No matter how much money they may have, visitors don’t like the feeling of being nickeled-and-dimed to death. Had we not heard those exact words used countless times in your comments, it may not have caught our attention in the way that it just did. Here are some examples. Let us know which comment you agree with most.
Lori: I would rather pay one fee than be nickeled and dimed at each park, beach, and attraction.
Steve: It appears that rather than welcome tourists, the goal is to nickel and dime them over every little thing possible. Every trip I find more things that are being charged for, and while some are worthwhile, many are just a way for the state to take in money, with little of the money spent on improving the park or area.
Lynn: Budget determines where folks can and will go. This may cause Hawaii to lose money from visitors choosing not to go somewhere where they will be nickeled and dimed for everything on vacation.
Andy: Airlines continually nickel and dime the traveler over and over and they are oblivious to the fact that they are notoriously hated.
Rita: As a frequent visitor… we already pay higher taxes for residing at Hawaii hotels /resorts… It seems like visitors are perhaps being nickeled and dimed to death and not appreciated… Unless the goal of the Hawaiian government is to keep visitors away.
Barbara: I would gladly pay a “visitor’s fee” rather than be nickel-and-dimed every day when I want to visit a beach. I totally understand that concept of visitors participating in maintaining Kauai but please don’t hit me over the head every day of my stay!
Jim: Doesn’t matter how rich one is. No one likes to be nickel and dimed.
Jen: We’ve loved going to Hawaii for years. But the taxes and fees are getting to the point of being ridiculous. I feel like Hawaii is making it clear that tourism is not wanted. We usually spend a good amount of money there. We don’t go cheap but want to spend our money where we can go and know that we won’t be nickeled and dimed.
Tony: What I believe Kauai should try to avoid is looking like the Disneyland Money machine where every time you turn around you are laying out more cash and feel nickel & dimed to death… Where does $ go?
Tana: These islands seem to be nickel and diming tourists and it’s getting really old and annoying. Hawaii is expensive to go to and stay at, real people have to save and work extra to go, all these fees will add to the difficulties of going.
Nickle-and-diming feels like the antithesis of aloha.
It isn’t just how much you charge, but the perception of the value of both the product offered and the visitors who are the consumers. At every level, Hawaii has clearly missed the boat in this area.
Hotel rates and resort fees: How does the $1,600/night average rate sound?
In the latest month reported by the state (see report below), Wailea hotels lead the average rates being charged with a whopping $1,136 per night. Not including taxes and fees including resort fees. In total, that represents approximately $1,600/night on average.
Accommodation taxes: the highest in the country.
The accommodation taxes added to hotels and vacation rentals went up 3% in the last year. Hawaii’s legislature kicked off these increases via HB 862. That measure went into effect starting last October. As a result, the state now has the highest combined accommodation tax in the US.
The state legislature approved the accommodation taxes. Previously, the counties received an allotment of the statewide uniform 10.25% accommodations tax rate, but that ended. Instead, each county had to add its own 3% surcharge to that existing statewide tax. Those taxes are plus an additional 4.17% GST on Maui and 4.712% GST elsewhere in Hawaii. The combined tax on hotels and vacation rentals is approximately 18%.
It is worth noting that Hawaii residents and visitors pay the exact same taxes on accommodations.
Hawaii beach parking fees.
We recently reported that Maui is implemented a paid beach parking system for visitors with possible rates of up to $30. The other islands also have similar plans in the works. So it isn’t a question of if but of when and how much.
Hawaii state park visitor admission fees.
Of the 50 Hawaii parks in Hawaii, 10 already have visitor admission and parking fees (those are typically $5 per person and $10 per vehicle). That includes Hanauma State Park, where the entrance fee was increased to $25/person. Hawaii residents are exempt. Visitor admission fees will also come to all of the state parks. We don’t yet know when they will arrive at the other 40 parks, how they will be managed, and what the fees will be.
Airlines and airlines fees.
Except for most competitive routes, Hawaii airfares are going high and higher. Competition is shifting, and on most mainland routes it is now diminished. That became obvious when Southwest Hawaii flights were terminated on 10 routes. Airline fees are resuming too, and we recently got stuck with a huge airline change fee, as we reported.
Can you avoid being nickel-and-dimed in Hawaii?
One of the differences is that tourists are being asked to pay exorbitant rates for everything, plus different additional fees that residents don’t pay. While true in other countries, it is far less common in U.S. interstate travel. As we pointed out, however, everyone, including residents, pays the accommodation taxes.
Where do Hawaii taxes and fees go?
As you’ve pointed out, Hawaii has squandered most of its tax dollars in perpetuity. So we are left with ridiculously high rates and largely third-world tourism infrastructure. But sometimes, we see changes when admission fees are added. One case in point is Diamond Head. Before fees, hawkers ran rampant, tunnels and bunkers were not lit, and the trail needed work. All of that has been remedied, and a staircase added near the top to create an alternate route for visitors.
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Peter K says
Hawaii residents want less tourists. So if visitors don’t like the fees and taxes then the complainers should go elsewhere. When the visitor numbers are back down to the levels from a decade or two ago then the state should worry about ‘nickel and diming’. Until that happens, keep raising fees for everything, it’s clearly not slowing down the passenger arrivals enough.
Justin says
Just came back from a trip to Hawaii (Oahu and Kauai). Take the city bus, camp at private campings with your tent and eat poke bowl from the grocery store (Foodland, big save, etc.). It was cheap for us to travel to Hawaii. We went to multiple beaches, did a couple of hikes (Kalalau 11 miles and few others), and surfed in a few spots. We had a great time and it was not expensive at all.
Ray T says
Everywhere I go on the mainland I have to pay resort fees, parking fees and other taxes and fees. People in California have no right to complain. Almost every beach charges for parking. If you don’t like the fees, don’t come to Hawaii.
Roger O says
So time to consider a new destination. A simple solution. Consider Fiji, Samoa or Tonga. A bit further, but beautiful and way less money. Better choices until Hawaii sorts out this problem. I think the Cook Islands are spectacular…Hawaii the way it used to be forty years ago.
Nancy c says
Maui doesn’t want visitors. Send your money and stay home. They blame everything on the visitors. It has gotten worse because of covid. They don’t nickel and dime you. It’s $$$$. They say all the trash is from visitors but cars fridges washers and dryers along the roads are not from people who want to visit Maui. As a white resident I have been told to go home. That the beach was only for natives.
LorI S. says
This “nickel and dime” is given to visitors so that Hawaii Residents are not taxed more. As a resident we have a saying about how expensive it is to live here, “That’s the price to stay in paradise.” The same holds tru for visitors.
Becky S says
I have been to Hawaii over 25 times in the last 25 years. We have loved Hawaii and always can’t wait to go back. One reason was the Hawaiian people were always so friendly and although it was a little more expensive than traveling at home we loved the vibe. That has changed. We were there in May and it is as if Now they do not want the visitors! I do somewhat understand that but I also know that is their biggest income to the islands. And now everything is so high that honestly the visitors should be treated grand not gouged. I’m just saying probably not my #1 anymore. Mahalo. Just voicing my opinion.
Kai E. says
A $30 beach parking fee?
No thanks, I’ll just stay away from those, or find a place to park that I can walk from.
Lynn P says
Aloha,I think it all starts with the airlines, and the prices they charge. Now, the cost to fly has gone up so folks that once could fly here when tickets were cheaper, still weren’t prepared to deal with our high costs of food, activities, rental cars, etc. There are many sites here on Facebook that tourists or folks planning on coming over ask questions about the costs. We,locals tell then what to expect and plan for. Some listen, but others are in denial and say it’s not as bad as we are saying. It’s not our fault if they get here and go into sticker shock! Anyway, it’s difficult to have everyone happy.
Marie M. says
If tourist overuse and abuse is the problem, limit the number of flights coming in. I love visiting Hawaii, and I understand it is a small island nation that has limited resources. It’s not fake and it’s not Disneyland, if I have to pay a bit more to enjoy beautiful Hawaii I will. It’s expensive to manage the amount of people and waste in a remote island location. Hawaii needs to be focused on find a sustainable future not making it cheaper, cheaper just ruins it.
Sarah says
Just spent 7 nights/days in Waikiki Beach. Stayed in Alohilani Resorts & shocked over the $48/day for Resort Fee & $49/day for self parking. Every time I turned around someone had their hand out for a minimal of $5.00. We saw many native residents.
However, what sunk my heart was on every side walk or street was a very sad truly sick physically & mentally homeless person of all ages. I felt terrible, yes, gave out countless $5.00’s and saw them buy a piece of food. The urine smell/smell of rotten flesh was enough to make me throw up.Tired of the constant hand out.
The taxi driver first showed $7.21 owed for a 1.2 mile trip, yet clicked & went up to $21.63. I was shocked.
Spent $9,450.00 for 1 wk. $3,845.00 more than I expected.
Kimberly L says
We are planning to travel there in Mar Although it is my first time & bucket list, I cannot help to already feel disappointed by all the comments Ive been reading.
Jackson C says
So glad I saw this! I’m canceling plans for family visit in October. $25 per person at Haunama? Shocking! Mexico beckons instead.
Burt says
This year our Hawaii vacation was awesome in fact it was one of the most relaxing time I ever had in Hawaii because we stayed 95% of our stay at the condo property. Since we were paying outrageous taxes and fees for the condo we decided not to go out like we usually did before! Sorry local business!!!
David Y. says
Seems like the hest solution for both Hawaii and visitors would be a one-time fee based on length of stay. For example, $20 for each day of unlimited access, with discounts for 7/10/14/30 days
Visit get one pass which they present for free parking and admission at any attraction. Perhaps a lower cost for admission only.
Fees are structured to:
1) Reducing over-tourism
2) Encourage longer stays, which would reduce crowds at airports
3) Channel a larger percentage of tourist directly to the state, a smaller percentage to the hotel/resort corporations.
4) Encourage use of public transit
Eldo R. says
Nah, it would only encourage millions of tourists to complain that they are being charged for things they’re not using. “Why am I being charged for parking when I’m renting a car?” Why am I being charged for state park and beach use when I’m not to the parks or the beaches? That’s socialism!!”
You can’t please em all..
Cathy L says
We have been visitors to Hawaii for 15 years. Have stayed on every island multiple times. 15 years ago the aloha spirit along with the incredible beauty,were best things about the islands and kept us coming back year after year. Over the last few years we have felt increasingly more like very unwelcome guests. We are not wealthy by any means so between the many (certainly not all)hostile
locals, and the nickle and dimeing we will be be spending our last vacation dollars in Hawaii this year. I know that is the goal of many locals and they will cheer this but how sad to lose such an important part of our life.
S.A. says
Since the 1980’s our family and extended family have been frequent visitors to the islands. Often 3 to 4 times a year however we won’t be back. The never ending tourist only taxes, fees and outright hostilities toward us we’ve experienced over the past 10 years, well it’s obvious that although our money sought after our presence is not. What’s frustrating to us is that all these fees, taxes and surcharges don’t improve anything. The roads, beaches and public places are right out of a something like a third-world place, The Dominican Republic comes to mind. Lastly, we (as tourists) are targeted by the criminal element as our rental car was broken into twice during our last 7 day visit.
don p says
It just more and more seems like the residents of hawaii want the tourist dollars but somehow want the tourists to remain invisible to them. its totally gotten out of hand and when you drive them away and they discover other great places, you will lose them and their dollars forever.. when you are begging them to come back it will be too late they will have new favorite places to go.
Sandi M says
I don’t mind the fees as long as they go towards renewing Hawaii my ‘home’.
Mahalo
David H says
I was thinking about taking my family to Hawaii. I lived in Hawaii for 8 years back in the 80s while stationed at Kaneohe and loved it. Now after reading this Article I no longer want to go. No one wants to be ripped off.