Hawaii’s tourism plans are in real trouble. Read why.
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167 thoughts on “Hawaii’s Tourism Plans Marooned Again, Mired in Latest Controversy”
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Hawaii’s tourism plans are in real trouble. Read why.
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Comments are closed.
Residents of Maui use the same roads and the same hospital…that is life in the tropics!
We are currently in Hilo for two weeks , and everyone has been more than gracious and kind. We’ve had a small handful of locals that were rude. But we just played it off as they were probably having a bad day. Nonetheless, still a breathtaking place and will long to come back.
HTA has been calling the shots on our economy since day one! after all the damage to our people..places and things sacred..HTA remains the major impediment to a positive solution. Hawaii is able to grow sustain and export food for a ourselves and a good part of the USA…why is Costco bringing bananas from Mexico and Dominican Republic..Pines from P.I..yucky mangoes from PR? Why can’t we grow veggies…mushrooms…watercress..poi..talapia shrimp for export? Local beef for ourselves etc. WHY?
If you don’t want our tourism money, there are plenty of places that do.
Aloha
As a frequent visitor to Maui one major concern is lack of accessible major healthcare facility for Wailea side snd especially Lahaina/Kapalua side… needing to drive 45 min at least to get to an acceptable hospital is truly outrageous snd dangerous to the large number of tourists in both those areas… and having only a bad two lane road from Lahaina is criminally negligent on the part of the tourist authority
A lot of respondents on this thread make the statement “lost the aloha spirit” (or something like that) and I question whether those folks understand the meaning behind it from the Hawaiian perspective. Aloha is not something transactional – it is reciprocal.
The entitlement attitude of mainland visitors has really changed…say since 2016 or so…
For a large proportion of us who live on our Islands & hold Hawai’i nei close culturally and environmentally we welcome a lessening of our economy being strictly driven by tourism and development. How many places in our world have to deal with constant tourists invading our neighborhoods, flying in helicopters over our houses, or behaving as if they are more entitled than our residents? We need to rethink & develop a more healthy and sustainable economy for the future of the people & the ‘aina.
Thank you Heidi – it is good to learn from your perspective.
Heidi my love, it’s easy to blame the transient population for our unhappiness. Look to our leadership rather than our guests.
Hiro is quite correct, Heidi. And to others that are misled by those who say the tourists are to blame. It’s the HTA and the C&C of Honolulu that issue the permits allowing overbuilding in Waikiki. I have found most tourists to be enlightened with the Aloha spirit (which is NOT gone). I think more B&B’s and less high rise living will expose tourists to true Aina.
My wife and I are coming over in March, 2022. Will be spending 7 days on Oahu and 10 on Maui. I’ve actually spent 9 years in Hawaii and my wife was born in Honolulu so we’re not strangers in the state. But, this trip will be our last. Tourists aren’t welcomed any longer. I get so tired of the locals complaining about us and telling us we’re destroying their land (we’re not the ones dumping old tires in the bushes or old refrigerators). So, your wish is our command. We won’t be back.
Good for you and your wife, Michael.
My first trip was a short one, courtesy of the USMC in 1965. My wife and I have been to Hawaii dozens of times and bought a Waikiki timeshare about 20 years ago. Sold it in July of this year. We may return but have no plans to do so. The folks at hotels and restaurants are great, but the govt and some locals lost the Aloha spirit long ago. Wish it wasn’t so.
Sorry to lose visitors like you due to bad governance. This is what one-party rule gets us. If Ige had the integrity to expand the travel program to allow visitors who have recovered from COVID, think of the upside healthy visitors bring!
Until then, know that many of us appreciate the value you bring to our economy and our local families that rely on tourism jobs to afford to live in Hawai’i.
Mahalo!
Funnel 7 million tourists to Manoa Falls. Meanwhile tear down stairway to heaven and close Maunawili Falls for two years. Wait, I think Manoa and Kailua residents have tourists complaints also.
I lived in a home off Ilikahi street in Lahaina from 2003-2005 it cost us 1350/month. That places now is $600 a night and it’s exactly the same. It’s a bed and breakfast now I feel truly blessed to have lived in such a fabulous place. I feel for the residents there where do you live the median home price just went over a million dollars. Who will be working there? Is anyone left to work? Hawaii always had a 2% unemployment rate for the most part.
Well maybe you should not take federal funding of my taxes or take tourism dollars. Let’s see how long you last!
Please tell the same to the largely poor states that take more annually in federal dollars than they contribute in federal taxes by a long shot. You know, the same ones that refuse to tax their residents sufficient to fund state programs, then call on the mostly metropolitan states to balance their deficits.
Hawai’i receives one of the lowest rates of federal tax revenue (as of 2017 it was 20%) within the Union. Whereas, Montana, N. Dakota, Mississippi and Louisiana receive the highest (40%+).
Actually Hawaii received the a lot more federal money if you count all the military contracts and employees.
Try again. you know those feeder states I mentioned? Every one has military presence. At least Hawaii has a strategic purpose. Alabama? Not so much.
Dude I lived there 20 years was in the military and lived in million dollar houses surrounded by contractors. If you looked up house sales 80 percent were bought with va loans. Without the federal money pouring in Hawaii would be a wasteland house prices would be less than half they are now especially on Oahu. I lived in hoa kale I and the cheapest house there is a million dollars. 90 percent military related owners.
Give it up dude. There are six habitable islands. My island of Hawaii has housing prices that would compare with Cali’s Central Valley. Your point was that Hawaii is military dependent. May be true for Oahu, but equally true for those mostly red, conservative feeder states. Did you even read the post about Hawaii’s federal dependence? It’s half that of those states.
Maui is an island..bigger than some..but small none the less…Federal $ for military installations…or Defense of the Country..can not equate to Federal money as a rule..
Hawaii is quickly becoming a destination for the ultra rich, visitors and residents alike while the common citizen struggles to make ends meet and the homeless population keeps growing. Hawaii is not longer the “Aloha” state.
The Aloha Spirit is gone.We sold our home and were able to bring the whole family. We spent about 30k total which was by far the most we have ever spent on a vacation and it was the worst trip we’ve ever had. So many people were rude like never before.It made me sad that I couldn’t share the Hawaii I’ve always held dear to my heart with my kids.I wish the locals nothing but peace and prosperity but I do not think I will return.The news station is guilty of promoting separation.Just to much hate.
As a recent (and hopefully repeat) visitor to your beautiful islands, I would accept a comprehensive alteration to the tourism policies of your community in order to be welcomed again. My partner and I found no hardship in the port of entry and pandemic related policies such as masking, social distancing and proof of vaccination for entry to restaurants, etc.. In fact, we wished that our home community had such support. Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention!
Tough, if not meanspirited comments here.
There are plenty of islands to visit in the world, but aside from the Virgin Is., P.R., Guam, Hawai’i is the only place those of us U.S.-ers can share “home”. I’ve appreciated the diversity of peoples, culturally unique heritage, place-inspired music, welcoming and easy hospitality. But as in the story created by Kaui Hemmings, resident author penning “The Descendants”, tourists aren’t the only ones struggling to be there–
I lived on Hawaii for a long time, moved back to Alaska quite a few years ago. I flew to Hawaii last year to help some friends with some projects they were working on. There were hardly any tourists in Kona at all. All the tourist jobs were dried up. So instead, a lot of people were working for rich AirBnB landlords who were renting to long term remote workers. It felt terrible. A bunch of poor locals working for the rich. I’d rather work for the tourists. Even worse gentrification than before.
Seems like people will always have the money. Room rates here in Scottsdale, Arizona are in many case double. A nice 4 start or 5 are running in the 800 plus range for a starter room, then add in all the fees close to 1k. I went to see about doing a staycation and everything is pretty much booked. Not sure who is paying these ridiculous rates but people don’t seem to mind.
Where were all these concerns when hotel after hotel after hotel were being built to accommodate as many tourists as possible? Why was there no plan to control tourist population then? Seems like Hawaii got what it wanted and now is blaming the tourists!
Hawaii will eventually price most people out. Just like most neighborhoods many grew up in. This was the plan all along since this pandemic started the revenue per visitor was way down and the amount of people coming was way up prior. We decided to move to Hawaii in the late 90s much cheaper than visiting actually same goes for now factor in the money you will save not paying for vacation and it starts to make sense. Especially if you can work remote. One week vacation is 3 mortgage payments.
So, after reading this it appears that my upcoming trip to Kauai in January may very well be my last, as travel to Hawaii will probably be out of my budget. This makes me sad, but while I don’t particularly like Mexico, I do enjoy Aruba and that may become my new go-to.
The governing body of Hawaii best figure out…..You cannot have your cake and eat it too!
It seems odd that they are not acknowledging that their economic health and prosperity is directly related to tourism levels. The last year and a half has brutalized the state and those living there. Hawaii doesn’t have much which is entirely separate from tourism to power the economy. If they alienate tourists, they will find other places to visit…
Aloha! I believe the link in your email about this article is broken – it gives me a mailchimp error. I wasn’t sure how else to let you know.. not sure if anyone else was affected by it!
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Mahalo again for all of the great articles.
Hi Jessica.
Thanks for letting us know. We have not heard any reports of problems. Please let us know if that happens again.
Aloha.
this is a beaurocracy getting in the way of money. So the state of Hawaii is going to turn away people who wish to travel there. Impossible. people haters.
Here a plan that would actually reduce the number of arrivals while making tourists spend enough money to pay for the true cost of hosting them.
1. The State must raise the room taxes radically. Start with 25% and adjust it as necessary to achieve the maximum benefit to Hawaii.
2. Raise car rental fees to 100%. Adjust higher if needed. In 2019 there was an average 125,000 rental cars on the road on any given day.
3. Use a portion of revenues for diversification of the economy.
4. No STR’s
Paul,
So, another plan to have businesses collect even more money for the state. Then the renter is presented with the outrageous bill, s/he blames the car company or hotel. Make Hawaii affordable for only the well-off. When the tourists disappear, some future governor will be crying for their return.
Before the people should pay even one dime in additional taxes the state needs to prove that they are getting the most bang for the buck with the tax dollars they already handle.
A few more ideas:
5. Impose blame for economy cratering on tourist being uncouth and too cheap.
6. Eliminate tourism related government positions and employees.
7. Have Hawaii’s Congressional delegation grovel for federal bailout money.
8. Ignore third world conditions expanding under the H-1 and H-3 overpasses and in abandoned vans on the North Shore highway.
9. Hold weekly sacrifices to global businesses to encourage their investment in Hawaii’s economy within the next 50 years.
Once again, make it even more for the rich and powerful? If you believe in equality then it would include vacation access for all classes of people. A $10,000 Hawaii vacation is not achievable by most Americans. I believe if you sell or tax Aloha you will kill Hawaii tourism. Remember that the Hawaiian Renaissance was built upon tourists making Hawaiian music and fashion popular, thereby making it profitable for artists and musicians throughout the Aloha State!
I actually agree with some of these ideas.
Limit the visitors and the experience will be better for tourists, locals and the aina.
With limited hotel rooms prices can be adjusted higher to make up the lost revenue from lower numbers. If VRBOs are limited then mainlanders can sell those homes so we have more residences for our own people.
Those that can’t afford the increase can go visit Mexico, Costa Rica or other places they keep threatening to go to but still end up back here. 😂
This is perhaps the most elitist statement that I have heard since “Let them eat cake”. What a great idea! Hawaii is only for the rich folks and the rest of you can just watch the islands from your Caribbean hotel.
Do you complain about elitism because a room at the Ritz Carlton BVI is $800/night? Is it your given right as an American to stay there? The price will be decided by those who pay (or not).
As usually Hawaii politicians bite off more than they can chew at the expense ofeveryone. Can’t fix stupid… I’m
so sad.
UHERO? Sounds like another government bureaucracy manned by clueless clones sitting on there laptops. I’m afraid that the islands will become the playground for the Zuckerburg-Larry Ellison “progressive” crowd. The working-class mainlander who just wants to soak up some rays and do some snorkeling will become dinosaurs.
We’ve always wanted to see Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse Memorials, and Little Big Horn. I’m sure that we’ll be welcomed with open arms. Hawaii, not so much.
Exactly!
“The number one goal stated in HTA’s plan is to reduce tourism.”
Hawaii seems to be starting out in this endeavor very well.
It will be interesting to watch what occurs as Hawaii reduces the feed allotment for its non-government subsidized one trick pony economy.
Aloha,I always appreciate your insight.Hawaii is already at the top of my budget. If they limit tourists in any way, it will be out of my budget as well as a lot of other folks.I am glad I have had the opportunity to visit numerous times over the past 13 years. I feel that opportunity will come to an end if it gets much more expensive. But, that being said, I do feel something has to be done to decrease the impact of tourists. It is more and more crowded every time we go. Mahalo.
Hi Tammy.
Thanks for your many contents and your feedback on this.
Aloha.
In the 19080s, I was in Ohau, Hawaii and Kauai on business trip and on my return flight to the states I sat next to a pilot for Aloha Airlines. He stated that the focus was on alluring Japanese to the islands, then the economy in Japan tanked. The refocus was to the mainland to bring visitors. Aloha Airlines failed. Tourism is what your economy is built on. I am not sure there is anything that the islands have to offer other than tourism.
Ditto, from ’86-’06, 75 Business/Pleasure trips, since then annually, Lux Hotels, Rental Cars, Dining, Tips, I think all got fat on the Federal $ to Stay-Home, without Tourism Hawaiian Airlines is 75% smaller, ‘Kamaaina Rates’ for Locals, were the result of Tourists paying top $, and the shorter margins of Dining and Hotels a give back to Locals, but underwritten by the gross profits on Tourists! Ige was over his head with the ’19 Nuclear Attack Warning in Waikiki, this just further exposed it!
Sigh. Another day in Hawaii government…it’s all about keeping friends and relative’s employed, rather than planning for the future and managing to plan. Same old dance, different song. I hope that the government agencies that do control resources allocated to tourism work to make life better for us residents, rather than just shrugging and looking the other way as Oahu growth continues to spiral far beyond control.
Aloha, and mahalo for the opportunity to contribute. As I look back at the Islands of the past where the atmosphere, the music, the lei stands the attitude was Hawaiian and after becoming a state and having to look “American” the Hawaiianess has now slowly taken a back seat to contemporary music rock, rap and others. Waikiki has become a “Cony Island” with venders selling whatever on the side walks and and lowed music(?) being played by whoever on the side walks at night. What’s next??
Aloha,
As a busy concierge in this state for many years, I can honestly say that based on my personal experience with those in charge at the KVB, have gone way above and beyond the call of duty on everything they do. EVERYTHING. I saw I was there. The problem here is there are too many hands in the pot now and too much smoke and mirrors. We can’t trust or believe anyone anymore.
Aloha
Hmmm…. Sounds more like wanting to become a separate country.
This is crazy! You can’t stop the horse that’s already out of the barn. Limiting tourists by housing type just means that locals who rent condos or apartments might not be able to anymore due to hotel overbuilding. That’s a crash for a lot of local people’s income and a boom for corporations who would raise hotel rates through the roof! In 1980 it was a plausible idea. In 2021 it is a market wrecker that could bankrupt small Hawaiian businesses.
My wife and I moved there after our honeymoon in 1983 during the Aloha Renaissance. What a time to live in Hawaii! Back then Kimo Kahoano did a fire knife dance and was on KCCN. Last time I was there he visited me in my hospital room. We need Kimo and Leilani back on KKNE (and Ikaika, too)! Don’t limit Aloha, EXPAND IT!
I lived on maui and Oahu for almost 20 years and visited for many more. There is no more aloha or mystery about the islands. Whether it’s taking the tourists for granted or being bombarded with YouTube videos that spoil the anticipation. Sad really. I lived in lahaina on from street in the 90s and 2000 it was fantastic real aloha people knew everyone in town and people respected tourists and tourists respected the workers. Now with smart phones etc it’s like no one knows how to behave.
Since 1965, I have visited Hawaii about 30 times. This July that just passed we spent 3 weeks on Waikiki. It is almost a certainty that it will have been our final trip. I want to feel welcomed as a tourist, not just a wallet. The govt of Hawaii could learn a lot about how to treat tourists by spending some time in Cancun.
When I visit Hawaii, I visit it as a tourist, not as a resident. Understand the difference and tourists, residents and the hospitality industry will all benefit.
Please enjoy yourself in Cancun. Its not personal. We have far more tourists than is good for Hawai’i. Aloha
Paul,
I didn’t say I was going to Cancun; I said the govt of Hawaii could learn a lot from Cancun. I may go to Cancun again, but that wasn’t the point.
Paul,
You may have more tourists than is good for Waikiki or even Oahu as a whole. Possibly even Maui. But the whole of Hawaii – probably not. Given its location, weather, and charm, tourism is most likely the future of Hawaii – pricing it out of range for most is a bad strategy. It may be time to make other areas of Hawaii more attractive to USA and world tourists.
And it is without contradiction that the governor is not helping the matter – he makes tourists feel unwelcome.
The Disney parks got overwhelmed by visitors, and their strategy is to raise prices to see if it will prevent some from coming. HTA, I think, wants the State of Hawaii to do the same (they must be horrified by SWA entering the airline market). I must admit, the difference on Oahu between the 80s when I was stationed there and 2009 when I last visited, was pretty stark. I liked the sugar cane and pineapple fields, and missed them in ’09.
sugar cane burning banned 1980 all burning banned. one of the pitches was sugar cane kills the reef.
The quotes you included from UHERO sound more like a vision statement than the beginning of a strategic plan. Not mentioned in the article, but one way to achieve responsible tourism, is promoting eco and volunteer tourism.
These concepts are extremely popular in Costa Rica, Panama, and some southeast Asian countries. On our Island of Hawaii Kalo, coffee and other farms could offer lodging and meals to younger eco-minded visitors who otherwise might not be financially able to afford a visit.
What will happen to the BI for the Ironman. Is it in February? Think things will loosen up there for that?
Iron Man Moved to Utah for the spring event. Too risky trying to plan an event with all the changes in policy. Just like trying to schedule a visit to family on the island. Never know what to expect so not going to visit.
Wow! These guys really don’t get which side of the bread their butter is on….
Bob,
I think some in the Hawaiian governor’s office (and elsewhere) would prefer we all send a check and stay home. Not gonna happen. Tourists will go where they are welcome!