By Natasha Bourlin

From disruptive kona low storms to rising travel costs driven by higher taxes, resort fees and increasing gas and fuel prices, several factors are weighing on Hawaii tourism. On the island of Hawaii, which has seen the largest increase in hotel prices across the state, the small businesses around the island are feeling the ripple effects. 
 
“A definite decrease in tourists,” Big Island Brewhaus co-owner Jayne Kerns told SFGATE in a text. “We used to [rely] on busy season December-February when kids were out of school and the snow birds were on island, a spring break bump & then summer vacation busy-ness but none of that has been reliable the last few years,” Kerns continued. “That unreliability affects all those who work in the tourism/hospitality industries.”

Beyond the island of Hawaii, the entire state is also feeling the combined pressures. 
 
“Statewide, and I’m sure this pertains to Hawaii Island as well, I think it’s a collection, it’s all these impacts, so whether it’s tariffs and increases, the federal shutdown as well as natural disasters and rising cost of doing business collectively … it’s making the economy in Hawaii much more challenging,” President and CEO of Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Sherry Menor explained to SFGATE in a phone call. “And as for tourism specifically, you know, whatever happens on a local and national scale trickles down to our state and sometimes it’s perception, sometimes it’s the cost pressure … now with all these different economic and political factors it’s impacting tourism numbers here in Hawaii.”

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