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48 thoughts on “Why Hawaii Visitor Money Doesn’t Stay In Hawaii”

  1. Born a Cali Kid but my true love is Hawai’i & without a doubt larger established resorts do want to keep you onsite & your $$$ in their coffers. Self employed for 35yrs I have always tried to help others working outside of corporate entities. When visiting my island “home” I make it a point to rent from those who live there, eat from small family operations & make sure my $$$ go to those like me that make with their hearts, souls & hands. I shop at the farmers markets & buy from the islanders that work to support their ohana & those around them. I write reviews to inspire support & up sell their products whenever possible. Hawai’i is a unique & wonderful place that needs respect, support & all the Aloha we can muster to keep it so.

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  2. What you say about the revenue these outside interests take in and goes out of state is mostly untrue. The state is still the government body that controls all the state requirements and laws. Sounds to me like some or a lot of changes should be made!!

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  3. Sure would be nice to have a list of those services which are locally owned rather than having to research each and every location for food, and lodging which tend to be the most spent. Would love to know a local rental housing management company as an example.

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  4. Thanks for this fascinating article.

    On a recent trip we stayed, for the first time, at the Kaimana Beach Hotel. It was great and we definitely look forward to returning soon.

    I did a quick Google search to see who owns the hotel and was very happy to see that it is owned by a local company, Blacksand Capital and operated by Private Label Collection, also a Hawaiian company. So, we feel even better about our choice. Thank you

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    1. Hi Peg.

      Thanks for that feedback, and we’re also happy to hear that the hotel is locally owned.

      Aloha.

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  5. Aloha, thank you for the article and for opening people’s eyes. We rent cars from a local Maui car company. We employee a employee a local husband wife team to clean our vacation Al rental condo. I always feel a bit badly that we own a condo, while most locals will never be able to afford it. We try to tip well, be polite, do what we can. Our property tax is high, the tax the visitors pay on vacation condos is now 17.42%, however sales tax is around 4%

    I’m always trying to think of something the people of Hawaii could do to bring in revenue. I think legal marijauna is one. Another is allowing repairs for ocean erosion. Our building hired an engineering firm from The Midwest to fix repair our seawall, should have hired local!
    Mahalo

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  6. Even if out of state companies own large institutions here, the wages they pay to the local workforce stays here.

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  7. Saw an article today about food producers gouging. Now markets are making them show why they need to increase food prices before they will put them in the shelves Joe won’t put them on at all or on a lower shelf. Customers they said are becoming increasingly less brand loyal same will happen with Hawaii if they aren’t careful. Lots of options out there.

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  8. When I go to Hawaii I buy Christmas gifts even in July and go to outdoor bazaars where arts and crafts display Hawaiian made items. I provide a bunko group once a year and buy soaps and gifts local made as well.

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  9. I find it astonishing that you even needed to write this article. Why would Hawaii be any different than any other vacation destination.

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    1. It’s different because the natives are still there. Hawaii is special because the people hold onto Aloha. You will not find the Island feeling anywhere else. Trying to keep what is spent there might make it worth their while to deal with the tourists.

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