Hawaii Tourism: Opposite of a Paradise for Locals

From a tourist’s perspective, Hawaii is a beautiful paradise with tons of activities to do while on vacation. However, to the native population, tourism mars the natural environment as well as their own homes. The continued struggle of land being taken dates back to origins of the Kingdom of Hawaii being overthrown by the U.S. government. Once Hawaii became a U.S. state in 1959, it became a tourist hotspot during the 1960s. Although tourism is a major industry in Hawaii’s economy, it comes with problems affecting their environment, economy, and residents. Tourism has caused environmental damage to the land and water sources, which has led to the ongoing water crisis in Hawaii. The residents not only have to deal with the limited water supply but also the high cost of living.

Hawaii’s popularity as a tourist destination has grown. The number of visitors have consistently remained in the millions—with pre-covid numbers from 2019 showing 10 million tourists and in 2021 numbers reporting 6 million, despite travel restrictions to international tourists. The large number of visitors to the islands has resulted in the misuse of their scarce resources. Water usage in hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities has caused the pollution and contamination of natural bodies of water and given rise to the state’s ongoing water crisis wherein there are water shortages in the environment and the homes of the locals. Along with the water crisis, land is used for the construction of hotels mainly owned by corporations based outside of Hawaii for foreign and domestic tourists. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, and recreational centers owned by non-locals built for tourists have caused environmental degradation that harms the many endangered species on the islands, such as the Green sea turtle. This environmental degradation causes pollution that affects both endangered species and native residents.

According to an article about the Spring 2022 Resident Survey from KHON2, a Hawaiian news network, 67 percent of residents agree that Hawaii “is being run for tourists at the expense of local people.” The survey lists the major problems residents’ see as a result of tourism, which include overcrowding, damage to the environment, and the higher cost of living. Due to the large number of tourists and infrastructure built by non-local corporations, overcrowding has pushed the native population out of their land and homes. Corporations and non-locals taking the land of native Hawaiians causes them to lose their homes and creates an unaffordable housing market. Even if native Hawaiians were to try to reclaim their land, the homestead program they rely upon (under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act passed by Congress in 1921) has a waitlist that can last up to thirty years or more. Once people receive a homestead, a majority of them encounter a problem where it is too costly to own a house. The state has the highest cost of living, while also being one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. The price of houses in Hawaii are one of the highest in the nation where the median price of a single family home has reached its highest at over 1 million in according to an Oahu Real Estate Report. These two factors—paired with lower-paying jobs due to places owned by non-locals paying native Hawaiians less than a livable wage—cause the state to become unaffordable for its residents. Tourism’s takeover of Hawaii displaces the native population, intrudes on their sacred land, and interferes with each household’s economic stability, regardless of whether the person works in the tourism industry or not. 

When it comes to tourists visiting Hawaii, some locals say to not come at all. Others say to come with knowledge and respect of their history, culture, and the problems they face due to tourism to allow Hawaii to recover and support their native population. To travel sustainably would be the best option by supporting locally owned businesses, following ethical principles with respect to the culture and environment, and planning trips that do not harm the natural environment while also involving other economic sectors. Traveling with ecotourism companies and groups that are certified, such as the Pacific Islands Institute in Oahu and the Maui Ocean Center, is also a great option. A website made for sustainable tourism, sustainabletourismhawaii.org, even provides a travel planner with region specific eco-friendly activities and tour options. Malia Sanders, executive director of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, says that if you visit, "Know that you have kuleana, which means a responsibility, duty and privilege to learn, aloha, and mālama, take care of and respect our home."

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