How to be a Better Tourist

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Overtourism in Hawaii: Tourism vs Residents

As we approach the one year anniversary of the wildfires that devastated Lahaina, the ongoing housing crisis in Maui has only gotten worse. There are families that have become homeless, many still live in hotels, and others that have made the difficult choice to move off-island.

In June 2024, Mayor Bissen proposed a bill to phase out 7,000 short term rentals (the “Minatoya List”) by 2026 and supporters of the bill packed the hearing to a standing-room only to give testimony in favor of the bill. The debate between prioritizing housing for locals and maintaining a tourism-based economy rages on.

A worldwide problem

There are no easy answers, but we are not alone in dealing with issues of overtourism. The dramatic rise in short term rentals like Airbnb have driven up cost of living and local rents in nearly every market they enter, and bans have come into effect in places like New York. In areas suffering drought such as Cape Town, South Africa, the visitor industry has been blamed for wasting precious natural resources like land and water.

When I visited Barcelona recently, I saw so many parallels to what’s going on in my hometown. Barcelona has become a lightning rod lately for controversy around overtourism and the related issues it causes with affordable housing for residents, coming to a head with protesters spraying tourists with water guns. Issues have been raised in countless other tourist hot spots such as Venice, and thanks to a recently weakened yen, Japan.

Tourism itself is not the problem

I love to travel, to connect with people and places that are different from the home that I’ve known. I think it’s vital that we stay curious about other people and cultures and I think that travel can be one of the most enriching experience for those of us privileged enough to do so. 

Particularly for destinations dealing with post-disaster recovery, tourism dollars can provide a much-needed boost to the local economy. However, packing in visitors without taking care of residents first causes more trouble in the long run, and this is the situation we are facing in Maui. Local columnist Lee Cataluna argues that phasing out short term rentals will be a drastic, yet welcome, change.

Perhaps if we all learn to pack a little extra patience and empathy, to seek out and listen to voices that represent indigenous communities, it’s still possible for thoughtful tourism and local communities to co-exist peacefully.

8 Ways to be a better tourist in Hawaii (and beyond)

Sustainable tourism needs to be more than just a buzz word. In Hawaii, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has focused on regenerative tourism and moving away from the “extractive” model of tourism we’ve had historically. We can all benefit from going a little beneath the surface of places we visit and having empathy for local residents. Here are some sustainable tourism tips for your next trip:

1. Shop local 

Patronizing family-run small businesses over big-box chain stores and restaurants is one of the best ways to help support locals when you travel. If you can seek out indigenous-run businesses, even better!

2. Seek out local voices

One of the best ways to find local markets, artisans and restaurants is to tune in to local social media communities or bloggers when you’ll be traveling. Take an extra minute to check out the author of the post or site – someone who has strong ties to the place rather than an infrequent visitor will truly be able to give you “inside” information and will have great recommendations!

It’s also important to tune in to local news and to register with your nearest embassy or consulate when traveling abroad. Keeping yourself safe is one simple way to avoid taking up resources at your destination in the event of a natural disaster or dangerous situation. Always remember that your holiday destination is someone else’s home.

3. Buy locally made souvenirs

It may be tempting to do your souvenir shopping in the touristic part of town, but often those cheap plastic magnets, shot glasses and keychains are mass produced and not made locally. Consider supporting a local artist or picking up items at a farmers market. One of my favorite places to shop for souvenirs is grocery stores — great people watching too!

4. Consider your carbon footprint

Flying may be unavoidable on long-haul flights to places like Hawaii but if you’re traveling shorter distances, you can use sites such as Omio and Rome2Rio to learn about other options. In Europe there are even companies like Byway travels which focus on flight-free travel.  Trains are one of my favorite ways to see more of a place, and even buses can be a way to connect with locals. One of the best ways to minimize your carbon footprint is to staycation and explore closer to home!

5. Book your accommodation thoughtfully

With accommodation, it’s not always a clear-cut answer these days. While short term rentals like Airbnbs have allowed some small businesses to thrive in certain areas, in others all they’ve done is take away from the rental market for locals and raised the cost of living. Seek out small, independent, indigenous-run operations if possible. In areas where overtourism is a problem, a hotel may be a better choice, be sure to ask about their practices around sustainability as well as how they treat their employees.

6. Hire local guides and get to know the local culture

My favorite way to do this is by booking a food tour or cooking class early on in my trip and checking that the host is someone with a strong connection to the place. You get a local perspective and the chance to try new things. Embrace your curiousity, try new things, maybe learn a few food phrases while you are at it. Walking tours, city tours or history tours are all more meaningful when given from a local point of view, rather than someone living there who simply speaks your language.

7. Conserve natural resources and help preserve ecosystems

With the impacts of climate change being felt all over the world, it is important for each of us to do our part to try to do less harm to the places we visit. Just a few examples:

In beach destinations like Hawaii, choose reef-safe sunscreens and bring along a bag to collect rubbish to take with you when you leave the beach, or join an organized beach clean up.

When hiking, be sure to stay on marked paths and follow guidelines and signage to keep yourself safe. Be mindful of weather events like flash flooding that can occur far upstream. In Hawaii, be sure to clean your shoes before and after leaving hiking trails to avoid spreading rapid ohia death.

In areas suffering from drought, those long showers that you indulge in in your hotel room could be breaking rules in place for conserving water – opt to take shorter showers, and be mindful of your electricity consumption by turning off lights and air conditioning when not needed.

Carry your own reusable water bottle to avoid buying more plastic. Bring a small reusable cutlery set to avoid single-use plastics. 

8. Dining responsibly 

Sometimes it’s difficult to get away from our comfort zone and into unfamiliar menu choices. Consider that eating seasonally and local is both better for the environment and the local economy!

• Checking out a farmers market is a quick way to see what’s in season and fresh (and often cheaper!) and to buy directly from people without a middle man.
• When dining, ask for local and seasonal recommendations and choose small businesses whenever you can.
• Ask locals where THEY eat (not where they think tourists want to eat) and if you have a good experience at one place, consider asking them for other recommendations.
• I often try to book a cooking class or food tour on the first day of my trip in order to learn more about the cuisine and specialties of the area I’m visiting and also to get recommendations for the rest of my trip.
• Following local food bloggers on social media is a great way to learn what’s going on in the local restaurant scene, rather than relying on review sites.
• If you will be eating seafood, be sure to check out sustainable seafood recommendations to help you navigate your menu choices.  

Further Sustainable Tourism Resources

• Malama Hawaii – Hawaii Tourism Authority has put together resources for those wishing to give back during their visit to Hawaii. Some accommodation providers may add extra incentive by providing discounts for those who give back.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council – offers accreditation/certification for tour companies and hotels
• Center for Responsible Travel – has a great list of sustainable travel tips