Hawaii is getting too expensive to visit.
- Thread starter gfh77665
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- Oct 25, 2021
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Mahalo gringoI’ll do it. I’ll call you…………..
Lucky!
We landed in Kona and waiting for our rental suburban now
Hawaii has an oil refinery. Lots for Bitoggers to see. 
And tons of sketchy people on the strip.
That can said of so many places in USA, par for the course.
That fee is paltry . Good idea on charging people who impact the local area the most and not absorbing with local population. Our state NH has few taxes except high meals and lodging tax to make their money off tourists.
Raising prices if crowded is a nice filter.
Hawaii priced themselves out of the market for me decades ago.
Miami Beach getting sketchy with all the trash trying to be the next Big Thing and causing trouble to get attention and film it for their silly social media.
I was there about 3 months ago and noticed how things have gone down hill.
I also noticed lots of wannabe ‘influencers’ filming on Miami Beach.
The opposite is true, likely. I had a four week long trip planned for NB, PEI, N&L, with two ferry rides and a 7 day stay in St. Johns.
I canceled the whole thing.
Instead I am headed to Alaska next week, and then to Nashville and Cincinnati to visit the Ark Experience in October.
Ding ding ding.
Putting aside trying to frame it as a ideological issue, the fact is that a lot of places are being "loved to death" by tourists, and Hawaii is not the only one trying to mitigate the effects through taxation.
Venice instituted an entrance fee. It's a truly unique place, but insanely crowded. Amsterdam, likewise, because it got sick of the drunkard party goers soiling its streets. The towns in Florida trying to reduce the effects of the spring break party crowds.
There's noting unique about what Hawaii is doing, and if you're been there and experienced the scenery, it's understandable. Fewer idiots driving their rental cars off track and getting stuck, north of Kapalua on Maui, beyond the visitor center on Mauna Kea, or down into the Waipio Valley. Or engaging in disrespectful behavior. It's a difficult situation for them because of the role tourism plays in their economy.
And with Hawaii, there's also another undercurrent, owing to events in its history.
I doubt its "just a filter". Seems they are in a bind.
What is the debt of Hawaii?
In the fiscal year of 2024, the state debt of Hawaii was about 8.74 billion U.S. dollars. In that same year, the state's local government debt was 8.41 billion U.S. dollars. Comparatively, the state's debt in 2000 stood at 5.59 billion U.S. dollars, and its local government debt at 2.32 billion U.S. dollars.
Jan 7, 2025
It's not done to offset the impact of tourism. It's a money grab, pure and simple. Tax the people who do not vote locally. That is why lodging and rental cars get special attention. Restaurants don't, as locals eat there too.
Well, to put it politely, the US leadership hasn't been the nicest ally lately, so some people have decided to mildly protest with their travel dollars. Make no mistake, the average Canadian feels no ill will, to the average American.
I think roughly Canada is 1/6 of the US tourist dollars at $24B, and the US is 1/2 of Canada's at $12B, so any significant dip in travel either way will be felt.
The US has been getting a bit more expensive as well, (I don't know why your food is so expensive now?), and the Dominican or Mexico is a cheaper warm destination than Florida and a bit more "exotic". Return flight from Toronto to Cancun, Mexico is only $350-500.
We share that feeling. The average American has absolutely no ill will towards Canadians. All we want is an even playing field, for once.
What's most unfortunate for us is just seeking an even playing field we are suddenly perceived negatively.
Isn't that everyplace now?
Well, groceries seems to be cheaper in my area, and many things 1/3 less once you convert to US dollars? And we have a fairly monopolized grocery store system, but maybe the US is worse?
