My first thought is that isn’t gorgeous. I was expecting some gorgeous scenery. Some places have zoning ordinances that prevent that kind of eyesore development. Others obviously don’t. I’m not a big fan of beach vacations and the few I’ve done have not been anywhere with high rises along the waterfront. Ugghhhh.....

I lived on Oahu from 1981-86 and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (pink one) sat alone, on a wide stretch of sand running to Diamond Head. That photo makes me sick.

I’ve never been to Hawaii but I’ve never talked to anyone who’s been or lived there who suggested vacationing in Oahu. All have said go to Maui, Kauai, or the big island.

That picture is not enticing at all. What were they thinking allowing that along the beautiful coastline?

That is very much an isolated case. There is NO development at all not even a hut on most of the shores of the many islands of Hawaii. NOTHING. That picture is indeed a very very isolated case. I’ve flown over many miles of coastline in a low flying 8 seater. The shoreline is mostly huge unreachable cliffs. Hawaii has done so much better than most anywhere in the continental US. The preserves and state parks in the Panhandle of FL are a last refuge. One stretch of the Delmarva. One stretch of Outerbanks...

Trailrunner here

The top photo is the Big Island the view from my sons porch. The second picture is als Big Island at one of his favorite camping spots

Another fave from last August Big Island

And another where we camped. Hawaii has done an amazing job of preserving their coastline. And every single inch is public property. There are NO private access only beaches. c

A better lighter view from his porch. The other was before sunrise

Ack! Trailrunner!! Nooooooo. Don’t share our secret (lol). In a perverse way I was rather enjoying this thread. Haha It has been just wonderful to have no tourists. Our islands needed this breather. In the many years I’ve lived here there hasn’t been a day I don’t walk outside and marvel at the beauty of our islands.

I have been to Maui and the Big Island and there is nothing like that. I would never have chosen Oahu as a destination, unless it was as an airport to make a connecting flight!

In some areas, housing the population becomes a priority over keeping a pretty coastline, but judging Hawaii by that photo, would be like judging the mainland US coastline/beaches from a photo of Atlantic City! Or judging all Florida beaches from a photo of Miami!

Thanks for a dose of reality, Trail. So lovely. That first picture reminds me of being in Rio de Janeiro at Copacabana Beach a long time about. Solid wall of hotels and wall to wall people.

When I was in 6th grade (1964) we went to Hawaii. I remember that beach and it was lovely. I am glad the other beaches/islands still are, but I can't help feeling sad that the Royal Hawaiian is lost among all those high rises.

I’ve been to both the Big Island and Kauai and know this travesty is not Going on there , or in most of Hi. How about Florida ( excluding Miami) and other east coast beaches? Are they protected from the onslaught of high rises? Not been there in many years, but guessing. Virginia Beach has gone this route. I haven’t given this great thought until recently...and seeing that nightmare photo. TR, those views are spectacular.

I think we humans and especially Americans, seem to have a knack for loving things so much and feeling entitled to enjoy them, that we end up destroying them.

My last trip to the Big Island, in 2018, we stayed at a vacation rental up the mountain from Papaikou (north of Hilo).

https://www.vrbo.com/3488057ha?unitId=3463727

Our trip was remarkably light on beach time for a Hawaii vacation (we visited the volcano shortly after it opened post-eruption, and visited Puna, and saw a rodeo in Waimea, and visited the summit of Mauna Kea). I adore the Big Island.

I've been to Oahu twice but spent very little time in Honolulu, I stayed on the windward side, in Kaneohe and Kailua. Which are not at all like Honolulu.

I have spent a lot of time on Kauai in the past, traveling through Honolulu a lot also and visited Maui and the Big Island a couple of times. I agree with what chispa said. You cannot judge all of Hawaii by that one photo at all. The people of Kauai were truly wonderful to us, especially given that at one time it was after a major hurricane and they still welcomed us.

It is a shame when overdevelopment is allowed to overshadow natural beauty completely. I wish our local beach towns would take care with development, but I watch with dismay what has happened in Huntington Beach, what is happening in Dana Point and what I suspect is being planned for Laguna Beach. I know that these towns feel as though they need to maximize income from tourists, but it makes living in the towns uncomfortable and expensive for locals.

I’ve only been to Hawaii twice and it was for work. 2-1/2 weeks each time and was on the north shore of Oahu at Turtle Bay resort. I found it lovely and had so much work to do I only made it off the property to run to the airport or pick up a rental car. I wish I could go back there for a real vacation. The people are lovely. I never saw any development as depicted in the first picture posted. Thank goodness.