State to study impact of tourism growth
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
A robust and expanding tourism industry is the goal of most Hawai'i leaders, but doing it in a way that doesn't destroy the beauty of the Islands and the harmony of its people is key.
That's the topic of a state study on sustainable tourism. The state is collecting views on the issue at a series of public meetings.
"We're getting kind of an interesting mix of people with strong environmental concerns and strong industry concerns," said John Knox, the project's consultant for public input and sociocultural impact research.
State economist Pearl Imada Iboshi said the meetings are aimed at finding out "how people perceive the impact of tourism on the economy and their life." She said project organizers are hearing a wide range of views from residents that will be useful in deciding what areas to cover in the study to be completed by the end of next year.
"It seemed Kona felt more things were working than not," Iboshi said. "In Hilo it was also a pretty mixed group with concerns about possible changes in lifestyle. On Moloka'i there were a lot of concerns about wanting more tourism but the right kind of tourism that fits in more with community values, and on Maui it was concern about uncontrolled growth."
O'ahu's meeting will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Washington Intermediate School cafeteria, 1633 S. King St.
Kaua'i's meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Kaua'i High School cafeteria, 3577 Lala Road.
Organizers from the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism say some meetings held on Neighbor Islands this month have attracted as many as 35 people.
The purpose of the project is to develop strategies and tools to set policy and to help ease the impact of future tourism growth. It includes three parts: an infrastructure and environmental overview, an economic modeling study, and a public input and sociocultural study. More information is available at www.hawaiitourismstudy.com.
Organizers will hold a second series of meetings on all the islands next summer with tentative results of the study.
Iboshi said the sustainable tourism study could be used in an environmental impact assessment but that it is a broad-based study to find out how changes in the visitor industry affect the environment and social and economic conditions in the state.
The environmental group Sierra Club asked the state Supreme Court in 2000 to halt the state's tourism marketing spending until a study determines the potential environmental impact of attracting more visitors. That case is pending before the court.
Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.
