When is it too much Tourism? ©

In 2000 I was part of an independent consultant group hired by our State government to research and make economic projections for the future.  At that time Hawaii was still struggling with a difficult financial environment and everyone was looking for answers to get us back on track.

 We looked at all aspects of the economy and we had four core industries to work with; tourism, agriculture, military, and government.  Predictions were based on historical data.  Our conclusions were; Hawaii would hit 8 million tourists in 10 years (2010) and 10 million in 15 years (2015).  Of course, no one for saw the Great Recession of 2005-2009 that slowed down growth and setback our projections.  However, this year it is now predicted we will hit the 10.3 million mark. 

At 8 million, we stated Hawaii’s infrastructure would be maxed out and more importantly, at 10 million we as a state would start to breakdown and deteriorate if our systems were not rebuilt.  We believed with over 62+% of the state on older saturated cesspools that our aquifers would be at risk, without new roads we would be at such gridlock that many times our highways would be completely shut down, immobilizing us, and at this level of visitors, it would begin to destroy the fabric and quality of the Islands.

We advocated our state needed to start rebuilding our sewer systems within five years, look at creating new traffic routes via new roads, and finding ways to gentrify our inner cities to have a balance of urban, suburban, and rural/country living.

 Since that report was written nineteen years ago, very little has been done, the sewer systems have not been upgraded, no significant new roads built, and urbanization continues daily, particularly on the island of Oahu.  Tourism has become our life-blood, checkmating all other aspects of business.  And the residents of Hawaii are now suffocating under the deluge of millions of people seeking their Hawaiian experience.

Living here 100 years ago used to be about pineapple and sugarcane, but now our new “plantation” is made of steel and glass.  Every resident living here is at the mercy of the ebb and flow of international news that affects the daily body count of tourism.  We also fund this business through a service economy of low wages, higher taxes, and constant crowding on roads, beaches, and lifestyle.

 What happened to us?  How did we allow ourselves to be at the benevolence of one industry whose owners are not a part of our heritage?  I believe it’s time to reconsider our objectives for the future of Hawaii and relook at how to grow our state.  Is it fair for 1.4 million residents to subsidize 10+ million tourists yearly?  When will it be enough?  What is the number? 12 million? 20 million? 

 We all live here because of the air, land, and water.  But the crowding is now impacting our quality of life and the stress is showing.  Like someone who continues to eat and gain weight, one day the point will be reached where we will suffer a catastrophic episode and die.  It’s time for all of us to rethink our future before we lose everything.