Tourists Continue to fund Hawaiian government

Hawaii State legislators have continued to find ways to tax tourists to solve state financial problems. Besides all the taxes and fees tourists have to pay to visit Hawaii, they now have to pay $4.50 per day EXTRA fees to rent a car.

When will Hawaii State Legislators realize they have too many employees on the government subidy, and they need to manage state expenses within a budget.

...but till they do, they continue to tax tourists, out of state property owners, etc. After all those people don't vote in the state of Hawaii, they just pay more taxes in Hawaii than anyone else.

Wonder why tourism to Hawaii is down? Clearly, airlines, cruise ships are reducing their numbers of visitors to Hawaii each year and visitors are spending less.

Double Taxing Timeshares in Hawaii

For timeshares that are owned in Hawaii you pay property tax PLUS a "Timeshare Transient Tax" of 7.75% per day, aka occupancy tax. To clarify, this tax is charged regardless of the occupant being an owner, a relative of the owner, or a renter, as well as someone that owns a timeshare in another state, or country, that has made the unfortunate decision to exchange timeshares to be able to visit the State of Hawaii.


And the State of Hawaii won't even let property owners get a Library Card.


Yeap, Hawaii is Double Taxing owners of timeshares. Taxation with represenation!




http://www.uhero.hawaii.edu/workingpaper/UHERO_WP2008-02.pdf

Hawaii is a Tax Hell

Hawaii government has passed taxes increases to enable them to balance their state budget. They voted to increase taxes vs cut back on state expenses (e.g. reduction in state spending/manpower). The primary impact of tax increases will negatively impact tourism. Yes, the idea was to make tourists pay for the Hawaii's state government budget shortfall. Hawaii is a tax hell!

The state has voted to officially raise hotel taxes by 28%, from 7.25 percent to 9.25 percent, over the next two years. Keep in mind that this is an increase in state taxes and there are still local county taxes in Hawaii, making actual hotel taxes closer to 14% in some counties.

"No one likes to raises taxes. But let's face it. Let's be real. If you're going to raise the tax, the visitor industry is a less bitter pill to swallow than a tax on local people," said Sen. Clayton Hee, D-Kahuku, Kanoeohe.

"We don't exptect this increase to drive tourists away," said Rep. Joey Manahan, D-Kalihi, Kapalama.



Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want to go to Hawaii when there $$$ can buy so much more of Paradise elsewhere. Think about it & shop around. Better value is to be had. Hawaii is no longer a Paradise, and there are still many places one can vacation that really are a place of Paradise.





source: Mark Niesse, the asspciated press.

Is this noise part of Paradise?

Why do I hear loud planes and helicopters flying over residential areas in Hawaii, that are not even close to an airport? This frequently happens in the evening time and is very loud and distracting. I don't think it is safe and it certainly isn't a pleasant experience.

This loud noise has become what they call Paradise in Hawaii. It isn't Paradise to me, just loud noise that I find disturbing.

The State of Hawaii is dependant on tourism for survival, as the majority of the State income comes from tourists! While the State of Hawaii is having financial problems, they don't want to consider a reduction in public employee labor costs. They want to increase hotem room tax from 7.25% to 9.25%.

Future Tourism Campaigns in Hawaii should say....

Come to Hawaii, where your money will be used to pay a public employee!

Come to Hawaii, to fund more police overtime!

Come to Hawaii, to enable raises to government employees making $100k+

Come to Hawaii, where you'll pay more than the locals for everything you do and eat!

Come to Hawaii, where you can't find a clean beach!

Come to Hawaii, to enjoy the volcanic (VOG) air!

Sun Damage

The sun can damage your skin. Look what it did to this homeless person, that lives on the beach in Hawaii. {he also rummages thru trashcans for food during the day, in town, where you shop & dine}.

Hawaii Government Proposes Another Increase Tourist Taxes

Hawaii government is working to increase tourist taxes to help raise money. As Hawaii is dependant on tourism, will this really help raise the state revenue or will it help to deter tourism?

The proposal is to raise the transient accommodations tax from the current 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent on July 1, and to 9.25 percent from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2015. That would generate an estimated $30 million the first year and $60 million annually after that.

Keep in mind that most second homes in Hawaii are owned by non-residents. The government is also proposing to raise taxes on the sale or transfer of second homes or other real estate valued at more than $2 million. That would produce an estimated $4 million a year. So even as non-residents pack up and leave the State of Hawaii they get an extra whami!

During the Senate debate, GOP Sen. Fred Hemmings of Lanikai-Waimanalo said the tax increases were being pursued "for one special interest group" - government employee unions - so they can "walk away from the state crisis without contributing a thing."

In the House, Rep. Barbara Marumoto, R-Kalani Valley-Diamond Head, said Democrats think increasing the tourist tax carries no repercussions.

"Politicians think they can get away with it because visitors don't vote," she said. "But they do, not at the ballot box but with their pocketbooks."

But Rep. Joey Manahan, D-Kalihi-Kapalama, said a $1 increase per $100 in accommodation costs will not stop tourists from visiting the islands.

"I don't think that's going to deter anybody," he said.

What do you think?




source: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/23/ap6330008.html