Instagram and Google Maps Contribute to Hawaii Tourists Behaving Badly
Photo Credit: Visitor behavior in Hawaii is at times threatening its fragile ecosystem. Pictured is Kauai's Napali coast. Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
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
