THE HISTORY OF TOURISM THE HISTORY OF TOURISM IN WAIKIKIIN WAIKIKI

STAGE 1: EARLY DEVELOPMENT 1850 – STAGE 1: EARLY DEVELOPMENT 1850 – 19001900

Characterised by:Characterised by:•Few touristsFew tourists•No facilitiesNo facilities•No links to other centresNo links to other centres•No knowledge of what the area has to No knowledge of what the area has to offeroffer

At the time Waikiki was mainly At the time Waikiki was mainly wetlands on which rice was grownwetlands on which rice was grown

The 50 acres of swamp were also used The 50 acres of swamp were also used to grow Taroto grow Taro

The beach had a few private houses The beach had a few private houses only for the wealthyonly for the wealthy

The formality of the times meant few The formality of the times meant few facilities were needed so there was no facilities were needed so there was no tourist developmenttourist development

Stage 2: Pioneer PhaseStage 2: Pioneer Phase

1900 – 19501900 – 1950Characterised by:Characterised by:•Tourist numbers start to increase Tourist numbers start to increase slowlyslowly•A few initial attractions and facilities A few initial attractions and facilities set upset up•Initial transport links establishedInitial transport links established•Area still not well known so numbers Area still not well known so numbers are small but is gaining a reputation as are small but is gaining a reputation as the place to come.the place to come.

In 1901 the first hotel the Moana In 1901 the first hotel the Moana opened.opened.

It was patronised by a few wealthy It was patronised by a few wealthy touriststourists

The beach activities were becoming The beach activities were becoming more acceptablemore acceptable

Slowly the transport links improvedSlowly the transport links improved

Locals of Honolulu started to come to the Locals of Honolulu started to come to the beach after a Tram was established as the beach after a Tram was established as the first public transport link to the beachfirst public transport link to the beach

Future growth however was hampered by Future growth however was hampered by the mosquitos from the wetlands that were the mosquitos from the wetlands that were becoming a nuisance. Locals lobbied to have becoming a nuisance. Locals lobbied to have the swamps drained.the swamps drained.

In 1922 the Ala Wei canal was In 1922 the Ala Wei canal was built to drain the wetlandsbuilt to drain the wetlands

This then created Hawaii’s most This then created Hawaii’s most valuable piece of real estate. The valuable piece of real estate. The

Royal Hawaiian Hotel followed in 1927Royal Hawaiian Hotel followed in 1927

This was built in a Meditteranean Style This was built in a Meditteranean Style in Pink – so it was nicknamed the Pink in Pink – so it was nicknamed the Pink Palace. It formed the land component Palace. It formed the land component of the cruise ship Mahaloof the cruise ship Mahalo

facilities started to be established to cater facilities started to be established to cater for the new touristsfor the new tourists

A radio programme started under the A radio programme started under the Banyan Tree of the Moana – this Banyan Tree of the Moana – this publicised Hawaii to mainland USA. It publicised Hawaii to mainland USA. It had the signiture of ‘Hawaii Calls”had the signiture of ‘Hawaii Calls”

Only wealthy movie stars could afford to Only wealthy movie stars could afford to come. This helped to market the resort to come. This helped to market the resort to the rest of the USA.the rest of the USA.

Hawaii was used as a backdrop for Hawaii was used as a backdrop for many advertisements many advertisements

Then in 1941 Pearl Harbour was Then in 1941 Pearl Harbour was bombed by the Japanese during World bombed by the Japanese during World War 2War 2

The USA now entered the war and this The USA now entered the war and this brought tourism to a sudden end. The hotels brought tourism to a sudden end. The hotels were instead used as R&R centres for were instead used as R&R centres for soldierssoldiers

The beaches were covered in barbed The beaches were covered in barbed wirewire

It meant that more soldiers were exposed to It meant that more soldiers were exposed to the beauties of Waikiki and many vowed to the beauties of Waikiki and many vowed to return at the wars end. return at the wars end.

By 1950 Waikiki had 1400 rooms. In those By 1950 Waikiki had 1400 rooms. In those days surfers could drive their cars up onto days surfers could drive their cars up onto the beachthe beach

Stage 3: Mature PhaseStage 3: Mature Phase1960 – 19901960 – 1990

Characterised by:Characterised by:•Numbers start to increase rapidlyNumbers start to increase rapidly•New attractions and facilities are New attractions and facilities are established to cater for this increase- a established to cater for this increase- a building boombuilding boom•Better transport links are set upBetter transport links are set up•Area receives maximum publicity as Area receives maximum publicity as its reputation spreadsits reputation spreads

Over time the main Street of Kalakaua Over time the main Street of Kalakaua Avenue became more developedAvenue became more developed

However it was the development of However it was the development of commercial air flights that allowed the commercial air flights that allowed the masses to afford to visit and they did so in masses to afford to visit and they did so in their thousandstheir thousands

This led to the development of new This led to the development of new hotels that sprang up everywhere in hotels that sprang up everywhere in the 1960’sthe 1960’s

Famous people still added to the Famous people still added to the interest of the masses to come hereinterest of the masses to come here

The hotels doubled in number. By 1968 The hotels doubled in number. By 1968 Waikiki had 13,000 rooms, by 1988 the Waikiki had 13,000 rooms, by 1988 the number reached 30,000number reached 30,000

1960’s1960’s 1980’s1980’s

From this in 1960From this in 1960

To the same spot in 1990To the same spot in 1990

Stage 4: SaturationStage 4: Saturation1990 – Present1990 – Present

Characterised by:Characterised by:•Tourist numbers start to decreaseTourist numbers start to decrease•Problems associated with tourist Problems associated with tourist numbers emergenumbers emerge•Starts to impact on the environment Starts to impact on the environment negativelynegatively•Need to upgrade to keep visitors Need to upgrade to keep visitors comingcoming•Move to specialist marketing Move to specialist marketing

After 1990 the numbers of tourists declined After 1990 the numbers of tourists declined for the first time and has been fluctuating for the first time and has been fluctuating ever sinceever since

• 199019907,000,0007,000,000

• 199319936,000,0006,000,000

• 199619966,600,0006,600,000

• 199919996,800,0006,800,000

• 200220026,400,0006,400,000

• 200420046,900,0006,900,000

• 200520057,400,0007,400,000

The last piece of land available was sold in The last piece of land available was sold in 1990 for $45 million. Now there was no 1990 for $45 million. Now there was no where to go but upwards.where to go but upwards.

The place was so crowded that the The place was so crowded that the government had to put a ceiling cap on the government had to put a ceiling cap on the number of hotel rooms allowed – 39,000.number of hotel rooms allowed – 39,000.

The Infrastructure could not cope with any The Infrastructure could not cope with any more. Traffic congestion meant that a one more. Traffic congestion meant that a one way road system was developedway road system was developed

To keep the traffic down the public To keep the traffic down the public transport system “The Bus” was transport system “The Bus” was subsidisedsubsidised

Breakwaters had to be built to keep Breakwaters had to be built to keep the sand on the beachthe sand on the beach

Artificial beaches were built by Artificial beaches were built by importing sand from other islands such importing sand from other islands such as Molokaias Molokai

Restrictions were placed to protect the Restrictions were placed to protect the natural environment especially the natural environment especially the fauna fauna

Instead in order to keep the tourists coming Instead in order to keep the tourists coming a massive upgrading began. The main a massive upgrading began. The main streets were made more attractive streets were made more attractive

Hotels were all upgraded and Hotels were all upgraded and remodelledremodelled

New attractions were added like the New attractions were added like the Ala Moana shopping centreAla Moana shopping centre

Specialist marketing was initiated such as Specialist marketing was initiated such as the Convention market with the opening of a the Convention market with the opening of a huge convention centre in 1998.huge convention centre in 1998.

Specialist facilities cater for the rich Specialist facilities cater for the rich Japanese marketJapanese market

It quickly became apparent that the future It quickly became apparent that the future for Waikiki lay in attracting the Japanese for Waikiki lay in attracting the Japanese market. Facilities were provided to make market. Facilities were provided to make them ‘feel at home’.them ‘feel at home’.

Waikiki now has 24,000 permanent Waikiki now has 24,000 permanent residents and 65,000 visitors on any residents and 65,000 visitors on any day. It boasts 450 restaurants, 350 day. It boasts 450 restaurants, 350 bars and 12 shopping centres all in an bars and 12 shopping centres all in an area only 2 km long and 1 km wide! area only 2 km long and 1 km wide!

MAHALO !MAHALO !