knowledge no other state directly asks tourists to fund their fire and climate efforts.
Hawaii you are losing your core economic engine!
I do understand the attempt to balance tourism dollars (and face it, folks, they’re not generating revenue with semiconductor facilities or other internationally significant manufacturing facilities which, but the way would help the locals and the local governments) with environmentally friendly pressures from the locals, but I’ll bet if a substantial effort to reduce tourism to a trickle of what it has historically been (think 10%), they would be falling all over themselves to figure out how to get that back. That’s my solution. Send a message by not visiting. With family on Oahu and a regularly scheduled visit to Maui, I’ll suffer personally. Time to help the elected people understand. Don’t. Go. Back. Until. They. Get. It.
I guess it was my “resort fee” that was waived at the Outrigger in Honolulu. I do know that car rental fees are the same for residents than for tourists, but how often do local residents need to rent a car?
Hi Eva.
Yes many rate offers avoid resort fees.
Aloha.
We are from Canada, the expense of the exchange rate is already a burden. Which is not in our control but increases the trip costs. we have been coming for 8 years now and love our trips.
we consider ourselves well aware of environmental issues and respect all of the Hawaiian cultural aspects.
Car rental and staying costs have increased enormously.
I dont mind fees for environmental and park uses.
There will reach and endpoint when we can’t afford to come anymore.
All respect to Hawaii .
Aloha Canada
As a Maui resident, I simply want to say hi and thank you for your appreciation of this special place and all your economic support of our tourist industry over the years. Some of my family work in tourism (as a second or third job cuz expensive here, yeah?). It is one big slice of our economy. I also wanted to say (and I’m a US citizen) that generally speaking, I find Canadian folk to be very responsible and mindful visitors (ah, all these modern buzzwords). You guys may still smoke but you don’t leave your butts on the beach. And you no whine like some Americans. You all seem to be real happy to be here. I would be too if it were January and I lived Alberta..
We have been coming to Maui from the east coast for 17 years spending thousands of dollars. If taxes and fees start making it harder to visit, while we will be disappointed, there’s plenty of other destinations that will welcome our tourists dollars
Do all the proposed increases affect time share owners as well?
As I recall, I still get charged the occupancy tax on my Timeshare. 😠
If those taxes went to better roads, nicer bathrooms at parks and beaches, and supported the airports and functional runways maybe it would be less objectionable.
“If those taxes went to better roads, nicer bathrooms at parks and beaches, and supported the airports and functional runways …”
Good one!
Rather than supporting inept government.