Hawaii’s tourism plans are in real trouble. Read why.
167 thoughts on “Hawaii’s Tourism Plans Marooned Again, Mired in Latest Controversy”
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If you continue to hire the same people to do the same job the outcome will remain the same. We know that HTA have not been good stewards of the marketing money that they receive. Perhaps it is time for a whole new look … a whole new campaign and a whole new way of thinking. I have spent my entire career in marketing and this type of thing happens all the time. That is why big accounts leave big agencies … because they get lazy and comfortable.
Keep government out of tourism! This is a no-brained: If you like the post office, you will love having tourism promotion handled by the disfunctional Hawaii state bureaucracy! How long will it take for leaders to realize that private enterprise always does things better than government bureaucracy?
Jim E
Do you still buy into that old trope that business feeds you? The tourism industry in Hawaii only cares about one thing. That’s making more money today than they did yesterday. That means they need to continue to grow the number of tourists coming to Hawaii indefinitely. What that does to Hawaii’s environment, the culture, or anything else they could care less about. So, how do you suggest that Hawaii address the issues because leaving the tourism industry isn’t going to work.
Denigrating the post office is just silly. Are libraries next on your list?
Respectfully but, Oh Brother. Leaving this to the state is a scary thing from my viewpoint being in the tourism business. Nobody should be making decisions about tourism until they walk in the tourist slippas here in Hawaii. When you live here your day to day is much different than the tourist’s experience and state workers haven’t been a Hawaiian tourist for a while if ever. I’ve worked in locals only businesses and tourism and my viewpoint was completely different. No solutions but stay tuned
I love Hawaii, I’ve vacationed there almost every year since the mid 90s, mostly on Maui and the Big Island, but it’s becoming more and more expensive now that although I’ll continue to come, it will be with much less frequency, It would appear that the solution to Hawaii’s tourism problems is to charge alot more for your vacation which will cut down on the crowds while maintaining revenue. Hawaii will become a playground for only the rich. Aloha
We’ve loved going to Hawaii for years. But the taxes and fees are getting to the point of being ridiculous. Costs are going up so much and the Covid requirements are hard to keep up with. I feel like Hawaii is making it clear that tourism is not wanted. We usually spend a good amount of money there. We don’t go cheap, but want to spend our money where we can go and know that we won’t be nickeled and dimed. There’s a lot of other easily accessible tropical areas that we will be visiting instead.
Ok, but how Do you solve the problem of overcrowding? Seems to me that increasing the cost to visit is one way. How else do you do it without reducing revenue? Unfettered growth just isn’t sustainable, even though that’s what the tourism industry wants.
Please unsubscribe me. I’m so tired of all the negativity. Thanks. We can vacation elsewhere.
I believe you need to unsubscribe yourself.
“Oahu will live in joy, abundance, and resilience because visitors and residents understand what is pono, and have respect for each other and the environment.”
Whoever came up with this needs to back off the pakalolo.
Based on how we are being bashed as tourists, I truly feel I need to spend my money and time elsewhere. My favorite suggestion so far was to reduce the number of rental cars available and increase the price. That way only the rich can enjoy the tropics…
So, I literally Just got back from the Big Island. We detected No “anti-tourism”, and Aloha was abundant. I think that perhaps a way can be found to deal with the problem of unfettered tourism growth without losing Aloha.
People rarely comment because they like something. Those who grumble are the same ones that Hawaii would ask that you find another destination. People who live here do notice the grumblers and car honkers (very rare that any local would use their horn).
Then just don’t go, vote with your money. Georgia needs tourists.
Based on the list of federal and state representatives that reflect GA’s priorities (MJT comes to mind), my ex-home-state needs a bit more than tourists.
Tourism only constitutes 20% of Hawaiis annual income, tourism has been overplayed since the early 1900’s. Hawaii after being illegally occupied by the US and it’s military, has become a place to frolic in the sun on our beautiful shores. Hawaiians became the entertainment for rich white people that came to Hawaii for pleasure. Over 128 years our beautiful islands have been overrun by tourist that have no regards to the sensitive culture and resources. Preservation and restoration is crucial.
Only 20%? Sure, let’s cut tourism all together and take a budget hit of 20%. While you’re at it, kick out the military and take another 25% hit to the budget for a combined (minimum) 45% budget hit. Regardless, you say the tourists have no regard for the Hawaiian culture or the state’s resources. I see the same thing but it’s perpetrated by locals. You drive out in the country and you see dozens of broken down, abandoned cars rusting away dumped by locals. You see old refrigerators dumped
From your tone, I can understand why you need a vacation. I hear that Florida is available.
Let’s keep in mind that there’s a difference between “locals”, and Hawaiians. Just because you live in Hawaii doesn’t make you Hawaiian. Hawaiian is an ethnicity, not a location. having said that, I suspect that those rusted out cars were dumped there by “locals”, not Hawaiians. So I think that some of the problem is, indeed, not just tourists and over tourism. Too many people are moving from the mainland to Hawaii and aren’t respecting the land, the culture, or the native people there.
I work in an industry that supports Hawaii Tourism which makes traveling possible for families to afford vacations to Hawaii. However, the union & hotel industry doesn’t like competition. The City Council is looking to pass a bill that will kill the short term vacation rental industry and their contribution to our state.
Tourists from the mainland,like myself,look forward to experiencing the enchantment of our 50th state. My wife & I our planning to celebrate 42 years together & ringing in 2022 New Years in Kauai. We know the importance of being respectful to residents & the land & local culture. We have many tourists coming to Colorado where we live so we can understand. Thank you!
Andrew,
Happy anniversary! In 1975 or 1976 my then girlfriend and I took a multi-island trip to Hawaii and visited the Wedding Waterfall in Kauai. I promised myself that we would marry there.
Fast forward to 1978 & I married someone who I met only 4 months earlier & we celebrated our 42nd anniversary, in Dec/2020. Made our final trip to Hawaii in July of this year. Sold, or should I say, gave away our 2 bedroom, 2 weeks timeshare at Waikiki for a total of $2 to a niece & boyfriend.