41 thoughts on “This Huge Cost Increase In Hawaii Is Next”
Jack N
Wow, one curve ball after another. My wife and I have been dying to visit for over 3 years now. First Covid and our govt’s mishandling of the information and rollout of the therapeutics.
Maybe Covid is finally dissipating and maybe Putin will realize it was a big mistake. Maybe recall Ige?
1
JC
I worked for the utility on Kauai for 30 years. The solar and hydro projects that comprise the bulk of the renewable generation on Kauai are not intended, nor do they reduce the price for electricity. Even with 80% renewables the price on Kauai for electricity remains higher than on the other islands. The main reason for renewables there is to secure an adequate supply to better control access rather than lowering cost.
5
Roy H
I would think with what’s happening to the price of oil in the last few weeks, Kauai well be sitting very nicely in the near future.
David B
I’ve been a customer of KIUC for 13 years now. I can confirm electricity is super expensive on Kauai. We have all LED lights and no A/C, so the electricity is primarily consumed by our refrigerator and electric dryer, and our bill is around $150/month. We used to have a propane dryer, but propane on Kauai is also super expensive.
To the point of the article, the spike in prices is not unique to Hawaii. Travel to anywhere, or staying home for that mater, just got a lot more expensive.
1
Mary Kay S
Southwest Airlines has a long-standing cap on the price they pay for fuel that they bought into, it’s one of the reasons they still offer free baggage. Hopefully they can take advantage big time of everyone else’s folly…
5
JohnW
It’s called hedging, all the airlines do it. Last thing Hawaii needs is SWA trying to grow as much as possible here. Hawaii is not Orlando or Las Vegas….as much as they would like to turn it into that.
8
Richard C
Aloha BOH Bro’s
As it pertains to world events count your blessings that you live where you do.
If you’re fortunate enough to take advantage of travel to such a special place as Hawaii than do it. Good chance your next trip could be your last trip.
Truth be told…
5
Doug A.
The various versions of wave, current, and tidal energy capture devices have made significant improvements in recent years. Hawaii is surrounded by oceans that can be harvested for inexaustible energy. Don’t know why that’s not being discussed.
10
JC
Cost and reliability are huge factors. Cheaper and more reliable/proven renewables are available Mostly solar and run of river hydro. If someone wants to come in and build a wave project its possible the utilitys might be interested in buying whatever it generates.
Roy H
Very much agree Doug. GE has a wave generator and it’s safe for wildlife too. As I remember there are 3 or 4 countries in Europe that are to some degree using this generator. I would think that a place like Hawaii would be perfect for such a tool.
Aloha
3
David L.
We are making plans to come this summer, but I do have to admit I feel somewhat guilty considering what is happening in Ukraine at the moment.
5
Lui, P.
Higher prices on everything is exactly what the government wants so that they get their “richer” tourists and attempt to eliminate the bargain hunters!!!
12
Cliff
Bike rental would be a great option for people to consider as fuel costs rise. Moped and motorcycles would be another option as would electric and battery powered vehicles. It would be wonderful if Hawaii would opt to use more golf cart type vehicles and set a precedent against this war.
9
JC
Only practical in urban areas. Much of the islands are rural. Golf carts are impractical. Bike rentals are available in cities and some towns. Anybody that can afford to fly to Hawaii and rent a place to live isn’t going to be interested in saving a few bucks for a couple of weeks by not renting a car.
3
David B
Unfortunately, much of Hawaii roads are not safe for bicyclists, and the locals can be hostile if they get stuck behind you in their trucks. The roads on Kauai, for example, are very narrow. No room for bike lanes (or for walking along the road, for that matter). If you plan to ride a bike for your vacation transportation, I’d pick another place to go.
3
Beat of Hawaii
Hi David.
Thanks for that input. Mopeds are also not safe here in Hawaii in the way they are in French Polynesia for example.
Aloha.
1
Jeanne F
But it doesn’t have to be this way-it’s a quality of life issue-,-take back the streets is a global movement finally with changes on Oahu-roads are not just for gas hogging cars/trucks-the mind set needs to change so that roads are safe for pedestrians and other forms of transportation. Just like parking-parking is a public resource -this is happening in small towns all across the US-and it needs to happen in HawIaii ,on ,all the islands
1
David B
Maybe on Oahu, but good luck with that anywhere on the north side on Kauai. It’s not like this “road widening” concept hasn’t been kicked around for decades. If anything even close to a bike lane was to be added over the next decade or two, it will be south-west of the Wailua river bridge, more likely not until close to the airport.
Nancy P
I made reservations for May, as soon as there was a rumor that Safe travels was going away, because I anticipated a rise in prices. I chose Waikiki, because I won’t need a car, and a condo so I can cook some meals, although I know groceries will be higher also. The other islands will have to wait, until cars and fuel become less expensive.
5
James B
I read the same story and came to the same conclusion. Higher gas and hotel prices pale in comparison to the probable beginning of WW III. When we all realize that the first shot fired in a former Soviet Bloc Eastern European country results in a certain NATO response, the less we should all care about our next vacation. On the other hand, why not squeeze one in before we are all hunkered down again?
1
Rinolda V
You are right. Everyone should walk everywhere from now on.
Comments are closed.
Aloha!
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Wow, one curve ball after another. My wife and I have been dying to visit for over 3 years now. First Covid and our govt’s mishandling of the information and rollout of the therapeutics.
Maybe Covid is finally dissipating and maybe Putin will realize it was a big mistake. Maybe recall Ige?
I worked for the utility on Kauai for 30 years. The solar and hydro projects that comprise the bulk of the renewable generation on Kauai are not intended, nor do they reduce the price for electricity. Even with 80% renewables the price on Kauai for electricity remains higher than on the other islands. The main reason for renewables there is to secure an adequate supply to better control access rather than lowering cost.
I would think with what’s happening to the price of oil in the last few weeks, Kauai well be sitting very nicely in the near future.
I’ve been a customer of KIUC for 13 years now. I can confirm electricity is super expensive on Kauai. We have all LED lights and no A/C, so the electricity is primarily consumed by our refrigerator and electric dryer, and our bill is around $150/month. We used to have a propane dryer, but propane on Kauai is also super expensive.
To the point of the article, the spike in prices is not unique to Hawaii. Travel to anywhere, or staying home for that mater, just got a lot more expensive.
Southwest Airlines has a long-standing cap on the price they pay for fuel that they bought into, it’s one of the reasons they still offer free baggage. Hopefully they can take advantage big time of everyone else’s folly…
It’s called hedging, all the airlines do it. Last thing Hawaii needs is SWA trying to grow as much as possible here. Hawaii is not Orlando or Las Vegas….as much as they would like to turn it into that.
Aloha BOH Bro’s
As it pertains to world events count your blessings that you live where you do.
If you’re fortunate enough to take advantage of travel to such a special place as Hawaii than do it. Good chance your next trip could be your last trip.
Truth be told…
The various versions of wave, current, and tidal energy capture devices have made significant improvements in recent years. Hawaii is surrounded by oceans that can be harvested for inexaustible energy. Don’t know why that’s not being discussed.
Cost and reliability are huge factors. Cheaper and more reliable/proven renewables are available Mostly solar and run of river hydro. If someone wants to come in and build a wave project its possible the utilitys might be interested in buying whatever it generates.
Very much agree Doug. GE has a wave generator and it’s safe for wildlife too. As I remember there are 3 or 4 countries in Europe that are to some degree using this generator. I would think that a place like Hawaii would be perfect for such a tool.
Aloha
We are making plans to come this summer, but I do have to admit I feel somewhat guilty considering what is happening in Ukraine at the moment.
Higher prices on everything is exactly what the government wants so that they get their “richer” tourists and attempt to eliminate the bargain hunters!!!
Bike rental would be a great option for people to consider as fuel costs rise. Moped and motorcycles would be another option as would electric and battery powered vehicles. It would be wonderful if Hawaii would opt to use more golf cart type vehicles and set a precedent against this war.
Only practical in urban areas. Much of the islands are rural. Golf carts are impractical. Bike rentals are available in cities and some towns. Anybody that can afford to fly to Hawaii and rent a place to live isn’t going to be interested in saving a few bucks for a couple of weeks by not renting a car.
Unfortunately, much of Hawaii roads are not safe for bicyclists, and the locals can be hostile if they get stuck behind you in their trucks. The roads on Kauai, for example, are very narrow. No room for bike lanes (or for walking along the road, for that matter). If you plan to ride a bike for your vacation transportation, I’d pick another place to go.
Hi David.
Thanks for that input. Mopeds are also not safe here in Hawaii in the way they are in French Polynesia for example.
Aloha.
But it doesn’t have to be this way-it’s a quality of life issue-,-take back the streets is a global movement finally with changes on Oahu-roads are not just for gas hogging cars/trucks-the mind set needs to change so that roads are safe for pedestrians and other forms of transportation. Just like parking-parking is a public resource -this is happening in small towns all across the US-and it needs to happen in HawIaii ,on ,all the islands
Maybe on Oahu, but good luck with that anywhere on the north side on Kauai. It’s not like this “road widening” concept hasn’t been kicked around for decades. If anything even close to a bike lane was to be added over the next decade or two, it will be south-west of the Wailua river bridge, more likely not until close to the airport.
I made reservations for May, as soon as there was a rumor that Safe travels was going away, because I anticipated a rise in prices. I chose Waikiki, because I won’t need a car, and a condo so I can cook some meals, although I know groceries will be higher also. The other islands will have to wait, until cars and fuel become less expensive.
I read the same story and came to the same conclusion. Higher gas and hotel prices pale in comparison to the probable beginning of WW III. When we all realize that the first shot fired in a former Soviet Bloc Eastern European country results in a certain NATO response, the less we should all care about our next vacation. On the other hand, why not squeeze one in before we are all hunkered down again?
You are right. Everyone should walk everywhere from now on.