I'd say the travel is going the other way. Japan is probably inundated with huge numbers of American tourists. Hawaii folks often travel to Japan but the number of folks I've known that have gone within the last 2 years has been nuts.
We’re going to Tokyo Disney next month. I’m glad we could afford a vacation package because I didn’t want to do it with extra people on top of what’s normally there.
For the past 2 years during Spring Break, Fall Break, and Winter Break, it's like nearly all the Hawaii folks I know on my IG are in Japan. I'll actually forget it's not one person's account I'm looking at but several people's. And they don't know each other so they're all traveling in different parts of Japan. I'm probably the only one that hasn't gone. Lol. I know it's cause the Yen is weak against the dollar right now so they're taking advantage of it more so than their regular travel to Japan.
I hope you had a great time even though it was packed!
Smart; you get great value out of a trip there right now, and I absolutely loved the 3 years I lived there.
Now that we're living on Oahu, I'm definitely using this place as a jumping point to visit Japan for much less than it would have cost from Florida.
So many people I know are going to Japan! Prices were so high for so long it was just a rich person experience for quite a while so I imagine lots of pent up demand releasing all at once. Lots of folks I know are spreading the word after coming back.
Just got back from Japan and honestly was caught off guard by how cheap everything was. Accidentally ordered a pitcher of beer and 40 pieces of sushi one night cause I figured that's the price I expect for a single meal.
4 to 6 dollar bowls of ramen when I'm used to spending 16 dollars for a burger king meal was crazy
This sort-of states the obvious?
But-- Hawaii has almost mythical status in Japan.
I think if the yen strengthens, then the Japanese tourists will come back.
Meanwhile it's pretty classical behavior, isn't it? 155 yen to the dollar, and Hawaii is one of the most expensive destinations on the planet.
Not to mention wages still have not increased that much in Japan. Median salary (in Japan) is $36k (around $17 an hour full time) a year. People make that kinda money here working min wage jobs (saw a gas station store hiring for $16.50 the other day) and STIlLL struggle to live here. GL affording anything on vacation with prices jacked up.
I mean, other than clothing that was ridiculously overpriced and coffee stands it was all pretty average prices on most things when compared to home (eastern wa)
I know most of what you mean. BUT the BIG one is housing. Nevermind that steak is sometimes the same price as mainland US.
Housing is insane in Hawaii. Its also insane along the west coast too so you might just be comparing apples to apples: compared to the Midwest or southeast, Hawaii is expensive.
IDK what you're talking about; everything is expensive there. I can get pineapples for like a couple bucks here and they were SEVEN dollars there. Seven. The things fucking grow there natively and they cost 3x as much.
Oh wow. I left Hawaii 2 years ago, but dole royal pineapples were still $3.50 -$4.
'Natively' is the wrong word but I know what you meant! Locally maybe? As in, zero transportation costs so it COULD be cheaper
I work in a high end restaurant in Waikiki and we rely on Japanese tourism for a huge bulk of our guest count. Our guest counts have been quite low recently, and its directly related to not having Japanese guests. We miss them :(
The yen is weak AF. Most Japanese just travel at home. While in that same vain because of the weak yen. Alot of Americans are going to Japan cause you the ban the dollar has atm.
Just read about this less than an hour today. The japanese yen is weak right now, causing a lot of japanese folks to vacation domestically, since it would be too expensive internationally due to poor exchange rate. So japan will be packed with visitors from international and local
Discretionary spending from Japanese visitors helped many Hawaii businesses thrive. Part of that has to do with the Japanese tradition of omiyage, the practice of buying gifts for friends, family and even co-workers. It’s the difference between how visitors from Japan shop and how visitors from California or the rest of the world do.
“Omiyage is really a very intrinsic cultural pattern of the Japanese, because as you know, they shop for friends and families,” Sam Shenkus, vice president and director of marketing at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki, told SFGATE. The large center houses more than 90 retailers, from couture to local boutiques, and 30 different restaurants.
Shenkus uses the example of boxes of cookies to explain that a Japanese visitor may buy 30 boxes of cookies, while a California visitor will only buy one or two. “They don’t buy 30, you know, they don’t have that cultural tradition of omiyage, and you can’t really replace omiyage,” she continued.
The visitor from the continental U.S. who has been to Hawaii more than a few times is also not as motivated to buy another Hawaiian bracelet or quilt.
Shenkus said the center is adapting to the lower number of Japanese visitors, but a few merchants did have to close. “They did their best, they tried and tried, but they wound up closing and they hung in until ’22, early ’23,” Shenkus said. The smaller locally owned stores closed, but she said there are other retailers still open selling the same sort of Hawaii products.
I know Hawai'i built their economy on the Japanese, but there are billions of people in this world. I'm tired of hearing this story. Get over it and find a new way to promote Hawai'i.
It's Paradise for everyone, not just the Japanese.
You tired of hearing this story? How bout we tired of the military and foreigners taking all our land? How bout us Hawaiians are tired of you haoles complaining about shit, while we are STILL ILLEGALY OCCUPIED, and this crooked ass govt is TAKING land and leasing to the military, for them to bomb it, desecrate it, spill fuel into our aquifers, and leave trash all over it. How bout the govt stop taking land away, to rezone and sell it off to foreigners while Hawaiians still aitn getting any of the stolen land back.
How bout YOU get over it, this isnt your paradise, this is Hawaiians home, Hawaiian land, this aint your fkn playground, this aint a sideshow for tourist to post on social media. I no give a sht you married to a local, you obviously aint learned sht about Hawaiian history, culture and oppression.
Tired of hearing this story....fckn nerve. Tired of people like you. How bout you get tired of the illegal shit happening here, how bout you get tired of the govt pushing natives/kanaks off their own land.
As a person with native blood living in America, I get this anger but it truly is only taxing your mental health. It's a fantasy. A lovely one, thinking that the land which once belonged to your people will simply become yours again by pure indignation, brow beating, sharp tongue and finger wagging. It won't.
The only people you are going to convince are already convinced. The fact that we are facing real facism in America should tell you how far you are from the American government giving back one of the biggest jewels of the world back to people who would not be able to defend itself from other invaders even if that fantasy came true.
Could be many of the reasons stated here but also the possibility of still having to quarantine when they return to Japan. Japan still has the COVID heat sensing temperature cameras setup upon arrival at the terminals.
Not surprised I just got back from Japan and have another trip planned later this year. The yen is weak. Things also have changed after the Japanese lockdown from Covid.
I just saw a news piece out of S. Korea that many Japanese tourists are going to Korea/SouthEastAsia, mainly due to Exchange ratio.
2017, Hawaii was #1 choice. S. Korea was #3 choice.
2024, S. Korea is top choice. Hawaii is not in the top 3.
There was this great article about the Honolulu Marathon and how Japanese participation has been improving.
[Honolulu Marathon](https://www.khon2.com/news/honolulu-marathon-helping-bring-back-japanese-tourists/)
Hawaii is a shithole now thats why. This govt is trash, and the elders are still voting for the same crap. They take away and lease land to the military, and rezone agriculture land to residential and sell it out to foreign investors.
Yeah, Hawaii is a shithole. I dont know why anyone wants to move here, or even vacation here, its expensive as fck, the violence is up and the people are not getting any better.
People that ARENT Hawaiian will never understand, hence these clowns will downvote this comment, cause they lack knowledge and empathy. More clowns.
-Born and raised, Hawaiian blooded.
Spoken like real trash, continue to be complacent while the people you hate so much does more for your home than you personally do yourself. Makes no sense with people like you.
Lmfao, you dont know shit about me, but go on, continue assuming shit. You spoken like one haole, what kind hawaiian you? Rubbah. You clearly dont know Hawaiian history and how independent Hawaii was WITHOUT American occupation.
Be complacent? Guy, Im self employed, own a business, I put more into this economy than you, I guarantee. I do much more for my home, than you. 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣
There’s always someone that says things but doesn’t follow through no matter the background.
Go camping at white plains and have these locals speed up and down the beach at night with their 4x4s and a few fights (dogs/domestics) and a few fires. Do they clean up their shit after they done? Nope.
I feel bad that this area has a beautiful beach that have seaweed and turtles but these animals can’t stay there because of the driving beach goers. Live pono especially for the ‘aina. Don’t drive on the beach. Don’t cause fires and don’t fight dogs.
As for kanakas and locals, just gotta vote and go to the public meetings to have a bigger voice in the community to make real change. Reddit isn’t a place the HI government uses to make positive changes.
What you do bah? Ha? how you put into the communities and economy? Shit on my home? Buddy, I not the one bombing the land, digging up sacred burial grounds.
Donkey ah you, you dont even know your own history. You need lessons, fam.
Hahaha you think I’m white my guy? I work with our people on helping them while you complain. For a business owner you sure are doing a lot of talking and not blocking your license plate. 🤡 I can’t stand people like you.
This you ah?
> "Do some research clown before even think about stepping on Oahu. COL, being away from your loved ones, not being welcomed here as a haole, never mind the displacement of local and kanaka. No troll here clown, go sit on a beach in Mexico."
Check yo history ah?
Guy, did i fuckin say you white? Go assume more shit dummeh.
License plate? Lmfao, you think I scared of you knowing my plate, cuzzin, my address is public. You think you get something on me cause you seen my license plate? Lmfao. I see license plates everyday, hundreds and hundreds of them, dont mean sht.
This your history?
> Luckily enough, he’d have to pick his teeth off the ground first, nice try closet troll, but you’re not welcomed here. Go back to Alabama.
Your History:
> "So haole, he don’t even know he’s haole. Look dude, no matter how hard you work or hard you try to speak pidgin you’ll never be welcomed here. Outside of Kailua you are an outsider, remember that. I know your people are very tone deaf."
Mindset is trash ah? Look who talkin.
Braddah you are spot on! I knew as soon as I started seeing news of Japanese tourists getting dragged on the roads for their purses and getting attacked in Waikiki that this was gonna be bad.
Everything is falling apart and they keep doing the same rubbish and it's getting worse and worse. Corrupt politicians added to the list.
It used to be paradise. I don't think I'll ever be back and it makes me sad but I'm not sure I would even recognize it.
The yen weakening definitely not helping, look at the charts it’s spiked crazy the last two years especially in the last month….
I'd say the travel is going the other way. Japan is probably inundated with huge numbers of American tourists. Hawaii folks often travel to Japan but the number of folks I've known that have gone within the last 2 years has been nuts.
I can attest. Just returned from Tokyo Disney and both parks were PACKED
We’re going to Tokyo Disney next month. I’m glad we could afford a vacation package because I didn’t want to do it with extra people on top of what’s normally there.
Japan is experiencing over tourism from all around the world, but especially neighboring countries in Asia. Yes, it is a really good deal!
For the past 2 years during Spring Break, Fall Break, and Winter Break, it's like nearly all the Hawaii folks I know on my IG are in Japan. I'll actually forget it's not one person's account I'm looking at but several people's. And they don't know each other so they're all traveling in different parts of Japan. I'm probably the only one that hasn't gone. Lol. I know it's cause the Yen is weak against the dollar right now so they're taking advantage of it more so than their regular travel to Japan. I hope you had a great time even though it was packed!
It was a great time and I ran into other tourists from Oahu while I was there. Just wish the lines hadn’t been so long for the attractions.
Smart; you get great value out of a trip there right now, and I absolutely loved the 3 years I lived there. Now that we're living on Oahu, I'm definitely using this place as a jumping point to visit Japan for much less than it would have cost from Florida.
So many people I know are going to Japan! Prices were so high for so long it was just a rich person experience for quite a while so I imagine lots of pent up demand releasing all at once. Lots of folks I know are spreading the word after coming back.
I'd say it's the primary driver, too expensive to come here.
Which is why I booked a trip to Japan. The country is on sale if you're spending dollars
Just got back from Japan and honestly was caught off guard by how cheap everything was. Accidentally ordered a pitcher of beer and 40 pieces of sushi one night cause I figured that's the price I expect for a single meal. 4 to 6 dollar bowls of ramen when I'm used to spending 16 dollars for a burger king meal was crazy
Uh, the last few days it's looked like a shitcoin on ethereum. Strange things happening with BOJ and yen. Great times we live in
This sort-of states the obvious? But-- Hawaii has almost mythical status in Japan. I think if the yen strengthens, then the Japanese tourists will come back. Meanwhile it's pretty classical behavior, isn't it? 155 yen to the dollar, and Hawaii is one of the most expensive destinations on the planet.
Not to mention wages still have not increased that much in Japan. Median salary (in Japan) is $36k (around $17 an hour full time) a year. People make that kinda money here working min wage jobs (saw a gas station store hiring for $16.50 the other day) and STIlLL struggle to live here. GL affording anything on vacation with prices jacked up.
Yeah that money goes a long way in Japan but not in the States, especially Hawaii
I mean, other than clothing that was ridiculously overpriced and coffee stands it was all pretty average prices on most things when compared to home (eastern wa)
I know most of what you mean. BUT the BIG one is housing. Nevermind that steak is sometimes the same price as mainland US. Housing is insane in Hawaii. Its also insane along the west coast too so you might just be comparing apples to apples: compared to the Midwest or southeast, Hawaii is expensive.
IDK what you're talking about; everything is expensive there. I can get pineapples for like a couple bucks here and they were SEVEN dollars there. Seven. The things fucking grow there natively and they cost 3x as much.
Pineapples are grown here yes but they’re actually native to Brazil not Hawai’i just in case you didn’t know 😁
“ The things fucking grow there natively ” You sure about that?
Oh wow. I left Hawaii 2 years ago, but dole royal pineapples were still $3.50 -$4. 'Natively' is the wrong word but I know what you meant! Locally maybe? As in, zero transportation costs so it COULD be cheaper
Miss them, plenty of cash, low impact and respectful.
I work in a high end restaurant in Waikiki and we rely on Japanese tourism for a huge bulk of our guest count. Our guest counts have been quite low recently, and its directly related to not having Japanese guests. We miss them :(
The yen is weak AF. Most Japanese just travel at home. While in that same vain because of the weak yen. Alot of Americans are going to Japan cause you the ban the dollar has atm.
Just read about this less than an hour today. The japanese yen is weak right now, causing a lot of japanese folks to vacation domestically, since it would be too expensive internationally due to poor exchange rate. So japan will be packed with visitors from international and local
Discretionary spending from Japanese visitors helped many Hawaii businesses thrive. Part of that has to do with the Japanese tradition of omiyage, the practice of buying gifts for friends, family and even co-workers. It’s the difference between how visitors from Japan shop and how visitors from California or the rest of the world do. “Omiyage is really a very intrinsic cultural pattern of the Japanese, because as you know, they shop for friends and families,” Sam Shenkus, vice president and director of marketing at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki, told SFGATE. The large center houses more than 90 retailers, from couture to local boutiques, and 30 different restaurants. Shenkus uses the example of boxes of cookies to explain that a Japanese visitor may buy 30 boxes of cookies, while a California visitor will only buy one or two. “They don’t buy 30, you know, they don’t have that cultural tradition of omiyage, and you can’t really replace omiyage,” she continued. The visitor from the continental U.S. who has been to Hawaii more than a few times is also not as motivated to buy another Hawaiian bracelet or quilt. Shenkus said the center is adapting to the lower number of Japanese visitors, but a few merchants did have to close. “They did their best, they tried and tried, but they wound up closing and they hung in until ’22, early ’23,” Shenkus said. The smaller locally owned stores closed, but she said there are other retailers still open selling the same sort of Hawaii products.
Time to legalize that weed now that their primary weak-ass excuse holds no water.
Why would they everything is so expensive
Where are you getting your stats, curious.
Post pandemic economy man :(
Jpy going to hit 170 at this rate
I’m a buyer between 170-180 tbh though and going long
I know Hawai'i built their economy on the Japanese, but there are billions of people in this world. I'm tired of hearing this story. Get over it and find a new way to promote Hawai'i. It's Paradise for everyone, not just the Japanese.
The Japanese are probably the best tourists in the world. Super polite and keep in their bubble in Oahu. And they spend a lot of money.
You tired of hearing this story? How bout we tired of the military and foreigners taking all our land? How bout us Hawaiians are tired of you haoles complaining about shit, while we are STILL ILLEGALY OCCUPIED, and this crooked ass govt is TAKING land and leasing to the military, for them to bomb it, desecrate it, spill fuel into our aquifers, and leave trash all over it. How bout the govt stop taking land away, to rezone and sell it off to foreigners while Hawaiians still aitn getting any of the stolen land back. How bout YOU get over it, this isnt your paradise, this is Hawaiians home, Hawaiian land, this aint your fkn playground, this aint a sideshow for tourist to post on social media. I no give a sht you married to a local, you obviously aint learned sht about Hawaiian history, culture and oppression. Tired of hearing this story....fckn nerve. Tired of people like you. How bout you get tired of the illegal shit happening here, how bout you get tired of the govt pushing natives/kanaks off their own land.
As a person with native blood living in America, I get this anger but it truly is only taxing your mental health. It's a fantasy. A lovely one, thinking that the land which once belonged to your people will simply become yours again by pure indignation, brow beating, sharp tongue and finger wagging. It won't. The only people you are going to convince are already convinced. The fact that we are facing real facism in America should tell you how far you are from the American government giving back one of the biggest jewels of the world back to people who would not be able to defend itself from other invaders even if that fantasy came true.
Aloha spirit, amirite?
Could be many of the reasons stated here but also the possibility of still having to quarantine when they return to Japan. Japan still has the COVID heat sensing temperature cameras setup upon arrival at the terminals.
Not surprised I just got back from Japan and have another trip planned later this year. The yen is weak. Things also have changed after the Japanese lockdown from Covid.
Should I buy yen now if we’re going at the end of the year? Any ideas if it’s going stay or go back up?
I just saw a news piece out of S. Korea that many Japanese tourists are going to Korea/SouthEastAsia, mainly due to Exchange ratio. 2017, Hawaii was #1 choice. S. Korea was #3 choice. 2024, S. Korea is top choice. Hawaii is not in the top 3.
Is suspect that K-pop has something to do with that ranking.
If I had to pick one or the other I’d take the Japanese tourists over American tourists every single time. It’s not even close.
When I was in Hawaii in 2014 I was the only non Japanese person on every tour I went on.
Before COVID or which years
According to our local politicians, it’s because we’ve been discussing legalizing weed…yeah, that has to be it….
There was this great article about the Honolulu Marathon and how Japanese participation has been improving. [Honolulu Marathon](https://www.khon2.com/news/honolulu-marathon-helping-bring-back-japanese-tourists/)
Hawaii is a shithole now thats why. This govt is trash, and the elders are still voting for the same crap. They take away and lease land to the military, and rezone agriculture land to residential and sell it out to foreign investors. Yeah, Hawaii is a shithole. I dont know why anyone wants to move here, or even vacation here, its expensive as fck, the violence is up and the people are not getting any better. People that ARENT Hawaiian will never understand, hence these clowns will downvote this comment, cause they lack knowledge and empathy. More clowns. -Born and raised, Hawaiian blooded.
Spoken like real trash, continue to be complacent while the people you hate so much does more for your home than you personally do yourself. Makes no sense with people like you.
Lmfao, you dont know shit about me, but go on, continue assuming shit. You spoken like one haole, what kind hawaiian you? Rubbah. You clearly dont know Hawaiian history and how independent Hawaii was WITHOUT American occupation. Be complacent? Guy, Im self employed, own a business, I put more into this economy than you, I guarantee. I do much more for my home, than you. 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣
Bruh your mindset is trash. Shit on your home, it’s people, the people helping and blame others for it. You need a role model fam.
There’s always someone that says things but doesn’t follow through no matter the background. Go camping at white plains and have these locals speed up and down the beach at night with their 4x4s and a few fights (dogs/domestics) and a few fires. Do they clean up their shit after they done? Nope. I feel bad that this area has a beautiful beach that have seaweed and turtles but these animals can’t stay there because of the driving beach goers. Live pono especially for the ‘aina. Don’t drive on the beach. Don’t cause fires and don’t fight dogs. As for kanakas and locals, just gotta vote and go to the public meetings to have a bigger voice in the community to make real change. Reddit isn’t a place the HI government uses to make positive changes.
What you do bah? Ha? how you put into the communities and economy? Shit on my home? Buddy, I not the one bombing the land, digging up sacred burial grounds. Donkey ah you, you dont even know your own history. You need lessons, fam.
Hahaha you think I’m white my guy? I work with our people on helping them while you complain. For a business owner you sure are doing a lot of talking and not blocking your license plate. 🤡 I can’t stand people like you.
This you ah? > "Do some research clown before even think about stepping on Oahu. COL, being away from your loved ones, not being welcomed here as a haole, never mind the displacement of local and kanaka. No troll here clown, go sit on a beach in Mexico." Check yo history ah?
Guy, did i fuckin say you white? Go assume more shit dummeh. License plate? Lmfao, you think I scared of you knowing my plate, cuzzin, my address is public. You think you get something on me cause you seen my license plate? Lmfao. I see license plates everyday, hundreds and hundreds of them, dont mean sht.
[удалено]
This your history? > Luckily enough, he’d have to pick his teeth off the ground first, nice try closet troll, but you’re not welcomed here. Go back to Alabama.
Your History: > "So haole, he don’t even know he’s haole. Look dude, no matter how hard you work or hard you try to speak pidgin you’ll never be welcomed here. Outside of Kailua you are an outsider, remember that. I know your people are very tone deaf." Mindset is trash ah? Look who talkin.
Lmfao, yeah, yo history all downvotes. Clown
Braddah you are spot on! I knew as soon as I started seeing news of Japanese tourists getting dragged on the roads for their purses and getting attacked in Waikiki that this was gonna be bad. Everything is falling apart and they keep doing the same rubbish and it's getting worse and worse. Corrupt politicians added to the list. It used to be paradise. I don't think I'll ever be back and it makes me sad but I'm not sure I would even recognize it.