Destination Management
Hawaii Tourism Authority published an Oahu Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) 2021-2024 to address the need for Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism. PDF
Hawaii Tourism Authority identifies Laniakea as one of the 17 Tourism Hotspots on Oahu. The North Shore traffic made the list separately.
Hotspot Areas
“Below are the identifed hotspot areas and sites that HTA will monitor together with the respective agencies as needed to help mitigate issues.” (P31)
Ha‘ikū Stairs / a.k.a. Stairway to Heaven – access, safety, community impact
Hālona Blowhole and Cove – safety
Hanauma Bay and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve – environmental
Ka‘ena Point – environmental
Ka‘ōhao, Lanikai Pillbox Trail and neighborhood – access, community impact
Kailua Beach and Town – access, community impact
Kaniakapūpū Ruins – culturally sensitive, community impact
Koko Crater Trail / Koko Head Stairs – capacity, community impact
Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Historical Site – culturally sensitive
Laniākea / a.k.a. Turtle Beach – traffic, environmental, safety
Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head) – capacity, community impact
Lulumahu Falls – capacity, environmental, community impact
Mā‘eli‘eli Trail (Ahuimanu / Kahalu‘u) – capacity, environmental, community impact
Makapu‘u hike – access, environmental
Maunawili Falls – capacity, environmental, community impact
North Shore / Hale‘iwa – traffic
Waikīkī – capacity
“The number of visitors in 2019 was perceived to be too much for the current infrastructure, natural resources and residents’ quality of life.”
“If residents are not happy then visitors will sense that and will not have a good experience.”
2019 Statistics (Pre-Pandemic)
Oahu Residents: 974,000
Average number of visitors on Oahu per day in May: 109,000
Total number of visitors to Oahu in 2019: 6.15 million
Total number of visitors to the state of Hawaii in 2019: 10.4 million
Tourism generated state tax revenue: $2.08 billion
Average visitor spending per person per day: $195
Some of the problems identified in the Oahu DMAP (P17)
Visitors’ intrusion into residential neighborhoods
Problematic visitors feel entitled to unlimited access, seek secret places, and desire to boast on social media
The pandemic “has given many natural sites a brief moment to rejuvenate due to the separation from human overuse.”
Some of the actions planned in the Oahu DMAP (P22-30)
Develop a messaging program (physical and virtual) to educate visitors and locals about signifcant sites or areas and pono practices related to them. (B.3)
Crack down on illegal tour vans and buses dropping people off at beaches and trails. (D.1)
Commit resources to promote alternatives to overused sites or going off the beaten path. Redirect visitors to areas that can accept higher traffic away from residential areas. (J.1)