Visitors and residents want their share of Hawaii’s beaches. What just happened on Kauai and how that contrasts with the latest Maui beach plans.
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167 thoughts on “Visitors Confused: Kauai Beach Protests + Maui Beach Rules And Fees”
Visitors and residents want their share of Hawaii’s beaches. What just happened on Kauai and how that contrasts with the latest Maui beach plans.
Looks like tourists will have to rent cars from residents to take advantage of the residents’ special sticker.
Cottage Industry is born!
30 years ago my wife and I honeymooned in Hawaii, spending time on both Oahu and Maui. Next month we are scheduled to celebrate our anniversary on Kauai at the Kauai Shores. We live in Santa Cruz, CA, and as a beach town, understand some of the issues that come with the tourist trade. We really want this trip to be special. So, if there are locals reading this, would we be better off going elsewhere? Is there a sense of tension and understandable irritation that will impede our enjoying our visit?
I grew up in Santa Cruz,lhave lived in Hawaii since I graduated from Santa Cru high in ‘75 –
You will have a relaxing visit on Kauai because Santa Cruz has a similiar vibe snd mindset. Take care and I hope you have a fantastic vacation!!!
The Kauai Shores is a relaxing spot -you will feel welcome and relaxed
Is this just a parking fee or does it also affect people who walk to the beach from a hotel or Vrbo rental? Is this the Kam I, II and III beaches only or Charlie Young as well?
It’s bad enough the hotels taxes have about doubled and car rentals cost almost as much as the hotel rooms, now add this! Seems to me like they’re biting the hand that feeds them ….
Thanks for all your helpful information.
Hi Janet.
We’ve not seen mention of Charlie Young being on the initial rollout list.
Aloha.
Is it just for the parking lots or to walk onto the beach?
Hi Janet.
Just parking.
Aloha.
-I used to rent a car when traveling inter island but now I rely on public transportation and it’s fun,cheap-liberating. Hopefully more people will adjust and embrace this alternative
I guess next year will be our last time going if we have to pay extra for the beaches other fees – We pay enough just to go there – can’t effort Hawaii no more – it was nice while it lasted- bye 😔
If anybody local who lives here really believes that this state is looking out for you, you need to go get your brain checked. These islands are not for you or for your children or for your children’s children. These islands are for tourists and nothing else. This state cares only about how many hotels they can jam on the beaches .These islands are all smoke and mirrors.
I’m typing this while waiting for a bar seat at Kalypso in Hanalei. There are about 2 million people walking around this small pace on November 2nd at 4:30 pm. Most bar seats are local haoles, like us, not tourists. But less tourists would be great, so big mahalo to those of you saying you’re not coming back.
Ps, it pays to be good tipper, because way better to wait with cold beer in hand.
-I used to enjoy going to Hanalei-I’ve lived on Kauai close to 40 years-but not now,because that insular attitude is the prevailing vibe I get when I’m there-I travel-I welcome fellow travelers because I am one too —and your like minded folks are probably rejoicing-yes! But ultimately it’s Hanalei’s loss,the loss of diversity,hospitality,energy that different people bring to an area
Your commenters have captured the feeling I get: visitors are not welcome, or are viewed only as a cash cow to be milked
I mean yeah. It’s not like you’d want a million people invading your city and trashing it, disrespecting locals and making it seem like your request for a lavish vacation outstrips their demand to live peacefully.
Tourists provide money. And that’s the extent of their use. There is no other benefit. So yeah they’re a cash cow. They don’t contribute to community, aloha, or the preservation of the islands.
I’m not even a local and I get it. Anyone who doesn’t get it is just mad they can’t afford it anymore and can’t brag about their oh so lavish and impressive trip, where they really “felt a connection” to the island, to their 9-to-5 cubicle mates.
I support the residents’ efforts to reclaim some control over how their state.
Thank you Sarah!!
As a local I can say you are spot on!! Do we need some tourism…of course we do. But the excessive number of people visiting now are unnecessary and unsustainable.
We don’t enjoy the numbers we are seeing.
Please don’t say we need all the tourism we have because Hawaii was a state for decades able to survive on half the tourist numbers we see now.
If even 10% of you saying you are not coming back actually follow through I would be surprised.
Hawaii is beautiful. However, we do not plan to spend our money going to a place that hates us and penalizes us for being visitors.
They can keep it.
We have become pretty disenchanted, unable to enjoy so many activities, especially on the big island. Probably our last trip.
Also, the variety of fish at restaurants has declined shockingly in our experience- overfishing??
It’s getting time to find a new vacation destination. Hawaii clearly still hates tourists. 💔 I’m going for New Years, but after that, who knows? Sad.
We won’t go there any more. We will take our money elsewhere.
Travelled to Maui this season and beaches were great. Had no parking issues. Was lucky enough to see a resident monk seal relaxing on the beach. Maybe Kauai should take Maui’s example. Went snorkeling at Owalu beach and found a public beach access. It was free and we enjoyed the surf all day. Also surfed at Kihei, parking was by meter and that worked.
No tourists during COVID was revealing.
We adjusted and were fine.
I totally agree with making it more expensive for visitors. Eliminate low budget tourists that are 80% of the problem.
The free money is gone… only a moron would think Covid without tourists is sustainable
I am sad to see the parking fee not implemented on the west side of Maui. During the pandemic we were able to go to Baby Beach and find parking and a place on the sand. I have not been back to a beach in over a year. I have lived here for over 11 years and its rare to be able to find free beach parking at Ka’anapali areas. Baby Beach and Canoe Beach have little to no parking just like Wahikuli and Napili Bay. It’s not that tourists are not welcome, it is that there needs to be a balance so those of us who actually live here and serve the tourists in one capacity or the other, get to enjoy the place we work multiple jobs to call home.
I am only a transplant. I can only imagine the frustration felt by those born and raised here.
My daughter born an raised Maui. Begged to leave because of how tourists took over beaches with no regard so we left an this coming from a ten yr.old sad
Looks like Hawaii is turning into an a la cart. Charging for every little thing, to make more money to put in their own agenda. . Discrimination against people going there. Yes, Discrimination. Charging one group of people not the other. That is Discrimination. No matter how you look at it. Punishing, people that bring in more money then the locals that reply on them. You say, you would hope the fees collected would go to improve the beaches. I thought that. Your government will end up with their hands on that money and use it for their own agenda. Like they always do.
Just got back from a quick hike out to Hanakapi’ai beach. Our home is exactly a 2 mile walk to/from the trailhead. Because my residence state is Wyoming, I have to reserve a walk-in pass. These are only $5, but they sell out nearly a month in advance, right after they become available. This is a PITA, since I need to remember to continually book them even though I may not know whether I’ll be on island, what the weather will be like, and so on. No shortage of cars being turned around at the gate. People must not know you can’t park there without prepaid reservation, or they think the rule does not apply to them?? Parking lot was mostly empty, but trail was crowded. Lots of people must be taking the shuttle buses.
I’m an annual visitor but I get it. We live close to Yellowstone Park.
Lots of empathy.
FACTS:
$188 per capita for small business assistance during COVID. Not much from that point of view.
We have always loved the Hawaiian Culture, Islands and people. In all my visits to the Islands we have never had a problem or incident with locals and I think it is because we are there with a heart to learn. But after reading many of the articles here,why do I want to go and spend my hard earned money somewhere I am not wanted and frankly it sounds like Hated. I guess Hawaiians need to decide if they are going to do it on their own or do they want our tourist dollar? And trust me I see some tourists I would love to see eaten by a shark, but you can’t fix stupid and if you have been there more than once I would hope you are not in that category. I hear Aruba is nice.
Okay, the umbrella and chairs thing on Kauai. This is a local business. It feeds off of Haoles mostly. But seriously, it’s a Local business out of Lihui, not some tourists who ‘fly in’ and set up shop. Why blame the tourists for local entrepreneurship? It’s business, just like hotels and t-shirt shops! But yes, it needs to be controlled.
As for parking fees, this could get out of hand and expensive ($30-$35/day???). Also, if you are not going to charge Kamaaina for parking, make it a State, not county permit, like handi-cap placards. Residents of the islands (all of HI) should get a sticker for their car, and a placard to take when visiting other islands. They could possibly be issued when the vehicle registration is renewed.
Proposed visitor fees, proposed beach parking fees, general disdain by locals for tourists who keep the Islands economically viable. Quite the business model! If we did not have family on Island, I doubt there would be a long time interest in returning multiple times per year. Don’t shut down those
“Tubes full of money” landing on your island each day. Your friends and family depend on them.
I had a 10 day trip planned 5 days Oahu and 5 Maui. It’s just not worth it anymore.