Hawaii is suffering from the economic, environmental, and social consequences of overtourism. This problem especially impacts Native Hawaiians, who find themselves outnumbered by tourists 30 to 1 and find their needs drowned out by the schemes of multinationals seeking ways to capitalize on the state’s natural beauty. Necessities like clean water, affordable housing, the preservation of the environment and native culture are being pushed aside in the name of economic gain. The reliance on tourism undermines the diversification of the Hawaiian economy as well as the success of community based economic planning. For native Hawaiians, this leads to an inability to maintain traditional livelihoods. Tourism has led to the deterioration of the environment as well as struggles to preserve cultural traditions. To put tourism dollars back in the pockets of locals, visitors can make an effort to shop, dine and stay at locally owned businesses. However, individual efforts can only go so far and the state must take steps to modify tourism practices overall to prevent further environmental and cultural degradation.
Hawaii’s economy is dependent on revenue from the tourism industry, but investments come mainly from corporations in mainland US and Japan. These corporations exclude Hawaiians from business decisions, and rarely distribute any of their wealth to Hawaiian residents. Those involved in the tourism industry accumulate wealth and rarely distribute it to you Hawaiian residents. Approximately ⅕ of Hawaiian residents classify as near-homeless, despite the state bringing in 4.86 billion in visitor spending in the first six months of 2021. Foreign investments that fund the tourism industry drive up inflation and increase the cost of living on the island. In Maui, the median price of a home is over $1 million, but the per capita income in Hawaii was $36,989 in 2019, leaving native Hawaiians to struggle to afford the cost of living. Vacation rental companies like Airbnb also contribute to this situation.
The tourism industry is dependent on Hawaii’s natural beauty, but it is simultaneously destroying it, creating an inherently unsustainable system. Overtourism is a major contributor to environmental degradation. The overdevelopment of Hawaii’s natural environment has led to the endangerment of many plant and animal species. Hawaiians are vocal about tourist’s lack of respect for the land and disregard for laws aimed at protecting the wildlife. Overcrowding of beaches can lead to excessive stirring of sand and an accumulation of sedimentation that harms coral colonies. Invasive species introduced by frequent travel pose another threat to local wildlife, as well as over-development and littering. While tourists flock to Hawaii to enjoy the natural beauty, their visits are contributing to its destruction. In order for both the industry and Hawaii’s wildlife to survive, a more environmentally friendly path needs to be forged for the future of tourism.
In terms of resources, the water needs of mega-resort complexes surpass those of residents, some of whom struggle to access enough water for their homes. Maui’s water diversions, created after colonization in favor of big agriculture and to the detriment of subsistence agriculture, are still in use today. Food insecurity increased following these water diversions, and residents wonder how resorts are being sanctioned with massive pools and water needs while Hawaiians water needs are going unmet. Citizens are requesting the rebuilding of inefficient reservoirs as well as the democratization of irrigation systems as solutions to this problem.
Indigenous communities are harmed by the commodification of authentic cultural values and practices and their misrepresentation for the sake of the tourism industry. Native Hawaiians struggle to preserve their culture as their sacred burial sites and other important landmarks are disrupted by the industry. The difficult economic conditions have also led to the disruption and diaspora of Hawaiians seeking more affordable living elsewhere. Tourism is also a notable factor in the crime rate, which endangers residents. This could be due to a temporary increase of people in small areas as well as the frequent introduction of outsiders into local communities, leading to a correlation with a rise in crimes against property and people. Educating visitors about the cultural values of Hawaiians and respectable customs can decrease the harm on native communities. For example, visitors must learn to respect that they may not always be granted permission to visit their sites of interest due to environmental or cultural reasons, and should be respectful of private property and of residents, especially at religious or historical sites.
To reduce the negative impacts of the tourism industry in Hawaii, tourism itself needs to be reduced to a more reasonable rate, which can be done by slowly decreasing flights. This is a complicated issue, considering tourism generates 23% of local economic activity in Hawaii. In order to decrease the reliance on tourism, the economy needs to be diversified with an increased reliance on the non-tourism economy. Cooperation between tourism corporations and the Hawaiian government is essential if the situation is to be improved. Improving the general business climate can encourage residents to start businesses, which would in turn decrease reliance on tourism. This can be done in many ways, including improving the public education system. Local businesses should be promoted so that tourism can be slowly reduced without harming Hawaiian’s ability to make a living.
Tourism was introduced in Hawaii as a means to diversify the economy, and instead became the center of the economy, destroying the land and livelihoods of the residents. While offshore investors in the tourism industry are reaping the rewards of the exploitation of the land and culture, native residents struggle to get their share. The needs of Hawaiians are pushed aside to grow the tourism industry and put money into the pockets of large organizations rather than the community. Tourism to Hawaii in its current form is inherently unsustainable, and practices must be modified to protect the natural beauty and culture that make it such a popular destination. When visiting, tourists should be aware of these issues and vote with their dollars by prioritizing local businesses so that Hawaiians can reap the benefits of the industry that exploits their land and culture.
Edited by Sofia Idris
Katie is in her first year at McGill, pursuing a double major in Psychology and Political Science. She is particularly interested in topics of feminist and environmental issues as well as sustainable development.
You are an incredible artist.