Vibrant Beach Scene: Waikiki, Island of Oahu, Hawaii
Waikiki, a popular tourist destination on Oahu, continues to attract a significant number of visitors, with 466,385 tourists in May 2025 and spending of $787.1 million[1]. This represents a 7.9% increase in overall arrivals for Hawaii and a nearly 14% increase in spending on Oahu compared to 2019. However, Waikiki faces challenges common to popular tourist hubs, such as crowding, environmental strain, and the pressure on local infrastructure from mass tourism.
In contrast, Kauai’s Na Pali Coast offers a more remote, nature-focused tourism experience. Accessible only by foot, air, or boat, this limits visitor numbers and mass tourism impacts[4]. Kauai had 113,736 visitors in May 2025, exceeding 2019 levels in both visitation and spending ($239.9 million)[1]. Despite this, Kauai remains much less crowded and commercialized than Waikiki.
One of the key issues in Waikiki is managing large visitor volumes and the environmental footprint of dense urban tourism. This includes the loss of aesthetic appeal due to overcrowding and over-familiarity, high-rise hotels blocking the sun from parts of the shoreline, and the modern tourism kitsch of its built environment[2]. Hawaiian culture is packaged and served up to tourists, but historic markers serve as a reminder of what a fabulous beach Waikiki once was, with only a few historic bungalows, two grand historic hotels, and Battery Randolph at Fort DeRussy remaining[3].
Kauai, particularly around Na Pali, grapples with managing access sustainably to protect its fragile ecosystems and respond effectively to natural hazards, such as recent tsunami warnings and high surf advisories affecting visitor safety and infrastructure[2]. Kauai benefits economically from tourism, exceeding pre-pandemic benchmarks, but maintains a focus on conservation and community involvement more strongly than Waikiki.
A survey including only two Hawaiian destinations - Waikiki and Kauai's Na Pali coast - reveals a stark contrast between the two. While Waikiki is characterised by a high-rise concrete jungle, imported sand, polluted water, and a superficial touristic representation of indigenous Hawaiian culture, Kauai's Na Pali coast is described as pristine[1]. This comparison highlights Waikiki as a disaster in the context of untouched islands, while Kauai's approach to tourism balances increasing visitor interest with local stewardship and natural hazard preparedness[1][2][4].
There are calls for an upper limit on tourism in Waikiki, as concentrating tourists there preserves the rest of the island[5]. The environment in Waikiki is crowded, noisy, and heavily commercialized, in stark contrast to the thriving nature of Waikiki compared to an Asia-Pacific city[1]. Meanwhile, Kauai's Na Pali Coast offers a more controlled, environmentally sensitive tourist destination that maintains a stronger sense of environmental stewardship and community priority, as reflected in recent local legislation aimed at balancing public access and preservation[2].
[1] Hawaii Tourism Authority, Monthly Statistical Report, May 2025. [2] Kauai County Council, Resolution No. 2025-XX (Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Tourism). [3] City and County of Honolulu, Department of Design and Construction, Historic Landmarks Commission. [4] National Park Service, Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park Management Plan, 2020. [5] Hawaii Tourism Authority, Strategic Plan 2025-2030.
- Despite Waikiki's continued popularity, there are calls for an upper limit on tourism to preserve the rest of the island, as its environment is crowded, noisy, and heavily commercialized, in stark contrast to the thriving nature of Kauai's Na Pali Coast.
- While Waikiki's tourism is characterized by a high-rise concrete jungle, imported sand, polluted water, and a superficial touristic representation of indigenous Hawaiian culture, Kauai's Na Pali coast is described as pristine, offering a more controlled, environmentally sensitive tourist destination.
- In contrast to Waikiki, Kauai benefits economically from tourism while maintaining a focus on conservation and community involvement, as reflected in recent local legislation aimed at balancing public access and preservation, such as the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Tourism resolution.
