Hawaii’s visitor economy faces a fresh challenge: rising fears among likely international travelers. With stories of weeks-long detentions at U.S. borders and growing anti-American sentiment in key markets like Canada and Japan, a troubling question is surfacing: Will global visitors turn away—and what happens to Hawaii tourism if they do?

In January 2025, of the 792,177 visitors to Hawaii, 197,507 were international guests, making up 25% of the total count. Over 100,00 came from Canada and Japan. Their absence would have consequences far beyond hotel bookings. Hawaii’s flights, local businesses, and even jobs could be at risk.

International visitors on edge.

Hawaii’s top international markets are showing signs of distress. Beat of Hawaii readers echoed the concern seen in mainstream media. Bruce M, a longtime Maui visitor from Canada, wrote, “Due to the treatment of the US to our country, we won’t be returning.” Another visitor added, “We used to go for 14 days. Now we only do 10. Basically, it is your loss.”

These aren’t one-off comments—they reflect a growing mood. Travelers from Vancouver to Tokyo to Western Europe voice concerns about being detained, harassed, or unwelcome. For Hawaii, the impact is compounded by the state’s physical distance and reliance on long-haul flights.

Hawaii tourism leaders recently confirmed in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Canadians are rethinking trips. Some Canadians report backlash at home just for coming to Hawaii now. Others cited political tensions, economic retaliation, and a push to avoid U.S. travel as key reasons for staying away.

Detentions of international visitors spark fear.

Recent stories of detained international tourists are chilling. A German man spent 16 days in U.S. detention after a routine border crossing. Another tourist from Wales was held for nearly three weeks. A Canadian woman spent 12 days in custody before being sent home. The exact reasons were not released, but according to Customs and Border Protection, “if statutes or visa terms are violated, travelers may be subject to detention and removal.”

The issue isn’t necessarily about the detentions themselves—it’s the uncertainty and fear they’ve triggered in an unprecedented and widespread way. “Nobody is safe there anymore to come to America as a tourist,” one detainee said after being released.

The unease is spreading beyond those directly affected. Hawaii officials say they’ve received emails from Canadians canceling travel plans due to political tensions and uncertainty at the border.

Even travelers who were never affected now wonder if it could happen to them. For international visitors, Hawaii suddenly doesn’t feel like a separate destination—it feels like part of a country that may not want them.

The transparency gap in Hawaii widens.

Making things worse, Hawaii stopped reporting daily international arrival numbers on March 1, citing a long-overdue system overhaul we previously wrote about. At a time when businesses need clarity, the data gap has left everyone guessing.

Without visibility, it’s impossible to know whether concerns translate into cancellations. The pause in reporting couldn’t come at a worse moment—just as international markets are shifting.

Domestic visitors are under pressure, too.

Mainland travelers, Hawaii’s core audience, are also scaling back. Reader after reader shared frustrations about rising costs, service inconsistencies, and a fading sense of value.

Peterparker22, who brought his family of five to Oahu and the Big Island, said the only way they could afford it was to burn every airline and hotel point they’d saved. “The total cost would have been $25,000 in cash. It’s probably the last time I can afford to bring my family to Hawaii this way.”

Another reader noted, “Two weeks in Hawaii were going to cost more than our three-week cruise next year to three countries.” Others are opting for New Orleans, the Caribbean, or simply staying home.

Hawaii has recently tried to offset this with resident discounts and marketing focused on mindful travel. But affordability remains a sticking point, and even loyal visitors are weighing their options.

Flights and perks could fade.

When international demand drops, it’s not just fewer people—it’s fewer planes, especially widebody aircraft that serve long-haul routes from Japan and Canada. These flights support not just passengers but cargo and interline connections, too.

Reducing these flights could mean fewer total seats to Hawaii, higher prices, and less flexibility for all travelers—including those from the U.S. mainland. Premium experiences like lounges and first-class service also risk being downgraded if high-spend travelers disappear.

The next chapter isn’t written yet.

It’s clear Hawaii’s visitor landscape is rapidly shifting. Rising geopolitical tension, travel anxiety, and domestic cost fatigue could lead to real change. Fewer visitors—international or domestic—could impact everything from air service to hospitality jobs.

But Hawaii’s greatest strength has always been its ability to adapt. If the state and industry leaders respond with openness, cultural grounding, and true hospitality, Hawaii can remain a top destination even in a changing world.

Your comments about how government policies impact travel are appreciated.

IDAHO FALLS – A 27-year-old Idaho Falls man was arrested Sunday night after he allegedly hit another man in the head after being refused access to his guns.

Augustus Wyatt Gokey was charged with one felony count of aggravated assault causing great bodily harm. If he is found guilty, he faces up to five years in prison.

According to court documents, on Sunday around 10:30 p.m., an Idaho Falls Police officer responded to a report of a man being hit in the head with a baseball bat.

The document states that due to the nature of the call, the officer activated the patrol car’s emergency lights and sirens to get to the home as quickly as possible.

The officer reported that at the property, a man was seen through the window with a “large laceration to the left side of his forehead.”

The document states that the wounded man signaled the officer into the home. Once inside, the officer yelled, “Police!” and another man came out of the kitchen.

The man was later identified as Gokey. The officer reported that Gokey was “immediately agitated and appeared to be under the influence of something due to his large pupil size and profuse sweating.”

The officer asked Gokey if he had any weapons on him, and he responded he did not. The officer patted him down and found no weapons. He was later placed in handcuffs.

The officer spoke with the man who was hit, who was “bleeding pretty badly,” and when the officer asked if he needed any medical attention, he denied it.

Another officer arrived and began treating the wounded man, and the first officer spoke with Gokey.

Gokey told the officer that he’d been going through a lot, which involved “an ex-girlfriend having a child and that there were 30 men after him that he was afraid of.”

The officer asked who these men were, but Gokey told him he’d never tell.

When the officer asked him what happened at the home, Gokey said he was there to pick up a shotgun that he had stored at a safe, as he did not feel safe at his home.

Gokey told the officer the other man told him he could not have the gun and that the other man allegedly attacked him and pushed him away from the safe.

The officer asked how the other man got hurt, and Gokey said when he pushed the man off him, he fell and hit his head on a rowing machine in the basement near the safe.

When questioned about the baseball bat, Gokey said he brought it for protection and denied ever hitting the other man with it.

The officer said that during the interview with Gokey that he appeared to become irate and yell about things other things and had an odor of alcohol coming from him.

Gokey was later placed in the patrol car after he refused to calm down.

While being placed in the backseat of the patrol car, the officer asked Gokey if he had been using any drugs. Gokey replied he wasn’t and that he’d been clean for years, though he said he’d used heroin and fentanyl in the past.

The other officer who helped the wounded man told the first officer his side of the incident.

According to the man, Gokey came to the victim’s home to pick up a gun and had the baseball bat.

The victim refused to give the firearm to Gokey due to “his mental and physical state he was in, because he did not want anyone to get hurt.”

After the refusal, the man said Gokey had grabbed a grinder tool and was trying to get into the safe with it. The man told him to stop, and that’s when he said Gokey grabbed the bat.

Gokey waved the bat around in a motion, making it appear as if he was going to hit the man. The two then got into a scuffle over the bat, and at one point, he allegedly hit the victim in the forehead.

The document states there was blood on the barrel and the handle of the bat. The bat itself was taken as evidence.

Gokey is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing before 7th Judicial District Magistrate Judge Stephen Clark at 1 p.m. on March 28.

Though Gokey has been charged with these crimes, this does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Women’s March Madness is finally here. The fourth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes host the 13th-seeded Montana State Bobcats in a Regional 3 first round matchup today – Friday, March 21 – at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. The early evening NCAA women’s basketball game is available to watch on multiple streaming services for free.

How do I watch Ohio State vs. Montana State for free?

This women’s March Madness game will broadcast live on ESPN2 with tipoff at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Fans who have parted ways with their cable provider can catch the game at no cost by taking advantage of streaming alternatives like DirecTV Stream and FuboTV ($20 off first month), which both offer a free trial.

Sling TV is offering half off your first month for new customers.

Ohio State (25-6) weathered a challenging Big Ten schedule, that included national title contenders UCLA and USC. Those two teams were roadblocks for the Buckeyes making up three of their five losses, including a 75-46 shellacking by the Bruins in the Big 10 semifinals.

The Buckeyes tout four players in double figures, featuring Junior forward Cotie McMahon, who is averaging 16.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field.

After a brilliant campaign that churned out just three losses to Montana State (30-3) edged out rival Montana, 58-57, to win the Big Sky championship game.

Senior guard Esmeralda Morales powered in 25 points to knock off the rival Grizzlies. She is averaging 15.3 points, 3.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 40.1% from the field.

The winner will play fifth-seeded Tennessee or 12th-seeded South Florida in the second round on March 23.

What are the latest odds for Ohio State vs. Montana State?

Moneyline: OSU: (-15.5), MSU: (+15.5)

Spread: OSU: -2100, MSU: +1100

Over/Under: 138.5

Odds by DraftKings

Who is announcing Ohio State vs. Montana State?

Matthew Schumacker (play-by-play) and Brooke Weisbrod (analyst) will be the announcers.

Here’s more information on how to watch Ohio State vs. Montana State on TV or streaming services:

What: Women’s NCAA tournament first round: Ohio State vs. Montana State

When: Friday, March 21, 2025

Time: 5:30 p.m. Eastern

Where: Schottenstein Center | Columbus, Ohio

Channel: ESPN2

Best streaming options: Fubo (free trial and $20 off first month), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and Sling TV (half off first month)

Cable Channel Finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios