A lasting dent remains in Hawaii’s reputation as a welcoming paradise. Is it time for Hawaii to adapt and embrace a more inclusive and respectful approach to tourism?
A lasting dent remains in Hawaii’s reputation as a welcoming paradise. Is it time for Hawaii to adapt and embrace a more inclusive and respectful approach to tourism?
As long as Hawaii remains a one-party (D) state, there will not be any noticeable improvements.
The state senator, Hirono, has made it very clear that they don’t welcome “Old, White, Men” to their state. I’ll keep my “Old, White, Men” tourist dollars right in my “Old, White, Men” pocket until we decide where to vacation.
You voted for: corruption, cronyism, and incompetence.
I go to Hawai’i and see more and more destinations charging visitors foe what use to be free. I see ever increasing occupancy taxes and hear of tourist taxes just for entering the state. The message is clear, “give us your money but stay away haole.” I go to Tuscany and I am told, “we like tourist, they are are economy, they are our oil”. Hmmmm where do you think I am going ??? !!!! Arrivederci !!!
I am a mainland tourist, former Oahu resident, visitor to Maui since 1971. I spent last week in Maui. The good: I encountered genuine Aloha almost everywhere I went, in contrast to my last visit in 2023. Tourrist venues were active but generally not oversubscribed. The bad: inflation has made Hawaii even more expensive. Some tourist venues are oversubscribed, e. g. Honaloa Bay. The tourists there seemed more respectful of the environment than the locals who had a permanent encampment complete with generators and electric lights. I am sympathetic enough to permanent residents who bear a high cost of living that I am willing to pay more for services. But they should also have to follow the same rules as visitors, including reservations for park use, camping restrictions, etc.
First off, I love Maui and have always loved the Hawaiian people. It hurts me to say that since the Maui fire, my respect for this special place has left me feeling empty and disgusted. We here on the mainland deal with visitors, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc that are devastating to many people each year. We don’t whine and complain about our fate, we work hard to fight back and rebuild and help each other. We love our visitors who spend their hard earned dollars in our communities for their vacations. They are bread and butter to many hard working people and even if we have to pick up some unwanted trash after they leave…. We appreciate that they choose to boost our economy and that they love our land. For the Hawaii people to think that they are more special than the rest of the world and that they should be handled with kid gloves and be given everything on a silver platter is ludicrist! Show your visitors the Aloha Love. Talk is cheap.
Good stuff. Owned on Maui from 2002-2016, but noticed gradual “money grab” mentality. It has really ramped up post covid. Last year we took our $ to New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa. We felt appreciated. This year Spain. Recovery in 2027 seems like a pipe dream.
Right on Goldie, when will Maui government wake up?
That’s how inept, corrupt and stupid the government there is and it has been their way ever since I started going in 2008, people vote him in again and again again, they deserve what they get because it’s their votes thar put them there.
I remember the days I was greeted with a fresh flower lei at hotels or often at air ports!
Hotels had a free mai tai to cool you down after a long day of travel!
In another country , staff greeted you with your name and had the registration packet ready to carry your luggage to your room !
These are some of the ways to get the tourists back !!!
Once again, history repeats itself.
When everything becomes too expensive,
there is an inevitable correction.
Eventually things will recover.
If it makes you feel better, blame someone or anyone.
Visitors want some sign that Lahaina is returning. The tug of war between commercial property owners, the locals, and the government indicates to the outside world that there is no one plan. Cheeseburger in Paradise has already given up rebuilding due to govt. indecision and massive regulations. Will any waterfront property be allowed to rebuild? How can the county afford to “take” and reimburse those owners if they don’t allow building? Paradise Ca. completely burned 10 years ago. It’s only 25% rebuilt. Maui will take decades to rebuild. Tourists won’t wait.
The media has given the impression that Lahaina and Maui are one and the same. This isn’t the case.
The loss of Lahaina was tragic. It had a tight-knit, caring community. For visitors, it had wonderful little gift shops, art galleries, a Banyan tree (still there), a cherished museum, casual oceanside restaurants, and an irreplaceable funky vibe.
However, Lahaina is not the only reason to visit Maui. There are countless other beautiful locations on the island, full of world-class beaches, water activities, whale watching, an ocean center, upscale resorts and shopping areas, bamboo forests, jungles, mountains, volcanoes, coffee plantations, lavender farms, award-winning restaurants, and other charming, walkable towns to peruse.
It reminds me a bit of the Big Island volcano eruption in Puna a few years back. The actual eruption did local damage, but the geographical area in which it occurred was but a spec on the map. The media exploded it all out of proportion.
I almost think it’s too late to bring the previous crowd back. People go where they’re comfortable. They may be apprehensive about a new country, but once they’ve been there a week they’re comfortable. I read other postings from Hawaii and it seems like it has so much corruption that you really don’t want to visit. It seems the people in offices fighting the bad guys are worse than the bad guys. Also a lot of the visitors saved for years to come, and know people are coming on their 1st job. They’re not returning visitors, one time and they are off somewhere for the next selfie.
To add to your list of reasons for the slowdown: Patronizing messaging about being “mindful”. 98% of visitors are already mindful, and a lecture to the rest is useless.
Highlighting the beauty and majesty of the islands with a gracious, hospitable, welcoming tone would be much better messaging.
You are so right about this… I think the unfortinate part of this is not all locals feel this way and the entitled few make are making all locals appear to be entitled and anti visitor.
Maybe it is time for locals that that don’t share the sentiment of Lahaina Strong and Green/Bissen to start pushing back to let visitors know they are welcome.
Yes, somehow we have to let visitors know the anti-tourist group is a sliver of Hawaiian society. And then the TAT taxes go to Hawaii Tourism Agency, which is a bullhorn for the hotel industry (not mom and pop STRs) and have given us such gems as “mindful” travel and urging to spend your precious week away from work and stress “volunteering” for people who live in paradise year-round. I am an avid hiker and snorkeler and visitors are the most mindful visitors to natural places.
You are so very right, and what you say is so extremely important right now.
The local residents Must speak up, and there are groups they can join right now where they will feel supported, where they can voice their concerns and fears for their well-being, and where they will not be chastised by the vocal minority. We desperately need them to make themselves known, as they are the ones the policy makers will listen to, not the alleged “greedy and entitled” mainland owners and visitors. These groups will go a long way in providing support and “power in numbers”.
The Facebook group “STRs are not the problem” is a fast-growing group that all like-minded residents should join. There’s a lot going on there right now.
We spent the month of April on Maui in Lahaina. The locals we talk to said some are still in hotels. People that have returned are having breathing issues. Two said they are going to wait to rebuilt and let the “dust” settle. Cost to rebuilt is at an all time high, demand makes the price out of reach for many. Locals have vacation rentals and are losing money too. FEMA has been paying and mortgage companies are furloughing the mortgage loans. If they don’t allow vacation rentals will they ever rebuild?
Unfortunately, tourism in Hawaii is currently in a death spiral. The Governor has implemented Income Tax cuts in Hawaii. This newly created deficit will be placed on the backs of tourists in the form of new or increased fees. Layer in the costs of the Maui fire which will exacerbate this problem and Hawaii becomes even more unaffordable for most.
There are other tropical vacation options that by comparison are becoming cheaper by the day. The handwriting is on the wall but Josh & company don’t want to read it.
As many have stated here before…people are trying other places that offer similar experiences. The reasons they chose to try those alternate places vary from price to attitudes of locals (of which I am one) to value and so forth.
Once people try something new and like it, they are less likely to return to the previous option unless something drastic happens. I do not foresee prices in Hawai’i magically cutting themselves in half and peoples’ attitudes changing. What I do envision is us not recovering, at least not for another 5-10 years.
Regarding the anti-tourism sentiments. Some of us have lived on the islands and come back as often as we can afford to in order to visit remaining family. Many family homes are already crowded with generations so we try to find affordable stays whenever possible but the pricing has become unreasonable for even the simplest accommodations. So discouraging for transplants.
A “more balanced approach”? Neither residents nor the local/state governments want it. And there is a course correction, the world knows it is not genuine.
Maui’s true sentiment will never be forgotten: “Visit. Spend. Leave.” We, the global traveling public, accept your terms.
“costs out of control, highly visible protests, and regulatory changes targeting Hawaii tourism.”
Not that this is a new problem, but I would add that going to almost all public attractions (beaches, parks, etc.) is a huge PITA because of poor infrastructure, overcrowding and lack of any decent amenities.
Too many people on too small of a landmass dealing with a flood of visitors who take up even more of the finite space. Combined with an ever increasing demand for expensive imported goods and services which themselves are ever increasing in price and for which the average stagnant household income cannot cover. To make things even more difficult, there is a severe mismatch between the average skills available in the state and those needed to be competitive for jobs and professions that pay enough to live a reasonable life. The insane cost of housing is directly reflective of the sclerotic state government and its mass of Gordian Knot laws and regulations which only serve a very small segment of the population which ensures their control through a Tammany Hall level of corruption, cronyism, and incompetence. JMHO
Best Regards
Well said.
Anyone familiar with Gordian Knot lore will know the only true solution involves a strong arm and heavy sword. I don’t think the people of Hawaii are capable of wielding either. Well said.
Recovery by 2027 is a pipe dream. The antitourism sentiment has severely damaged our “brand”. Caving to a small group of entitled locals at the expense of most residents is hurting everyone.. The criteria for leadership should not be how many leis you wear or if you are a surfer.
People have short memories. I think the damage is reversible and visitors will come flowing back if they are made to feel truly welcome. Hawaii is a beautiful, magical state, after all.
And of course they need to stop all of this STR posturing nonsense. STRs are the last bastion of affordable accommodations on the islands.
Pat,
I agree with what you said about short memories.
However, folks who would visit Hawaii but are instead visiting other places are learning that Hawaii is not the only place to enjoy a beautiful, welcoming island. And they may continue to go elsewhere.
For those on the East Coast, virtually all of the Caribbean is closer and much cheaper. For us on the West Coast (California, for me), Hawaii is closer, but the Caribbean is not much further, but a lot less costly.
Waiting for the Japanese to return is a fool’s errand – they, too, have other choices. Guam is a lot closer and so is Vietnam. Vietnam you say – yes. When I was serving at Da Nang we would go to China Beach (South China Sea). So choices.
Hawaii may have to wait for Gov Green to be gone.
Here are some numbers to consider
We own a 1 bedroom short term rental on Mau
It brought in
11,438 dollars in occupation taxes paid by renters
9,988 in property taxes by us.
So 21,426$ paid to Maui for one bedroom
So what happens to all that money
And what happens if that does not happen any more
Erika,
It is not just your property tax, and TAT, GET and MCTAT that the county will lose. It’s the cleaners that you pay $40 an hour to. The window washers. The AC tech, the carpet and upholstery cleaners. The handyman, the on-island property manager, the electricians, the plumbers. One STR shutting down has a radiating bad effect. The elimination of 7,000 STRs is at least 15,000 jobs. That is 15,000 people that have to go on government support or leave the island for work. It astounds me that some locals think this will benefit them. Only if they are content to be subsistence hunters and farmers.