46 thoughts on “Rising Costs Continue To Drive Down Hawaii Visitors”
Pam S
Hi Jeff and Rob. Hope you’re doing well. You asked “What would you like to see Hawaii do to win back your visitor business?” The short answer is to stop gouging the tourists. Hubs and I used to visit twice a year and stay 2-3 weeks each time. The last time we visited it would have been cheaper to purchase a car and then resell it rather than rent one. They used “shortage of cars” as the reason, but we saw the acres of rental cars parked near the airport. We usually stay in a STR condo, but those are also priced out of sight. I guess they would rather let them sit empty than to offer them at a fair price. Nuff said. Thanks for keeping us “in the know” and for letting us vent.
For a reasonable rental car, I suggest you consider Turo and help support individual local owners, not the mainland major car rental outfits. To find the best rates on comfortable, interesting accommodation (especially on Kauai), search for “farm stays”, and try to think 3 to 6 months ahead 🙂
Hawaii tourism also needs to focus on the West Coast as that group of travelers is more inclined to head to Hawaii than many further inland stateside travelers. The latter have more vacation options available to them; in particular the Caribbean which is typically a mere few hours away by direct flight. Indeed, with more modern-like facilities, easier travel access, family-oriented vacation packages plus cruise-line stoppages, not to mention cost effective, the Caribbean is easily ciphering off potential Hawaii travelers. Hawaii tourism needs to both modernize accommodations, offer a greater variety of family-oriented facilities and attractions, as well as bring back the ‘aloha’ spirit that once permeated the Hawaii travel experience.
Hi, I have a trip planned to Kona next week, we will be staying 22 days. I have a timeshare. This will be our 3rd time. We love Hawaii. The only draw back are the high prices. Aloha
People have found other places to go where their money travels further and they perceive being treated more warmly.
I cannot get friends to come visit us on island and the two reasons I almost always hear are those two above. I will then see them post of social media being in Mexico or the Dominican or other places around the Caribbean. We’re slowly killing the golden goose with no alternate plans for income here.
If our shift is towards boutique tourism, where less people come but they are wealthy and therefore spend more, I hope for our economy’s sake those people start showing up in droves.
We have been repeat visitors to Maui since 2007. Took a break during Covid 2020 due to their restrictions. Flights are still very affordable for us (WA) but the cost per night at the various condo rentals have doubled!!! Cheaper and easier to rent at the beaches of SoCal.
Instead of coming up with new fees for visitors just raise the GET and exempt unprepared Food. That way locals, who prepare and eat many meals home, will not have to pay the GET on most of their food but visitors who eat most of their meals out will pay more in tax.
When you eliminate AirBnB for families or small groups traveling to Hawaii this is what you get. When hotel rooms are over $700 and meals are close to $40 per person this is what you get. It is cheaper to travel to resorts in Mexico. You need to start allowing more AirBnb rentals in order to get tourism back up. Another big factor is tourist from Asia. Not sure how you get these people back to Hawaii. Because are competing with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
In the past when we have visited we enjoyed the aloha spirit. The fresh pineapple, your music etc. when we went last year we never even heard your loved music until right before leaving. No pineapple and no aloha anywhere. It was sad and left us wondering why we went. This year we are going to Kauai. Only because of a request for personal reasons. I am reluctantly going.
Jackie, I agree with you completely. The one thing I used to like about Hawaii was hearing the island music wherever we went. Now we hear none of it anyplace except at home. I’ve bought my fair share of Iz music. My husband always used to stop at a roadside stand to buy me a lei and pick up a pineapple. I guess those days are gone.
Aloha Jackie, and welcome to Kauai. E komo mai. You will find a friendly populace, plenty of pineapple (including Sugarloaf White Pineapple Frosties at the Aloha Aina Farms stand near the botanical mini-golf in Kilauea) and numerous venues for Hawaiian music.
Lucky we live Kauai and you are lucky to be coming. We hope that you have an Airbnb, VRBO, or farmstay booked, and support local ownership.
My favorite place to travel just getting too expensive. Something needs to be done. I can’t afford to travel to Hawaii any longer…so sorry.
..you have out priced your selves. Aloha..I will go to vegas
The governor and the state of Hawaii better understand the metrics and what is going on with tourists. In my opinion, the governor is still sending mix messaging about tourists. If a family has one big vacation a year, do you think they are going to spend it in Maui if they think they will not be welcome? I just returned from a trip to Maui & most of the locals I talked to, want tourists back due to jobs. I live there about 3 months out of the year and Maui is a great place to visit. The governmental leadership is lacking the awareness to promote Maui rather than send out mix messaging.
Sorry Hawaii, but we will take our hard earned dollars to another beautiful vacation destination where we are “wanted” and where prices are reasonable. You are acting like you are the only beautiful vacation spot in the world and you’re not. We will not be back until we feel welcomed and you get your prices down where they should be.
General inflation is everywhere and affects everyone, but every dollar taken in state and county tourist fees and taxes is a dollar not going to a local business, and as seen by the comments on this site the word is out and the dollars are going elsewhere.
Earlier this month, we stayed at our 2-bedroom timeshare unit on Kaua’i, along with another couple we invited for their first trip to Hawai’i. They enjoyed their time on the island, but I don’t think they will ever return. They have been going to Cozumel, Mexico for over 30 years, a much shorter flight for them, with more reasonable prices for food and accommodations. We prepared our meals from the grocery stores and Costco, only going out a couple of times for “Happy Hour” pupus or shave ice. We went to Limahuli and to Kilauea Lighthouse, which both required reservations. On previous visits, we went to restaurants often and explored much more, but now it seems just too much trouble and too expensive.
Aloha guys! I think Hawai’i has not grasped the fact that the entire population of the states has doubled since the good old days. Everyone is seeing increased tourism. I also feel governor Green is turning his back on the US people that got him where he is by courting the Japanese and ignoring the mainland people. I believe he needs to take a hard look in the mirror. Evidently he feels wronged by the mainland. He needs to issue a sincere apology and actually work on tourism issues. The 10% of the world’s richest people have a lot of choices on where to spend their money, not necessarily Hawaii. Every tax is imposed to help the state, yet it still has the same issues, so where is it spent? Mahalo everyone.
Stop scaring would be visitors to Maui!! They are hearing everything from “don’t come ever again” to “please come back now and spend your money!” Too many threats from the governor of cutting off short term rentals! Too many horror stories floating around out there of people with booked and paid reservations being cancelled at the last minute due to housing the fire victims. It is time for all of that to end if you want all of Hawaii to return to boom days!
We have been visiting Maui for over 40 years. We do have a trip planned for June. I am afraid that this might be our last trip over. I come from a travel industry family so I am very familiar with costs of accommodations. This vacation I have noticed that the taxes, service fees and cleaning deposit were just about as much as the rates themselves. Our seven day stay cost more than our 12 day stay 2½ years ago. As far as airfare, coming from southern California, one way cost more than our round trip did last visit. We love Maui, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford a vacation there.
This is all “as designed”, right? The government’s mantra of “Quality, not quantity” is coming to pass.
2024 February Daily Average Visitors – 236,008
2019 February Daily Average Visitors – 246,741
2024 February Daily Average Visitor Spending – 57.1 million
2019 February Daily Average Visitor Spending – 49.6 million
Less visitors, more money spent. You do have to take inflation into account, but the numbers are trending the way the government, voted in by the residents, wants them to.
I am flying to Maui tomorrow staying one week and one week in Oahu staying in VRBO accommodations.
I am a first time traveler from Toronto Canada my bucket list trip and before I even go on my dream trip the reality is that I won’t be returning.
The cost has more than tripled since March 2020 when I first booked. The Canadian exchange rate is currently $1.35 making everything even more astronomical in price.
Hello politicians the cost of living has gone up everywhere not just in Hawaii wake up and smell the coffee not everyone is flush with money.
I know that I will enjoy my trip but honestly can’t justify spending this money ever again.
Reduce costs, of course. My issue is never attitude problems. I’ve never had a bad experience in over 65 trips to the islands. A smile usually sets the tone. So, just airline, car rental, food and hotel costs.
Hi Jeff and Rob. Hope you’re doing well. You asked “What would you like to see Hawaii do to win back your visitor business?” The short answer is to stop gouging the tourists. Hubs and I used to visit twice a year and stay 2-3 weeks each time. The last time we visited it would have been cheaper to purchase a car and then resell it rather than rent one. They used “shortage of cars” as the reason, but we saw the acres of rental cars parked near the airport. We usually stay in a STR condo, but those are also priced out of sight. I guess they would rather let them sit empty than to offer them at a fair price. Nuff said. Thanks for keeping us “in the know” and for letting us vent.
Aloha Pam.
For a reasonable rental car, I suggest you consider Turo and help support individual local owners, not the mainland major car rental outfits. To find the best rates on comfortable, interesting accommodation (especially on Kauai), search for “farm stays”, and try to think 3 to 6 months ahead 🙂
Hawaii tourism also needs to focus on the West Coast as that group of travelers is more inclined to head to Hawaii than many further inland stateside travelers. The latter have more vacation options available to them; in particular the Caribbean which is typically a mere few hours away by direct flight. Indeed, with more modern-like facilities, easier travel access, family-oriented vacation packages plus cruise-line stoppages, not to mention cost effective, the Caribbean is easily ciphering off potential Hawaii travelers. Hawaii tourism needs to both modernize accommodations, offer a greater variety of family-oriented facilities and attractions, as well as bring back the ‘aloha’ spirit that once permeated the Hawaii travel experience.
Hi, I have a trip planned to Kona next week, we will be staying 22 days. I have a timeshare. This will be our 3rd time. We love Hawaii. The only draw back are the high prices. Aloha
The long and the short of it is simple:
People have found other places to go where their money travels further and they perceive being treated more warmly.
I cannot get friends to come visit us on island and the two reasons I almost always hear are those two above. I will then see them post of social media being in Mexico or the Dominican or other places around the Caribbean. We’re slowly killing the golden goose with no alternate plans for income here.
If our shift is towards boutique tourism, where less people come but they are wealthy and therefore spend more, I hope for our economy’s sake those people start showing up in droves.
We have been repeat visitors to Maui since 2007. Took a break during Covid 2020 due to their restrictions. Flights are still very affordable for us (WA) but the cost per night at the various condo rentals have doubled!!! Cheaper and easier to rent at the beaches of SoCal.
Instead of coming up with new fees for visitors just raise the GET and exempt unprepared Food. That way locals, who prepare and eat many meals home, will not have to pay the GET on most of their food but visitors who eat most of their meals out will pay more in tax.
When you eliminate AirBnB for families or small groups traveling to Hawaii this is what you get. When hotel rooms are over $700 and meals are close to $40 per person this is what you get. It is cheaper to travel to resorts in Mexico. You need to start allowing more AirBnb rentals in order to get tourism back up. Another big factor is tourist from Asia. Not sure how you get these people back to Hawaii. Because are competing with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
In the past when we have visited we enjoyed the aloha spirit. The fresh pineapple, your music etc. when we went last year we never even heard your loved music until right before leaving. No pineapple and no aloha anywhere. It was sad and left us wondering why we went. This year we are going to Kauai. Only because of a request for personal reasons. I am reluctantly going.
Jackie, I agree with you completely. The one thing I used to like about Hawaii was hearing the island music wherever we went. Now we hear none of it anyplace except at home. I’ve bought my fair share of Iz music. My husband always used to stop at a roadside stand to buy me a lei and pick up a pineapple. I guess those days are gone.
Aloha Jackie, and welcome to Kauai. E komo mai. You will find a friendly populace, plenty of pineapple (including Sugarloaf White Pineapple Frosties at the Aloha Aina Farms stand near the botanical mini-golf in Kilauea) and numerous venues for Hawaiian music.
Lucky we live Kauai and you are lucky to be coming. We hope that you have an Airbnb, VRBO, or farmstay booked, and support local ownership.
She is lucky to be coming, and you will be lucky to be having her on your island. Never forget, it works both ways.
My favorite place to travel just getting too expensive. Something needs to be done. I can’t afford to travel to Hawaii any longer…so sorry.
..you have out priced your selves. Aloha..I will go to vegas
The governor and the state of Hawaii better understand the metrics and what is going on with tourists. In my opinion, the governor is still sending mix messaging about tourists. If a family has one big vacation a year, do you think they are going to spend it in Maui if they think they will not be welcome? I just returned from a trip to Maui & most of the locals I talked to, want tourists back due to jobs. I live there about 3 months out of the year and Maui is a great place to visit. The governmental leadership is lacking the awareness to promote Maui rather than send out mix messaging.
I agree. Gov. Green and his minions are killing Hawaii tourism. Totally out of control.
Sorry Hawaii, but we will take our hard earned dollars to another beautiful vacation destination where we are “wanted” and where prices are reasonable. You are acting like you are the only beautiful vacation spot in the world and you’re not. We will not be back until we feel welcomed and you get your prices down where they should be.
General inflation is everywhere and affects everyone, but every dollar taken in state and county tourist fees and taxes is a dollar not going to a local business, and as seen by the comments on this site the word is out and the dollars are going elsewhere.
Earlier this month, we stayed at our 2-bedroom timeshare unit on Kaua’i, along with another couple we invited for their first trip to Hawai’i. They enjoyed their time on the island, but I don’t think they will ever return. They have been going to Cozumel, Mexico for over 30 years, a much shorter flight for them, with more reasonable prices for food and accommodations. We prepared our meals from the grocery stores and Costco, only going out a couple of times for “Happy Hour” pupus or shave ice. We went to Limahuli and to Kilauea Lighthouse, which both required reservations. On previous visits, we went to restaurants often and explored much more, but now it seems just too much trouble and too expensive.
Aloha guys! I think Hawai’i has not grasped the fact that the entire population of the states has doubled since the good old days. Everyone is seeing increased tourism. I also feel governor Green is turning his back on the US people that got him where he is by courting the Japanese and ignoring the mainland people. I believe he needs to take a hard look in the mirror. Evidently he feels wronged by the mainland. He needs to issue a sincere apology and actually work on tourism issues. The 10% of the world’s richest people have a lot of choices on where to spend their money, not necessarily Hawaii. Every tax is imposed to help the state, yet it still has the same issues, so where is it spent? Mahalo everyone.
Stop scaring would be visitors to Maui!! They are hearing everything from “don’t come ever again” to “please come back now and spend your money!” Too many threats from the governor of cutting off short term rentals! Too many horror stories floating around out there of people with booked and paid reservations being cancelled at the last minute due to housing the fire victims. It is time for all of that to end if you want all of Hawaii to return to boom days!
We have been visiting Maui for over 40 years. We do have a trip planned for June. I am afraid that this might be our last trip over. I come from a travel industry family so I am very familiar with costs of accommodations. This vacation I have noticed that the taxes, service fees and cleaning deposit were just about as much as the rates themselves. Our seven day stay cost more than our 12 day stay 2½ years ago. As far as airfare, coming from southern California, one way cost more than our round trip did last visit. We love Maui, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford a vacation there.
This is all “as designed”, right? The government’s mantra of “Quality, not quantity” is coming to pass.
2024 February Daily Average Visitors – 236,008
2019 February Daily Average Visitors – 246,741
2024 February Daily Average Visitor Spending – 57.1 million
2019 February Daily Average Visitor Spending – 49.6 million
Less visitors, more money spent. You do have to take inflation into account, but the numbers are trending the way the government, voted in by the residents, wants them to.
“…Rising Costs Continue To Drive Down Hawaii Visitors…” but ins’t that what “They” want?
I am flying to Maui tomorrow staying one week and one week in Oahu staying in VRBO accommodations.
I am a first time traveler from Toronto Canada my bucket list trip and before I even go on my dream trip the reality is that I won’t be returning.
The cost has more than tripled since March 2020 when I first booked. The Canadian exchange rate is currently $1.35 making everything even more astronomical in price.
Hello politicians the cost of living has gone up everywhere not just in Hawaii wake up and smell the coffee not everyone is flush with money.
I know that I will enjoy my trip but honestly can’t justify spending this money ever again.
Reduce costs, of course. My issue is never attitude problems. I’ve never had a bad experience in over 65 trips to the islands. A smile usually sets the tone. So, just airline, car rental, food and hotel costs.