A visitor surcharge for parking on Kauai is set to be implemented.
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289 thoughts on “Should Visitors Pay New $10 Kauai Beach Parking Surcharge?”
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A visitor surcharge for parking on Kauai is set to be implemented.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
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Don’t visitors generally already get taxed highly for having the rental cars? I think this is a lousy idea to make public. If Kauai wanted to raise the taxes on rental cars a couple of dollars per day, I bet most visitors wouldn’t notice. Having a new fee again targeting visitors just seems like another really bad public relations move. We have already cancelled our Kauai trip for February because of the insecurity of our ability to avoid a quarantine, even with negative results. This would be just another action that would have us shaking our heads.
As a frequent visitor to Kauai, I am not opposed to paying an additional fee to be able to visit a beach in Kauai. We have plans to visit again in May-June 2021 and hope that we don’t need to cancel.
We have spent 4 to 8 weeks a years on Kauai every year for the last 15 plus years and adding a parking fee would not be wise. Kauai has made it impossible for us to schedule our time for 2021 and this would give us more reason to move to another island.
Reading all of these comments is sad…since we have been coming to Kauai since 1985 and own 2 weeks there. Food, gas, resort fees, etc. are already charged high but we have grinned and bear it. But adding these new “fees” may drive us to travel elsewhere and trade our Kauai weeks for stateside beach locations…some of which I can drive to.
But thanks to BOH for your updates…I love reading all of the articles.
Hi Dave.
Thanks for the feedback and all of your comments. This gets heard.
Aloha
Glad I got to Kauai in 2017 as I see now that I will never go there again. This is one tourist that isn’t going to bend over backwards for these idiots.
This new “Tourist Tax” really makes me wonder if I will ever return to Kauai. My family and I, in the past 12 years, visited Lawai Beach, Kauai at least once a year. Now with the COVID-19 restrictions we have had to go elsewhere to recreate.
During those stateside trips never once did I feel like a “resource” to be mined with an enforced extraction process.
Perhaps, when I feel a need for another island experience, I’ll look toward one of the other islands and just avoid the extraction process on Kauai. Margaret Thatcher observed “Socialism works until one runs out of people to steal from…”
It is my most fervent hope that Kauai County Council rethinks this misguided ordinance.
I live in a coastal town in Northern California, so I get what being inundated with tourists on a regular basis is like. I also see that with Covid there has been a massive increase in the number of people taking up surfing, mountain biking and hiking. Our local communities could take up similar “stick it to the tourist rules” They tried posting no parking at the beaches but that just lead to more cars parked in the neighborhoods. I get the issues Kauai is having. Message received! We cancelled our flight to Kauai for March 2021 and our reservations for Koa Kea in Poipu. They clearly don’t want us there so when the world is healthy and opens up we will take our tourism dollars to Cabo or some other location that is friendly and wants to welcome in outside business.
We’ve been going to Kauai for 30 years, often for 3-4 weeks and have NEVER seen crowds on beaches – not even on Labor Day ! Who thought this up ?
Require every car rental company on Kauai to pay the County the beach parking fee based on the number of rental cars they keep in their inventory. Even if visitors don’t drive to the beaches, the County still gets the revenue. Visitors must still reserve beach access ahead of time. If they don’t show, a person on the wait list can be admitted.
I LOVE Kauai and miss it so much.
I agree with everything that was implemented regarding Ke’e Beach and paying a parking fee at Waimea Canyon.
However, I am not for this proposed parking fee at the beaches.
Diane
My concern is that if need to clearly ID the rental cars then they will be a clear target for thieves. We have had our rental cars broken into. One year they slit the top of our convertible to get into the car. We have a convertible at home so we know you leave nothing of value in them. The break-in was at Donkey Beach which we have since found out is notorious for this type of activity.
We stay in the Po’ipu area and only go to the beach on the week days and the beaches are never crowded. We like Salt Pond and parking has never been a problem.
I don’t think they should generalize the problems on the North Shore into an island wide policy.
Interesting on the possible beach parking fee. Logistically you’d have to either have a self serve kiosk where you pay and it raises a bar up for parking lot access or an attendent? Then what do you do for the people that have rental cars but just park on a side street but still access the beach; patrol constantly looking for offenders?? Then how do you get them to pay the fine once they’ve already left the island? Many questions to be answered and scenarios to consider. Thanks for the update.
Hi Kym.
Good points. Thanks.
Aloha.
All moves made by Kawakami and elected officials to raise taxes and fees are for the expressed purpose to end low budget travel to Kauai. They want to eliminate as many timeshare holders and short term low end rental condos as possible.
The goal is to cut over tourism on the island their feeling is with less crowding Kauai will attract a more desirable high end visitor. The pandemic is a perfect vehicle to achieve this goal.
High end shopping and dining will replace long time local mom and pop businesses. I’ve read many articles about locally owned mostly restaurants closing many not just because of the pandemic, but because the owners are seniors who’s children are college educated and want nothing to do with restaurants.
Get used to the idea that travel to Kauai is never going back to how it was prior to the pandemic. Feel blessed that you got to take advantage of the golden age of cheap travel to Kauai.
The parking would be hard for visitors or police to determine. There isn’t specific parking lots in places and it is necessary to park along the road or anywhere near you can find. We did that at Kee Beach a few years ago along with several cars and we were all ticketed and did not realize we couldn’t park there. There should have been signs all along the road to the beach. We wouldn’t mind paying a flat fee to the car rental place to be forwarded to the island for additional income but that would be the only way it would be fair.
Just waiting for the Covid Fee of $45 on top of the resort fee of $55 on top of the $46 parking fee.
Kauai seems to forget it is competition with other resort areas. That being said, charging for parking in tourist areas is common. However, having only tourist pay is a bad idea. People hate being treated as second class citizens. Everyone should pay, but like many other areas, charge a deeply discounted annual fee in additional to a daily or hourly fee. This is also common in many popular areas. It also helps reduce congestion which also seems to be a problem. My big issue is enforcement. How many people and vehicles are they going to need to police all of the beaches. I could imagine a situation where all most if not all or more than, all the fees collected go to enforcement.
We like Kauai, especially when we can leave Colorado in midwinter. Yes, there is a lot of tax on everything already; 10% on lodging can be a couple hundred bucks. But it is starting to feel like the locals really like us being gone and are not terribly concerned about our return.
Good luck with the economic recovery on that basis.
Thanks for all of your insightful information. None of us are connected there so it’s nice to know. Parking fees are nothing new to me coming from NY/NJ. We pay to park everywhere. For me extra costs will not keep me away but if there really is a general attitude that we don’t want “bennies”(NJ slang for tourists) then I myself can catch the hint and go elsewhere. Luckily I only have a timeshare so I am not locked in. I have decided though no matter how they tweek covid restrictions I will not come back until this is over. Too much risk with all that it takes to get there. Instead of obstacles the powers that be should be figuring out how do we get our tourists and their wallets back. Very easy for those government people who keep getting their overpaid paychecks to sit back while the hard working mom and pop businesses struggle to survive. Times will keep getting harder until there is a change of point of view. The hard times will eventually trickle to everyone who lives on the island if you cut off the tourist dollars.
We absolutely love Kauai. We’ve been traveling there often since our honeymoon in 2000. We find it interesting that the government wants it start charging for parking now. We’re not even allowed on the island without a 10 day stay in quarantine. Maybe they should be focusing on a plan to welcome back visitors as soon as possible in a safe way? We have reservations with our family and friends (16 total people) to stay in Poipu for 15 days in late March early April. We’re hopeful Kauai will be open for us by then. We’d surely spend thousands all together…far more than parking fees!
Watching this circular firing squad in action over the last eight months has been both informative and pathetic. Every possible mistake has been made by politicians who are unqualified to install a lightbulb, let alone a pandemic response. You have elected these people, so look in the mirror before you complain.
Having been going to Kauai for the last fifteen years, I can assure you that paying to park in places where I have been parking for free isn’t going to polish the reputation of the Island. How about charging the tourists by the hour for the air they breathe while on Island? Put a meter in every property and charge by the gallon for water used. How about a mileage surcharge for miles driven?
You all better learn to enjoy poi and fish, keep this up and that’s all you’l be eating.
Wow! You hit the nail on the head! Talk about bad timing and a Kauai reputation killer! It is obvious that the citizens of Kauai don’t want the tourists that directly or indirectly provide for the majority of their livelihoods.
At this point I have seen and heard enough about how we as tourists are treated on Kauai. I would sooner visit the other bigger islands, Lanai, Molokai or even Ni’ihau before setting foot on Kauai again.
In March, Kauai enacted an emergency rule requiring the few visitors who were still on the island to pay to park at any beach parking lot. (The reactions from visitors I spoke to were, typically, “that sucks”). The rule was rescinded when the quarantine went into effect. There is another precedent: Visitors are charged a parking fee at the Waimea Canyon overlooks, but Kauai residents are exempt. This is a State of Hawaii surcharge (not Kauai’s). The fee was quietly raised from $5 to $10 during the pandemic. “Kamaʻāina discounts” have been common in Hawaii ever since I can remember. But the latest Kauai proposal is very poor timing – on top of the quarantine and other disincentives to visitors.
Aloha , as a time share owner on Kauai with the island closed to me at this time due to Covid, I must say the thought about adding a beach fee for parking is another way to tell visitors we’re not welcome. Has Kauai lost its aloha? Sincerely, Steve
We have traveled to Hawaii including Kauai for many years. The attitude of its residents is obnoxious and condescending. They live in a Socialist State as md they can keep it.
Good luck with yourselves surviving without money. I hope many people stop traveling there. It’s not worth it
I think I’m done with Hawaii, Kauai was next on our list of beautiful islands, but there seems to be so much going against us, we can take a hint. Visitors are not welcome. Back to the Caribbean for us. My heart goes out to those people whose income relies on tourism. But I’m done with all the rules and changing of rules then making new rules, on no wait, these rules instead. Too much hassle. I’ll take my vacation dollars elsewhere.
There are already parking fees charged in Waimea Canyon and where is that money going? Certainly not for maintaining restrooms, which is a key dynamic for a tourism driven economy. The public bathrooms along that route are an embarrassment to the residents of Kaua’i.
When we travel to state parks on the mainland we find reasonably maintained restrooms, but rarely on Kaua’i. The Poipu restrooms are the exception. The restrooms at “locals” beaches on Kaua’i are terrible. Where’s the sense of pride in the community?
There is no free anything, someone pays for it. How many more fees can you add on and not wipe out the revenue stream? Wake up!
Not everyone has an unlimited budget for vacation. It is very frustrating to see how everyone is trying to take advantage of tourists. Have you really looked at the breakdown of a rental car? A rental home? Hotels with parking fees and daily exorbitant “resort” fees tacked on regardless if you use the spa (or whatever) or not? Airlines, first they reduce the size of the cabin, then charge extra for 2 inches more of legroom. Vacations shouldn’t be so stressful or for the wealthy only. Every extra fee you tag on is another barrier for the average person to get away.
I’m just starting to realize that maybe we are no longer wanted there as tourists. Such a shame. We always respect the culture, spend money while there, and plan our next trip when we leave. Guess Maui it is!
As the saying goes “The devil is in the details”. Is this a one time fee attached to your car rental? If so, it’s a “Meh”. If it’s weekly or daily or per use, so long Kaua’i my money and I are going to Maui.
How would such a fee be collected at every beach parking lot???? Mahalo.
Hi Ed.
Thanks for the input (and all your comments). We’ll update this when we learn more.
Aloha.
It’s hard for me to stomach any more negative news about Kauai. It is beyond belief to understand the ignorance, short sightedness and incompetence of these officials. They hate mainlanders, but sure love the $ pouring their way in bailouts from the Federal government.
This fuels more bad press to our island, further killing any future hope of a recovery.
People will park on side roads, increasing danger of families with children walking long distances to the beach.
A large amount of “visitors” are also homeowners, but rent a car during their island stays. So you are further penalizing us, who pay much higher property taxes, yet cannot rent out our places with your “temporary” pull out from Safe Travels.
Could be final nail.
This seems unfair when visitors are already paying taxes to visit. If fees are going to be paid for parking they should be paid by all. Why do even more to create a divide between residents and tourists? I own a vacation rental on Kauai and come over several times a year. I rent cars when I do, but also pay property taxes, and generate a fair amount in GET and Transitory Accommodation taxes. I fully support the idea of limiting the number of tourists to the island to enhance the experience for all. This is the goal I think the council should be focused on.
Let’s all stop going to Hawaii especially Kauai
More craziness for Kauai!! Obviously sending signals that visitors are not welcome and sending them to the other islands. Shame on Kauai’s leaders….vote them out!!
I’ve never traveled to Kauai. Only island I’ve not visited. Not sure it sounds friendly unless you live there. Now charging me to walk the beach and have signs: No Tourist on businesses and Restaurants. Looks like I’ll be going back to Maui to spend my money. Such a shame
Charley
Kauai claims to be the Garden Island. It’s not
The big island has much better water falls close to the highway, bigger flowers and just better everything to see.
Kauai is absolutely boring compared to the Big Island, Maui, and yes, Oahu
We have 4 weeks of timeshare in Princeville. We come teice every year. We love Kauai and basically just go to the beach every day. If passes we will be ditching our timeshare there and go elsewhere. This will absolutely be the last straw.
You can only poke the bear so many times. While people keep saying people will flock back to Hawaii don’t be to sure. We are learning to live without and all that money we are saving I’ve redone my pool and house to be more indoor outdoor living and it’s as nice as a resorts without the hassle. So all that Hawaii money is spent. I lived on Maui for 6 years and Oahu for 12 and went back several times a year staying at the halekulani, kahala etc…. so dropped a pretty penny each time I went but now reconsidering all those trips.
Parking at Poipu with the implementation of parking fee’s would be tough to properly enforce unless you fence in the lot and have a paid attendant or a pay box per space. + you have to deal with Brennekke’s restaurant and store. You would have to start some type of parking voucher system… Lets get past the Covid issues first and then work on parking!
Kauai clearly isn’t interested in attracting tourists. I’d think businesses that cater to tourists would be alarmed. I’m learning to love other vacation spots. Too bad. Kauai, and Hawaii in general, was one of my favorite places, but I’ve grown too weary to care. Maybe in a couple of years- if there’s anything left for tourists.
Each article that comes out about tourists visiting Kauai and how many more taxes and restraints tourists will have to endure makes just one more reason we won’t be returning to Kauai for many years to come. From my family and my 80 yr old parents being verbally harassed and intimidated by locals at Shipwreck beach and again on the north shore, to protesters signs and chants for us to leave the island last March, it has been very disturbing to say the least. We were afraid to leave our condo at Poipu Beach and ended up leaving 10 days early so we wouldn’t be stuck somewhere we didn’t feel safe. It is such a shame that we were made to feel that way by some few who’s actions wouldn’t have been tolerated by their elders if they had known. My parents lived there 35 years ago (as have many people from all over) and we’ve visited multiple times each year since…but no more! It is saddening and disheartening to say the least. It feels as though we’ve lost a “part” of us. We will be looking for other destinations for our future vacations. In the meantime, we will enjoy all that our home state of Arizona has to offer. Come on out to the Old West, where you’re made to feel at home. Mahalo for the memories.
Wow. Why don’t they have the guts to simply say we do not want tourists on our island?
Thank you for the update that Kauai is killing us tourists that want a little get away and want to gouge us of every penny we make. I guess I will be traveling to the Bahamas and Florida side. They love tourists and can get a lot cheaper vacation. As many times as I have traveled to Hawaii, I have never seen the greed going on there. I am sorry but it makes me angry that they want us now to be charged to put out foot in the sand.
After reading this article, I am now getting even closer to permanently ditching Kauai in favor of Maui for any future Hawaii travels. I could never have imagined saying that pre-2020.