How Can Puna grow, find ways to cater to tourism?

[pahoated]

The last estimate was around 1.3 million tourists per year for this island. That adds an artificial population increase of over 3000 per day, added to the 185,000 kamaaina. It seems like there is plenty of tourist traffic and you have to remember, most tourists are trying to cram in every tourist trap they have read about on internet forums, ie, they don't spend a lot of time in one place. It's all about the marketing, promote week long unwind vacations versus Hawaii 5-0 Honolulu 24-hr party experience. Seems like enough tourist traffic as it is, but it's going to keep growing. There are a lot of vacated houses that are basically vacation rentals now, so that is happening just due to the always changing conditions around here. With Section 8 allowed for south Puna Monday, and the only available affordable rentals are in south Puna, plus a 6000 waiting list, will give you the congestion that you are looking for.

"Mahalo nui Pele, 'ae noho ia moku 'aina" - kakahiaka oli