In August, the Hawaii Tourism Authority held online meetings with residents on each island to gather input about the future of tourism. Those resident-only sessions were the first step in a three-part process.
Beginning next week on Kauai, the second round of meetings will move to in-person, with community meetings scheduled across the islands through October. The third round will take place later this year, in December.
While HTA has been hearing directly from residents, a parallel and very different conversation has been playing out on Beat of Hawaii. Visitors and residents have been weighing in by the hundreds in comments, offering raw, unfiltered views of what tourism feels like on the ground.
The contrast between what’s being voiced in official sessions and what’s being said online at Beat of Hawaii highlights just how divided and complicated Hawaii’s tourism debate has become.
The Maui flashpoint.
Maui was the first island where the visitor conversation erupted on Beat of Hawaii. Our article Maui Visitors Are Quietly Saying It: We’re Not Coming Back drew more than 600 comments, making it one of the most talked-about stories in a long time.
Longtime travelers described decades of loyalty unraveling. One wrote they had visited twice a year for 40 years, but no longer felt welcome. Another said bluntly that aloha had been replaced by anger. Rising prices, new restrictions, and a sense of being treated as outsiders have turned vacations into a source of stress rather than joy.
What came through was heartbreak. These weren’t casual complaints; they were emotional farewells from people who once considered Maui a second home. That intensity is what made Maui such a flashpoint online.
And it matters because government officials also read Beat of Hawaii, and visitor voices are part of the broader conversation, even though HTA’s official sessions are resident-only.
Big Island residents push back on tourism’s limits.
On Hawaii Island, HTA also held its first round of online sessions in August, focused exclusively on resident input. At the same time, Beat of Hawaii readers were voicing their own frustrations in response to Now Big Island Residents Say: Enough Tourism Already. The article drew a flood of perspectives that underscored how different the Big Island’s debate feels compared to Maui’s.
The conversation shifted toward the daily impact of crowded parks, congested beaches, and housing pressures from short-term rentals. One commenter asked: “At what point is a vacation justified if housing, natural resources, or clean water are being impacted?”
Another argued that “Airbnb has destroyed housing,” while others countered that government mismanagement and lack of new construction were the fundamental drivers of affordability problems.
Some readers said they no longer feel welcome and won’t return. Others reminded that “we need tourists” to keep small businesses alive.
What emerged was less emotional than Maui’s heartbreak but no less urgent. The Big Island debate carried a practical edge, focusing on limits, enforcement, and where tourism dollars should be allocated. It demonstrated how resident concerns about housing, infrastructure, and fairness have become central to the discussion.
Kauai starts the second round of resident-only meetings.
Beat of Hawaii will be attending one of these meetings to hear firsthand what people are saying. Only Kauai residents are eligible to participate, meaning longtime visitors who have returned for decades are excluded from the discussion.
For the Garden Isle, this is not entirely new ground. Kauai has been a pioneer in managed tourism. Haena State Park famously introduced a reservation and shuttle system, cutting daily visitors from thousands to under a thousand. The result was safer roads, fewer crowds, and money reinvested into community projects. That system became a model for Hawaii and beyond.
The question now is whether residents want more of that approach island-wide, or whether other solutions will be demanded. Will we hear about traffic backups in Hanalei and Kapaa, soaring housing costs, or the strain on natural resources and cultural sites? Or will Kauai point toward more community-driven solutions and pride in what’s already been achieved?
Kauai occupies a unique position in Hawaii tourism.
Kauai has long occupied a unique position in Hawaii tourism. Its image as the Garden Isle is tied to its rural step back in time character and unspoiled landscapes.
Residents have pushed back against overdevelopment and over-tourism, from airport expansion battles to Superferry protests that became symbolic of the island’s determination to defend its way of life.
At the same time, visitors are drawn to its stunning places: the Na Pali Coast, Hanalei Bay, Waimea Canyon, and the spectacular but dangerous Kalalau Trail. This push and pull defines Kauai’s relationship with tourism.
That is why the exclusivity of the HTA sessions matters. By limiting input to island residents, the state ensures the voices heard are those living with the daily impacts of tourism. Will the meetings focus on traffic backups in Hanalei and Kapaa? On housing costs that keep climbing? On cultural and natural resources under stress? Almost certainly.
However, Kauai may also highlight what has worked, such as Haena, and push for more community-driven models. The mix of protection, pride, and pragmatism could make Kauai’s sessions unlike any that came before.
Lessons from Maui and Big Island.
The contrast across the islands could not be clearer. Maui showed how quickly loyal visitors can sour when faced with soaring costs, new rules, and an atmosphere that feels less welcoming.
The Big Island revealed residents fed up with the strain. Both underscore how fragile Hawaii’s tourism balance has become. For Kauai, the challenge will be finding a path that acknowledges both sides without alienating either.
If the sessions capture genuine resident concerns and lead to visible action, Kauai could set a new benchmark. If they feel like another round of talk, frustration may deepen.
For visitors watching from afar, the message itself can be confusing, whether they are welcome or not. That tension came through on Maui and then resurfaced on the Big Island in calls for limits and accountability.
What’s at stake.
Tourism remains Kauai’s economic backbone, yet it is also the source of its most persistent challenges. These meetings will not settle everything, but they will shape the next phase of the island’s relationship with visitors.
Residents are being asked to envision what a balanced approach should look like. Is it more reservation systems? New limits on rentals? Greater investment in infrastructure? Or entirely new ideas?
The islands’ beaches, trails, and parks are again showing signs of being worn thin, erasing much of the breathing room gained during COVID’s forced pause. That reality gives urgency to the discussions, as residents weigh how much more the land and communities can absorb.
Whatever emerges, the fact that visitors are excluded from the process is revealing. The state is signaling that tourism in Hawaii must be reshaped first and foremost by those who live here full-time. For travelers, that may be a hard message to swallow, especially for those who have long felt part of the islands’ extended family.
The debate is about to unfold, and all eyes will be on Kauai.
Kauai has always been protective of its character, more so than any other island. That protectiveness is now front and center. The voices that rise in next week’s HTA sessions will reveal where the Garden Isle stands and where it wants to go. Will Kauai lean into managed tourism models that others follow? Or will it echo Maui and the Big Island in ways that deepen the divide between visitors and residents?
The debate is about to unfold, and all eyes will be on Kauai.
What do you think? Should the island adopt managed tourism models, such as those in Haena, or take a different approach? And if you are a visitor, how do you feel about being excluded from the conversation?
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Where do we find information for Kauai residents about where/when the meetings are?
My family has vacationed in Hi for over 40 y. I own three weeks of timeshare in Kauai and one week in Waikiki. Other family own two weeks.
Our maintenances fees have doubled or tripled the last few years mostly in property taxes. Despite being an owner & paying property taxes, I also pay daily occupancy taxes. I rent a car, buy groceries, gas & misc items, eat in restaurants, & pay for excursions. I bring guests who also spend significant money per day. I trade my Waikiki property as parking is $40/day plus. The place is a dump and yet my maintenance fees there have more than tripled including property and occupancy taxes. It is supposed to sleep four; a joke, two in a double Murphy bed. It used to be 2 blks to the beach. Now it is 5-6 blocks. As a disabled person, it has become impossible. I am not a resident; I do pay property taxes proportional to a resident plus occupancy & sales taxes. Time to sell & vacation on mainland. We will all be selling.
When and where are the kauai HTA meetings happening?
HTA meetings must be residents only. My wife grew up on Robinson Sugar Plantation. Her mother was Miss Elanor’s cook. Her father was her handyman/chauffeur. Kauai is my home. Because of economics I don’t have the means to return. Please take care of her!
This November will be my second visit, though my family and I lived in Oahu in the 60s when my Dad was stationed at Hickam. I am attending the writers conference at the Sonesta and definitely believe the residents should be in control of what happens on Kauai. I have friends there, as well as in Maui and Oahu.
As a visitor to Hawaii about 15 times it truly is paradise and one of my favorite vacation destinations ever!! I am respectful of the culture and follow all laws and rules as I imagine most people do. However, reading this article makes me sad. It seems like the locals really do not want visitors. Makes me wonder if I should spend my travel dollars going to the Caribbean? Places like Aruba actually say thank you for visiting our island. Much more welcoming. I see a drastic change in Hawaii pre and post pandemic. It’s very sad:(
A Kauai local here. Instead of US mainlanders traveling to the islands to gawk at the natives and then get upset that the Hawaiians are no longer willing to sell aloha just for their survival, how about they spend their time and resources looking at how they are still oppressing and destroying their own local neighborhoods at home. Allow water to run in its intended path, and stop robbing Peter to pay Paul. The islands need a break from being on “fake display”. Educate yourselves on native lands, on colonialism, on natural and sustainable agriculture. These, and general affordability of life are just some of the reasons we are fed up with the tourists. Set more restrictions on travelers like has been done in Haena and Kokee. Tourists, educate yourselves on the “social media hot spots” where you are trying to get the stupid shot: ex in front of the tiny red dirt waterfall (which is actually a man made irrigation ditch that is diverting natural flow).
I just returned from the Big Island, my first visit there, but I have now visited all of the islands many times in the past 40 years. The people I met there were gracious, hospitable, and cared deeply about the land, island, and the creatures. In all my travels to the islands, I have learned to respect culture and the ecosystems. Personally, I think there should be push back from the people living on the islands. Tourists are not respectful, and cost of living should not be that unafdordable for residents. Airbnb’s should not be allowed, and/or affordable housing needs to be added. Hawaii is a beautiful island oasis, but its lost if its not managed well and the residents know that. I will continue to return to the islands, I will always look for eco options when I am there, and continue to learn about Hawaiian culture and language in hopes to not lose this amazing destination to more over development.
As a 20 year resident of Maui I’m still a little reluctant to even comment, with that being said I think that there should be more of a focus on our local communities and not so much on the visitors. I live in haiku and our roads here are not good at all the but the roads the visitors travel are repaved every couple years keeping them nice maybe we should take care of the local people and put them first not the visitors first. Also cost the cost to rent a place is totally crazy you have to work 2 jobs 7 days a week just to pay for a place to live and you spend more time at work to pay for it rather than being able to enjoy it, I feel that parents that have to work so much don’t get any quality time with there kids anymore that should be the number one goal. Try to control cost so locals can live and be more involved with there kids and community rather than working all the time to make not even enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table.
Sounds like Hawaii doesn’t want tourists. I’ve been to 2 islands, I’m okay not returning. Who want’s to be where they arn’t wanted?
There shouldn’t be a problem with visitors being required to take guided tours for certain areas. And I have yet to see a crowded beach in Maui, most resorts have their own that even locals use. The problems arise when the locals decide to urinate in a rental convertible and laugh about it. When they decide to be ugly or speak harshly to visitors without the visitors having any previous contact, without knowing if the visitors are respectful or not, just because they’re visitors. Over the 20+ years we’ve visited we have formed contacts with local businesses. We would always buy gifts, for birthdays and Christmas from local vendors. So, I’m sure most visitors would be willing to accept restrictions for heavily visited areas. It is the attitude that needs to be addressed.
What you’re saying is true. On our last visit we noticed bumper stickers that said Aloha, but the letter h was a fist with the middle finger flipping people off. It made us wish we’d spent our money to go elsewhere.
I hope to never see such a bumper sticker on Kauai when we visit. This coming January will be visit number 32 for us, most of which have been on Kauai. While some visitors are in need of education, not all are. And tourism does make the Hawaiian economy work. Don’t chase us out, you may not like the outcome.
I am sitting here planning my trip to Hawaii for 2026. My last trip we visited local cultural places. We always try and do cultural activities and respect locals. After reading all these articles and the Hawaiian Airlines being taken over by Alaskan Air. I am saddened by rethinking my vacation plans.
People, locals and tourist alike must be respectful and kind. If local and tourists think tourist are or may seem entitled, they are!, they are entitled to be respectful, kind and to obey all policies, rules and laws of the place they are visiting. Tourism can cause overcrowding and over use of resources so its up to All to ensure they are properly managed and not abused. There is a simple solution, just took with tour brains and not emotions.
Aloha!
Eric g
We have come to this beautiful island every year for 15 years. We feel honored to get to be here. We are from a small town in Montana that has almost exactly the same issues with tourism and people from out of state buying up all the homes and pricing out residents who can no longer afford housing. We own a small business, so our perspective is different. We now rely on that tourism to pay wages that allow our employees to afford to live in an economy that has sky rocketed. I understand the conversation and respect that residents voices are the main voices to be heard. Given tourism is the main source of income it needs to be managed. Visitors should be willing to pay for the use of the land, beaches and trails. Residents should have areas exempt from tourists so they don’t get shut out from over crowding.
That said, we have never felt unwelcome here. But we are also very respectful of where we go and how we treat the Island and the people who live here.