Leaders should heed residents’ concerns about tourism

THE ISSUE A new poll shows residents don't want any more hotels built and believe their interests are secondary to those of tourists.

A GROWING conviction that Hawaii is managed primarily for tourists to the deprivation of residents should give state leaders pause as they make further attempts to broaden the economic base of the islands.

Although residents clearly acknowledge the reality that the tourism industry holds the money cards, they also see it as eroding the quality of life and the environment, and contributing to troublesome land use issues here. They need to hear from state leaders that their interests are the top priority.

A recent survey conducted for the Hawaii Tourism Authority showed that 62 percent of the 1,609 residents polled agreed that "This island is being run for tourists at the expense of local people." That was an increase from 55 percent last year, which was the first time since 1988 that a majority agreed with the statement.

Moreover, fewer people thought that tourism bettered the overall quality of life, trending down from a peak of 66 percent in 2002, to 50 percent in 2005 and 46 percent this year.

Conflicting sentiments about employment persist. While 69 percent said the industry does well in providing work, 78 percent note that their island's economy is "too dependent on tourism," an indication that people would welcome employment in other trades to mitigate the reliance on the visitor industry.

Meanwhile, concerns about land use continue to intensify. About 76 percent, the highest number ever, don't want any more hotels built on their island and 59 percent disapprove of developing vacation homes on agricultural acreage. An overwhelming majority, 82 percent, support using tax revenue generated from tourism to preserve the environment.

Taken together, these views could be seen as a desire among residents to put the brakes on development and urbanization of open spaces across the state. When last year's survey revealed similar opinions, industry representatives found them puzzling since there had been little new hotel construction in the recent past.

However, residents might not be distinguishing between traditional hotels and residential resort development, which has been booming, vacation rentals and time-share ventures. In addition, these projects might be perceived as supplanting sorely needed residential units on finite land resources. Even so, it would not be inconceivable that residents favor a limit on visitors.

State leaders have repeatedly tried to spur other industries and business here, but the fact is that without tourism, Hawaii's economy goes nowhere. While they should keep trying, there should be equal efforts to lessen the detrimental consequences of the industry on residents.