Skift Take
Hawaii, with its isolated location, fragile ecosystem, and deep-rooted local culture, faces even more problems with overtourism than most popular destinations do. Tourism marketers are looking at ways to manage the situation, but it's a huge challenge.
In Hawaii, visitor behavior driven by the desire for Instagram-worthy photos as well as the greater ease of finding once little-known locations through Google Maps is leading to congestion and degradation of some of the state's most remote and sacred natural areas.
In what might seem an ironic twist, some observers also say the fact that hiking and other adventure-oriented activities have overtaken golf as a preferred visitor activity is exacerbating the problem.
“The visitor of 20 years ago is very different than what we have today,” said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau. “With the whole Instagram thing, people want the beauty shot in the remote location. They are often not aware of what they are doing and often will not listen to advice from local people. There have been some nasty exchanges when residents try to help, but just get told off.”
For Hawaii, tourism is both its biggest asset and largest problem. Although tourism is by far the state’s major economic driver, it’s also a growing threat to some of its most scenic areas and an increasing source of frustration to those who live there.
While Hawaii is hardly the only destination facing overtourism and other sustainability issues, its isolated location, Native Hawaiian heritage and fragile island ecosystem make the challenges especially acute. For tourism marketers, as well as for travel advisors and suppliers, selling Hawaii has become a more nuanced process.
Impact on Kauai
Congestion in once-pristine areas and conflicts between residents and tourists are especially acute in Kauai’s wild and rugged northwest corner. Here stringent measures were recently enacted to limit and regulate visitor and car access to Haena State Park, the gateway to trails along the Napali Coast, a spectacular roadless region of tropical rainforests, Native Hawaiian sacred sites, hidden beaches and jaw-dropping views.
Along with environmental issues, Kanoho said worsening visitor behavior is leading to more safety problems. She cited a rise in the number of emergency rescues on hiking trails an
