Why Tourism Is Bad For Hawaii

In a tropical paradise like Hawaii that thrives off tourism, is the tourism industry actually causing more harm than good? With over 10 million visitors per year, the environmental and cultural effects of mass tourism have started to raise some serious concerns.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: From negatively impacting native ecosystems and wildlife to diluting local cultural traditions, overtourism in Hawaii looks increasingly unsustainable and risks permanently altering the islands’ environment and way of life.

Environmental Impact of Tourism on Hawaii

Habitat Loss and Damage to Reefs and Beaches

The influx of tourists to Hawaii has led to massive hotel and resort development, especially in coastal areas. This has directly destroyed habitats like wetlands and sand dunes that are vital for native species.

For example, over 20% of Hawaiian green sea turtle nesting beaches have been lost to development. And nearly one-third of Hawaii’s coral reefs have been damaged by coastal construction to support tourism (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources).

Beaches and reefs also suffer direct damage from the millions of tourists visiting them every year. Trampling of reefs and sand burrowing by tourists hurts fragile ocean ecosystems. Studies found that reefs near high-traffic tourism areas had up to 50% less fish diversity compared to protected reefs (Dunic & Baum).

With tourism projected to keep rising, Hawaii’s remaining pristine habitats and ecosystems are at great risk without better management.

Pollution from Tourists and Tourist Development

The massive influx of visitors to Hawaii takes a toll on the land and oceans. Tourists generate huge amounts of waste, with millions of plastic bottles used per year on Oahu alone. Much of this plastic waste ends up in the ocean, washing up on once pristine beaches.

And hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and other tourism infrastructure indirectly create pollution from operations like laundry, kitchens, and landscaping that impact coastal waters.

Furthermore, nearly 1 million rental cars and other vehicles transporting tourists around the islands worsen air pollution and traffic congestion problems. Tourism is responsible for over 10% of Hawaii’s greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change and ocean acidification that damages ecosystems (Grube).

Clearly the scale of tourism has pushed Hawaii’s infrastructure beyond sustainable levels when it comes to managing pollution.

Introduced Invasive Species

Both directly and indirectly, the tourism industry has facilitated the introduction of thousands of alien invasive species to the Hawaiian islands. Plants like mangroves and albizia trees that were brought for landscaping around resorts have spread out of control.

And snakes, lizards, and other animal stowaways have established breeding populations after arriving in cargo and baggage accompanying tourists.

These introduced invaders outcompete Hawaii’s endemic species that evolved in isolation for millions of years. Over 400 threatened and endangered species are being harmed by invasive species spread through tourism pathways (Hawaii Invasive Species Council).

From displacing forest birds to overgrowing native vegetation, tourism-related species introductions severely degrade Hawaii’s highly unique and fragile island ecosystems.

Cultural and Social Consequences

Overcrowding and Quality of Life Issues for Locals

The influx of tourists to Hawaii has led to overcrowding, especially in popular destinations like Waikiki, Maui, and Kauai. In 2019 alone, over 10 million visitors came to the Hawaiian islands, more than triple the resident population. This has greatly impacted locals’ day-to-day lives.

Overcrowded roads, beaches, trails, and airports have diminished Hawaii residents’ quality of life. A recent survey by the Hawaii Tourism Authority found over half of locals believe tourism has changed their island for the worse.

Most cited traffic congestion and overcrowded recreational areas as the key issues.

Commercialization and Loss of Native Traditions

To cater to tourists, many culturally significant Hawaiian traditions have been commercialized, diluted, and sometimes exploited. For example, traditional Hawaiian music and hula performances have been reduced to routine hotel shows.

Cultural sites like heiau temples and puʻuhonua have at times been mismanaged as mere attractions rather than sacred spaces. The commercial emphasis on tourism threatens to undermine native Hawaiian culture over time.

Unaffordable Housing Due to Demand from Vacation Rentals

The rise of short-term vacation rentals across Hawaii through sites like Airbnb has also disproportionately impacted local residents. Investors increasingly buy-up housing solely to rent to tourists at a nightly or weekly rate.

This further limits available long-term rentals and drives up costs for locals.

One estimate suggests over 23% of rentals have been taken off the long-term market for vacation use instead. The lack of affordable housing options has forced many born-and-raised residents to move away to seek lower rents.

Economic Dependence on Tourism Poses Long-Term Problems

Lack of Economic Diversity and Resilience

Hawaii’s economy relies heavily on tourism. This dependence on a single industry leaves Hawaii vulnerable to economic shocks.

For example, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when tourism abruptly halted, Hawaii’s unemployment rate spiked to 23.8%, the second highest rate of any U.S. state (source).

Diversifying Hawaii’s economy by supporting growth in other industries could build more resilience. Technology and innovation, agriculture, renewable energy, and film/media are sectors with potential for further development in the islands.

But substantial public and private investment would be needed to nurture these alternative local industries.

Also read: Would Hawaii Survive Without Tourism?

Low Wages and Lack of Career Growth in Service Jobs

The average annual wage in Hawaii’s accommodation and food services sector was only $32,000 in 2021, much lower than the overall statewide average of $54,000 (source). Many tourism jobs also offer limited career mobility and skills development.

Heavy reliance on tourism concentrates employment in low-wage service sector jobs. Expanding professional careers in other better-paying industries could retain local talent and allow residents more upward economic mobility.

Education initiatives promoting STEM skills training aligned with high-tech and innovation jobs may help more locals pursue professional careers.

Only Seasonal, Part-Time Employment Available

Fluctuations in tourism between peak and off-peak seasons lead many visitor industry employers to heavily utilize part-time and temporary workers. In 2021, about 57% of Hawaii’s accommodation and food service jobs were part-time positions (source).

The prevalance of seasonal and temporary employment makes it difficult for workers to maintain year-round, stable incomes. Developing alternative industries with steady year-round positions could provide more economic security for Hawaii’s workforce.

Calls for More Sustainable Tourism Management

Ecotourism and Regenerative Options

As tourism continues to boom in Hawaii, there have been increasing calls for more sustainable and regenerative tourism practices that preserve the islands’ natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations. Some ideas that have been proposed include:

• Promoting ecotourism that educates visitors on conservation and provides funding for environmental protection programs
• Working with the hotel industry to implement regenerative practices like water conservation, renewable energy, waste reduction, and supporting local communities
• Certifying tour operators and attractions that meet sustainability criteria around limiting visitor impacts and preserving natural habitats

According to the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, the islands hosted over 10 million ecotourists in 2021 who contributed over $3 billion to conservation causes. With proper management, ecotourism and regenerative travel could provide livelihoods for locals while preserving Hawaii’s natural splendor.

Caps on Visitors and Restrictions on Hotels and Resorts

With Hawaii’s tourism industry continuing to expand rapidly, some have called for strict caps on visitor numbers and tighter restrictions on hotel and resort development to reduce overtourism problems. Specific proposals have included:

• Placing a daily or annual cap on incoming tourists to popular destinations like Oahu and Maui
• Banning new large hotel construction and restricting AirBnB rentals
• Requiring all hotels and resorts to meet sustainability certification criteria before being granted new permits

While controversial, tourism caps and development restrictions aim to preserve overburdened infrastructure, heavily impacted nature areas, and the aloha spirit that makes Hawaii such an attractive destination to begin with.

According to one estimate, a visitor cap could reduce Oahu’s daily tourist population from over 200,000 to a more manageable 90,000.

Preserving Limited Resources While Preserving a Unique Culture

With Hawaii heavily reliant on imported food, fuel, and consumer goods, tourism growth is straining limited resources and waste management systems. At the same time, native Hawaiian culture faces challenges from influencing modernizations. Initiatives to address these issues could include:

• Sourcing more food and materials locally to reduce dependency on imports
• Investing in renewable energy and waste-to-energy systems to sustainably power and feed visitors
• Educating tourists on respecting native Hawaiian culture and sacred sites
• Fund cultural preservation programs from tourism taxes and fees

The Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan sets ambitious targets around localized food and renewable energy production. With serious investment and tourism partnerships, the plan’s goals could preserve the islands’ limited resources while keeping native Hawaiian culture alive for generations to come.

Also read: What To Do In Honolulu, Hawaii: The Ultimate Guide

Conclusion

While tourism provides obvious economic benefits to Hawaii, overtourism threatens to permanently damage the very ecosystems, way of life and culture that attracts visitors in the first place

With growing awareness of these issues, there are increasing calls for the state and tourism industry to transition to more sustainable models focused less on numbers and rapid growth, and more on preservation, enrichment and conscious visitor limits.

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