The death of Hawaii’s esteemed U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, combined with impacts of the sequester, has resulted in a substantial pullback in planned military spending for the islands.
The record-breaking run of the stock market this past week and a Hawaii real estate market that is showing convincing signs of recovery have offered great consolation. Still, the big news is the bumper projections for Hawaii tourism.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority recently announced that visitor spending will hit an unprecedented $15.8 billion this year with total arrivals projected to be 8.5 million, an increase of 500,000 visitors. However, Paul Brewbaker of TZ Economics has sounded an alarm saying that Hawaii is running out of headroom. Indeed, growth in the number of hotel rooms has been minimal in the past decade. Until recently, however, the main limitation on visitor numbers has been the global recession. Earlier, the wave of bankruptcies in the airline industry caused airlift to be the limiting factor.
The solution is to build more headroom, according to Brewbaker. He argues that if we augment our current carrying capacity, Hawaii will enjoy more jobs, greater income, a bigger sewer system, better roadways and mass transit. This is based on the assumption that a certain rate of continuous growth combined with modest inflation will result in a stable, sustainable economy.
The problem is that the natural environment did not read that textbook. Global-warming pundits warn us that continuous growth on carbon-based fuels is not sustainable. The coral in Hawaii’s coastal waters tells us that there is a limit to how much human recreation it can accommodate. The dwindling fisheries in the deep sea teach the same lesson. Hawaii can build more headroom, but it can’t increase the rainfall or deepen the aquifers.
There is a limitation to what even the most dedicated stewardship can do to preserve and protect our precious natural resources. Despite the best strategic planning and the most sophisticated infrastructure, the island can take only so many visitors, and we are close to the limit if not well past it.
The last time visitor numbers approached peak levels, Hawaii engaged in the same debate. During that period, Global Advisory Services was engaged by HTA to develop a strategic plan.
"Healing in Paradise: A Strategy for Cultivating Health & Wellness Tourism in Hawaii" was presented to HTA after 18 months of community meetings, research and planning. The conclusion is that Hawaii needs to shift its focus from increasing headroom and airlift to cultivating a more refined visitor, one who is sensitive to the host culture and truly respectful of Hawaii’s precious and fragile environment.
Health and wellness tourism is defined by the intention of the visitor. Some might come for modern medicine or integrative health care. Others wish to have contact with the Polynesian culture.
A portion is drawn to Eastern arts or to seek spiritual retreat. Certain visitors want edu-tourism, eco-tourism or agri-tourism. Health and wellness tourism also encompasses opportunities for sports and fitness as well as pampering at destination spas or relaxation at local B&Bs.
Successful development of health and wellness tourism on the islands will benefit the economy, but, more important, it has the potential to improve the health of kamaaina, help perpetuate the host culture and make safe for our children the aina, the kai and the moana.
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Ira Zunin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., is medical director of Manakai o Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center and CEO of Global Advisory Services Inc. Please submit your questions to info@manakaiomalama.com.
