Regular commentors Richard and David B. both raised an interesting topic. It has to do with places to see in Hawaii that were written about in guidebooks and social media, some of which had to temporarily or permanently close because of their popularity.
In pursuit of their instant social media glory, a small but significant number of Hawaii visitors and locals have trampled fragile and sacred ground, climbed boundary fences and trespassed, and otherwise damaged the environment to recreate a moment seen on social media or in books.
Which of us hasn’t seen that special Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or other photo or post depicting the ultimate experience in Hawaii. And perhaps we have been guilty of experiencing that ourselves. So what’s the harm? Read what happened in 2011 below.
Guidebooks, websites, and Hawaii laws.
In 2011, a Hawaii bill sought to help eliminate social media and online website sharing of sites that require trespassing on private property. That bill passed through the House and could have ended much Hawaii travel writing. Although never passed into law (which we verified today with a legislative clerk), the bill sought to deter inviting visitors to places requiring trespass. Others felt that the bill was a violation of free speech and was opposed by The Association of American Publishers.
But because of it, things changed and guidebooks no longer promoted trespassing to reach hidden sights. In the popular Hawaii Revealed guidebooks by Andrew Doughty, he says “Don’t trespass…ever…for any reason…period.” Even if the place you want to reach is on public land, if access to it requires trespassing, the official word is not to go.
You’ll recall Kauai’s Kipu Falls near Lihue, which was swarmed by visitors when it was written about in guidebooks years ago. For over a century it was popular with no issues. But deaths and injuries resulted as more people came and, in the end, high and impenetrable fencing now prevents access due to safety and liability issues with the landowner.
Not that long ago, Hawaii seemed sleepy compared with today. At statehood in 1959, annual visitors were estimated at under one quarter million. In the next ten years, it jumped to one and three quarter million. It seemed back in the 70s, Hawaii still enjoyed a healthier situation. Did social media and discovering the spectacular and unique natural beauty of the islands help make it the stomping grounds for the 10 million annual visitors Hawaii saw prior to COVID?
Today’s post started with a comment:
Richard (a Hawaii born mainland resident) went into depth about the closure of The Blue Pool located at Helele’ike’oha Falls on Maui. Before it was promoted in guidebooks, people were allowed by private landowners to visit the popular swim spot. But then a guidebook caused it to be overrun with visitors who trespassed on private land.
According to Richard, it got so bad that local landowners blocked the private road leading to the spot so that no one can now enjoy it.
Commentor David B. replied to Richard:
“People want to go someplace interesting and “safe” and visit “secret” and “special” places like the Maui blue pool… And social media obsession has magnified this 10 million percent. It’s all about the picture they post on Instagram or whatever.”
Social media sharing became our modern-day replacement for postcards.
Oh yeah, those. You’ll still find them all around Hawaii, although we suspect their sales are a fraction of what they once were.
Why are the things we can’t have the ones we want the most?
Share your thought on this. There are so many experiences you can do in Hawaii, don’t let the one that is off-limits spoil your fun.
Beat of Hawaii © photo on Kauai.
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Aloha. The biggest problem I see is that some guidebooks listed places that were private and not to be trespassed. And, of course, some tourists think “no trespassing” applies to others, not them. We look forward to being able to visit again once Covid is more settled and the regulations are more consistent. We love Hawaii, her land, and her people.
A good example of how locals are doing some of the damage is the Kuliouou Trail. The hikers block driveways, go into people’s yards to use water hoses, leave bags of dog __ on sidewalks, etc.
Just go to the beginning of the trail and you will see dozens of bags of dog __ and they leave their dogs run loose, so just imagine how much trash and dog __ are on the trail and the city or county will do nothing about it!
This is a slippery slope for sure. Hawai’i has always been obsessed with,”back in the day” reminiscence, when things were less crowded, less hectic, more welcoming, unspoiled.
Social media and the internet has absolutely ruined it but it’s actually more the self entitled people who have ruined it rather than the internet itself.
That’s kind of the way of the world today, in nearly every aspect of life.
Aloha Guys!
The fact is that it’s going to take education (or re-education) of people, including Hawaii locals, to show that the history and culture (as well as the beautiful landscapes) need preservation and enrichment through our individual actions. The reality is that this not only applies to Hawaii, but “modern” cultures across the entire World, for that matter.
I agree with much of what people have said in this thread. Social Media has definitely created a paradigm shift in the modern world’s cultural ethics and values, and the truth is there’s no going back at this point. We can only do what it takes in the “here and now” to do the above, as we move forward. Frankly (in my opinion), it’s going to take another paradigm shift of enlightenment, with a large chunk of the population, to actually do it. Although, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, as the saying goes…
Mahalo, Rob and Jeff, for such a unique and thought provoking topic!
Hi Jim.
Thanks for your thoughts on this and the 200 other comments!
Aloha.
I am also humbled that you’ve quoted my response to Richard’s comment that inspired this post. I addition to the scourge of social media, I also mentioned in that response that the population of the world has nearly tripled during my life time, and the sheer number of people that are eager-able to travel is surging, soaring, skyrocketing, spiking, especially with airfare being so inexpensive. But, the number of cool and interesting (and “safe”) places to visit is static, and nothing is secret anymore.
OT – but the waves have been giant for the last few days, peaking today (40′ plus). They breached our beach dune, and several places along the road. The ocean is flexing its muscle. Stay out!
Hi David.
Thanks. There are really big waves today at the North Shore and a ton of people checking them out.
Aloha
I’m just remembering that, while the volume of visitors has increased therefore the damage has increased, all these same complaints were being made back in the 70s when the “hippies” had invaded the island (we were on Kauai). And as half-year residents, we were religiously following Robert Kaplan’s guide books, believing if he wrote about it, it was permissible to follow his guidance for how to access his suggested locations. No doubt not all were. Even then we always traveled with a trash bag to bring out whatever refuse we found left by others, and in “hippie” days that could be a lot!. Too bad the size of the islands can’t grow in proportion to the number of people who wish to experience paradise. And tragic that we are not all taught to take nothing, leave nothing.
I moved to Kauai when I was 19 in 1999. I spent a week on Polihale camping and saw 2 other people the whole time. It was actually welcome to see them! Since have moved back to the mainland but have been to Polihale about 6 times since. Last time was crazy busy. I get it. Its a magical place. People love it. I live and am from Utah. All my favorite desert places are overrun with Sprinter vans these days. You can’t be mad at people for doing stuff that you like to do or places you like to go. Yes, it will never be the same. But I still love going to those amazing places and reliving some old memories and making new ones as well. Hey, maybe even make some friends in the meantime! ALOHA!
Aloha BOH
Glade you found my post interesting enough for a topic.
My conversation with Roy my now transplanted friend from Kihei was an exchange of how we felt about Hawaii and current travel issues on the islands.
He spoke to how his local retired friends were enjoying a break from the crush of tourist and tourism. I believe that’s when he brought up the subject of the travel guide books.
I was moved by his description of the Pool Blue and his fond memories of the place. It was sad to hear him speak of how he’d never again have the opportunity to visit this special place.
He said anytime a travel guide revealed(Like That) a special place on the island it was soon over run with tourist and either closed or trampled and trashed.
I’ve been following BOH for about 6 months or so, I’ve found most posters here are concerned about preservation of not only land, but of Hawaiian culture and language.
Unfortunately there are to many folks who don’t hold those same beliefs.
Hi Richard.
Thanks for the inspiration. And we appreciate your more than 100 comments to date.
Aloha.
THank you for speaking out. We are a family who feels the way you do. Living in a tourist place too the FOMO selfie thing is a destroyer of beauty and places for sure. Big hotels etc don’t help either. Looks like many who seem angry at restriction won’t be returning. Maybe that can turn the tide. We will wait for Hawaii when she’s ready. Mahalo 🌈
Can you please tell me how to actually access a Safe Travel Hawaii app? I did go online and filled out all prearrival information but many places they refers to an App?
Hi Beverly.
It is not an app, only a website.
Aloha.
Visiting Arlington, Boston Common, La Brea Tar Pits, and all tourist attractions, advertised or secret, deserves the utmost respect for the such as well the surrounding neighborhoods. Hawaii no different, loving care for the aina and the people.
We visited Kipu Falls in 2012, having learned of its existence from a Kauai resident and friend. It was an exhilarating experience, and although I myself was tempted to grab a rope and swing out over the lagoon, I watched a local boy literally climb up a tree like a scared gecko, grab the rope, and swing out over the lagoon and do a double gainer into the water. After getting back to the rocks and scampering back up that tree like Tarzan chasing Jane, he proceeded to swing out again and dive into the water, this time in a pike position! How could I compete with that? So we watched the show, saw numerous bellyflops and heard many exuberant screams. A fun adventure. But when the guidebook writers discovered it, popularity ruined it. It is a dangerous place…. we heard of a girl who swung out over the lagoon, got scared, and didn’t let go of the rope and swung back hard against the rocks, killing her. And then the drownings….. But, there were probably isolated cases of deaths over the years even before it became popular through guidebooks, just as with other now popular sites around Kauai, like the Kalalau Trail. We enjoyed Kipu Falls when it was one of the “best kept secrets” in Kauai, but yes, the guidebooks ruined it.
As a new visitor to the islands beginning in 2010, I would have to totally agree as some of my best friends are 50 plus year residents. Of all the many places they have taken me, there would be 3 times as many they pointed out as we were driving around. As they say “ it’s really sad what the large tourist trade has done to so many spots.” Aloha to my island friends Respect the O’hana
I’ve been watching everything Hawaii on YouTube and I was thinking to myself if things were as exciting for people Today when they go to Hawaii now compared to 20 to 30 years ago. Basically you can see everything thru YouTube and what are the surprises? Years back you heard of the cool things maybe saw a photo or two but now the mystique and magical arrival is gone. Maybe watch an Elvis movie with the fake backgrounds 🙂
Unfortunately many people dont respect privacy or access restrictions or the surrounding flora and fauna anymore. Who cares about getting a selfie in a spectacular setting or how many people will “like it”? Put the phone down and soak in the beauty of your surroundings and be grateful you could see it. Thank you.
We have been coming to Hawaii for over 20 years and have noticed huge influx of visitors over the past 5 years. We have actually had several discussions on the topic of how social media has been a blessing and a curse for local economies. Our home base is in Northern California and there are some beautiful spots that only locals knew about, treasured them and took care of them. Now with social media you have a lot of people who we call “flat landers” that come up to our area. It’s awesome for the local economy, but devastating to our environment because a lot of people are just there for a social media moment and will go to any lengths to get it.
Last time we were in Kauai there were seals on the beach and several people were going right up to them to take a selfie! I am not a Hawaiian native but respect the islands, culture and its wildlife and I’m not sure I would be this way if I didn’t know exactly how it feels to have something so beautiful devalued due to an overwhelming sense of needing to get the best social media post. Mahalo for bringing up this topic!
Tourists are not the biggest problem when it comes to the Hawaiian monk seals. It’s the locals who fish. Do some internet searching, if this is of interest to you. Real searching, not just the first page results Google wants you to see. For example, a local man was sentenced to 4 years in prison not long ago for punching a pregnant seal. It’s a thorny issue for the eco-haoles for obvious reasons in this day and age.
We sometimes have “Seal Carens” that put up the stay-away stakes at least 50 yards from the seal and lecture people if they do not respect their way-more-than-necessary boundary. Not lately, though. With only a few people around, most of the seals we walk past are napping without anyone staking a perimeter around them. Makes me think the Seal Carens are actually Seal Karens who are themselves tourists. [OT: In Wydaho, we have Moose Karens]
There are hand made signs that appear from time to time along our local beach that scold tourists/visitors to stay away from turtles, avoid stepping on the coral reefs, avoid wearing sunscreen, etc. All make clear they are directed at tourists/visitors; not locals. The locals that are walking on the reef fishing during low tide get a pass. Their feet magically cause no harm.
Social media, computers and cell phones have been ruining our whole society as a whole.
As long as we have and use them we are ruining and DUMBING ourselves to the point of no return!
Lana
I basically was going to post exactly what you posted.
Its ruined everything.
Very little benefits to social media other than dehumanizing the human element.
Hawaii is never going to be the same.
Sad, and sad, and even more sad.
Ive seen a big change even in the last 5 yrs. Its ramping up, around the world.
Yes social media and the obsession for “likes” is spoiling Hawaii in many ways. Hawaii is so sacred and so special. Every time I log on to IG I see posts of formerly secret (or hard to reach) secluded places being blasted with photos, tags, directions and of course their name. I am in the tourism industry and I run a blog and this is so unnecessary! Let people hunt, hike, ASK and discover for themselves. Unfortunately I’m holding my breath until a few of my “secret gems” are exposed – let alone the logistical issues that arise with ignorance (lack of toilets, parking, arch site issues). Stop tagging and posting about lesser-known places!
I wouldn’t say they are the cause of it. If 500 people walk to a location every day and are respectful and follow the regulations of an area, very little destruction will be caused. The problem lies in the ego of the visitor ( local or out of state ) that feels they have the right to get their photo/experience no matter what. If it is raining, they walk through the grass and enlarge a trail. If it takes to long to walk along the trail, they will jump a fence and go through someone’s yard. If there is no parking left, they will park on the vegetation or block someone’s driveway. If they have trash or need to relieve themselves, they will leave it for someone else to find instead of packing it out and going home early. People have aways wanted to find the unique and feel special. Social media and guidebooks may make finding such things easier, but they are not the cause of the lack of respect these image chasers show to those who live there, the environment, and those who may follow after them. The fact that locals, who probably do not need guidebooks and don’t need to show off to other locals, are sometimes causing this damage themselves indicates this lack of respect is a societal condition.
One thing to take into account is the sheer number of visitors. If one visitor per month jumped a fence in the 50’s, a landowner may not care. Now that tourism has increased over 40 times, even with the same rate of bad behavior, that would be 10 people per week jumping the fence. That may not be ignored. Like they say, it is the dose that makes the poison.
Growing up in the 70’s, my wife and I both had dreams of Hawaii, but were only able to afford it for the first time in 2015. I have talked to many others and their desire to visit is driven by what Hawaii is, not because they read a guidebook or a post. We have photos we took of Iao Needle from the trail bridge and they look amazing to me as we have nothing like that in Colorado.
Mahalo
I believe it has had a bad effect on the Land and the culture, I see how Ohau has lost much of its true culture for the sake of tourism and money. The other Islands followed suit. I like the Big Island, it still has a lot of what I look for when I think of Hawaii. But I can see in the near future even the Big Island will follow the rest and little by little lose its individuality and culture that I appreciate and respect.
Perhaps Hawaii should offer more specialized guided eco-type tours, where small groups of people can visit special sites, instead of fake Luaus, and trips to Walmart.
Lori N., that’s what I was thinking. Offer guided tours and only allow those tours. That would make it safer and help the Economy.
These things already exist, But mostly only for the geriatrics and sedentary people that don’t get out of the van. Maybe the cruise boat people that dock at Lihue for the day. Young and mobile people want to explore on their own (along side everyone else) and have the independence to spend however much time that they want to any any given place.
During the flood road closure (April 2018-June 2019), the county and state attempted to mitigate the problem of too many people visiting the far north shore of Kauai in rental cars by requiring all non-state residents to (1) make an advance reservation, and pay a small fee. They limited the number of parking spots in the re-built lot, and put up all these no parking signs along the highway, all the way back to Tunnels and even before that. People were forced to use a shuttle, which cost something around $15 (I forget) RT from Princeville, once the few parking spot reservations were taken.
We were just getting used to seeing the shuttle buses on the road when the Covid panic shut down started last March. The Shuttle service has yet to start back up. However, the state did just recently reopen the little guard both at Ke’e, so apparently the reservation system is back going. For the most part, is just residents going out there for now, and they do not need a reservation or to pay any fee.
Was this mentioned on the post a few weeks ago about Kauai considering charging out of state people for beach parking? Because they already do treat out of state people differently for Tunnels- Ke’e – Kalalau.