Three locations identified as priorities in Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s draft Destination Management Action Plan for Kaua‘i

The draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan for Kaua‘i has honed in on three priority hotspots: Kapaʻa – Wailua Corridor, Hoʻopiʻi Falls and Kōkee and Waimea Canyon.

Click here to see the draft plan.

These draft Destination Management Action Plans for 2026-2028 capture months of in-person and virtual community engagement in 2025 to identify and prioritize hotspots – sites under strain cherished by residents and visitors alike – and undertake collaborative action to improve natural and cultural resources across the state, according to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority website.

The 2021-2023 DMAPs were the first community-driven plans to rebuild, redefine and reset the direction of tourism in Hawaiʻi following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown that showed what the islands are like without visitors.

The previous destination management action plans for the islands were more sweeping in scope, in part to address the renewed backlash against overtourism. With that, these new draft plans are narrowed.

The community identified the following priorities for the Kapaʻa – Wailua Corridor:

• Reduced traffic congestion and vehicle pressure along Kūhiō Highway
• Clear, intuitive wayfinding
• Improved safety and predictable movement
• Protection of cultural resources and community spaces
• Islandwide mobility advancement
• Better visitor preparation and informed choices

To address these priorities, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority identified the following solutions:

• Design and install corridor stewardship and wayfinding signage
• Launch a Coconut Marketplace-based Kauaʻi visitor information booth
• Promote and integrate the Coconut Marketplace Mobility Hub associated multi-modal transportation options

The community identified the following priorities for Hoʻopiʻi Falls:

• Safe and appropriate neighborhood access
• Protection of the falls and surrounding natural areas
• Visitor safety and informed access decisions
• Stronger engagement with the primary drivers of visitation
• Clear, community-informed direction for long-term site management
• Improved coordination among agencies, landholders, and residents

Management actions for the falls include:

• Conduct site-based data collection to inform long-term management
• Design and run a media messaging campaign on site safety and caution
• Advance long-term access, circulation and stewardship decisions

The community identified the following priorities for Kōkee and Waimea Canyon:

• Reduction of unsafe roadside stopping and illegal parking
• Improved visitor safety and preparedness on trails
• Data-informed, long-term planning for park access and operations
• Protection of local access and customary use
• Stronger linkage between park visitation and local economic benefit
• A more legible and respectful visitor experience
• Protection of natural and cultural resources
• Clear coordination between the Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks and Hawai‘i Department of Transportation

Management actions include:

• Install automated counters for visitor-use data collection
• Execute a trail stewardship and safety signage pilot
• Conduct a Kōkeʻe–Waimea Canyon visitor access and shuttle feasibility study
• Develop a Waimea Canyon Drive highway safety and access management framework

The content of the plan will be finalized on March 16 and will be reviewed by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority at the end of the month.

Public comment on the draft plans are welcome until 11:59 p.m. today. Click here to comment.