A visitor surcharge for parking on Kauai is set to be implemented.
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.
Comments are closed.
Many places on the west coast charge for parking. Winter parking passes are everywhere. It isn’t only Hawaii that does this. If you want a piece of paradise it will cost you regardless of which western state you choose.
It might sound a little anti-tourist but there is still a staffing problem here in Hawaii, but not a tourist shortage.
Us that live here get tired of all of the whiners who complain about everything.
Aloha is not about whining.
Thank you gentlemen for the platform.
Yes you are correct, a lot of places (cities/states) charge for parking, but it is charged to EVERYONE not just tourists…what’s fair is fair, my rental car causes the same amount of “damage” as the locals’. Free or reduced entry in to parks/beaches etc for locals, but parking c’mon.
Can you please name a west coast state that charges only tourists for parking?
As a past resident of Hanalei I do understand the desire to get some extra money from tourists and to cut down on the crowds. Once I moved to the mainland I often returned bringing my wife and children back where I spent some of the best times of my young life. It was affordable and I didn’t mind spending money to help out all the local businesses. Now…. I can’t come visit due to the high cost of accommodations and crazy tourist taxes that come with everything. I think the $10 parking is a no
Don’t forget about the new 3% Kauai TAT which brings the total to almost 18%.
$10/day to park at Poipu beach is going to really upset visitors and definitely encourage them to visit other islands and Mexico. If the county needs the money then it should just raise it without forcing visitors to pay every day – especially something as egregious at $10 to park in a lot that has been previously free. I’ve never seen the lot full so the argument about overcrowding doesn’t ring true.
Aloha,
Tomorrow I am headed for a 3 week stay in Kauai from the mainland, and just looked up the taxes I will be paying. Lodging tax: $ 558, Rental car taxes/fees: $374.00 Total $932! That comes to $310/week of taxes now levied on the visitor. If you annualize that to a full year $310 x 52 weeks, that amounts to $16,120/year of taxes! That is 3x the property taxes paid to local and state government on the mainland. Happy to do my share as a visitor. You sure more is fair?
Tourists have plenty of vacation options away from Hawaii.
So, $10 today, $20 in 5 years. As fewer visitors park at the beach, the fee will continue to go up to replace the “lost revenue.” Politicians don’t put taxes on for the stated purpose. They like to get a little here, a little there, think those who pay the taxes won’t notice. Well, we do notice.
Ave sales tax rate in the USA is 6.35%, Kauai/Hawaii should look at that. Those who use the beaches year-round will pay their fair share.
“Kauai visitors already pay high taxes through their accommodations and elsewhere. Those include the 4.712% tax on pretty much everything, plus 10.25% tax on accommodations.” You forgot to mention the County of Kauai accommodation tax of 3% in addition to the State 10.25% tax. The total comes to 17.96%. I can’t think of any other state where visitors are charged a higher rate than residents (although I’m sure someone will correct me on that).
I own a B&B on the Main Land and will be charging all visitors who all Hawaii residents a 25% surcharge to stay at my establishment.
Sadly, I won’t go back. Greed & anti-visitor is not the Kaua’i I knew. I’d rather have my great memories.
Another reason to not even visit any parts of the state at all. The local governments have become more greedy since Covid and made foolish decisions all along about visitations, and now trying to recoup losses of revenue because of less tourists!!
I have a vacation to Kauau already booked– it will be my last, and hopefully other vacationers will do the same. There are other places to go and feel welcome…Probably much cheaper!! I will star doing my research!!
Yes the taxes on everything in Hawaii was shocking when I made my reservations After a couple years forced sabbatical. I’ve been going for 25 to 30 years every year. A $300 a night room ends up to be closer than $500 with all the taxes. And they just added another one.