19 thoughts on “Loved-To-Death Hanalei Bay Kauai Gets Unneeded Exposure”
Kawika L
I am so glad I spent time in Hawaii from 1970 on. In the 70s & 80s I was able to see all the islands before they were trampled. I was fortunate to have been a part of Hawaii, that even most Hawaiians are not afforded. I worked for the City and County in community action, and emersed myself in the culture and it’s people. In the 70s I had the extreme opportunity to participate in Hawaiiana that is so rare. I was the only import in the well known “House of I” with Milton Imai Kalani, Tunee as he was known. My memories of Hawaii are so precious and rare. I thank all the local people in Hawaii for every memory we shared together. I left Hawaii after 45 years and have thought about returning, but when I see what Hawaii has become? I am so sad.
During Covid closures many well off , rich and shameless came to play and decided to stay put. Word got out and soon property prices doubled and now the north shore is choke full of full time tourists. There was already a number of entitled “retired” population that used the resources everyday before this new wave. I drive into Hanalei occasionally now for work but I avoid the circus as a beach destination. It’s f’d out for sure.
Loved to Death is very on point!
A 50 year resident of Kona now residing on the mainland I cry when I occasionally return to the Islands.
I Cry for Kona !!
Hanalei town has become Disneyfied, too. I really miss its old funkiness. As a visitor, I know I’m part of the problem, but I never wanted Hanalei or the north shore to be anything more than its moldy, funky, sandy self. The white-shoed, ironed-golf-pants south shore day visitors must be demanding something else. Makes me sad that we can’t have funky things. At least we still have Uncle Robert’s in Kalapana!
Aloha, guys. I don’t think there are many prettier places in the world that I’ve seen than at the end of Hanalei pier. I attribute this huge increase to the fact that a lot of these people would be at Ke’e beach. Ke’e was horribly overrun until the big,big flood of 2018.(?) Ke’e was completely flooded out after the 54″ rain that fell in a 24 hour period. The State took the opportunity to revamp the overcrowded conditions and make it permit only to non Hawaii residents. For you visitors I can tell you what the Hawaiian community and state have done out there is well worth getting your permit 30 days ahead of time. It is a special place on Kaua’i. In the pre flood days, folks would go out there for sunsets. Only place I’ve ever seen a green.
Yes, April 2018. The crowding of Hanalei Bay beach started immediately thereafter, interrupted by the HI/Kauai COVID reaction policies imposed from March 2020 to April 2021. And, of course, the slope above the bridge crapping out in 2021. And when the road re-opened, some pressure was taken off Hanalei when tourists started descending on Lumahai Local. No lifeguards, no bathrooms, insane dirt-mud parking, plenty of rip tides, and of course the kids love to play in the water where the river pours into the ocean.
Well This is my favorite Bay. Or was. I believe “love it to death” is understatement. If tourists could abide rules, it will survive, if not, it will become another “not-so loved to death resort area”
….and this is the problem. The beauty of Hawaii is being destroyed by the sheer numbers of tourists. The only answer is fewer tourists, but that will impact the economy of Hawaii unless those smaller number of tourists spend more. Hence the increase in prices, taxes, etc. The trick will be finding the balance between increases prices and numbers of tourists. If you increase the prices too much, then you get too few tourists, if you don’t increase it enough, you get what you see in this article. On top of that, you have the tourism industry in Hawaii who want more, more, more tourists because that’s how we measure success in a unfettered capitalistic economy like we have in the US. Add in the economy, and it’s a mess.
Joerg H.,
I agree with most of your comments, overcrowding is a big problem, however, based upon my observations, the increase in tourists that don’t respect the local people, culture or land is another big part of it.
It helps me understand why the locals want us tourists to stay away.
Problem is, all of Hawaii is a tourism based economy, anyone who thinks Hawaii can survive without a lot of tourism, is fooling themselves.
This current “experiment” against capitalism isn’t going so well, from my perspective (a CA specialty Mechanical Contractor who is as busy as we have ever been).
I agree, “entitled” tourists are a Huge problem, and not just in Hawaii. As a matter of fact, entitled people seem to be becoming the norm in American society in general. As a matter of fact, one of the things to consider is that as you make Hawaii a more “luxury” or upscale vacation, that your going to get a greater percentage of “entitled” visitors. So, in my mind, as you address the shear number of tourists problem you’re going to increase the “entitlement” problem. The trick will be to find some kind of happy medium where the overwhelming numbers get addressed without turning Hawaii into a playground for the rich and entitled.
I think All the beaches are becoming over-exposed; just spent a day last week at Kauna’oa (Mauna Kea) beach on the Big Island and it was busier than I’m used to seeing, and I’m not counting hotel guests. I always liked the fact this beach is usually less crowded than the bigger and more well known Hapuna. Not anymore! By mid-morning we were almost completely hemmed in with folks setting up umbrellas and blankets practically on top of us.
Enough said about Hanalei…..leave it to the locals and those in the know…..Pulled taro there when I was a kid…..
I was lucky enough to be there in the ’60s and ’70s.
I am so glad I spent time in Hawaii from 1970 on. In the 70s & 80s I was able to see all the islands before they were trampled. I was fortunate to have been a part of Hawaii, that even most Hawaiians are not afforded. I worked for the City and County in community action, and emersed myself in the culture and it’s people. In the 70s I had the extreme opportunity to participate in Hawaiiana that is so rare. I was the only import in the well known “House of I” with Milton Imai Kalani, Tunee as he was known. My memories of Hawaii are so precious and rare. I thank all the local people in Hawaii for every memory we shared together. I left Hawaii after 45 years and have thought about returning, but when I see what Hawaii has become? I am so sad.
During Covid closures many well off , rich and shameless came to play and decided to stay put. Word got out and soon property prices doubled and now the north shore is choke full of full time tourists. There was already a number of entitled “retired” population that used the resources everyday before this new wave. I drive into Hanalei occasionally now for work but I avoid the circus as a beach destination. It’s f’d out for sure.
Loved to Death is very on point!
A 50 year resident of Kona now residing on the mainland I cry when I occasionally return to the Islands.
I Cry for Kona !!
Hanalei town has become Disneyfied, too. I really miss its old funkiness. As a visitor, I know I’m part of the problem, but I never wanted Hanalei or the north shore to be anything more than its moldy, funky, sandy self. The white-shoed, ironed-golf-pants south shore day visitors must be demanding something else. Makes me sad that we can’t have funky things. At least we still have Uncle Robert’s in Kalapana!
Aloha, guys. I don’t think there are many prettier places in the world that I’ve seen than at the end of Hanalei pier. I attribute this huge increase to the fact that a lot of these people would be at Ke’e beach. Ke’e was horribly overrun until the big,big flood of 2018.(?) Ke’e was completely flooded out after the 54″ rain that fell in a 24 hour period. The State took the opportunity to revamp the overcrowded conditions and make it permit only to non Hawaii residents. For you visitors I can tell you what the Hawaiian community and state have done out there is well worth getting your permit 30 days ahead of time. It is a special place on Kaua’i. In the pre flood days, folks would go out there for sunsets. Only place I’ve ever seen a green.
Yes, April 2018. The crowding of Hanalei Bay beach started immediately thereafter, interrupted by the HI/Kauai COVID reaction policies imposed from March 2020 to April 2021. And, of course, the slope above the bridge crapping out in 2021. And when the road re-opened, some pressure was taken off Hanalei when tourists started descending on Lumahai Local. No lifeguards, no bathrooms, insane dirt-mud parking, plenty of rip tides, and of course the kids love to play in the water where the river pours into the ocean.
Well This is my favorite Bay. Or was. I believe “love it to death” is understatement. If tourists could abide rules, it will survive, if not, it will become another “not-so loved to death resort area”
Maybe it’s not all tourists. Kauai population in 1969 : 30,000. 2021: 73,000. All the residents who love Hanalei contribute to the use.
No, not like this. I’m a part-timer, and can say I’ve never seen anything like the photo above at Hanalei. Not in the last 20 years, at least..
….and this is the problem. The beauty of Hawaii is being destroyed by the sheer numbers of tourists. The only answer is fewer tourists, but that will impact the economy of Hawaii unless those smaller number of tourists spend more. Hence the increase in prices, taxes, etc. The trick will be finding the balance between increases prices and numbers of tourists. If you increase the prices too much, then you get too few tourists, if you don’t increase it enough, you get what you see in this article. On top of that, you have the tourism industry in Hawaii who want more, more, more tourists because that’s how we measure success in a unfettered capitalistic economy like we have in the US. Add in the economy, and it’s a mess.
If as reported in BOH, if the booking numbers for summer hold, then the tipping point might have been reached.
Joerg H.,
I agree with most of your comments, overcrowding is a big problem, however, based upon my observations, the increase in tourists that don’t respect the local people, culture or land is another big part of it.
It helps me understand why the locals want us tourists to stay away.
Problem is, all of Hawaii is a tourism based economy, anyone who thinks Hawaii can survive without a lot of tourism, is fooling themselves.
This current “experiment” against capitalism isn’t going so well, from my perspective (a CA specialty Mechanical Contractor who is as busy as we have ever been).
Jim D.
I agree, “entitled” tourists are a Huge problem, and not just in Hawaii. As a matter of fact, entitled people seem to be becoming the norm in American society in general. As a matter of fact, one of the things to consider is that as you make Hawaii a more “luxury” or upscale vacation, that your going to get a greater percentage of “entitled” visitors. So, in my mind, as you address the shear number of tourists problem you’re going to increase the “entitlement” problem. The trick will be to find some kind of happy medium where the overwhelming numbers get addressed without turning Hawaii into a playground for the rich and entitled.
I think All the beaches are becoming over-exposed; just spent a day last week at Kauna’oa (Mauna Kea) beach on the Big Island and it was busier than I’m used to seeing, and I’m not counting hotel guests. I always liked the fact this beach is usually less crowded than the bigger and more well known Hapuna. Not anymore! By mid-morning we were almost completely hemmed in with folks setting up umbrellas and blankets practically on top of us.
Enough said about Hanalei…..leave it to the locals and those in the know…..Pulled taro there when I was a kid…..
I was lucky enough to be there in the ’60s and ’70s.