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Sustainability Of Coastal/Marine Recreation: Modeling Social Carrying Capacity For Hanauma Bay, Hawaii
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2005
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Series: STEP-UNI
[PDF-15.23 MB]
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Description:This study examines the consequences crowding in a coastal and marine site from a social capacity perspective. Social carrying capacity is the number and distribution of visitors that provide minimal acceptable recreation experiences (Shelby & Heberlein, 1986). What is acceptable for one person may be viewed differently for another person. These perceptions may also differ by recreational sites: one may seek solitude at a certain site, and yet the same individual may accept the presence of other users. The study reports on surveys collected from Hanauma Bay located on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. Managers of the Bay face the difficult task of managing both the physical environment, and the diverse recreation uses within the bay. The site is already a subject of environmental assessments, however there have been no studies on the social carrying capacity of the bay. This study intends to provide resource managers with data that can instigate change in the way they perceive how this marine environment should be managed based on user perceptions and experiences. It is debatable whether social carrying capacity modeling is effectively applied in this environment. It is also debatable whether or not ecological data alone can influence decision making in these environments. Six hundred and twenty-eight surveys were collected from July 6, 2000 to June 24, 2002 at Hanauma Bay. Two sets of questionnaires with 27 questions each were used to assess visitor perceptions prior to and after their visit to the bay. The survey included three sets of matched pre-and-post-test questions about perceived crowding, experience preferences, and benefits sought. The survey also included demographic information, travel characteristics and evaluation of the Bays' resources. The analysis included descriptive techniques outlining differences in responses among residents and visitors, and among first time visitors and repeat visitors. It further explored changes in user perceptions as use level increased. The findings provide insight into user expectations and experiences, while addressing challenges in determining recommended use levels of the Bay.
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Sea Grant Document Number:HAWAU-T-05-001
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Rights Information:Public Domain
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