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’ve been to Hawaii many times and recognize many of these not to visit spots. Why visit?
Was just there and certainly noted the anti tourist sentiment this time. Very disappointed.
Simple solution. Stop going and watch the tourism based economy collapse upon itself. Pretty sure the attitude will change when they loose the main source of income for the destination.
I live in a tourist hot spot. And yes, it gets old but unfortunately it’s a necessary evil.
So basically don’t come. Looks like every tourist attraction is mentioned. I understand Curtesy and respect should always be expected but to say not to visit these areas is to say don’t come.
You can go to all the places listed. What they are saying is there is no need to promote those places that are well visited.
I’ve been coming to Hawaii most years, usually kauai as I love that island and the people, but lately feeling unwelcome with what I reað. Ìf Hawaii really wants less people visiting then maybe we should find other places to visit that would appreciate having us and I’m really considering that. Very sad as I love coming, my friends also, and we are always considerate of where we go and not doing any harm. Just my feelings. Linda.
Having lived in Hawaii a number of years ago and being a frequent visitor since I can understand the concerns of over tourism. But it isn’t limited to tourism. The general overpopulation with homes higher and higher in the mountains is sad to see. But the biggest disappointment for me is the homelessness and the cars, junk and appliances left on the roadside.
Tourism isn’t the only issue that Hawaii must contend with and must also look at their residents.
There is no place on earth like Hawaii and I hope that the aloha spirit continues for years to come.
Give us your money, but don’t inconvenience us. We blame you for all of our problems. Aloha.
“Hawaii does not encourage visitors” is up there with other breaking news like “malaria stops work on Panama Canal”.
I’ve been a visitor to Hawaii for 25 years and owner of two local businesses with Hawaiian employees for 16 years. None of this is news.
Blaming tourists and haoles for local problems will not stop true
problems of poverty, lack of physicians, homelessness, drug abuse, filth and junk vehicles. Yes, I didn’t just visit the tourist traps in the last 25 years.
Look at light rail in Honolulu. Billions over budget, years behind schedule and no passenger base. That wasn’t from tourists.
Protesting the presence of telescopes on Mauna Kea is so hard to understand.
Hawaii has lovely people with misplaced priorities.
Too many tourists is the fault of island government. Stopping necessary Kauai airport improvements to resolve parking issues and to improve the comfort ant safety of passengers is not the answer. Local residents are also negatively impacted by some of the anti- tourist rhetoric and pending rules to deal with overcrowding. The old saying “if you build it they will come” definitely applies to Hawaii tourism issues. In Poipu, Kauai has approved a new 85 unit hotel, 100 new homes and a 279 unit resort condominium project, all in a VDA (visitor destination area). Each island desperately needs a growth management plan tailored to its own specific needs. But, even if adopted, I don’t trust government to stick to the plan.
Tourist that visit have to know how to act. Respect the culture, island and people. Stop leaving your trash on the beach, show respect. Why aren’t people that buy Hawaiian homes internationally as a group that flip houses and Airbnb, or sell them paying a percentage to Hawaiian homelands. Driving up the price for locals to purchase home mean while they don’t even live here. Tourist going through do not enter areas disrespecting and trashing it. Meanwhile mental health, drugs and homelessness are on the rise. We can’t even take care of locals and Natives here. But keep moving people here and accepting more because of greed and money. If people cared more about their neighbor showing love and compassion instead of Money we would thrive.
Just a couple corrections. It’s Hanakapi’ai and Koko Crater stairs/hike. Koko Head is where Hanauma Bay is.
P.S. and it would be nice if you added all the ‘okina(s) in. Without them it’s considered misspelled.
So I was just in oahu from 2/3 – 2/9, as a whole the number of people on diamondhead and the other 2 hikes weren’t terrible. I understand wanting to preserve the islands as much as possible and how sad it is to see people who don’t treat it w the reverence it deserves. So I ask, would it not be sensible to limit the daily traffic to various hot spots? I understand beaches can be difficult to control but it can be done. Charging daily fees for non locals to assist w cleanup etc? I was on north shore for the competition and it was far from crowded, hard to find parking yes but you walk 100 yards down the beach and nearly vacant. Obviously seems there are reasonable solutions vs telling people please don’t go out and enjoy the beautiful island
Thank you so much for your concerned efforts to moderate the tourism impact on kauai. I was not born on kauai but have spent almost fifty years here married to a koloa born resident, working & raising our family here.Experiencing the dramatic change to Kōkua & the south side has been disheartening. We used to be able to enjoy our community; not any more. My husband, whose mother was born in koloa in 1900 rarely goes there anymore. We raised our kids at Poipu. We don’t go anymore. Too crowded. Tourists and condos everywhere. Mostly we stay home and try to make a refuge of our yard. It’s sad. Kauai has been loved to death.
I understand and agree that something needs to be done regarding this issue. Troublemakers should swiftly be dealt with, not a broad sweep of getting rid of everyone. If it was a broad sweep way back when, you wouldn’t be living in paradise, married to a wonderful man. Please don’t let it be that you got yours, and forget the rest of us.
It looks to me like the HTA actually does not encourage visiting, full stop.
It’s Truly about Dang time, that Hawaii gov’t. thought about is Residents!!!
The islands are overrun with tourists. Causing overpopulated beaches, and traffic congestion unseen before.
They need to cut way back, on the amount of people they allow on the islands.
The overcrowding is not what the locals Or the visitors want.
This is beyond ridiculous!!!
Many of the locals depend on tourism for their livelihood so it would be difficult for them if all visitors disappeared. Yes, a balance needs to be achieved somehow.I, personally, have no answers. I do believe, however, that a tax or extra charge of some kind would dwindle the visitors to only rich folks. Having people need a sponsor to reside here would reduce residents and again likely allow only the rich. Hawaii surely needs protecting. It also needs some way to support itself and the locals. I wonder how the balance will be achieved.
The rich can afford their own islands! How unfair to deny us lowly peons the beauty and enjoyment òf Hawaii. Obviously you love money more than people, so sad.
No prob. Mexico is cheaper and is actually welcoming of people. HTA will get what is deserves, a stagnant economy and broken down infrastructure.
I always find it interesting that non indigenous or 2nd and 3rd generation don’t even want to understand the cultural implications of redefining a place that their ancestors just moved to. There were people who liked there first and have a long historical history there. I’ve lived on Oahu and visited many times and I’ve appreciated the original culture there. I think it absolutely insane the attempt to change Hawaii into a Corporate island. No, indigenous Hawaiian people must take back their home. They must participate in the political organizations there and make the legal changes for restoration to Aloha. Elect local not 1st and 2nd generation.
It would be helpful if there would be suggestions of where to visit instead.
For instance, instead of Waikiki, visit fill-in-the-blank.
Otherwise it just sounds like “being us your tourism (exhorbitant hotel and restaurant costs) but stay in the city areas and don’t actually enjoy any of the nature you came here for”.
It’s like telling people visiting NYC to stay inthe suburbs and don’t go to a Broadway show.
At least offer people an alternative since most can’t or won’t do the research to find an alternative.
Not to mention it seems like basically every beach on Oahu is listed and surely no locals want tourists at their secret spots.
Help people help Hawaii!
I visited Waikiki beach as a tourist in November 2022. I had never been before and the crowds were definitely horrific. Additional Hanauma bay had terrible snorkeling because of the insane number is swimmers they allowed in kicking up all the sand making it very cloudy. There was no real marine diversity.
I think Hawaii needs to limit tourists to 50% of what is coming in now. I think it needs to be like a visa/lottery system so it doesn’t become a place only for the super wealthy. Hawaiians will have to accept the economic impact of limiting tourism, but for the sake of a delicate ecosystem, it’s worth it.
However this will never happen. Hawaii will just get destroyed. I won’t be returning, too many people, it wasn’t pleasant.
$750/night Marriott?
It already is for the super rich.
Cheaper to vacation in Caymans, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, etc.
Those places have a better Aloha spirit.
What a bunch of absolute garbage. The economy would be in shambles, the in-fighting among the kanaka maoli would be hilarious.
This is nuts! “Come to Hawaii but stay in your room?” We need to disband HTA right now and eliminate the board that approved any directive such as that!