68% of all Hawaii visitors used to be return guests. Here’s why thats changing.
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428 thoughts on “Why Hawaii’s Repeat Visitors Aren’t Returning – Does Anyone Care?”
68% of all Hawaii visitors used to be return guests. Here’s why thats changing.
1893. If you don’t know the significance of the year 1893, maybe start there. Ignorance drives a lot of the issues between visitors and Hawaiians. The people that make money from tourism have last names like Hilton. That money doesn’t stay here, it provides minimum wage jobs so local people can not just be poor, but poor and working.
I have been visiting Hawaii every year for 20+ years. I fell in love with the Aloha and the people of the Hawaiian
Islands. Unfortunately my bank account has not grown as fast as the hotels, the restaurants, and the activities of the islands.
And the once bountiful Aloha has all but disappeared. Necessity has turned to greed and evil acts on the tourists.
We all want Hawaii to thrive but at some point we have to say enough!
Resident xenophobia is not rational. Those who desire a traditional life style can find that on all of the islands. Those who desire a more modern lifestyle with access to modern amenities like supermarkets, Costco, Walmart, a multitude of restaurants, rental cars, stable governance, jobs, and laws benefit from the availability made possible by mainland commerce. In addition to the island paradise, the availability of these goods and services is fundimental to the appeal of the islands. If this were not so, the islands of the Caribbean and the rest of Polynesia would be much more popular.
I use to vacation there every 1-2 yrs, but now that I’m retired can’t afford it. And I even own a timeshare.
My wife and I have been visiting Hawaii for the last 25 years. Her mother is from Maui and her stepmother is from O’ahu. We have gone to the islands over ten times for vacations and family reunions. I think our last trip will be our trip of May 2022. Even before the pandemic we noticed the locals getting less and less friendly, and yes we were good travelers to Hawaii respecting the culture and land…..in part due to family connections. What really galled me was the change in locals attitudes when I told them I’m portagee and my wife’s family are locals. I find it sad because we love the beauty of Hawaii and the Polynesian culture.
I don’t think we’ll be back. My husband’s ancestors worked the sugar cane fields in Hawi but still we are just tourists when here and we feel the hate. Our rental was smashed in, trunk window, for a damn cooler. Thieves must have forgotten to bring food. Then we read that they rounded up 33 swimmers at Two Step and they will face a 20,000 fine and year in jail for swimming with dolphins. This was just 2 days ago, we swam there 4 days ago, thank God no dolphins were there….why don’t they just outlaw swimming and snorkeling? Yah I’m done with this god forsaken place. Looks beautiful but evil lurks behind.
I have visited Oahu since the 70s and lived and worked there in the 80s. It has now become more like the New York city of the Pacific with the high-rises, traffic, prices, and attitudes instead of the Aloha spirit! I think I will have to find another vacation spot for the month of May everg year! Sad!
Yes, it is paradise
However after over 25 years of visits, at least once per yr, we definitely felt the higher taxes and fees as well as the anti tourist sentiment.
It is a slippery road, and the economy needs tourism; on the other hand cost have skyrocketed and locals are affected. There are several control tools and mechanisms available, some in place already, ie. Visitor Fee/Tax, and different fees for accommodations. On the other hand, many places are seeking visitors and entice tourism ie Belize, Costa Rica, Portugal…
We love the big island and have many local friends. We hope to keep returning while not overcharged and not wanted
Thx
If u think it’s expensive and overcrowded now wait until China and Japan let their citizens leave. Glad I’m here now and not next year. It’s gorgeous here but I can’t see returning anytime soon.