It’s clear that Hawaii isn’t getting as many tourists as it usually does during the peak holiday season. This is evidenced by the fact that yesterday, our editors witnessed his flight to and from Hawaii, which is usually less crowded at this time of year, with connections between two of his normally busy airports. It has also been confirmed by others, including hotel experts in Hawaii.
Honestly, considering the myriad issues, it’s no wonder. As you can see in the first photo, HNL businesses were also closed during the day. One store was open, but his four stores next door, shown here, were not. And it was a typically crowded terminal area. Another shock was flying a 175-seat plane with 38 people on board between HNL and Kauai yesterday, just days before Christmas. The crew reported that this was the norm.
As one of our regulars pointed out, “Governor Green’s comments are heartbreaking all over again. Visit any short-term rental message board or rental site on the web. Since these comments, people are starting to think less of Maui. People are increasingly afraid to book and are worried that the government will take away their Maui rentals. This is another shame. These plans are thought out and carefully considered before they air. Must be considered. It is too easy to switch to another island, Cabo, Costa Rica, or a cruise. This is a delicate situation. Let’s not give tourists a reason to go further away. My Ohana It’s great for everyone.”
Jeff, our longest-standing editor here, has been celebrating vacations in Hawaii for nearly half a century. And what he and editor Rob encountered yesterday was anything but normal. Their flight from the mainland to Hawaii itself was full, but their arrival at Honolulu Airport on a Wednesday afternoon before Christmas was anything but ordinary.
So why aren’t tourists coming to Hawaii like usual?
There are many reasons, and we know them all. However, what is even more clear and worrying is that the symptoms have not improved over time. Of course, it starts with costs that are simply too high, especially when it comes to hotels and vacation rentals in Hawaii.
Terrible message from the state of Hawaii.
This continues forever. The Maui wildfires were exacerbated by the failure of the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor of Hawaii, and the Mayor of Maui to respond immediately to the fires and to communicate the appropriate message to avoid scaring visitors for the time being. It got worse.
Hawaii made a huge mistake in thinking it could safely forget about tourism, its only source of income, for months on end.
Messages from Maui and a small but vocal anti-visitor sector continue to cause concern for prospective visitors. At Ka’anapali Beach near Whalers Village, a 24-hour fish invasion protest is underway along the beach in an effort to stop tourism until the 7,000 people living in the hotel have long-term housing options. No matter how you look at it, such protests serve to draw attention to the displaced fire victims, while also hampering the tourism industry. And this message has been seen and repeated around the world, with Maui being considered a place not to visit for now.
The governor has threatened to abolish vacation rentals on Maui starting next month.
Green is proposing a moratorium on vacation rentals on Maui starting in January if there is not enough voluntary conversion of short-term to long-term rentals for fire victims.
I’m not sure how well it’s going after receiving this email from a reader named Sam asking us for help.
“I’m trying to rent a short-term rental property to a family who was forced to evacuate due to the Maui wildfires, but I can’t seem to get any response from the state or government agencies. I really want to help, but where can I find help?” I am not sure if I should consult with you, so I would like to contact you. I would appreciate your cooperation.”
Comment from Beat of Hawaiian reader Sam.
The feeling of aloha is almost lost in such loud conversations.
Hawaii travel costs remain out of control and disproportionate compared to other destinations. This is supposed to be the busiest and busiest week for Hawaii travel, with seasonal vacation bookings dropping.
It is also predicted that Americans will travel more than usual during the holidays in 2023, as other destinations have not seen a decline in travel.
There are no prospects for recovery for either Maui or the state. Maui never recovered from its complete shutdown, which spread to all of Hawaii. Travelers were able to return to most of Maui, but it wasn’t until last month that West Maui fully reopened. While there has been some improvement on Maui, things are far from normal locally, and visitor numbers across Hawaii this month quickly reveal what is already evident locally. Sho.
Maui hotel workers gather in Kaanapali.
Yesterday, hotel workers on Maui, affiliated with the union Unite Here: Local 5, held a press conference, waved signs and marched in support of those still without long-term housing, including the workers.
“While the short-term vacation rental solutions proposed by the Maui County Council will provide immediate relief to some in need, they will ultimately provide long-term relief to Maui communities,” the union said this week. It’s going to cause problems.” We seek solutions that address both short- and long-term housing needs on Maui, including rent control, eviction protection, and permanent conversion of short-term rental properties in residential neighborhoods to long-term rental properties. ”
There are also reports that some hotels in West Maui have canceled holiday reservations to continue accommodating fire victims. Outrigger is one of several hotel groups that has asked visitors to change their Maui plans at the last minute.
State DBEDT Director Jimmy Tokioka confirmed that Outrigger continues to expand housing for evacuees by relocating more than 200 vacation reservations.
Hawaii hotels are clearly aware of the downturn in Hawaii travel.
BOH editor friend Jerry Gibson, a prominent Hawaii hotelier, also commented on the current decline in Hawaii travel, saying, “Even driving down the streets of Waikiki, you can tell that this is not normal. I think most hotels on Oahu have occupancy rates in the mid-80s, but typical holiday season occupancy rates are in the 90% to 92% range.”