The impact of the terrestrial basking event of Hawaiian green sea turtles at Ho'okipa, Maui

In Maui, marine tourism includes Hawaiian green sea turtles that emerge from the ocean to bask on the sand, at Ho’okipa Beach Park. In no other location in Hawai’i, do the green sea turtles bask so consistently and in the highest numbers, as they do at Ho’okipa Beach. With the event drawing approximately 500 visitors to the beach daily, a local non-profit, Hawai’i Wildlife Fund, aims to protect the turtles by providing interpretation to visitors. This research examined the impact of the terrestrial basking event of the Hawaiian green sea turtles on visitors at Ho’okipa, Maui. The objectives were: 1) to identify if visitors transitioned into more responsible marine tourists by adapting the outcome indicators of visitor satisfaction, learning, attitudes and behaviours, from Orams’ marine-tourist model, 2) measure the interpretation efforts of Hawai’i Wildlife Fund, and 3) help aid in the protection of the basking green sea turtles. Results demonstrated that visitor transition did not occur and could not be confirmed on visitors who expressed good intentions, without the pursuit of longitudinal studies. This outcome notwithstanding, the measured Orams outcome indicators show there is great visitor satisfaction in the event itself and viewing the basking sea turtles in their natural environment. Visitors connected emotionally to the turtles, which facilitated their learning through the interpretation programs of the Hawai’i Wildlife Fund. The programs impacted the viewing experience and demonstrated that emotion can transition visitors. Visitor attitudes reflected the knowledge of what constituted a responsible tourist, yet many disregarded the signage, boundaries, and suggestions of Hawai’i Wildlife Fund volunteers. This reflected a mixed and somewhat conflicted viewing experience for many visitors. The most deficient area of Orams outcome indicators was visitor behaviour. Survey fatigue occurred in this area and while there were visitors who exhibited good intentions, information on how to get involved with Hawai’i Wildlife Fund and help the turtles on holiday and when visitors returned home, was not realized. The findings enable the author to provide the Hawai’i Tourism Authority and Maui County with insight on how this basking event impacts visitors. Results also offer managerial strategies from Orams’ model as recommendations to aid in the visitor and site management that supports Maui County, Hawai’i Wildlife Fund, and the protection of the basking Hawaiian green sea turtles, providing a memorable viewing experience for visitors.