This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
As more and more tourists seek to have a positive effect on their vacation destination, the Hawaiian archipelago offers them the opportunity to actively contribute to the regeneration of a particularly fragile environment. What if this was the cure for mass tourism?
The lull was short-lived. Two years after the appearance of COVID-19, tourists were back in Hawaii, almost as numerous as before the pandemic, when the 10 million visitor mark – a record – was crossed in 2019. Enough to relaunch the main economic sector of the archipelago on which a large part of the population depends, but also awaken fears linked to the devastating effects of mass tourism. Some of the busiest sites, such as the popular Diamond Head volcanic crater in Honolulu, have been subject to an online reservation system and entry fees, to better control access.
At the same time, voices were raised to call for the development of another form of tourism which would no longer be based on simple “consumption” of the destination. Tourism that would allow visitors to make a constructive contribution, whether in terms of biodiversity or the local economy, by leaving the community in which they stayed in a better state. A call to go even further than sustainable tourism focused on environmental conservation and reducing visitor impact. Much more proactive, this regenerative tourism has its place in Hawaii, where taking care of the earth is a fundamental rule.
For ages, the concept of malama is firmly anchored in tradition. This ancestral principle underlines the responsibility we have towards natural resources and the people around us. It encourages everyone, young and old, to take care of the lands and oceans, as well as to take care of the community, with a view to passing on a better world to future generations. This spirit of malama naturally resonates with regenerative tourism which, for example, invites visitors to actively participate in environmental restoration by planting endemic trees on the north coast of the island of O’ahu.
Hands in the earth
Far from crowded Waikiki Beach, Gunstock Ranch has partnered with the non-profit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative to recreate a true Hawaiian forest at the gateway to the community of Kahuku. It is in this green setting, dominated by the Ko’olau mountains, that we come to plant milo shoots. A great opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of your trip, but also to create a legacy that will benefit the land and the community for decades to come. “Milo trees have the benefit of attracting native bird populations, which helps our ecosystem,” says Bethany Christensen, a marine biology student from Idaho.
The young employee of the Gunstock Ranch is delighted to be able to accompany tourists in this great initiative. “We offer birds a sort of sanctuary and we have already seen an increase in the population of certain species, such as the pueo [la chouette hawaïenne à oreilles courtes]she testifies. By planting more and more endemic trees, we also help fight against invasive species, such as koa haole which absorbs all the water that other plants need and which represents a great threat to the environment in Hawaii. »
On the island of Maui, we also focus on taking care of the earth. Nestled in the beautiful Olowalu Valley, the Kipuka Olowalu organization’s mission is to cultivate environmental connectivity and build community resilience through ancestral Hawaiian cultural knowledge. The NPO takes under its wing volunteers, tourists, locals or school groups, ready to put their hands in the earth to give a saving boost to native plants, such as kalo. Also known as taro or elephant ear, kalo plays a central role in the archipelago where it is revered like a divinity.
Trees for Lahaina
“In addition to being a source of food, kalo is also central to Hawaiian spiritualism and mythology. In our culture, kalo is literally the older brother of humanity. As our older brother, he nourishes us, and in return, we must respect and care for him,” says Michiko Smith, a recent environmental science graduate from Maui and a passionate member of the Kipuka Olowalu team. The organization is also committed, with its partner Treecovery, to growing trees for the reconstruction of the Lahaina community which was largely ravaged by flames in August 2023.
“The idea is to replant native species, like milo, which have the particularity of being tolerant to fire and drought,” says Ua Aloha Maji, cultural practitioner and operations supervisor at Kipuka Olowalu. Other organizations were invited to participate in the effort to restore Lahaina’s landscape. Starting with the main hotels in the west of the island, such as the luxurious Westin and the no less prestigious Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa which, after having accommodated the affected families deprived of homes, is committed to growing a hundred trees while waiting for the reconstruction work in Lahaina to be completed.
In the months following the tragedy, many tourists may have wondered whether it was appropriate to go on vacation under the palm trees, just a few kilometers from the scene of the tragedy which claimed the lives of nearly a hundred people. “We have trees. And that’s already a victory, says Ua. However, small businesses have been without revenue for months and are still struggling. We absolutely must support them through tourism. But please don’t shop at Costco or stay in Airbnbs. This is how you ruin the situation! »
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