There’s no way this will be anything but fuel for the fire of Hawaii tourism’s makeover.
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380 thoughts on “Hawaii “Does Not Encourage Visiting:” Waikiki, Diamond Head, Volcanoes, Poipu, Etc.”
There’s no way this will be anything but fuel for the fire of Hawaii tourism’s makeover.
I’ll bet the businesses and merchants of Old Koloa town would love for this to happen. I don’t think so. Did anybody ask them?
It is sad to read all of the nasty, hotheaded, vindictive, comments on this page by what appear to be entitled and tone deaf tourists. In my opinion, they represent exactly the type of people that are not needed in the State of Hawaii.
Tone deaf is calling people with whom you disagree; nasty, hotheaded, vindictive, and not needed in Hawaii.
It is sad that there are nasty, hotheaded, vindictive, comments on this page. I hate seeing talk of this kind anywhere. We are all connected. It would be so much better to step with kindness. All love to you, to everyone on this site.
This is absolutely ridiculous. My wife and I got married on the beach in Kauai. We have much respect for the island and it’s people. But I read more and more that visitors are not welcome. I’m getting the message loud and clear. I refuse to visit anywhere that doesn’t want me. We’ll take our tourist dollars elsewhere.
I wish them good luck with all of this. People will continue to travel to Hawaii and go to the places they want to visit. I’m using that list to look for places I didn’t know about and haven’t visited to use for future trips. This whole situation is absurd. I have a timeshare so will continue to travel there but no extra trips and I feel like I am the kind of tourist you want on your island.
Speaking of spelling errors, it’s Hanakapiai – not Hanakapaai.
And not to put too fine a point on it, but “North Shore – From Hanalei Bridge to Kee Beach” already includes Hanalei Bay, Kee Beach and Haena. Same with Kalalau trail includes Hanakapiai.
Might as well make it easier and just ask people to not visit Hawaii.
What beach can you suggest to visit that is close to waikiki beach? Where ill be staying is a few blocks from waikiki beach.
Beyond the issue of whether tourists can or should be discouraged from visiting these areas, I kind of wonder what they expect PR people to market in their place? Seems like a hard sell to get people to fly all the way to Hawaii just to go to Costco or Sam’s Club.
This is utter nonsense! More than that, it’s pointless to assume that by not photographing Hanalei or Waikiki that somehow it will halt the decades of visitors to these popular spots. They can write whatever they want, it won’t change anything. This is just childish petulance by the legislature and HTA to make a point I guess. Their arrogance is breathtaking.
The legislature is under pressure by wealthy new residents to limit tourists so they can have the best places to themselves.
This is so true. That, and the Hotel Lobby pulling a number. All love to you.
I’d think the “hotel lobby” wouldn’t be in favor of people not visiting Waikiki.
Well, if there was any doubt about tourists no longer being welcome, these lists pretty much seal the deal. I am also guessing they want to put all the businesses along Alii Dr., Keauhou Bay, and snorkel cruises to Kealakekua Bay out of business as well. They also have lots of nerve thinking they can tell folks not to come to a National Park. Just where do they think the money to support all these businesses and the national parks comes from? When was the last time you saw a bunch or locals at Volcano’s National Park or shopping along Alii Dr. or going on a snorkel cruise in Kealakekua Bay? Hawaii is run by total idiots. One of these days the voters are going to learn, but it might already be too late.
Good,Good,AND Great!
Hawaii has always been underwater with visitors. And worse, in-migration. The more Hawaii can be kept to the local the better it will be.
And how will locals survive with tourism? They gave into that being their main source of income and now it’s too late to go backwards.
Hawaii is getting crazier and crazier every time I read about it. Costa RIca and Grand Cayman is getting my money this year. I’m not spending my $20k in Hawaii.
People come to see us in Volcano & guess what? We take them to see the majesty of our Park & teach them respect. I’m surprised they didn’t include Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl, Iolani Palace or Bishop Museum on Oahu.
You are absolutely right. How will anyone ever learn about the history and culture of this magical state if they don’t (or cant) visit these beautiful places. I would much rather go to Haleiwa Joe’s on North Shore of Oahu than go to an overpriced restaurant in Waikiki. Oh, I forgot, Waikiki is on the hit list also.
Mahalo for this. As far as I know, the Waipio Valley on the Big Island has been closed to visitors indefinitely for about a year now due to rock slides (or danger of them) on the only road in and out of the valley. There’s no date when visitors will be allowed back in there. We’ve been there several times and rode the horses on the valley tour (last time was in 2017). The WOH Ranch that runs one of the tours even relocated their horses to their ranch and had to redo their tour. Going to be difficult to visit that valley when you’re unable to get past the lookout point at the top. And good luck asking people to stay away from Volcanos National Park. It’s a federal park.
Mahalo for your efforts.
I never wanted to visit Hawaii, but I scheduled 3 months there in 2016 because my sister needed medical treatment. She died 3 days before our trip. I postponed it, but then went for the two of us. At first, I didn’t know what I was doing there. My sister was dead, and nothing about the land seemed familiar.
Halfway into the stay, I realized I was falling in love—with the aina, the way of life and with the people.
Now, I feel like Hawaii is part of me. I purchased land so that I can come more often.
So my question is, how can I—an outsider, who also loves the island—ingratiate myself so locals might be less likely to resent my being there?
Hi Gloria.
Great question, thanks. We’ll step aside for others to lend a further hand here.
Aloha.
Aloha, and all love to you. To everyone on this site. Now more than ever is the time to be gentle and kind.
2) I’m curious as to what Hawaii hopes to gain. I’m sure visitors would be delighted to learn about the history and culture of HI. people need to explore these places to appreciate what HI has to offer. It’s land and people are magical. Does HI want tourism or not? How can folks from the mainland get to know the true HI if all they see is commercialism everywhere. Why not create areas to explore that don’t have 20 souvenir shops.And these small towns have so much to offer. They are wonderful places to visit. Hi is making itself so inaccessible to all but the rich. So will you take away beautiful locations as well? Got to be a happy medium here. What does HI want their visitors to see and do while there? Or have you decided you don’t want us
Hawaii is not able to sustain 30m visitors a year. It would be great if tourists would educate themselves about The Islands. However if you look at the attendance for places like Iolani Palace or Bishop Museum, their numbers are down. People would much rather “play” at the beaches, parks, attractions etc.
A major factor in overtourism are the “invasions” of neighborhoods which has put a real bad taste in resident’s mouths. Being woken up at 4am by tourist noise and busses is not cool.
I’m sorry you are being woken up at 4am because of tourists. I would not like that either. Perhaps a compromise would be to deal with the perpetrators one by one, instead of a broad sweep? I would never think of disturbing my neighbors anywhere, much less in a place that is not my main home. Surely, there is a noise ordinance that can fine those bus drivers for making noise after curfew. All love to you.
I was just in Waikiki. Spent a boat load cash. Purity, cleanliness come on. Do something about homeless people on the sidewalk. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you and watch what you wish for!
This is a joke. I am going to visit all of these sites and encourage my friends and family to do the same, just to spite the HTA. This is the United States of America. You can’t tell people what to do. These extremists need to realize that they don’t own the Hawaiian islands.
This is pretty terrible news for people who love the islands.
And I’ve seen the same situation when I tried buying land in Colorado— the locals and those who became locals —don’t want anyone else there.
That said, Hawaii is a very different culture than the mainland. Perhaps if we could learn how to be more lovable we might be wanted in Hawaii?
If I were native Hawaiian, I would have a negative reaction to your “F-em” comments. I find I am more successful at influencing others around to my way of thinking if I step with kindness in word and deed.
Great. You are planning to go visit sites that are closed, not just ‘not recommended’? And you wonder why we need these things? Because too many tourists have this attitude. The Stairs are closed because it is unsafe. Waipio Valley is unsafe. Don’t ask us to have our people come rescue you if you need it.
But still what about the attitude if the people who just want to be there and learn, and take in all the beauty with no intent in disrespect or harm, or unmannered. We should get a chance to enjoy another land and culture as you would want. But its sad all the way around. I hope my experience will be a good one and i can do whatever i can to help.
Extremeists? How are they extreme? Because they love the aina which is where they live? Your attitude says a lot about your regard for other people. I guarantee if you visit Hawaii, unless you change your “tune” you won’t have a good time. The people I grew up with had so much aloha (look up the real meaning) but everything has a limit. The residents live in one of the most expensive places in the world. Housing, endless taxes, govt failings, etc. So… do Hawaii and their people a favor and visit another place. Aloha.
By that measure, I recommend you not visit California and if you you are here, you return your property to its pre-contact condition, and leave.
So basically don’t visit?
Lived most of my life in Santa Cruz CA – which was overrun by tourists every weekend. I can’t think of a single person there with the hubris to claim that our historic Mission culture was somehow more important than the wider community, or that locals deserved to be insulated from housing prices, or that we could try to prevent tourists from visiting our beaches.
(Society definitely has a problem with income distribution – many houses in my neighborhood were the rarely visited vacation properties of rich Silicon Valley executives. But “building walls” to reduce the symptoms is not a real solution. It is “fighting over scraps”)
Of all the listed hotspots, I’m only familiar with about 12. Of those 12, I absolutely agree that urgent limitation of visitor volume is needed.
The locals come first. The state needs to take care of and consider the impact of rampant tourism on the local population. It’s that simple. Nobody owes anyone a Hawaiian holiday vacation.
Functions as a list of Exactly what TO See. Thanks for planning my next trip HTA ! I did not know about some of these places, now I do. 😉