48 thoughts on “Why Hawaii Tourism’s Shocking Return Hit Maui Hardest”
Gloria G.
I don’t agree with the Visitor Impact Fees as Tourism is your main business so you shouldn’t charge people to come. However limiting access to the Hana Highway, or requiring a fee to travel the road makes sense. It will be more enjoyable for all if there aren’t so many people on the road.
Bob L.
All the state parks in the US require a visitor fee. Just set up a similar designation and fee station on the Road to Hana and start collecting the fees like they do in Yellowstone, Yosemite and other places. That way you can control the volume with the added benefit of additional costs for those who are willing to pay the fees.
Randy
Maui and the Hawaiian Islands in general are suffering from poor Governance. From the 1950’s they have developed Tourism as an Economic Springboard for Employment and Spending by non-residents, with a very nice ‘Kaimaiana Program’ that allows Local’s to benefit in what are exhorbitant Prices, set for Tourists, by having Discounts in Dining, Hotels, Rental’s etc., all amortized against the Tourism Spend of Japan, USA, Canada, Australia and China predominantly! Look no further then Ala Moana, once the purview of “Local’s”, now International Brands, that had here-to-fore been on Kalakau in Waikiki at Royal Hawaiian, Hotel’s, International Market Place, and the now closed DFS Ctr.. There is no question of the Hana Highway predicament, and Residents, however it’s not 1965 anymore, what has County and State done to alleviate this over 56 years? So too, cola knots about the Native Hawaiian people cannot in some cases afford to stay in the State of their birth, but with the highest Gas Prices and Electricity Prices in the Nation, what has State Governments role? Again, in basically a “One Party State”, the ruling Party is responsible and with little Covid, being Outdoors, the Governor was slow to move out of the “Lock-down”, while encouraging resident employee’s not to work with both a State and Federal UN-Employment Subsidy that now keeps people from going back to work, in what is basically a Service Economy! Cutting off Tourism after eliminating Sugar etc., would be a death knell, Hawaiian Leaders have to emulate other areas that are relatively small, be it Sedona, Santa Fe, Carmel, Laguna Beach, Charleston, Amelia Island, Naples, Aspen, whatever to best develop a Residential Tax Base and complimentary Tourist Market, but after soliciting to develop Kaanapali, Kapalua and Wailea one cannot now, expect those that invested to retreat! Kauai does not want to be Maui, that is clear, and, steps can control this before it’s out of control, but Maui, the vacuum filled!
Jana
Aloha,
First, I so appreciate you, and the tireless time and effort you dedicate to the pulse of Hawai’i.
If you would please respond, if I’ve paid for my Kaua’i vacation rental in full prior to the approval of the increase in tourism taxes/fees, could the owners bill me retroactively, the increased difference?
Mahalo nui ame a hui hou!
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Jana.
We don’t know the answer. It would seem that it is related to the details within the contract you signed.
Aloha.
Richard C
Ahoha BOH Bro’s
Good job on outlining why Maui tourism has exploded.
We fly out of Sacramento other than Oahu the only reason we don’t explore other islands is we do not have a direct flight to either Kauai or Big Island.
As for changes I’d like to see unless you have proof of overnight accommodations in Hana I’d end all tourism traffic on the road to Hana. All tourist sight seeing would be done through tour bus companies licensed to travel Hana highway.
Not a popular idea, but one that needs to happen.
The other reason I’d close the highway tourist traffic there’s been increased tourist traffic driving the back side of the Hana highway. There’s no reason for tourist to drive that narrow winding road other then to brag that they did it.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Richard.
Thanks for all of your input in nearly 150 comments to date!
Aloha.
Dbrudie
Having driven the Hana “highway” in a mini-van–not sure I would want to travel it in a “tour bus.” Those turns are pretty sharp and I’d hate to have a bus caught on a bridge–or, worse, involved in a crash. People who drive that road need to really be on Hawaii time and take their time–it’s not a rush drive. If “rush” is how you want to go–don’t go to Hana!!!
DudeinAZ
Can’t imagine why anyone would put themselves thru this at this time. First time visitors are in for a shock it won’t be the paradise they thought it was going to be. Doubt they’ll ever come back, perhaps this is everyone bucket list moment. I live on Oahu and Maui for over 15 years and would visit after leaving twice a year. I’ll wait until the dust settles I can’t imagine this is an enjoyable trip.
Jim M.
So now it’s the airlines fault??? This is a temporary situation created by pent up demand due to the lockdowns. We live in Colorado along a popular recreation river and have seen an explosion of people fly fishing, camping and floating down the river. Yes the traffic is horrible, the behavior of some individuals is disheartening and the wear & tear on the area is tough to see but it’s been wonderful for the small businesses. People want to be outdoors with their families and who can blame them.
We are oh so fortunate to be ahead of most nations with vaccinations and our economy is rebounding better than most expected. In another year when other areas of the world catch up tourism demand will ease in the United States as other options become readily available.
I hope Hawaii doesn’t price itself so high that average families will look for more affordable places to visit.
David W
The changes I would like to see on Maui is for the residents who have bilked the system by collecting unemployment benefits and free food at the maui food lines to get off their behinds and get back to work And moreover to stop their endless whining and abuse of both visitors and non-residents with second homes on the island who pay more taxes in the form of property taxes and visitor fees than the residents do to support the island in the first place. The so called shortage in restaurant and hotel workers would end in a flash as soon as eviction moratoriums, free food and unemployment payments that exceed normal wages cease. People work when they need to put food on the table and they don’t when someone else does it for them.
Matt V
We were in Maui in late June and early July. The numbers definitely picked up around the Independence Day weekend. We were amazed by that traffic in Paia, and we chose not to drive the Hana Highway because we had done it before.
Frankly, if Maui continues to approve hotel and condo construction, tourists will fill the units.
Numbers should return to more sustainable levels when Europe and other foreign destinations reopen to Americans. People are on a craze to travel right now, and Hawaii is one of the few luxurious destinations available.
andrea d
we recently returned from a month long stay in Maui/Kaanapali. It was the most crowded i had ever seen it but it’s still Maui..We fortunately stay in a condo with full kitchen and the resort provides bbq’s so we did not really go out much. We adapted. At home I don’t like to wait a long time to be seated at a restaurant..just won’t do it while on vacation. Overall, still a great time.
Andrea
Dear Andrea, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!! I’ve had my itinerary completed for months now. 🌍🏖🌺🐠🐢🌈🥥🍍🛩God bless you….Psalms 91:11❤
Randy
Shave Ice, no matter what, a drive to the North Shore has to include Matsumoto’s, the original, 2-3 Flavor’s + Vanilla Ice Cream, pass on the Azuki Beans. Haleiwa on the north sign, parking behind, worth the line! Since this is a “once in a lifetime, from Waikiki take the road around Diamond Head, Waimanolo, Lanikai, Kailue, Kaneohe to Kahuku, then stop and go across the North Shore Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay, Chunn’s, Haliewa and Matsumoto’s on the right, when we started there in ’86, it was in the same store the opened in after WWII, take the Pineapple Fields back, Ft. Shafter after and then below comes Pearl Harbor the same view the Japanese fliers had, you’ll hit H1, may 45-50 minutes to Waikiki!
Ken G
Hey Andrea–my wife and I went to Oahu and Maui in June for the first time. We had no idea what to expect, but we had a plan of what we wanted to see. We feel we were respectful to the land and the people. We felt the spirit of Aloha, and it was an amazing trip. We hope to return someday, but nothing is guaranteed. We will treasure our experience.
There are a lot of strong opinions here, and certainly costs and taxes will increase, but if you are prepared and visit the islands with the spirit of respect and Aloha, you will have an amazing trip. You will love the people and places, and the people you talk to will have the spirit of Aloha. It will be amazing. Aloha and pleasant travels.
Jake F
I’m concerned if Maui County limits the number of vehicles on the Road to Hana, as was mentioned in today’s HNN article suggesting the DOT purchase the Road to Hana from the federal government, we won’t be able to get to the legal vacation rental we have rented in Hana. Seems limiting vehicles, besides being illegal until it is no longer a public/federal roadway, would reduce property values for Hana-area vacation rentals.
Comments are closed.
Aloha!
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I don’t agree with the Visitor Impact Fees as Tourism is your main business so you shouldn’t charge people to come. However limiting access to the Hana Highway, or requiring a fee to travel the road makes sense. It will be more enjoyable for all if there aren’t so many people on the road.
All the state parks in the US require a visitor fee. Just set up a similar designation and fee station on the Road to Hana and start collecting the fees like they do in Yellowstone, Yosemite and other places. That way you can control the volume with the added benefit of additional costs for those who are willing to pay the fees.
Maui and the Hawaiian Islands in general are suffering from poor Governance. From the 1950’s they have developed Tourism as an Economic Springboard for Employment and Spending by non-residents, with a very nice ‘Kaimaiana Program’ that allows Local’s to benefit in what are exhorbitant Prices, set for Tourists, by having Discounts in Dining, Hotels, Rental’s etc., all amortized against the Tourism Spend of Japan, USA, Canada, Australia and China predominantly! Look no further then Ala Moana, once the purview of “Local’s”, now International Brands, that had here-to-fore been on Kalakau in Waikiki at Royal Hawaiian, Hotel’s, International Market Place, and the now closed DFS Ctr.. There is no question of the Hana Highway predicament, and Residents, however it’s not 1965 anymore, what has County and State done to alleviate this over 56 years? So too, cola knots about the Native Hawaiian people cannot in some cases afford to stay in the State of their birth, but with the highest Gas Prices and Electricity Prices in the Nation, what has State Governments role? Again, in basically a “One Party State”, the ruling Party is responsible and with little Covid, being Outdoors, the Governor was slow to move out of the “Lock-down”, while encouraging resident employee’s not to work with both a State and Federal UN-Employment Subsidy that now keeps people from going back to work, in what is basically a Service Economy! Cutting off Tourism after eliminating Sugar etc., would be a death knell, Hawaiian Leaders have to emulate other areas that are relatively small, be it Sedona, Santa Fe, Carmel, Laguna Beach, Charleston, Amelia Island, Naples, Aspen, whatever to best develop a Residential Tax Base and complimentary Tourist Market, but after soliciting to develop Kaanapali, Kapalua and Wailea one cannot now, expect those that invested to retreat! Kauai does not want to be Maui, that is clear, and, steps can control this before it’s out of control, but Maui, the vacuum filled!
Aloha,
First, I so appreciate you, and the tireless time and effort you dedicate to the pulse of Hawai’i.
If you would please respond, if I’ve paid for my Kaua’i vacation rental in full prior to the approval of the increase in tourism taxes/fees, could the owners bill me retroactively, the increased difference?
Mahalo nui ame a hui hou!
Hi Jana.
We don’t know the answer. It would seem that it is related to the details within the contract you signed.
Aloha.
Ahoha BOH Bro’s
Good job on outlining why Maui tourism has exploded.
We fly out of Sacramento other than Oahu the only reason we don’t explore other islands is we do not have a direct flight to either Kauai or Big Island.
As for changes I’d like to see unless you have proof of overnight accommodations in Hana I’d end all tourism traffic on the road to Hana. All tourist sight seeing would be done through tour bus companies licensed to travel Hana highway.
Not a popular idea, but one that needs to happen.
The other reason I’d close the highway tourist traffic there’s been increased tourist traffic driving the back side of the Hana highway. There’s no reason for tourist to drive that narrow winding road other then to brag that they did it.
Hi Richard.
Thanks for all of your input in nearly 150 comments to date!
Aloha.
Having driven the Hana “highway” in a mini-van–not sure I would want to travel it in a “tour bus.” Those turns are pretty sharp and I’d hate to have a bus caught on a bridge–or, worse, involved in a crash. People who drive that road need to really be on Hawaii time and take their time–it’s not a rush drive. If “rush” is how you want to go–don’t go to Hana!!!
Can’t imagine why anyone would put themselves thru this at this time. First time visitors are in for a shock it won’t be the paradise they thought it was going to be. Doubt they’ll ever come back, perhaps this is everyone bucket list moment. I live on Oahu and Maui for over 15 years and would visit after leaving twice a year. I’ll wait until the dust settles I can’t imagine this is an enjoyable trip.
So now it’s the airlines fault??? This is a temporary situation created by pent up demand due to the lockdowns. We live in Colorado along a popular recreation river and have seen an explosion of people fly fishing, camping and floating down the river. Yes the traffic is horrible, the behavior of some individuals is disheartening and the wear & tear on the area is tough to see but it’s been wonderful for the small businesses. People want to be outdoors with their families and who can blame them.
We are oh so fortunate to be ahead of most nations with vaccinations and our economy is rebounding better than most expected. In another year when other areas of the world catch up tourism demand will ease in the United States as other options become readily available.
I hope Hawaii doesn’t price itself so high that average families will look for more affordable places to visit.
The changes I would like to see on Maui is for the residents who have bilked the system by collecting unemployment benefits and free food at the maui food lines to get off their behinds and get back to work And moreover to stop their endless whining and abuse of both visitors and non-residents with second homes on the island who pay more taxes in the form of property taxes and visitor fees than the residents do to support the island in the first place. The so called shortage in restaurant and hotel workers would end in a flash as soon as eviction moratoriums, free food and unemployment payments that exceed normal wages cease. People work when they need to put food on the table and they don’t when someone else does it for them.
We were in Maui in late June and early July. The numbers definitely picked up around the Independence Day weekend. We were amazed by that traffic in Paia, and we chose not to drive the Hana Highway because we had done it before.
Frankly, if Maui continues to approve hotel and condo construction, tourists will fill the units.
Numbers should return to more sustainable levels when Europe and other foreign destinations reopen to Americans. People are on a craze to travel right now, and Hawaii is one of the few luxurious destinations available.
we recently returned from a month long stay in Maui/Kaanapali. It was the most crowded i had ever seen it but it’s still Maui..We fortunately stay in a condo with full kitchen and the resort provides bbq’s so we did not really go out much. We adapted. At home I don’t like to wait a long time to be seated at a restaurant..just won’t do it while on vacation. Overall, still a great time.
Dear Andrea, I’m planning my life long dream vacation trip to Oahu next year & I’m getting very excited & can’t wait!! I’ve had my itinerary completed for months now. 🌍🏖🌺🐠🐢🌈🥥🍍🛩God bless you….Psalms 91:11❤
Shave Ice, no matter what, a drive to the North Shore has to include Matsumoto’s, the original, 2-3 Flavor’s + Vanilla Ice Cream, pass on the Azuki Beans. Haleiwa on the north sign, parking behind, worth the line! Since this is a “once in a lifetime, from Waikiki take the road around Diamond Head, Waimanolo, Lanikai, Kailue, Kaneohe to Kahuku, then stop and go across the North Shore Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay, Chunn’s, Haliewa and Matsumoto’s on the right, when we started there in ’86, it was in the same store the opened in after WWII, take the Pineapple Fields back, Ft. Shafter after and then below comes Pearl Harbor the same view the Japanese fliers had, you’ll hit H1, may 45-50 minutes to Waikiki!
Hey Andrea–my wife and I went to Oahu and Maui in June for the first time. We had no idea what to expect, but we had a plan of what we wanted to see. We feel we were respectful to the land and the people. We felt the spirit of Aloha, and it was an amazing trip. We hope to return someday, but nothing is guaranteed. We will treasure our experience.
There are a lot of strong opinions here, and certainly costs and taxes will increase, but if you are prepared and visit the islands with the spirit of respect and Aloha, you will have an amazing trip. You will love the people and places, and the people you talk to will have the spirit of Aloha. It will be amazing. Aloha and pleasant travels.
I’m concerned if Maui County limits the number of vehicles on the Road to Hana, as was mentioned in today’s HNN article suggesting the DOT purchase the Road to Hana from the federal government, we won’t be able to get to the legal vacation rental we have rented in Hana. Seems limiting vehicles, besides being illegal until it is no longer a public/federal roadway, would reduce property values for Hana-area vacation rentals.