One of the main issue affecting Kailua Hawaii community is the rising number of tourist visiting the community. Tourism is primary revenue generator of the state of Hawaii and Kailua community. According to tourism officials in the state, more than four million tourists visit Hawaii every year with most of them heading to Kailua. Kailua community, Hawaii was selected for this paper because of the quiet nature of community, beautiful beaches and humid weather which make it a perfect vacation destination for tourists. It is also a top vacation spot for the family of former American President Barack Obama. Residents of Kailua Community have pleaded with Hawaii Tourism Authority to stop promoting Kailua as perfect tourist spot due to the negative impacts the tourism is having on the community (Cuevas, 2013).This paper will discuss the issue of tourism in Kailua community, how it affects the community and what has been done to address its effects.
Located northeast of Honolulu Kailua Community is so popular with tourists. Its beautiful white beaches are among the best in the United States. Most people escape the hustle and bustle of the major cities for the quiet and the laidback life in Kailua. Visitors from across the globe are attracted by the white Kailua beaches, quiet life and beautiful weather (Cuevas, 2013).
The tourism frenzy in the community has led to a huge amount of unregulated vacation apartments. There are over 500 vacation spots for overnight accommodation according to estimates released by Hawaii Tourism Authority. Out of the 500, only 65 operate with permits. The vacation rentals are normally leased on a short-term basis. This has strained the supply of houses in the community, inflated the costs and put homes out of reach for the locals.. The temporary rental homes cater for the needs of tourists, yet at the same unsettle local dwellers. Affordable houses for long-term residents have been eliminated in favor of short-term rental apartments for tourists (Cuevas, 2013).
Employment opportunities created by tourism are normally seasonal, yet tourism raises the cost of goods and services in the community. Moreover, the revenue generated by tourism in the community benefits huge chain of hotels rather than the average locals. The needs of the local people are never met as more focus is directed towards tourism. Congestion of people and traffic in the community has made movement around the town more complicated. Residents of the community now spend many hours in traffic because of congestion. Tourism has also increased the rates of crime, drug use and prostitution in the community. Tourists normally come with strange behaviors, which erode the values of the community. The environment has not been spared in all the drama. Congestion on the beaches has led to pollution of the environment. The high population around the community has also led to erosion, especially around the beaches.
To solve the issues brought about tourism, Kailua Community Board has petitioned the Hawaii Tourism Authority to stop promoting the town as a top tourist destination in the hope of reducing the number of people visiting the community. The board has also asked community officials to regulate the growth of vacation rentals by properly licensing all vacation rentals and eliminating those without permits.
Tourism was chosen for this paper because it is major issue impacting the Kailua community. Kailua is a coastal community and one of the best destination for tourists in American and across the world. It is a quiet community with a population of only 38635 people as per the 2010 census. Tourism was also selected because it is the number source of revenue for the community. Moreover, the tourism industry creates so many jobs for the residents of Kailua community, Hawaii.
Kailua community, Hawaii is major tourist attraction due to its beautiful beaches. The high rate of tourism has affected the community by inflating the price of houses and goods, polluting the environment, eroding community values, raising the rates of crime and increasing the level of drug use. The number of tourists is more than the Kailua community, Hawaii can accommodate.
Work Cited
Cuevas, M. (2013). Overnight guests not welcome in Hawaiian town, board says. CNN. Retrieved Feb. 23, 2013, from https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hawaii-town-no- tourism/index.html
