Aloha Hawaii! Geographers studying tourism first-hand in a tourist hot spot

Aloha Hawaii!

In the April School holidays, 18 Geography students headed off to Hawaii to experience tourism first-hand. The focus was to look at how tourism has developed in Hawaii to make it such a popular tourist destination today, with over 10 million visitors a year.

We visited three islands to see how different each island is. On the island of Kauai we saw some spectacular scenery and a more laid-back approach to tourism. On Mau’i we ventured to the top of Haleakala volcano and learnt about the various sugar and pineapple plantations that were once the backbone of the Hawaiian economy and the reason why Hawaii is so multi-cultural today. On Oahu we saw what mass tourism is like at Waikiki as well as visiting key tourist attractions such as Diamond Head, Pearl Harbour, Sunset Beach, Iolani Palace and a traditional Hawaiian Luau.

Quite a few of the students had been to Hawaii before with their families, but they found themselves experiencing the islands in a different way.

Jacinda Andrews (TIC Geography)

“Being able to learn about the culture and history of the island was something I really enjoyed and although I’d been to Hawaii before, I was able to experience new places.”

“I was amused by the Americans constantly commenting on our accents and our having to explain why we were there!”

“I enjoyed snorkelling at Hanauma Bay because I saw turtles and was able to experience them while I can before climate change makes a massive impact on their habitat.”

“I enjoyed going to small towns and seeing how people live in the more rural areas of Hawaii and buying products from them to help with their economy.” “What I really enjoyed was learning about Hawaiian culture, traditions and heritage. On this trip I’ve learnt about how similar Māori and Hawaiian cultures are. I found this really interesting as I could relate to the similarities.”

“Going to the volcano on Mau’i Island was wonderful, although it was cold at the top! It was my first time seeing what a real volcano looks like. On the bus to the volcano’s summit, we learned the history of the plantations and how people from Japan, the Philippines and China immigrated here to work in farming.”

“I loved all our busy days – a sunset cruise, mountain climbing, jaw-dropping views, shopping and activities at Waikiki. I loved experiencing travel and learning how to be more independent, organised and aware of my belongings. An added bonus was getting to meet and share experiences with new friends. We were immersed in Hawaii’s culture and doing such diverse things opened my eyes to more than just tourism and shopping.”

“Outrigger canoeing was a highlight of my trip as it was an activity I had not experienced before which really appealed to me as it was a lot of fun.”

“Just being able to have this opportunity to go overseas on a school trip was amazing. I’m grateful to be at a school that takes us across the world for a field trip!”