We’re not trying to tick anyone off, but it goes without saying where America’s most beautiful paradise is.
Take it from someone who lives in San Diego, a renowned “paradise” in its own right, but I’m fully aware my city doesn’t hold a candle in comparison.
It’s not just because we lack aloha and islands — a side-by-side postcard would show America’s 50th state wins every time.
If you haven’t guessed by now, yes, we’re talking about Hawaii — a place that, from the outside looking in, still seems like a wildly popular vacation spot.
Unfortunately, for a mix of reasons, traveler demand hasn’t caught up. Now, a new tourism campaign is hoping to put our only state made entirely of islands back on travelers’ radars and recapture its glory days.
Why Hawaii Lost Tourists
We have Puerto Rico to the east and Hawaii to the west. Either way you slice it, you don’t need a passport for either culturally rich and insanely beautiful cluster of islands.
There are a few valid reasons more travelers have held off booking an epic Hawaiian getaway:
Seasonality
Spring break is a crucial booking window for Hawaii, and the March Kona Low storms hit at the worst possible time, bringing extreme weather resulting in heavy floods, cancellations, and uncertainty right as many vacationers were either heading there or locking in plans.
Bad optics
Mainstream news and social media clips made the islands look like a no-go zone, even as many areas remained open or recovered quickly.
According to TravelAge West, that uncertainty didn’t just hurt spring break; it has trickled into summer planning too, which is one of the best times of the year to savor the islands’ sun-soaked beaches, vibrant blue waters, and endless outdoor adventures from volcanic hikes to thermal springs.
Lingering effects
I don’t know about you, but even as a seasoned traveler, when people mentioned Hawaii, my first thought isn’t how amazing it would be to visit; it’s “Is Hawaii ready for tourists?”.
Not to point fingers, but Hawaii’s PR team hasn’t exactly swayed travelers in general (not just me) to visit after the horrendous Maui fires of 2023.
After the Lahaina wildfire, officials discouraged nonessential travel to give one of Hawaii’s most beloved destinations room to recover.
But like an ex who pushed you away, many travelers eventually took the hint and moved on.
Hawaii Claims It’s Ready For Tourism Again
Not that Honolulu, for example, ever had a major natural disaster issue scaring travelers off, but Hawaii is still going back to the drawing board to draw visitors back in.
Places like Honolulu, the most popular gateway in, never really stopped welcoming visitors — but perception can travel faster than reality.
After wildfire recovery concerns, storm footage going viral, and headline-inducing spring break disruptions, Hawaii is now reminding travelers that many of its most iconic escapes are open, just as beautiful as they’ve ever been, and more than ready for a much-needed comeback.
In fact, Hawaii is putting its money where its nonexistent mouth is by forking over $2 million on a marketing spree to showcase its awesomeness.
State Governor Josh Green was quoted as saying, “These funds are about supporting Hawaii’s economy, local businesses and the people who depend on the visitor industry for their livelihoods”.
Adding, “We want visitors to know that Hawaii warmly welcomes them and that their visits help fuel our recovery.”
Better yet, Hawaii is just as accessible, if not more, than it’s ever been.
For example, Alaska Airlines recently announced an exciting new flight to Honolulu from Burbank, so even small airports are getting in on the aloha action.
How Safe Is Hawaii To Visit This Summer?
We won’t sugarcoat it — even with fewer tourists as of late, there are still some headaches navigating Hawaii.
First, there’s major traffic jams throughout Honolulu, but the new airport train does help.
Second, there’s budgeting your trip because — shoo-wee! — it’s pricey.
Lastly, Hawaii may look like a picture-perfect paradise from most viewpoints, but explore at ground level and you’ll still come across some rougher edges, including visible pockets of homelessness.
Remember, Dog The Bounty Hunter made a career here…
That brings into question safety, not just because of potentially treacherous weather, though Hawaii’s rainy season tends to last from November to April…
Our very own Safety Index indicates travelers are scoring Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai with the following real-time scores:
Honolulu: 82/100
Maui: 85/100
Kauai: 90/100
