A comment from our frequent reader, Joerg, got us thinking today when he said, “Hawaii is stuck between a rock and a hard place. They need the tourists because their economy is tourism based, but the tourists are destroying the place. That’s a tough problem to fix, and the fix is going to make some people unhappy no matter what it is.”
Amidst the challenges that seemed to arise following the pandemic, Hawaii still can’t get a handle on what comes next. While nobody thinks that tourism alone is the answer, the governor seems to believe that Japanese visitors will improve things. And, as Joerg pointed out, no one seems happy with what is and is not happening.
There’s no doubt that Hawaii’s time spent without tourism during Covid, now behind us, presented an enticing view of life in Hawaii without its bustling travel industry. Just the physical transformation without visitors was remarkable everywhere, from Hanauma Bay to Hana and Kauai’s Napali Coast to Maui’s Mt. Haleakala.
We, too, recall what it was like without the crowds of tourists when Hawaii underwent a stark metamorphosis to something akin to a time gone by. Residents here had the streets, parks, and ocean to themselves (the beaches were off-limits for sunbathing). It was something we hadn’t quite known as long as Hawaii’s been overshadowed by tourism, except for a taste during the prior decade’s economic downturn and briefly after 9-11.
Some things had to change in Hawaii.
While the return of tourists was inevitable and essential to Hawaii’s economic survival, it came with an underlying recognition that Hawaii’s tourism dynamics truly are unsustainable.
Despite all decades-long efforts to re-envision Hawaii as a more diversified place, with less reliance on tourism, it never happened. Tourism kept growing, and the alternative experiments faded away.
For the foreseeable future, travel will monopolize Hawaii, leaving the state vulnerable in a myriad of ways to the negative impacts of over-tourism and the potential for economic shocks associated with this reliance.
There have long been endeavors to pivot from Hawaii tourism.
Those have all largely faltered, even with the recognition that overreliance will continue to adversely impact the environment, life quality in the islands, and our economy.
You may recall initiatives from past Hawaii governors Ariyoshi and Waihee, who sought to empower tourism alternatives. Ariyoshi was governor from 1974 to 1986 and recognized the danger of heavy reliance on travel, advocating for diversification. His focus was on technology, agriculture, and renewable energy as alternatives. Waihee was then governor from 1986 to 1994. He, too, pursued initiatives in support of agriculture, technology, and education.
But their efforts and others yielded disappointing results. Ventures into technology and biotech, which seemingly have great potential despite Hawaii’s distance from the mainland, failed to gain traction for reasons including poor planning and multiple other limitations.
Among the reasons for failures has been Hawaii’s geographical isolation, which has negatively impacted the ability to attract and retain companies and workers. That is compounded by Hawaii’s high cost of living, which is a barrier to all new industries. Hawaii’s limited workforce also means a small pool of skilled talent. Efforts to develop a local workforce through education and training have remained challenged across industries.
At the same time as Hawaii faces such challenges, there remains an economic focus on tourism. That largely still overshadows potential for other areas and is an easier, readily available solution. Nevertheless, the current Hawaii tourism crisis allows Hawaii to reevaluate its socio-economic trajectory again.
Hawaii needs to be a healthy place for both visitors and residents.
There is growing consensus on the necessity for Hawaii to exist as a desirable tourist destination and a healthy and viable place to live and work.
Hawaii tourism of the future is being envisioned.
While the problems with Hawaii tourism are, as expected, fraught with issues and diverse opinions, the prior paradigm of Hawaii tourism is slowly being painfully transformed. It comes from initiatives many visitors don’t relate to, like reservations at Hanauma State Park or parking reservations at Kee Beach.
The love-it-to-death era ended.
The bygone decades from the 1960s until Covid won’t be returning, as much as some of us would like. That time, book-ended by jet travel and the pandemic, is a legacy we will remember for years.
Essentially well-meaning tourists have loved Hawaii to death. You see that on all the islands, at all the most famous hot spots as they are now to be called, including the road to Hana, North Shore Kauai, and others where over-tourism took a huge toll on the environment and the people of Hawaii.
Tourism changes have become inevitable, and they will continue.
You can still have your Hawaii vacation.
Don’t worry; visitors will always be welcome. At the same time, similarly to other iconic tourist destinations, systems and strategies are starting to come into place to manage traffic visitor flow amid the unending global travel boom.
The visitor growth to visitor value transition will become stronger.
Not only will Hawaii, out of necessity, start to find ways to diversify, but it will also find ways for the tourism industry, residents, and visitors to work together better. That appears to be the single most lacking focus right now. And that lack of awareness may, in part, be what brings Governor Green to Japan rather than to the mainland to focus on returning Hawaii visitors, who typically make up about two-thirds of visitors here.
Hawaii is at a place where it can be a leader among destinations, creating new travel paradigms. At the same time, Hawaii lacks the resources, financial wherewithal, and communications needed to be a leader.
The University of Hawaii says: if you can’t reduce tourism, make it regenerative.
Regenerative tourism here includes a focus on actively improving Hawaii’s natural and cultural environment and enhancing our communities’ well-being.
Alongside reducing visitor footprint, UH suggests enhancing tourist attractiveness, wherein it seeks ways of reducing negative feelings by residents towards visitors. Hawaii has been negligent in eliminating the perception of it being anti-tourist, on point with UH’s thinking.
We welcome your input!
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Hi I’m from Canada,
I have a trip planned with my husband and my sister. Too go to Hawaii.
The way I’m reading this is you don’t want tourist. So we will change our plans thank you for letting us know we’re not welcome.
We will save a lot of money.
It saddens me to think the Hawaii doesn’t want anybody from Canada or any other country, to come to Hawaii. Beautiful setting that God created. So sad 😢 in
I donate to the Hawaii humane societies as I do in California but it is very obvious that tourists are not wanted! I have not been to Hawaii in years and intend to never go back. As far as the animal shelters I will support them The people have made it very clear they do not want visitors. Now they have an economic problem. They brought it on themselves and I have no sympathy for them but believe me I will not add to their issues by showing up
I read the comments here and it saddens me to see the perception of people of Hawaii, once called paradise…the sidewalks and beaches are now paved with homeless and all their trash.
Politicians are determined to kill STR which give tourists and locals, alternatives. Corruption runs high in Hawaii and has been for many years.If they kill the STR,where people are able to find still, a compromise, Hawaii will Not be the luxury destination our mayor and governor have completed to be…
As some of Hawaii’s residents continue their quest for zero tourism by insisting that Tourists are not wanted or needed, I noticed the new construction on Oahu is on schedule. With the soon to be STR’S Elimination, the newly constructed units will be ready to take up the slack, and then some. Why new construction when there was no guarantee that STR’S would be shuttered, or was there? Imagine the properties that will be sold for cheap, to be purchased by needy people, families. That’s not going to happen. If you believe that, I have a bridge to the mainland for sale, reasonable! Every Politician must have a fishing license, many Hawaiians have swallowed the hook, line and sinker. I say “Blame the Voters, it’s Their Fault”.
The hope that the Japanese tourist market will save our economy
is pretty much a pipe dream.
Hawaii is no longer an inexpensive vacation destination. Does anyone
in our state government understand how the value of the Yen has weakened against the Dollar?
On a recent trip to Taiwan I was amazed to see people in Taiwan making pleasure and shopping trips to Japan because things were less expensive there.
Just the reverse of a decade ago when Japanese would flock to Taiwan for golfing and other leisure activities.
The Japanese are not the answer to our tourism woes,
We have been coming yo Hawaii for about 20 years. We enjoy learning about the culture, history, and making friends with the local people. It is about respect, not entitlement! Enjoy the beauty and leave it that way!
Often it’s the person’s attitude that determines welcome/non-welcome. We have many Hawaiian (and Hawaiian-haole) friends when we come visit and we try to be polite and respect the local traditions. In turn, we are also treated well. Yes, we’ve run into bad actors – particularly out in the surf lineup, but that happens here in California also. I was disgusted to see European visitors throw their drinking bottles down into the sewer drain on Kuhio Ave.; and also, one street over, the locals regularly throw out trash and furniture on a back street (Edward) instead of paying for trash pickup. So the problem is not fully with visitors, but more the individuals who just don’t care. Oh, and the homeless tend to trash the streets also.
Hawaii is on the decline people feel ripped off coming to Hawaii…they are now going other places that don’t rip them off…I have been coming for many decades and have no desire to ever go back It’s a sick feeling when you’re being price gouged… And everyone knows Hawaii is way way overpriced…Aloha
Hawaiians have to take responsibility for the damage to their land. Thousands of homeless people littering the island. It doesn’t help that the politicians are more worried about bashing tourists rather than taking responsibility. The amount of abandoned cars I noticed this year in Oahu is a joke. They have nothing to do with tourists. Hawaii will soon be broke.
Hi Carmelo! Hawaii is technically Bankrupt already and it has nothing to do with these past 6 months. Every imaginable free be and handout coupled with the no bid hand shake contracts with high price tags before the over runs. The shoddy work that doesn’t hold up, countless other examples. I am waiting to hear that all of the Politicians eat surf and turf 3 times a day on the state credit card. Hawaiians voted for all of this and more, Politicians blame Tourism and STR’S, Residents eat out of the Politicians hand. About how it works in the State of Hawaii!
Here’s my prediction for what’s next on Maui and rest of Hawaiian islands. Squatters claiming to be Hawaiian natives will soon take over SRT’s and individuals vacation condos and the government will side with the squatters. Far fetched I think not it’s already happening all over the mainland.
Gee, I wonder how Hawaii could reduce the number of tourists by one half but keep all that lovely money. I know, make tourists spend twice as much money for the same vacation! Hawaii only wants rich tourists, not middle or working class ones. That’s why Governor Greenback is off to Japan.
Yes. And sometimes I think the reason state tourism numbers are high is because tourists are staying fewer days yet with cheap west coast airfare it’s easy to visit for a long weekend and be affordable. So the real number of days occupied are less.
“For the foreseeable future, travel will monopolize Hawaii, leaving the state vulnerable in a myriad of ways to the negative impacts of over-tourism and the potential for economic shocks associated with this reliance.”
This is a sad dilemma, with no answer for anyone here. I have not been to Hawaii since 2015. It was more crowded that I had experienced,but did not experience any personal negativity or destruction of property. If Japanese takes better care of their visits, then be it. Let them have the islands. It’s like everything else in life. Bad actors, take it away from all of us that love and respect. But, I will not fight it anymore as I am old, very old, and coming this year for my last time.
What this article is describing can be applied to any state in the USA.
There is overcrowding, pollution, resources being used up, nature being destroyed, and lack of housing.
Locals, as Hawaii residents call themselves say they are being affected, so are the locals in every state on the mainland experiencing this.
The huge millions of population increase is hurting the mainland states also.
The big difference is that Hawaii tourists visit and leave. This does not happen in the mainland states. People not respecting our border laws come in and stay illegally.
Perhaps Hawaii should feel grateful?
Reading articles like these, and my lived experience living here for many years reminds me of common themes which are disheartening. I’ve lived for long periods in a few different places, in the U.S. and Europe. By and large all peoples have been friendly, helpful, conscious of the environment, and ‘welcoming’. Whatever ‘aloha’ is…not as unique as many imply-maybe this needs to be considered.
The tourism and military industries underpin the economic health of these islands. Diversification Very difficult and even require a big mindset change which many would not like.
Our supportable population would need to decrease a lot to compensate for significant reductions. Inescapable logic at work. IMO.
As you said, over tourism takes a huge toll on the environment, the residents and also the quality of the tourism experience. It absolutely has to be curbed…Covid revenge travel combined with the so called “SWA effect” (flooding the market for market share) accelerated the problem, but it has to be dealt with. Not an easy fix.
I’ve said this for years…if large tourist areas like Hawaii would stop airbnbs and move mainlanders and tourists back to staying in hotels and condos not only would it reduce visitors (due to only limited space available), it would free up housing for locals, and reduce the environmental footprint of excessive tourism. It seems no one in government wants to do this. They have become greedy and pander to celebrities and politicians.
I run and own a vacation rental on the north shore of Kauai and I’m a happy/friendly owner and my guests are treated like family and they love it. I stay full w/my reasonable prices. It’s a very homogeneous state of mind we’ve created and liked by all.
Afterall, hotels have a difficult time showing love when they are worried about the almighty buck to survive. Hawaii would be devastated without our friendliness shared by all.
My repeat business is a simple example of that love shared by all. Aloha is in full force as is expected by our visitors and ohana.
Wow ! As a Canadian who loved vacationing in Maui for years, stayed in hotels and condos, I am very disappointed to learn that we tourists are not that welcomed any more. I have always felt welcomed in the past, always been respectful of the environment and the people. I have always felt safe in Maui… , for me it was home away from home. When the Lahaina fires happened causing a housing crisis, I decided to postpone my 2024 vacation to Maui releasing my condo reservation. I am planning to visit in 2025 and will definitely pay close attention to how people treat us. That will determine if Maui will continue to be a favorite destination for my vacation dollars. Mahalo !
Respectfully, you only see yourself in that equation and not the fact that you are one of several thousands arriving on our shores day in and day out. The fact is we’re being loved to death.
On a recent trip over to Maui to visit a friend, I was appalled to see tourists stopping and exiting their cars to take photographs along the one-lane road to Hana. Now suppose you’re a Hana resident in need of emergency surgery, but the ambulance can’t get through, not just because of the one group of misbehaving tourists, but the throng waiting behind them to capture that same FOMO moment. It simply is no longer sustainable. Too many visitors, not nearly enough capacity to accommodate them.
Aloha
Maui at least attempted a solution in its 2012 Maui Island Plan—2012!!!—in its Economic Policy Section.
It stipulates that when the percentage of tourists to resident population exceeds 30%, that steps be taken to reduce tourism; what it didn’t specify was the steps. And the onus was placed on the political process to create and enforce those steps. Given that the Plan ostensibly has the force of Law, I would have expected “something” to have been done.
The issue, for Maui, is simple.
Our economy is overwhelmingly dependent upon exogenous factors.
And for that, I see no panacea
I am really tired of hearing how tourist disrespect the land. Just take a walk down the road to Jaws. Used washers and dryers, junk cars, tires etc. Randomly see burned and dismantled cars throughout the Island. And that’s “Pono”????? Maybe it’s time to quit blaming and look in your own backyard. And just for the record I live on Island.
Yep… when hear about visitors trashing the islands one of the first images that come to my mind is exactly what you describe with Jaws and the trash that locals have left there (engine blocks, etc.).
Other areas that come to mind are trash littering the woods behind Whalers General store in Poipu, an abandoned moped in the woods behind the Maniniholo dry cave in Haena beach park, just to name a couple of places.
Shanda,
I looked up how Hawaiians can get rid of the items you described. I was thinking maybe there was some sort of reason people had a hard time disposing of these items.
It turns out it is free. They call the place and they come pick it for free.
Given that, one would think they would do that and not pollute and trash the area.
Make it a toll road with locals exempt with ID. Won’t stop the traffic but it would raise money. They’re putting fees on everything else.
Best Regards
I hope you maintain your own property or offer the same employee benefits as the hotel and tax paying small businesses. To many illegal vacation rentals in Hawaii! 81,0000 illegal vacation rentals not paying taxes and paying cash to residents to maintain their Aloha! Haole mentality!
What an insulting article. Josh Green is an arrogant twit. How dare he say Japanese visitors will make things better.
In other words Europeans, Australians,Canadians and Mainland US citizens are trash and hurting the Hawaiian Islands. I can’t believe what he does and says but me for one have been Insulted once to often so after 45 years of loving the islands I am saying aloha and visiting places where everyone is welcome
Hawaii will live and die by Greens words and actions!!
I don’t think there are any good solutions for Hawaii.
Sadly, no matter what they try to do, it will be a long uphill struggle.
“There’s no doubt that Hawaii’s time spent without tourism during Covid, now behind us, presented an enticing view of life in Hawaii without its bustling travel industry. Just the physical transformation without visitors was remarkable everywhere, from Hanauma Bay to Hana and Kauai’s Napali Coast to Maui’s Mt. Haleakala.”
So you are implying that tourists are responsible for the environmental damage done to Hawaii? Do we not remember why Polihale was shut down for a couple years. Locals completely destroyed that state park “During COVID”. Heres another article you can look up.. (Weekend parties leave Oahu beaches trashed and raise concerns about spread of virus). Again this was during covid closures without tourism!
When Hawaii was coming out of the C19 lockdowns and opening up, Hilton’s King’s Land Resort at Waikoloa was releasing large blocks of rooms at deep discounts to locals. I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing first hand the consequences of that. the locals had total disregard for the rules and the facilities. absolute disrespect for the staff and other guests. boom boxes blasting, kids destroying plants, 12 people in a 2 bedroom unit, the pool shut down twice due to dirty diapers. drunk Hawaiians hanging off of pickups in the parking lot. the pool area totally trashed. locals need to take a long look in the mirror before accusing tourists of destroying the islands.
I’m not the brightest light on the Christmas tree but I don’t understand why residents of the state feel tourists are destroying the island. On our last visit a couple of years ago, I did observe over-crowding at some of the tourist hotspots and on Oahu (we went to Oahu and Maui on that trip), the traffic was absolutely crazy and a lot of the cars looked suspiciously like rentals (tourists). On the other hand, we also saw abandoned cars, trash bags, and worn-out refrigerators all over the less-traveled roads. I don’t know if I have made my last trip over there (prices are out of control) but I do know tourists shouldn’t be the only whipping boy for the condition of the islands.
Hawaii didn’t think how bad tourism would effect their land. They continued to build large hotels and condos sold more time shares and encouraged people to visit. Seems like they didn’t realize that would increase visitors. They did away with growing commodity and processing plants so the locals needed jobs and tourism provides that. You can tell tourists how fragile your islands are but they come to relax and party so most don’t pay attention. Change is needed and maybe downsizing the amount of STR is worth trying but not 100% of them. It’s a hard balance and needs a strong leader with good business skills to pull this off.
Perhaps find a way to make HI a less desirable destination.
The governor should perhaps redirect his energy into other solutions. I’ve written here before that Hawaii is not considered a top choice for Japanese travelers anymore. Less the cost (which is going to be even more a consideration with the yen’s plunge), but more the perception that it’s a “dangerous and dirty place where people use the bathroom in the street” as my Japanese Aunt, who is part of the wealthy demographic being sought by the HTA, describes it. Her last trip to Honolulu a few years ago floored her and they have no intention of ever returning. Taiwan, Thailand, Oz, and Europe are some of the destinations that top the list now.
Best Regards
If they don’t want as many tourists, and they think tourists are ruining HI then why do they continue to approve and give permits to large developments for tourists like the one in Kapalua?
Wow! For Joerg to say that the tourists are destroying Hawaii is just ridiculous to the extreme! In my 30+ years of traveling to the Hawaiian Islands I have seen lots of examples of “locals” screwing up the aina with abandoned vehicles, appliances, and trash unlike that I have seen on many of the Island’s I have visited that also have economies based upon tourism. Hawaii’s problems lie at the feet of ALL of the politicians that rule over the Island’s because of the asinine decisions that they continue to make, like trios to Japan in search of “mindful tourists”! Then there’s the lack of attention to the most basic of infrastructure around the Island’s like the roads, the airports, and the water supplies. Reality check time!