Geographical Process "Tourism Hawaii" They don't know what they've got!" Jack London exclaimed to his hosts, while on his first visit to Kona in 1970. "Just watch this land in the future, when they once wake up!" (Both quotes from London 1917, 229).

Eighty years later, readers of Hawaii media might well have the thought "they" had finally awakened "The Big Bang Begins" proclaimed a special report of Hawaii Investor (Wood 1987, n.p/), while Tune (1987, D1) asserted in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that "Big Island Billions" were on the way. Both of these articles discussed the latest phase of tourism development that was sweeping over the State of Hawaii. With Waikiki, on Oahu, and the leeward coasts of Maui already heavily occupied by resort properties, it appeared that the Kona and Kohala Coasts on the Big Island of Hawaii were to have their turn. Fully imbued with the optimistic business spirit of the Reagan era, these articles completely endorsed the vast changes in the coastal landscape that were expected to occur in the near future. Hundreds of new jobs in construction, the spread of money by the tens of thousands of satisfied tourists, the boom in real estate, and the expanded tax base could bring only unequivocal good fortune to the lucky island, and state. A source of a more official nature indicated that this would indeed be an expansion of potentially huge proportions.

With respect to tourism, Hawaii since western contact has risen and fallen in its perceived value as a distinctive destination region. It was one of the political centres' of the Big Island when Cook anchored at Kealakekua Bay in 1779, then during the latter part of Kamehameha's region (1812-19) it was the seat of government for the island chain. Visiting western ships were obliged to touch base a Kona, although most spent the majority of time being provisioned and repaired at Honolulu Harbour. After Kamehameha II established the seat of government at Honolulu, in 1820, Kona's importance declined steeply. Tourists visiting during the rest of the century, and particularly after 1850, found a sleepy back-water region. Most visitors were commuters...

Kona then became known as the best location in the Territory for tourists who desired to see "old Hawaii" which had largely disappeared elsewhere, particularly from Honolulu. The local "way of life" became the basis for a well-developed regional identity to tourists. However, after World-War II, and particularly during the 1950s, local entrepreneurs anticipated exploiting this known quality to develop the tourism industry there.
Planners at the State and County levels have focussed on the entire leeward coastal zone, however, and have created a new regional identity -- West Hawaii. This encompasses the leeward coasts of districts of North and South Kohala and Ka'u, as well as North and South Kona. Plans for development of tourism have been published at this larger scale (Department of Planning and Economic Development, 1972). Additionally, developers have been attracted to the resources in the coastal zone of South Kohala, and this district has emerged as a major resort area.

Social Impact

As a tourist destination, Hawaii also attained a strong regional identity, based on local ambience and lifestyle of a particular period. This identity faded by the 1960s, precisely because of development built to exploit it.

Tourism has very strong positive on the economic and social life of Hawaii. Development of service resources, new hotels, shops and restaurants create economic activity and a source of income generation for the native Hawaiian.

Concluding it is obvious that Hawaii is a tourist region, one that is distinct from other areas in the United States in terms of space and place-content. This is also significant that the area is different and distinct for visitors as well as its residents. Such an indication show that uniqueness is important in a fundamental way, by being the basis of the regional identity both groups recognize,…