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?”
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68% of all Hawaii visitors used to be return guests. Here’s why thats changing.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
We were regulars, a family trip every other year for many, many years. I’m beginning to think it might be a thing of the past. Just too hard to get air, car and accommodations for 3 family units, and the cost! We will always have our memories but we’ve found other places more affordable ready to welcome us.
It’s not only natives who are rude on the islands these days plenty of folks moving from out of state can be rude also
Attitude matters when I’m on vacation. I’ve had items stolen from me in Hawaii. In Saint Thomas I lost my passport and had it returned to me. It speaks volumes about respect and class. Hawaii lots of attitude from people. Saint Thomas and Saint John no attitude. Vacation needs to be reasonable financially and provide good vibes. Why am I going to pay to be violated or treated poorly? Not going to. Sorry Hawaii I can take my $ to the places I’m welcome. Believe me some beaches are amazing elsewhere.
This is inflation folks. Only the upper middle class to wealthy can afford these type of travels. Hotels will lose money trying to cater to affordability because they have higher wages to cover and food/supplies costs are higher too.
The party is over. The Fed left the punch bowl out for too long and now this is the hang over.
They can raise prices and add taxes all they want. People will just pay it. I spent $20,000+ last year. If they added $5000 tax, I’d have paid $25,000. That would make Hawaii even more elitist, but If the government really wants to limit tourism, the only way is to limit the number of hotel rooms.
I’ve owned property in Hawaii since 2014 and went to college and finished high school on Oahu. Even still, I’m treated as a second class citizen by law makers and having been involved in lots of city council meetings around Bill 41 am still astounded at the us versus them attitude toward anyone who’s a tourist or isn’t a full time resident. Because of my deep roots, I’ll always keep coming back but it was a wake up call when I visited Bahamas a few months ago. They Love their tourists there and are soooo happy to have their industry coming back! Oahu’s entire attitude has shifted but it makes no sense because there’s no other industry to replace jobs there.
Why would that not be a highlight? It’s a very nice building and restaurant. I don’t know of a snazzier building and restaurant in Hawaii.
Useful news
I’m on my 1st and last trip to Hawaii. Best meal was at Yrump towers. This lack of customer service will send Hawaii into an economic tail spin. Outrageously expensive. I’ve been terribly disappointed.
If the highlight of your trip was a meal at Trump tower then Hawaii was not the place for you!
I think you hit that nail squarely on the head. My wife and I have regularly traveled to Hawaii, first to Kauai where the family had a condo and now to the Big Island. We bird, hike, snorkel, whale watch, watch lava, look at the stars, and such. We don’t eat out much but when we do it is at more “local” eateries. Personally, we don’t see the allure of an all-in-one resort with its golf, shopping malls, and eateries. You never get out to see “Hawaii”. But, to each their own.
Having about 20K weddings under my organist’s belt, mostly Japanese Weddings, I see the potential of Hawaii’s Wedding Industry falling short of any economic indicators predicted. There’s no unifying theme inspiring and motivating young couples to imagine getting married in Hawaii. Hawaiian Wedding Song is great yet it doesn’t provide an alluring image to use as a theme song. “Wedding Bells are ringing in Hawaii” one of my songs provides the kind of hook needed to catch as many weddings as desired. Weddings are the cleanest environmentally safest service industry in Hawaii. If professionally produced, “Wedding Bells are ringing in Hawaii” will put some wind into Hawaii’s tourism sales. Guarans BB – It’s that good. For Hawaii, it’s a freebie.
I’ve been a visitor to Hawaii for years. I also travel to other places as well. To me Hawaii and Disney World have some similarities. I pay more for diminishing returns. I used to love the Disney attitude and customer service. The food used to be good. They used to appreciate my business. They could care less about all that now. I see a similar attitude here at times. Meh if they don’t return someone else will who cares. Ok that may be true, but it’s also possible that person who fills my place may be way worse of a tourist than I was. They may have expectations for the 10000s they are spending. They may not be respectful. Losing customers that have appreciated the history and culture of destinations for many years is not the solution.
Eh I think I’ll just go to Vegas, it is the 9th island after all.
I’m not the best to say the right words…The greed in this world is saddening and gives me the most angst. I have been saving for 5 years and now many steps backwared as prices have increased, air travel is horrific and the unwelcoming stories of the locals on the social media posts. I used to live on Maui in the 70’s. And after returning to the mainland to caregive parents, returned frequently to watch the alarming changes. I was very surprised to find out how many people are visiting the islands, but it appears froom reading the social media posts, it’s kust to add it to the list!I’ve always had an interest and love for the Hawaiian culture, so find it sad that I can not return to feel this aloha due to over tourism. Just so sad.
There will always be people that want to go to Hawaii! Returning visitors do not buy goods like their first couple of trips and they spend less eating out. Maybe combining returned visitors and new visitors is too much people at one time. People from Japan, Canada and such are not the complainers, in my opinion it is the self I entitled people from the mainland US that think Hawaii residents owe them something for coming that is the problem, like the comment stating “good luck with that”. Exactly the kind of people that create more hostility and resentment from local generational and the Kanaka alike. Hawaii owes you nothing, you owe them respect and appreciation , no one sent you an invitation, you decided to show up for you not for them.
Not sure generalizing a group of people is right. I am a respectful American. And, this conversation is not productive. Pointing a finger is not constructive. Hope you find ways to redirect you hostility in the future.
Aloha Tammy🌺🌴🌊🌴 that’s a great comment😉👍🤙 ..we lived in Waikiki in the early/mid ’60s my school was next door..i saw that – I entitled, too😉 now I live in Calgary..B.C. Vanc/White rock /Parksville for quite awhile, for me going back home always meant respect and having a privilege to return sometimes for a few weeks and some a few months..those I loved the best❤️
..i found the US mainlanders to be somewhat “funny”! as my Dad would always say even about his side of the family lol but yeah there’s that ..thing..funny or something 🤙🌴🌊🌺🌴❤️
Native Hawaiians hardly see a trickle of the wealth that enters Hawaii. We don’t want tourists for the same reason that black protesters destroy buisnesses in their own communities. Because we aren’t the ones who benefit from or own said buisnesses. It is the foreign bourgeoisie that benefit from tourism, we don’t own any hotels, and we don’t want to. Utilizing the land as a commodity flies in the face of all that kanaka believe. We are content with rocks. Besides it isn’t like the extra tax dollars entering our economy goes anywhere besides directly to the wealthy. Tourism has done way way way more to destroy than create, and it demonstrates clearly that the colonial mentality still very much exists in many people.
If Native Hawaiians don’t want customers there to help sustain their businesses, then why are there any Hawaiian buisness owners at all? What is stopping Hawaiians from quitting their tourism jobs? Not having any income? But why do you need income if you’re just going to live off the land like your ancestors did pre-colonialization? Any Native can give their privately owned land to the native community and can start farming it And self building homes the traditional way. If Natives want a Renaissance of traditional lifestyles, then collectively they just have to make the leap for that. And they also have to agree to not sell land to the non natives.
It is disturbing. And Maui’s recent decision to market our island in the future to “high end”visitors by building more luxurious hotels and upgrading others, smacks of elitism, and sends a terrible message.
I am a 4th generation Maui girl whose ancestors all worked for sugar plantations since the late 1800’s.
Sadly, sugar is pau. We need all tourists.
Regardless of income levels.
Today we cancelled out condo reservation for Feb. 2023. Between the rising cost of lodging, the cost of air travel between where we live and Kona and the outrageous rental car prices, we just decided after 40 years, it was time to do something different. So, we just booked a trip to Australia and New Zealand for the same basic price and the same time period as our previously planned trip back to the islands.
Amen, Una!
It has made me sad to see what has happened to the island since covid… And I understand both sides… alas the costs to get there and stay are exhorbitant. I hope to return one day, but for now it’s out of my range. I know no one really cares. But it makes me sad.
I visited quite a few years ago. The advice I was given was, don’t go off the beaten path. When going to the beach I wanted to stop at some shops and was told no they’re only for the locals they don’t like mainlanders. I felt as if I didn’t get to experience Hawaii as I wanted to by trying to truly see Hawaii and their culture. I probably won’t return since I didn’t feel welcome.
As a 35 year Lahaina resident, imho, local people really began to sour on visitors with the publications revealing several of Maui’s ‘secret’ pristine spots, typically only known of, and enjoyed by local people. This resulted in rude, intrusive people feeling entitled to trample all over the domains of local people because these locations are “in the book”. This naturally engendered feelings of resentment. Just an observation/opinion.
I disagree with that last quote.
“If covid proved anything Hawaii needs tourists to support their state infrastructure which they have been getting from the (exorbitant) taxes on everything. Tourism seems to now be the only thing supporting their economy, so go ahead, “marginalize tourists” and good luck with that!
I believe that the main thing that covid proved is that our reliance on tourism is one of many Achilles heels we have as an isolated island state. We need to figure out ways to become independent from tourism. Tourism is nice and all, but we have all of our eggs in that one basket.
We have been to Hawaii 5 times! We love the Islands and it’s people. Our dream is that tourists will come with the Aloha of the Islands and the people and that a balanced and respectful trouse can be made. We love Hawaii and would hate to not be welcomed by the people we love and respect.
I loved visiting but won’t be back. 4 out of 5 of us came home with Covid!!!
Big parts of Hawaii have become a dump and homeless encampment. Many destitute locals and criminal newcomers from the mainland deal drugs, commit thefts, steal and then burn cars or dump their derelict cars all over the islands. The island’s government must take some drastic measures in disallowing non-Hawaiian homeless to come to the islands and send back to their state of documentation those non-Hawaiian who are currently homeless in Hawaii.
And then there’s the locals hostility towards haole. If you are fenced off in a five star resort, maybe you can ignore the signs of deterioration, but you still can’t miss them when you are driving around the island, even only from and to the airport. Not my idea of paradise.
I’m mostly white, but my whole family are registered Ojibwe tribal members through my native grandfather. Our reservation in Northern Wisconsin is still very wild lush and peaceful. It would make me very sad if a bunch of McDonald’s started flooding the place and the tourists started hurting wildlife/dumping garbage in our great Lakes. Hawaii Natives and locals have a legitimate reason to be annoyed by tourists. I see so many bad behavior things like them climbing on top of the honu for photos.
But I also think respectful and sustainable tourism is possible. And for a small island like Hawaii, financially a neccesity to pay bills. Was a HI first time visitor in March. Hilo! Beautiful! I shopped local to make a positive impact! Thanks! 🙂
I went to Hawaii for the first time just last year. Every person I met there was great. My tour guides were very informative and taught a lot about native hawaiian culture. I went to Kauai and The Big Island and I think that improved my experience staying away from more crowded areas. I fully plan on going back to both those islands and visiting Maui and Ohau also. The biggest thing for me is telling people to respect the land and the culture if they go. If you teach people to be respectful they will want to protect Hawaii more but still go see all it has to offer and contribute to its economy.
What this article forgot to address is that the State of Hawaii is its own largest employer. More people work for the State or federal government than in tourism. The tax revenue goes right back in their own pockets. Please heed a warning: Big government, big tech, big pharma…..big trouble.
I am a full time resident of the state of Hawaii, I love our state and I understand that tourism is important to the state, I feel that by just having an “open door” to the islands was possibly not a good idea. When you are trying to accommodate more visitors onto an island than you have residents things can get out of hand. As with many things the pendulum usually does not settle to a middle ground, but as a state we need to find a way to welcome visitors in a responsible way while also keeping the visitor count manageable for all islands. I don”t thinks visitors or residents want Oahu or any of the other islands to become a “Las Vegas”.
US citizens have a right to move freely about the country. Hawaii is not a seperate country and has no right to limit visitors. The residents do not dictate hotel prices and rental cars etc.
Nativism only serves to divide the population and weaken the vote. We are not fighting each other, but managing the economy. Without tourism, many essential services will not be available.
If citizens of the state of hawaii do not like the management of the economy, perhaps they should consider choosing other leadership, same as any other community in the US.
I have been to Aruba and like it there better. I was not in awe of Hawaii. Did not feel the Aloha family feeling everyone talks about. Stayed in ko olina which is beautiful. Roads are awful for traveling.
They are over charging for Hawaiian sun drinks in the can 12 oz for $2.50 a can these people over charging the goods you can buy for .35 a can at longs when you buy a 6 pack
As they say….. money talks. Prices can say ‘come, you are welcome here’ or they can say ‘stay away – we don’t want or need you.’
Our budget can stand only so much. Not sure if it can withstand the costs of another vacation to Hawaii. We are hopeful – but cannot say with any certainty that we will ever be able to visit again. Lots of good memories, though.
It would be interesting to know just how some of the folks (locals) on this board who bash tourists make their living. They have to eat and buy gas and pay rent or mortgages just like everyone else. How do all these folks who want tourists to stay away or just pay lots more to make ends meet? Wonder if they are 4th or 5th generation Hawaiians or transplants with money?
My concern is let the residence benefit and let the government agencies and groups implement their wise judgments like those before them. Though, I don’t think local, county and state government are spending enough of those tourism dollars for the direct benefit of residents. As far as, some past habitual visitors are deciding know to come back, well, there will be others and more after you leave. Hawaii islands are a visitor dream. We are talking about citizens who saved monies for what..,10, 20, 30 years before made their first visit. And they kept coming back. Others will, too. I have benefited more from the islands than I have benefited the the islands. But, I have had enough too. Mahalo.
I’ve been to Hawaii before it’s a beautiful island to visit I’ve been to Honolulu, Waikiki beach,aloha,Oahu,and Maui as well as Kauai and I’m planning on going back to visit Hawaii again sometime next year
We have been waiting about 3 years to get to Maui and we’re able to go in May . I will say I have no desire to return . We had a great time and yes it was expensive and we new that ahead of time . I’m so happy we went and I can cross it off my list . Most of the locals we interacted with were nice however there was a lot that weren’t . Travel books say to obey the laws etc and we did . Speed limits etc . Many of the locals do not . Much of Maui is poor by todays standards with abandon cars throughout the island . While the beautiful pictures are all true there is a side to Hawaii that is not depicted in the tourism books . I traveled over 5000 miles from eastern US but there are just as pretty beaches and mountains a lot closer
My first visit to Hawaii was in 1968. Having worked for the airlines, I have been able to visit over 60 times. Of course, things have changed over the years; however, I still love visiting Hawaii. My family and I visited Christmas 2021 and because of the QR rules and all of the restrictions, I felt for the first time no aloha from the airport to the hotel to the car rental. When we returned for Easter 2022, life had improved, especially because the QR was eliminated. We plan to visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2022 becuase we do love Hawaii.
I am a long time return visitor to Hawaii, and these changes make me sad, Because the Hawaiian islands have always been known for their hospitality and “aloha spirit”. I stayed at Four Seasons in Wailea, Maui in February and the prices were astronomical. Yes, everything has gone up, but these rates were more than double what they were 10 years ago when my late husband and I used to visit.
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement?
Theodore Roosevelt was absolutely spot on.
Might as well have BLM in charge…… 😂.
Aloha
I’m retired and would love to volunteer for their Organic Gardens Produce stands, Hotel customer service desk, airport customer service desk, in exchange for room and board on Maui Hawaii Island. I’ve been to Hawaii in April 1975 spring break before graduating from High School and didn’t want to leave, I’ve been dreaming of the opportunity again.
Mahalo,
BB
I’ve been a repeat visitor to Honolulu 9 times. Have always had a wonderful time but notices the steep increase cost of absolutely everything. Can’t have a decent meal under $150 a couple.
If Hawaii wants fewer visitors than quit granting developers and hotel chains permission to build more new hotels and condos!!!! How dumb can you be? Does no one see the connection here??? As they tear down the old hotels and condos turn the lots into a public park. But, it will never happen because the City of Honolulu wants the tax revenue. How else can they pay for that incredibly expensive light rail system that will never even come close to being self supporting, and will have to be subsidized forever by tax dollars. Time to throttle back the taxing and spending by the mayor and city council who think the islands can accommodate all of their silly schemes.
3 thousand dollars for a week rental of a car and food that’s OK and hotels raising the prices with fees and taxes 50 dollars a day just to park the car.and on and on so yes we will not be going back after 10 years of alot of love for the islands to many other places to see
I hear many people who live in hawaii saying that if people don’t want to spend the money to come then stay home. That is the wrong mentality. Many of us do want to spend money. It is just what is reasonable for us to spend to go. There is only so far you can raise prices and taxes on tourists before Hawaii becomes a playground for the rich alone. Once that happens then Hawaii will become unaffordable for locals as well. I live on Long Island and if we in this area took the same attitude our rents and house prices would be even higher. New York City has a lot of tourism and we encourage it. It helps to keep already high costs down. The difference for New York is we have a much more diversified economy that can survive a drop in tourism.
Hawaiʻi is already a “playground for the rich alone.” Many locals work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. There has been a steady flow of residents, particularly Native Hawaiians, who have effectively been forced to leave their home in search of a better quality of life for their families. Those that stay contend with the effects of over tourism – extreme traffic congestion, environmental degradation, strained infrastructure, water shortages, etc. Moreover, most tourists spend money in resort zones flowing into mainland corporations, not the truly local economy. We don’t Need exploitive min. wage service jobs. We Need to reform tourism into an industry that is actually in reciprocity with both residents and the ʻāina itself.
It Sounds more like the issue is not tourism itself but how Hawaii has let the big corporation abuse it which is happening even more now. The government needs to find a way to make the big chain hotels reinvest in the local economy, not funnel money out. Big companies will not like that but there has to be a compromise somewhere. I understand the frustrations of locals but over taxing and charging tourists won’t work. Hawaii had a good agricultural economy in the 70’s and 80’s more balanced with tourism and prior generations moved away from it to tourism. Now that is hurting Hawaii because it has to import everything and now tourism is too big a part of the economy. But you can’t bite that hand to hard or else more will be hurt.
Return visitors are more likely to know about cultural issues, and more aware.
Thanks, Don for making this point. We have been coming since 2006 and a huge draw is learning local culture and customs – new and old. We have enjoyed talking with so many wonderful locals and other long-time visitors and consider it a privilege to be welcomed back. We try to take the long-range look at the current situation and though it has become incredibly expensive, hope to continue to visit and learn. We arrive Monday for my 50th birthday.
I’m more likely to visit, more often, from California with reduced crowds, environmental impact, and social impact. Even at higher costs, I can feel better that I’m not ruining a place I think is so special.
I havent returned since the pandemic began, not out of spit, but out of respect and at mayors’ requests.
What I’d like to see is a Hawaii less dependent on tourism, resulting in a better place to live for it’s residents. The magic of Hawaii lays in it’s people, environment and culture. If we continue to destroy that in the name of tourism, there will be nothing left to your.