Some of the world’s highest prices but with sagging performance. What is going on with Hawaii hotel costs?
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47 thoughts on “Soaring Hotel Rates in Hawaii Have No Place To Land Because of This”
Some of the world’s highest prices but with sagging performance. What is going on with Hawaii hotel costs?
We have decided not to return to Hawaii since our California dollars don’t seem to be welcome. We can cruise to Alaska or Caribbean for the same price as a trip to Hawaii and our tourism dollars feel more valued. This is sad since we really loved our many trips to the islands.
Susie,
If you enjoy your time in Hawaii, there’s no good reason to stop coming.
I live in SoCal and don’t feel the Aloha (at least 30 trips since 1965). But, that has not interfered with our enjoyment – my wife’s enjoyment. I like Hawaii but would like to take at least one trip to the Caribbean. The wife says she will only travel within the USA. I remind her that there are the American Virgin Islands. Not persuasive. So, I told her I’ll go with my girlfriend. She tells me a girlfriend would not put up with me.
Don’t let the idiot Gov of Hawaii and others ruin your good times. But, if the good times are mere memories, indeed, try the Caribbean – and take me.
Aloha
Thanks for the giggles. We cruised US Virgin Islands this year and it was beautiful. Just got back from New England. I, too, am concerned about traveling outside the US, so we cruised Alaska last year and New England this fall. Maybe we’ll expand our
reach and venture to British Islands next.
Glad you saw a little humor.
For me, it’s more serious – my wife is done traveling, and I’m not. We are in our late 70s, and the last 6 years have been hell for my health: cancer (gone) and multiple hernias, and those are the easy ones. And my incredible wife thinks I need to be treated with kid gloves.
But I love to travel, and we are at an impasse.
In spite of all of that, keep the giggles coming, wife and I will eventually reach a compromise.
We live in the high desert about an hour from Palm Strings. What about you guys?
Mahalo
Susie,
Did you have an experience in Hawaii that made you feel this way? Because, if you just read social media, I think you’re getting a skewed picture of what’s going on. I agree, hotel rates are ridiculous. However, with a 75% occupancy rate, and prices up 40%, the hotels are still making a bundle. If the hotels were locally owned, instead of by big mainland corporations, things might change/be different. But as it stands, greed wins out.
Joerg,
The people of Hawaii have been amazing and I have nothing but kindness for them and would love to support their tourist-base economy and support employment opportunities. I don’t look at social media for my information. It’s looking at decisions and statements of the state government and tourism board that make me feel this way. I encourage higher wages for employees and better working conditions, and would be willing to pay higher rates for those reasons. We all know that is only a small part of what’s driving the incredibly high rate increases. I would be willing to return to Hawaii when the rhetoric changes to welcome people who can’t afford to bring tens of thousands of dollars with us.
Hotel owners and operators are trying to maintain their profit margins after being forced to agree to union demands to increase wages and benefits. Don’t forget the state and county surcharges to generate revenues to cover government overspending. Somebody has to pay for it. Eventually workers will suffer when occupancy drops due to excessive prices and they get laid off. There are other places in US to vacation with sun and beaches that are more affordable especially when you factor in airfare costs.
That’s right, we have to maintain our profits by paying the locals starvation wages!
Yes, businesses do have to maintain profits. No profits = no businesses = no jobs.
And just what do you have against Mainlanders owning property? Hawaii is one of 50 states. How much profit do the big hotels make for every dollar of revenue?
A year ago I tried to hire locals for some work. I was offering $50/hour to count inventory. More than twice what I pay on the mainland – I got one Hawaiian worker and had to bring the rest from the mainland.
Shirt term rental of unused timeshare units. Redweek.com
I’m coming around New Years with my daughter as a surprise trip booked since June, pre-fire, visiting Oahu, Kauai and BI. I’ve got AirBnBs booked for 17 days across those three islands, as hotel costs are just comical. If one can manage the time to reach Hawaii, a reasonable flight cost can be found, but a reasonable hotel cannot. If Airbnbs get outlawed and hotel prices stay where they’ve gone to, this will be my last trip.
Well, we have a ‘yes it is, no it isn’t’ kinda situation here. On Maui, the big resorts don’t have to compete with the cheaper independents in Lahaina town anymore. They are all gone. The bad side is, Lahaina is no more, and it was a major tourist and cultural attraction for the West Side. I’m going to miss strolling the main street, taking in the art shops, t-shirt shops and various eateries. No more Wednesday night art displays, no more Kimos or Duke’s, not even Hilo Hatties. All gone.
Aloha Dennis !
We also miss everything about Lahaina.
The people of Maui we worry about and care for.
This is a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened.
The warnings were there.
Some good news,
Duke’s Maui is open, alot of their staff has been sadly affected but the restaurant is in North Kaanapali and is ok.
We all loved Kimo’s and to lose it is simply painful.
Take care, Safe Travels.
Well, I can tell you that I am one of the few that does NOT have the vacation mindset of being in paradise and just paying for the experience. I have saved for 5 years for my return to Maui. The Rates are way out of line. The younger generation r charging and will pay the price of that someday soon. I feel awfully bad that it took the fires to wake up the greedy minds. The supply and demand caused many more to follow suit even though they were against it, why not make money since everyone is charging up against the board. There have been a few that are not (as) greedy and it is refreshing to see. Many have reduced rates right now through December, but my heart felt loss of Lahaina and it’s the last place I want to go right now.
Forgetting Hawaii hotel room rates for a second. Are my employees any less greedy if they ask for large wage increase?
The UAW just reported a 25% raise for workers at Ford – are the workers greedy? Or just the employers? Will those workers show a 25% increase in productivity?
Don’t forget the exhorbitant taxes. I’ve found the room rates now similar to what I paid in my last couple visits btwn 2016-2019. Airfare same or cheaper. But those State and local taxes are offensively high and spoil the budget.
Thank you for keeping us in the loop. We want to return to Hawaii but with costs so high in every aspect of life, finding the best cost is imperative.
I wish Hawaii hotels would offer more discounts to Kamaaina especially when it comes to parking, resort fees and taxes! Getting a sweet deal for $245/night in Waikiki only to have the final charge of $311/night was not much of a deal at all!
I own and manage 2 luxury 2/2 vavation rentals in west Maui. I don’t have a full time staff and I’m either booked which gives me a means to pay the exorbitant costs of ownership or I’m vacant and pulling from savings to pay the bills. So I set prices to achieve 90+% occupancy and my historical numbers have been about 93%. I HAVE reduced rates substantially since the Lahaina fire. You can book my place for less than a luxury hotel room and you get 1230 square feet inside, 2 full bedrooms and bats, a yard, a kitchen, all at a top end resort. So, good value can still be had although it does take a lot more to get a good value on Maui than it does in say Mexico.
wish I knew your condo? I can;t come unless I get a deal as I have been saving for 5 years!