United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Pacific Northwest

Research Station

General Technical

Report

PNW-GTR-734

October 2007

Sociocultural Effects of

Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Lee K. Cerveny
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Author

Lee K. Cerveny is a research social scientist, Pacific Northwest Research Station,

400 N 34th St., Seattle, WA 98103.
i

Abstract

Cerveny, Lee K. 2007. Sociocultural effects of tourism in Hoonah, Alaska. Gen.

Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-734. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 115 p.

This report examines the growth and development of the tourism industry in

Hoonah, Alaska, and its effects on community life and resource use. The report

describes the gradual development of tourism in Hoonah and presents resident

perceptions of tourism’s effect on the natural and social environment. A multisited

ethnographic approach was used featuring indepth, open-ended interviews with

local residents, tourism providers, business owners, and government officials. Data

were analyzed using Ethnograph, a software program used to assist in coding data

based on prominent themes. Results indicate that tourism has brought changes to the

lives of Hoonah residents, particularly those relying on natural resources for everyday survival. Expansion of nature-based tourism in the area surrounding Hoonah

resulted in conflicts between resource users. The growth of the charter fishing fleet

led to competition with commercial fishers. Nature tour operators using remote

recreation sites experienced conflicts with local hunters and fishers as well as other

commercial guides. The development of a cruise ship destination on private land

outside of Hoonah led to shifts in use of this historic site by local residents as well

as in use of other private lands used for subsistence. Findings may enable Forest

Service planners to identify factors involved in the relation between tourism growth

and community well-being. It also may assist small southeast Alaska communities in

decisionmaking related to tourism development.

Keywords: Alaska, tourism, communities, natural resources.
ii

Summary

Hoonah, Alaska, is a coastal community located in Icy Strait, the primary transportation corridor linking Juneau to Glacier Bay National Park, one of the most popular natural attractions for visitors to southeast Alaska. Hoonah has a long history as

a permanent settlement for the Huna Tlingit and more recently has been home to

fishermen, loggers, government employees, teachers, artists, and many others. Its

prime location, protected harbor, proximity to abundant fishing, and road access

to the national forest for hunting and recreation make Hoonah an ideal location

for tourism to flourish. Yet, tourism did not play a significant role in the local

economy prior to 2004. A reticence to develop tourism stemmed from concerns

about changes the industry might bring to the local community and to the natural

environment in the Huna Tlingit territory.

When declines in resource-based industries occurred in the 1990s, local businesses and community organizations began gearing up for tourism. A small number

of local firms advertised charter fishing excursions, and a few residents built guest

accommodations that catered to visitors in pursuit of a rural Alaska experience.

Hoonah also was home to several experienced bear-hunting guides. Although tourist

traffic to Hoonah was modest, visitor activity flourished in more remote parts of the

traditional Huna territory. Glacier Bay hosted more than 300,000 visitors on cruise

ships and charters. And each year, tour boats passed through Icy Strait, where

fishing and whale watching were popular activities. Tourist activity in the outlying

areas generally was initiated by nonlocal proprietors operating from Juneau or other

nearby ports.

Prior to 2004, tourism was not having a significant effect on everyday life in

Hoonah. Still, residents were aware of the implications of increased visitation based

on their observation of changes in nearby Juneau and Sitka, Alaska. Several themes

emerged from interviews with local residents about the perceived effects of existing

tourism.

• For some residents, tourism represented an opportunity to share the merits

of rural Alaska living, Tlingit cultural history, and the natural environment.

Tourism presented an activity consistent with tribal efforts to generate

awareness of Native culture and promote Native pride, particularly among

youths.

• The ability of the visitor industry to interpret aspects of Tlingit culture

and the special relationship Huna people had with their natural environment was a particular focus of concern. Residents discussed how competing
iii

interpretations of Native history and culture by non-Native guides as well as

among Native interpreters representing different clans, presented a potential

source of tension.

• Some residents described feelings of defensiveness or obligation in the

presence of tourists who are unfamiliar with the rural Alaska lifestyle.

Outward appearances of village physical structures and infrastructure may

be viewed by outsiders as less than adequate. Many interviewees, particularly those living in downtown Hoonah, described discomfort interacting

with visitors.

• Marine tourism led to some congestion and competition for slips at the boat

harbor between recreational (nonlocal) boaters and local fishers. Growth

in charter fishing activity in Icy Strait contributed to competition for fish

among charter, commercial, and subsistence fishers. Commercial fishers

described issues of resource allocation, access, and the importance of longterm sustainability of the fishery.

• Growth in guided commercial tourism throughout the Huna territory led

to user conflicts among tourism providers of various kinds and between

tourism groups and local sport and subsistence users of natural resources.

• Increased visitor activity in Glacier Bay was viewed negatively by some

Huna Tlingit, who wondered why their access to Glacier Bay was being

curtailed while visitor access on tour boats and cruise ships was being

expanded.

• Hoonah residents monitored the effects of tourist activity on the environment and wildlife, with particular attention to the quality and availability

of subsistence resources.

Despite concerns shared about tourism, most residents interviewed in 2000–

2001 favored modest tourism growth that emphasized local employment and the

direct involvement of local firms. Community leaders maintained that tourism

growth in Hoonah was inevitable, and that the community should be prepared to

embrace the industry before outside interests gain control. Several themes emerged

in discussions about future tourism growth in Hoonah.

• Hoonah residents perceived local economic benefits associated with future

tourism, including job creation, business development, tax revenues, and

visitor spending. Tourism was viewed as a strategy to keep jobs in the

community and reduce the loss of young workers emigrating out of the

community for employment.
iv

• Several concerns about tourism were noted, including change in local

character, an increase in traffic and congestion, frequent interactions with

outsiders, domination by nonlocal business interests, the export of tourist

dollars outside the economy, fears about sharing cultural information with

visitors, negative effects on subsistence resources, and exclusion from

federal lands.

• Hoonah residents shared several ideas about the desired characteristics of

tourism. Most sought tourism that was modest in scale and located away

from the central business district so as to minimize changes to downtown

neighborhoods. They hoped tourism would embody and reflect local

identity and cultural values. Residents talked about four critical elements

for a tourism development: local participation in tourism planning, local

control of the pace of tourism development, mechanisms to encourage

benefits to local firms and workers, and interagency cooperation.

• Several tourist activities and attractions were favored by residents contemplating future tourism. Residents generally approved the idea of a tourist

facility at the Point Sophia cannery, which they believed would contain

visitors in a site away from the downtown area. Most residents interviewed

preferred small cruise ships over larger cruise ships, owing to concerns

about the capacity of local infrastructure to handle high visitor volumes.

Many also favored a heritage center to showcase Tlingit culture and traditions. A campground or RV park was an idea that would minimize congestion on forest roads and maximize tourist spending into the local economy.

The development of nature-based attractions also would encourage tourist

use of the national forest.

• Residents noted several potential constraints inhibiting future tourism

development, including attitudes of long-time residents and elders toward

new business growth, the cost of utilities, particularly electricity, the

capacity of local infrastructure to support visitors, the overall appearance of

the community, the prevalence of intensive logging along coastlines, and

gaps in the local labor market.

 After the sale of a prominent seine vessel in 2001, signifying changes in the

commercial fishing industry, and the gradual closing of the Whitestone logging

camp, community leaders began to consider the potential for tourism. Several local

institutions initiated discussions about the tourism industry as a source of economic

development, and a conference was held considering tourism alongside other
v

resource-based industries. In 2001, Huna Totem captured the attention of residents

by announcing plans to renovate a cannery to create a cruise ship destination.

Cannery renovations beginning in 2003 employed hundreds of Hoonah workers.

The development of Icy Strait Point was welcomed by most Hoonah residents

interviewed, although many recognized that the project did not have full community

support. The economic benefits in the form of jobs, income, and visitor spending

appeared to offset some losses from the loss of fishing and timber employment. The

short-term and sporadic nature of the work meshed well with the subsistence

lifestyle of many employees. Project developers appeared to recognize and address

local concerns when planning their destination, particularly the need to retain the

community’s rural character and Native culture.

• Hoonah residents interviewed said they enjoyed interactions with visitors

they encountered. Although some experienced the sense of being objects of

the “tourist gaze,” others used these impromptu encounters to share the

Hoonah lifestyle. The cannery employed more than 100 residents, with

many jobs emphasizing customer relations.

• Youth and other residents involved in cultural performances for tourists had

opportunities to learn about their heritage, and many experienced a growing

sense of pride. Point Sophia executives, tribal officials, and city leaders

shared a sense of success and accomplishment at the close of the project’s

first season. The relocation of cultural materials of local significance to the

tourist site, such as the tribe’s totem poles, represented a potential source of

contention among tribal members.

• Residents interviewed also noted their hopes to improve the connection

between the Hoonah community and the development at Point Sophia.

Residents were eager to maintain their rural lifestyle with access to natural

resources and special places of importance. Several residents discussed the

implications of restricted access to the Spasski Creek area because of the

presence of a bear-hunting tour on Huna Totem land. Spasski Creek represented an important area for hunting, fishing, and cedar bark harvest, as

well as other subsistence resources.

• Residents desired open access to the cannery facility and the cannery

grounds at Point Sophia, which represents an important part of the

community’s history as well as a favorite place for recreation. Many also

desired that the cannery accommodate the needs of independent visitors,

whose growing presence in Hoonah could generate revenues for downtown

business owners and proprietors of local lodges.
vi

• Residents wanted visitors to know about their community, rather than have

it missing from the tourist maps and brochures. They recognized the need

for the Point Sophia Development Company to control visitor flow to

minimize undesirable impacts from a high volume of cruise guests. But,

they also commented upon the corporation’s strategy to keep visitors on site

to maximize corporate (and cruise line) earnings from the sale of corporateapproved tours. The lack of acknowledgment of Hoonah’s proximity to the

cannery or its historical and cultural connection was disconcerting to many

residents.

• Despite corporation attempts to discourage the flow of guests outside the

cannery grounds, many visitors chose to walk the mile to Hoonah. The

arrival of cruise guests and crew members proved to be an unexpected boon

to those proprietors who quickly identified products and services desired by

visitors. Residents desired greater opportunities for local businesses to

benefit from tourism.

• The need to moderate and monitor the frequency of ship arrivals with

growth of tourism was essential to interviewees. Many recognized the dual

role of the Native corporation as an economic entity generating shareholder

dividends, and as a political organization protecting community interests.

The risk of emphasizing one of these roles over the other would have

widespread repercussions.
vii

Preface

The Hoonah community study was part of a larger project to examine resident

perceptions of the sociocultural effects of tourism in three southeast Alaska communities. The research plan was developed by a study team from the Juneau Forestry

Sciences Lab with input from the U.S. Forest Service Alaska Regional Office and

the Tongass National Forest. This report on Hoonah, Alaska, is one of a series of

community reports on tourism in southeast Alaska. An earlier report described

tourism trends in Haines, Alaska. A report on Craig is forthcoming. A final report

analyzing and comparing tourism trends in all three communities was published in

2005. Results from this study on the effects of tourism and recreation in southeast

Alaska communities will assist Forest Service planners to identify factors involved

in the relationship between tourism growth and community well-being. Information

also may be useful in decisionmaking related to tourism management and recreation

development. In addition, the research may assist coastal communities in various

stages of decisionmaking with regard to tourism development. Lessons from Haines,

Hoonah, and Craig provide insights for tourism scholars and for communities

worldwide negotiating their relationships with the tourism industry.
viii

Contents

1 Study Context

1 Background

2 Global Context

7 Study Goals and Methods

10 Relation to Other Research Efforts

11 Hoonah—A Community Profile

11 Physical Setting

11 Cultural History

15 Economic Trends

20 Local Government and Civic Institutions

21 Tourism Development and Local Response

22 Early Visitors to Hoonah

25 Local Efforts to Expand Tourism: 1980–2001

28 Visitation Levels in 2001

36 Sociocultural Effects of Tourism

40 Tourism and Implications for Natural Resource Use

48 Glacier Bay Tourism and the Huna Tlingit

53 Future Tourism: Hopes and Concerns

53 Perceived Tourism Benefits

55 Concerns About Future Tourism

60 Desired Characteristics of Future Tourism

65 Tourism Constraints

68 Creation of Icy Strait Point

69 Point Sophia Development Corporation

72 Overview of Tourism in 2004

75 Resident Reactions to Icy Strait Point

86 Conclusions

87 Prevailing Themes

92 Implications for Resource Managers

94 Future Research

95 Acknowledgments

95 English Equivalents

96 References

104 Appendix 1. Sample Characteristics

107 Appendix 2. Interview Guides
1

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Study Context

Background

Since the mid-1980s, tourism has grown to become one of the most important

industries in southeast Alaska, generating new business growth and employment.

Tourism growth in the region has allowed communities to survive and thrive amidst

regional economic transition resulting from downturns in logging and commercial

fishing. With few economic alternatives available, tourism presents a potential

option for development. Tourism also brings change to rural Alaska communities,

which are seeing an inflow of seasonal tourism workers and visitors. Many acknowledge that tourism provides jobs, but also perceive that tourism alters the

character of Alaska communities and affects local user patterns of natural resources. Community leaders throughout southeast Alaska are deciding to what

extent their economies should be based on tourism. Important questions are being

raised:

• Do we want to promote tourism? If so, how much tourism do we want to

have?

• What types of tourism activities do we want to encourage?

• How do we mitigate tourism’s less desirable effects on communities and

resources?

• How do we develop tourism while maintaining our existing quality of life?

The Hoonah community study was part of a larger project to examine the

sociocultural effects of tourism in three southeast Alaska communities. Sites

were selected for indepth study because they feature contrasting histories of tourism

development and represent a broad range of Alaska experiences with tourism. Like

many communities in the region, Hoonah faced stark declines in its traditional

economic base. Tourism provided a source of employment and income for residents

and was viewed as being compatible with efforts of cultural revitalization. This

study of tourism in Hoonah allowed greater understanding of the process of tourism development in its formative stages. Conversations with Hoonah residents about

the future of tourism in their community and their initial perceptions of tourism

development, has cultivated understanding about initial hopes, ideas, concerns, and

challenges that face the community.

This research incorporates an ethnographic approach featuring the use of

participant observation and intensive interviewing with residents. Twelve weeks of

Many acknowledge

that tourism provides jobs, but

also perceive that

tourism alters the

character of Alaska

communities and

affects local user

patterns of natural

resources.
2

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

field research took place in Hoonah in two segments: from October through December 2000 and March and April 2001. Followup interviews took place in the

summers of 2002 and 2004. The resulting data set was largely qualitative, stemming from semistructured interviews, focus groups, and public meetings, where

residents talked about their lives and their community’s relationship with tourism.

A report comparing research findings from Hoonah with the other two study sites

also has been prepared (Cerveny 2005).

The goal of this report is to present qualitative data that illustrate resident perceptions of tourism and its effects on community life. The style of presentation

common to ethnographic accounts includes analytical statements demonstrating the

author’s findings substantiated by quotations from research participants involved in

the study. In most instances, names of actual research participants and their institutional affiliations were omitted to protect their anonymity. Quotations used in this

report were extracted directly from notes taken during interviews. To the best extent possible, these quotations capture the actual words spoken by research participants. Precise phrasing may have been lost in the process of note-taking; some

transition words were added or deleted to promote fluidity or readability. The

meaning or intent of the statements was not altered in editing. Because audiorecording techniques were not employed in this study, all quotations included

should be viewed as paraphrases.

Global Context

Tourism is a global industry that is growing at a rapid pace. The tourism economy

accounted for 3 percent of global gross domestic product in 2004, employing more

than 76 million workers. (World Travel and Tourism Council 2006). Developments

in transportation technology and changes in the geopolitical and economic environments have spurred an increase in the number of travelers worldwide. In the 1950s,

an estimated 25 million visitors crossed international borders. By 2006, this number had exceeded 842 million (World Tourism Organization 2007). Contemporary

travelers are more ethnically and economically diverse than ever before. Segmentation in the travel and tourism industry has expanded the repertoire of travel possibilities (Munt 1994). Conventional forms of travel, such as destination resorts, bus

tours, and cruise ships, have been augmented by customized itineraries and niche

modes, such as cultural and historic tourism and nature-based tourism. These travel
3

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

niches have expanded travel possibilities and opened up destinations worldwide.

Thus, tourism is an industry that is increasingly diversified and far-reaching and

that connects rural areas to the world economy.

Southeast Alaska is an archipelago of densely wooded islands that extends 966

kilometers from Cape St. Elias, near Yakutat in the North to the Dixon entrance

near Ketchikan (fig. 1). The area provides habitat for many marine and wildlife

species and has long been home to Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples, who

have lived in the area for more than a millennium. With the arrival of European

traders, trappers, and settlers, natural resources have formed the basis for this

region’s economy. Mining, commercial fishing, logging, and tourism created jobs

for Alaskans and provided an economic boost for the state. Lands are primarily

managed by the federal government, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service. A

Figure 1—Southeast Alaska.
4

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

smaller proportion of the region’s land is owned and managed by Native corporations created by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. In 2002, the area

was inhabited by nearly 72,000 residents, of whom roughly 20 percent were Alaska

Natives. Throughout the 20th century, many Alaskans depended on natural resources

for their livelihoods and relied on harvest of fish, game, and other products to

sustain families and cultural traditions.

Since Alaska became a U.S. territory in 1867, it has attracted tourists eager

to explore America’s last frontier (Nash 1981). Nature writer John Muir visited

Alaska in 1879 and wrote about the rugged coastal landscape he found in what is

now known as Glacier Bay (Nash 1981). Early visitors to southeast Alaska arrived

on steamships and visited tidewater glaciers, fishing villages, and Gold Rush outposts that served as a gateway to the Yukon (Dunning 2000, Norris 1985). A curios

trade developed, which provided a market for Alaska Native artists (Hinckley 1965,

Norris 1985). Tourism became recognized as an official part of Alaska’s growing

economy in 1945 by the territorial Governor. Commercial tourism began to develop in the 1950s and 1960s with improvements in transportation routes, the construction of lodges and road-houses, and the establishment of the Alaska Visitor’s

Association (West 1997). These improvements attracted independent visitors

arriving on commercial jets, state ferries, and by automobile on the Al-Can Highway. In the 1970s, cruise ships gained popularity as both a means of transportation

and a floating resort. Although the region had been host to smaller tour ships in the

1960s and 1970s, large cruise ships began to ply Inside Passage waters in the mid1970s and became more commonplace in the 1980s.

Mirroring global trends, visitor arrivals to southeast Alaska grew rapidly,

doubling from 473,000 visitors in 1985 to more than 950,000 in 2005 (Juneau

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau 2006). Visitor levels increased at an average

annual rate of 10.5 percent from 1980 to 2002, far exceeding global rates of

 4.2 percent. In 2004, an estimated 90 percent of visitors to southeast Alaska

arrived by large cruise ship, including some transporting more than 2,800 passengers. Intense competition among rival cruise lines made the price of an Alaska

cruise more affordable to middle-class travelers and family groups (NFO Plog

2002). Small cruise ships represented another growing market segment, providing

cruise experiences with fewer than 200 passengers. Cruise passenger participation

in shore excursions also increased dramatically in the late 1990s as a result of

intensive marketing and the expansion of contractual relations with local tourism

Visitor arrivals to

southeast Alaska

grew rapidly, doubling from 473,000

visitors in 1985 to

more than 950,000

in 2005.
5

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

providers. The rapid growth in shore excursions that take guests into remote places

by plane, boat, or bus meant that Alaskans were encountering more visitors in more

remote places (Klein 2002). These changes resulted in effects on communities and

natural resources used by residents.

High visitor demand for the Alaska experience makes tourism a logical choice

for communities eager to improve their local economic base. The growth of cruise

ship travel to Alaska afforded new possibilities to communities struggling for economic survival amidst declines in traditional industries. Tourism created jobs,

spurred business development, and contributed to tax revenues in many communities. Yet, tourism also has brought changes to rural communities, not all of them

desirable, including noise, congestion in city streets, crowded beaches and trails,

and changes in patterns of subsistence use. Several communities supported tourismrelated taxes as a means of offsetting these costs to the community. The influx of

tourism businesses and workers has been linked to subtle shifts in local demography

(Cerveny 2004). The environmental effects of tourism also have been weighed,

sparked by the discovery of cruise ship pollution from air and water emissions.

These issues fueled public scrutiny about tourism benefits and inspired a wave of

local citizen activism.

Hoonah represents an excellent example of a southeast Alaska community

facing changes in the local economy and searching for solutions in tourism.

Located on the northeast shore of Chichagof Island about 40 miles west of Juneau,

Hoonah sits in a sheltered bay in Port Frederick, which feeds into Icy Strait (fig.

2). Hoonah is a predominantly Tlingit community whose people have origins in the

area of Icy Strait since time immemorial. Icy Strait is a busy cruise ship corridor

leading to Glacier Bay National Park. Icy Strait has experienced heavy use by

charter fishing boats from nearby Elfin Cove, Gustavus, and Pelican. Numerous

whale-watching, sight-seeing, kayaking, and other tours concentrate around nearby

Point Adolphus, which attracts a dense population of whales. Several areas in the

Tongass National Forest have experienced rising visitor use.

Few visitors traveled to the community until 2004. Up until the 1990s, the

majority of Hoonah residents were content with the smattering of hunters, fishers,

and boaters who found themselves at the ferry terminal or the boat harbor. Declines

in Hoonah’s historical industries prompted community leaders to explore economic

alternatives. Logging on Native land owned by Sealaska Corp. slowed down

gradually and virtually came to a standstill by 2004. The fishing industry, once the

The growth of

cruise ship travel

to Alaska afforded

new possibilities to

communities struggling for economic

survival amidst

declines in traditional industries.
6

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

mainstay of the local economy, was hurt by the closure of the Inian Island fishery

and to a lesser extent the closure of Glacier Bay to commercial fishing. The development of a limited-entry program for salmon fishing also resulted in a decline in

the number of locally held permits. With timber and fishing on the wane, Hoonah

residents sought a means to sustain their community and keep young workers at

home. For many, tourism was a logical and necessary step for economic survival.

Yet, some cautioned that tourism could represent a threat to community integrity,

cultural identity, access to subsistence resources, and traffic on forest roads. This

report presents the hopes and concerns of Hoonah residents in relation to tourism.

Figure 2—Hoonah and Icy Strait.
7

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Study Goals and Methods

This report is one piece of a broader investigation to understand how tourism interacts in different ways with Alaska communities (Cerveny 2004, 2005). Using a

regional framework and a multisited approach (Kottak 1999), I explored how

tourism shapes human communities and alters relations between humans and their

environment. The broader research effort contributes to theoretical discussions

about the complex relations among actors and their landscape within a tourism

economy. Three main study objectives framed this study:

• Collect and analyze baseline tourism data. This research provides

baseline socioeconomic, demographic, and tourism data that will permit

future comparison and allow analysis of change in tourism over time.

• Understand local attitudes toward tourism and perceptions of

sociocultural effects. This research involved describing current attitudes

toward tourism, their origins, and their potential for shaping tourism

growth. The study also examined local perceptions of the tourism industry

and its role in the community, as well as the impact of visitors and the

tourism industry. The effects of tourism on local lifestyles and livelihoods,

and key social, cultural, and economic institutions also were explored.

• Explore the role of tourism in the relation between residents and their

environment. This research examined the effects of tourism activity on

local uses of natural resources including recreation, traditional and

customary uses (subsistence), and commercial activities. This study sought

to understand the extent to which tourism transforms the use of local spaces

and alters resident relations with their environment.

This study used an ethnographic approach. Ethnography is a scientific approach

for discovering and researching social and cultural patterns and meanings within a

community, institution, or cultural group (Schensul et al. 1999). The goal was to

understand tourism by observing its effects directly through interviews with local

residents to elicit stories and detailed explanations about how residents have related

to tourism and adjusted to the changes.

In keeping with social science methods, triangulation, or the incorporation

of data from a variety of sources, was valuable to the data collection approach.

The use of multiple data sources helps to validate and substantiate qualitative data

and improve the quality, depth, and rigor of qualitative research (Bernard 1995).
8

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Similar data collection strategies were employed at each research site to facilitate

comparison. All efforts were made to ensure that the researcher’s presence did not

disrupt community life and a scientific approach to data collection was taken.1

Data for this research stem from multiple sources, including participant observation, resident interviews, focus groups, surveys, archival sources, and economic

and census data. A major strength of this study was the opportunity for indepth

fieldwork, which fostered greater understanding of local patterns of community life

and value orientations and was helpful for interpreting results about community

perceptions of tourism.

Participant observation—

Participation in the daily lives of Hoonah residents was an important component of

data collection and interpretation as the researcher’s ethnographic knowledge

becomes embedded in daily habits and routines (Pelto and Pelto 1978). I participated in daily life in the community and attended numerous public events, city

council meetings, and other public functions and conferences. The opportunity to

participate in daily life allowed me to understand something about what residents of

Hoonah value and cherish about their lifestyle and community.

Resident interviews—

Initial introductory interviews were held with eight key informants, who held

leadership positions in various community institutions, such as the city, tribe, Native

corporation, school district, churches, civic groups such as Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood, and the national forest. Key informant interviews were unstructured, conversational meetings to promote familiarization with

issues and actors, as well as local frames of reference and geography (Spradley

1979). Key informants identified various social and stakeholder groups active in the

community and suggested names of residents to include in the sample.

1

The scientific framework that shapes research in other disciplines assumes a different

role in ethnographic studies, where the anthropologist is the tool for data collection.

Contemporary anthropologists typically assume this stance of reflexivity (rather than

objectivity) in presenting their work. My upbringing in a rural tourist community in New

England shaped my decision to study the effects of tourism in a more isolated setting in

Alaska. The changes I witnessed to my hometown made me especially attuned to changes

in other rural communities. I also funded my college education by working in the tourism

industry and am personally aware of its many economic and social benefits. This dual

stance of healthy skepticism and appreciation for tourism likely shapes my interpretation

of changes in Hoonah. An awareness of my own perceptions of tourism along with a

commitment to a rigorous methodological approach allows me to render an honest analysis

of tourism in Hoonah.
9

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Based on a snowball sampling technique, a list of potential research participants

was created, which was amended as new contacts were made. All efforts were made

to include residents from within a variety of sociocultural and stakeholder groups,

including major clans. Special efforts were made to include owners of tourismrelated businesses and enterprises, to understand the shape and size of the tourism

industry.2

Individual interviews were conducted with 54 residents representing a variety

of interests and backgrounds. (See appendix 1 for a description of the demographic

composition of respondents.) A semistructured interview guide allowed comparisons among respondents while promoting flexibility to accommodate emerging

themes (See appendix 2 for interview guides.) Several participants were interviewed multiple times either because their schedules permitted brief discussions

or because they had much information to share. Interviews were recorded in handwritten notes, including both the questions asked and answers given.3

 Followup

interviews were conducted with 12 Hoonah residents in 2004.

Focus groups—

In addition to the individual interviews, two focus groups were conducted at city

hall during the second phase of data collection in Hoonah. A focus group is a means

of collecting interview data from a small group of people who are guided through a

series of targeted questions dealing with a given topic (Morgan 1988). Focus groups

were viewed as an effective means of gathering data from groups of residents with

similar interests and backgrounds. Two homogeneous groups were held. The first

group included 12 business owners and artists. The second group consisted of seven

active subsistence users. Focus groups were 90 minutes in length, and members

worked together to address a set of questions focusing on perceptions and attitudes

toward tourism. Data from focus groups were analyzed in an aggregate fashion;

individual group member responses were not identified or separately analyzed.

2

 Of the 28 tourism-related businesses in town, 20 were included in the study.

3

 This technique was chosen in favor of audiotaping for several reasons. First, I wanted to

cultivate a sense of trust and security in an area where natural resource issues have been

controversial. Thus, I chose to minimize the potential for discomfort or caution during

interviews by selecting a less obtrusive recording method. In addition, not all residents

were comfortable with research originating from a government organization. Again to

encourage trust, I refrained from using audio records, as some residents worried that their

verbatim comments would become part of the public record. Third, because I had

employed note-taking techniques in the previous site study (Haines), I wanted to ensure

consistency in data recording. Finally, many of the interviews were conducted in public

places, such as restaurants, with challenging acoustics, or on boats, where audio recording

was impractical. Note-taking allowed me to ensure that I captured the words and

sentiments of research participants.
10

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Other data sources—

In addition to the above sources of data, quantitative data were collected to illustrate

various aspects of community life, including demographics, economics, and subsistence. Economic data, including tax, budget, and employment information, were

collected at the Hoonah Indian Association, City of Hoonah, Central Council of

the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and the State of Alaska Division

of Labor and Workforce Development. Subsistence data were found at the Alaska

Department of Fish and Game, Subsistence Division (Schroeder and Kookesh

1990). The Forest Service had a considerable amount of data on recreation and land

use in the Hoonah Ranger District (USDA Forest Service 1999, 2000, 2001). Data

on visitation to Glacier Bay originated from the National Park Service.

Study Limitations—

This report presents qualitative data from one Alaska community engaged with

tourism. Findings reflect resident perceptions of changes associated with tourism.

A variety of opinions were encountered during field research. This summary presents broad themes experienced by residents from a variety of backgrounds, noting

differences among stakeholders. Because of the ethnographic nature of this project

and its emphasis on interpretation, rather than quantification, responses were not

tallied and weighed. These findings should be understood as themes for further exploration. Because of the small sample size, data from this study may not be generalized beyond the community level. However, trends observed in Hoonah also were

found in other coastal southeast Alaska communities.

Relation to Other Research Efforts

Previous tourism research in Alaska has largely catered to industry needs and

focused on understanding visitor patterns and behaviors, including tourism

marketing (GMA Research Corp. 1996), visitor statistics, opinions, and activities

(McDowell Group 1993, Northern Economics 2002), and economic effects (Dugan

et al. 2006, McDowell Group 2000, Robertson 2001). Other studies initiated by the

Pacific Northwest Research Station have shed light on tourism trends in southeast

Alaska, including a study of tourism projections for southeast Alaska (Schroeder et

al. 2005) and a comparison of case studies in tourism (Cerveny 2005). This series

represents the first focused effort to understand the community impacts of tourism

in southeast Alaska. This microlevel analysis allows for a depth of understanding

not possible in broader survey efforts. The study also allowed exploration of

connections among local and nonlocal institutions.

Findings should

be understood as

themes for further

exploration.
11

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Hoonah—A Community Profile

Physical Setting

Hoonah (pop. 860) is situated at the entrance of Port Frederick on the northeastern

shore of Chichagof Island, a mountainous and heavily wooded island. Hoonah lies

in a protected harbor on Port Frederick, which extends from Icy Strait, a main

east-west thoroughfare in the Inland Passage. Hoonah is 64 kilometers west from

Juneau and 129 kilometers north of Sitka, but the city has no land access to these

cities; travel to neighboring communities depends on air and water transportation.

Hoonah receives an average of 178 centimeters of precipitation annually.

Land near Hoonah is largely managed by two federal agencies and two Native

corporations. More than 256 365 hectares of Tongass National Forest land includes

most of Chichagof Island surrounding Hoonah. The National Park Service manages

1.3 million hectares in Glacier Bay National Park, also in the Hoonah territory.

Huna Totem Corporation owns roughly 8900 hectares surrounding the community

and along part of the coast of Chichagof Island to Spasski Creek. Sealaska Corporation owns 92 000 hectares along both shores of Port Frederick.

In 2004, Hoonah was serviced by an airport for propeller aircraft and a

floatplane dock, which handles seaplanes. Several private airlines provide scheduled flights from Juneau. The Alaska Marine Highway System of ferries serves the

community, with typically three ferries weekly to Juneau and Sitka. The town had

one grocery store, a hardware store, and a smaller convenience and video store,

three sit-down restaurants, two takeout eateries, two bars, one bank, and a tackle

and sport shop. Several churches were active in the community. Medical services

were available at the Hoonah Health Clinic, which staffs two physician’s assistants

and receives periodic physician visits. The local school houses a public library, two

gymnasiums, and a heated indoor pool, used for community-wide events.

Cultural History

Hoonah is often recognized as the largest Tlingit village in southeast Alaska.

According to former city mayor, Hoonah is a Tlingit word meaning, “in the lee of

the north wind.”4 Hoonah was settled after the Little Ice Age resulted in the glacial

advance in Glacier Bay. The first store was built by Northwest Trading Company in

the 1880s and the first post office was established in 1901, officially changing the

community’s name to Hoonah.

4

 Other sources note that the original village in Hoonah, Gaudekan, is translated as,

“village by the cliff.”
12

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

The Huna Tlingit have inhabited the area of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait for

millennia. The archaeological record indicates a human presence as long as 10,000

years ago (Ackerman 1968). Oral history describes the exodus of several Huna

clans from the Glacier Bay area in the 1700s, when the glaciers advanced; clans

separated into smaller groups and scattered throughout the Icy Strait area. Glacier

Bay remains a culturally significant place that has been actively used for subsistence

hunting and fishing (Hunn et al. 2003). Hoonah was established as a permanent

community some time in the 19th century.

The Huna kwaan (or Kaawu) consists of several clans with houses in the

Huna territory. T’akdeintaan is a Raven clan. Eagle clans include Wooshkeetaan,

Tcukanedi, and Kaagwaantaan (Goldschmidt and Haas 1946, Hope and Thornton

2000).5 Clans possessed access rights to specific lands and resources, (e.g., salmon

streams, berry picking grounds, hunting grounds), as well as cultural properties,

(e.g., ceremonies, songs, stories, names, and crests).6 Each clan is represented by a

leader, often recognized for his or her oratory skills, wisdom, and wealth.7

 The

5

 Tlingit society is made up of two moieties: raven and eagle. A person’s moiety is inherited

from the birth mother and marriage takes place to a person of the opposite moiety. Each

moiety is broken down into clans that are named for animals, fish, or other natural

phenomena. Clans are further divided into houses, which are smaller groups of related

families (Goldschmidt and Haas 1946). Some of the clans have split and migrated, which

explains why a clan may be found in several communities, such as Kaagwaantaan.

6

 Customary land use and rights of Tlingit peoples is in contrast to European notions of

property ownership. In contemporary Euro-American societies, land is owned by an

individual or corporation, and generally its owners have full access to the resources it

contains. Land is assigned value through the process of market exchange, where land is

bought and sold. In Tlingit society, land and resources are not owned, per se, but the use of

particular territories is assigned based on tribal and clan affiliation. Much as land ownership is a sign of wealth in Euro-American thought, claiming access to a territory and its

resources also is a sign of wealth in Tlingit culture. These use patterns have extended back

into prehistoric times. Clans within each village possess rights to certain lands for certain

activities and specific times of the year. Prolific fishing grounds, hunting reserves, berry

patches, and sites for gathering other foods, medicines, and herbs were well-defined and

highly protected. In turn, individual houses and families have user rights for particular

territories. House and clan leaders managed the continued use of particular areas among

clan members, with more productive and coveted areas often assigned to higher status

members. Claims to particular territories were affirmed and substantiated during periodic

potlatches—a feast demonstrating economic prowess and social status sponsored by a

member of one moiety for the opposite moiety. In addition, totem poles detailed titles to

land and property among house and clan members.

7

 Early anthropologists described Tlingit society as highly stratified, with certain families

containing more wealth and power than others. Chiefs originated from families with more

wealth, which was measured by rights to use certain lands, titles, rights to ceremonies,

religious rites, cultural properties, material goods, and even recipes. Although Hoonah

society has become more egalitarian, decisionmaking remains somewhat hierarchical.
13

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

clan structure remains the predominant form of social organization, although

evidence suggests that social structure is in transition with population decline.

Decisions affecting the future of Hoonah are typically discussed among clan elders

and deference is given to clan leaders. Huna territory includes areas from the mainland coast near Point Howard on Chatham Strait and west to the Pacific Coast. The

northern boundary is Lituya Bay south of Yakutat (Goldschmidt and Haas 1946).

The territory includes Glacier Bay and Dundas Bay, Icy Strait, Excursion Inlet, the

community of Gustavus, and the northeast portion of Chichagof Island. Although

these territories exist under a variety of jurisdictions and land ownerships today, the

boundaries remain alive within the worldview of the Huna Tlingit.

The first known European contact with Huna Tlingit likely occurred in 1741,

when Russian explorer Alexei Chirikov traveled along the coast. Throughout the

18th century, British and French explorers and traders arrived, including Captain

James Cook, French explorer LePerouse, and Captain George Vancouver (Kurtz

1995). European voyagers typically traded for furs and other goods with Huna

people, although there were several examples of resistance to these encroachments among the Tlingit. In the late 18th century, the Tlingit economic system

came into contact with the Russian fur trade and the Russian America Company.

Tlingit hunters hunted for sea otter and whales throughout Icy Strait in exchange

for Russian goods until 1867, when Alaska was sold to the United States (Kurtz

1995). At the time of Euro-American contact, there were an estimated 900 people

living throughout the Icy Strait area (Krause 1885, Petrov 1884). Countless hundreds died of diseases resulting from contact with Euro-American visitors, which

in some cases decimated entire family groups.

The period between 1870 and 1944 may be characterized by the institutionalization of Hoonah. In the 1880s, Hoonah was home to 500 residents. The Northwest Trading Company built a store, and Presbyterian and Russian Orthodox missionaries built schools and churches. A post office was created in 1901. Companies

from Seattle and San Francisco established salteries and later canneries throughout

Icy Strait. The Hoonah Packing Company built a cannery near town that operated

intermittently from 1912 to 1953. In 1926, the Hoonah Indian Village was established by the federal government and authorized under the Native Townsite Act. In

1939, the Hoonah Indian Association was founded as a federally recognized tribe

under the authority of the Indian Reorganization Act. That same year, Hoonah was

incorporated as a first-class city under Territorial law. Families throughout Huna

territory moved to Hoonah to attend schools, resulting in 716 residents by 1940

(fig. 3).

Decisions affecting the future of

Hoonah are typically

discussed among

clan elders and

deference is given

to clan leaders.
14

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

The years between 1944 and 1960 were difficult after a fire destroyed much of

the community, requiring many to resettle elsewhere. In 1945, new homes were

constructed, but residents mourned the loss of items of cultural and historical

significance and the separation of families. The dislocation from the fire and from

World War II resulted in a temporary population decline. Boarding schools for

Native youth further divided families, while churches and government institutions

discouraged expressions of Tlingit culture and language.

From 1960 to 2000, Hoonah city officials focused on building infrastructure

and improving quality of life. The post-war era saw transportation improvements,

such as docks and an airport, and Hoonah became linked with Juneau and other

neighbors. State oil revenues sparked city investment in public works, including

road paving, water and sewer systems, and utilities. This period also saw the city’s

first bank, a fire hall, senior center, and cultural center. In the 1970s, Huna Totem,

the village corporation established with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act,

emerged as a powerful economic and political entity. Industrial logging brought an

influx of workers in the 1980s, putting added pressure on local infrastructure. A

logging camp (Whitestone Logging) was created outside Hoonah, which transformed the social and economic structure of the community. The timber industry

funded a new gymnasium, teen center, and swimming pool. Airport improvements

Figure 3—Hoonah population, 1890–2000. Source: Alaska Division of Community Advocacy 2007.

In the 1970s, Huna

Totem, the village

corporation established with the

Alaska Native

Claims Settlement

Act, emerged as a

powerful economic

and political entity.
15

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

prompted daily commercial flight service to and from Hoonah. Another population

influx to the region occurred in the 1990s, when an intentional religious community relocated to Game Creek about 7 miles from town. In 2000, construction of 20

new single-family homes for Hoonah residents alleviated pressure from population

growth. Many strides were made in infrastructure development throughout the 20th

century, yet challenges remain, including the need for a source of low-cost electrical power (fig. 4).

In 2000, 860 people resided in Hoonah, an 8-percent increase since 1990, reflecting the influx of logging and mill workers into town and the expansion in

available housing.8 Hoonah was 61 percent Alaska Native in 2000 (USDC Bureau

of the Census 2000). The proportion of Alaska Native residents of Hoonah had

declined since the 1980s, when 80 percent of residents were Native (USDC Bureau

of the Census 1980). Although the actual Native population has remained fairly

constant in the last 20 years, there has been an increase in non-Native residents

moving in to take jobs in logging, local schools, or the Forest Service. Despite the

change in demographics since 1980, political and social institutions remain embedded within the Tlingit community. Before 1980, most residents knew each other,

and the arrival of a newcomer was widely noted. As one resident noted, “Not only

did I know the names of everyone’s children, but I knew the names of their dogs as

well.” Hoonah residents still describe the community as “close-knit” and look out

for one another in times of crisis.

Economic Trends

Like many southeast Alaska communities, Hoonah has relied on its natural resources, especially fish and timber, for survival. Changes in industry structure as

well as a decline in market prices have caused local officials to explore new economic development options.

Subsistence—

The harvesting of foods and other resources has been important to the Huna

people for centuries and remains a vital force for contemporary Hoonah residents

(Schroeder and Kookesh 1990). Some families rely heavily on the consumption

of traditional and customary resources for survival, whereas others use them to supplement their income from wage-based employment. In addition, the harvesting,

preparation, and consumption of foods and resources constitute an important part

8

 In 2007, state demographers estimated the population at 829 (Alaska Department

of Community Advocacy 2007).
16

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

of the community’s cultural heritage, and preserving access to subsistence resources

is a high priority. Residents harvest many resources, including deer, otter, seal,

salmon, saltwater fish, waterfowl, shellfish, seaweed, berries, and other forest

resources. In 1996, more than 95 percent of households harvested some type of

subsistence resource (Alaska Coastal Management Program 2005). Subsistence is

both an economic necessity and a cultural practice for Huna households (Wolfe

1998).

Commercial fishing—

Commercial fishing and fish processing have been an important link to the cash economy for more than 100 years (Price 1990). During the mid-1800s, three salteries

appeared in Russian Alaska, signaling the commercialization of the salmon industry

in Alaska (Price 1990). In the late 1880s, commercial canneries were established

throughout Icy Strait. The Hoonah Packing Company built a cannery at Point

Sophia near Hoonah in 1912. Canneries generally were owned by companies from

outside Alaska.9

 Beginning around 1910, Alaska Natives became involved in the

commercial fishery. Some skippered their own fishing boats; others worked in the

canneries. Household survival depended on a combination of subsistence and

9

 In the early years of canneries, corporations made payments to clans or clan houses that

had rights to streams—acknowledging Tlingit systems of land use (Price 1990). Fees were

paid for use of the land and for the fish. However, this practice deteriorated after several

years. The primary means of harvesting salmon were the floating fish traps placed at the

mouths of prolific salmon streams.

Figure 4—View of downtown Hoonah.

Lee Cerveny
17

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

commercial fishing. Hoonah’s fishing fleet grew over the years, with an emphasis

on seining and trolling. The fishing industry represented a vital component of the

Hoonah economy from the 1950s through the 1980s. Since the 1990s, fishing has

been in a gradual decline. The number of fishermen fishing their permits fell from

131 in 1980 to 54 in 2004 (fig. 5). The decline also is evidenced by studying total

number of permits issued. In 1980, there were 283 permit holders, the majority

devoted to purse seining. Over time, the number of local permit holders declined to

112 in 2004 (Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission 2005).

Several events led to this gradual decline. First, the unregulated use of fish

traps had reduced many of the salmon runs in the Huna territory by the late 1930s.

As a result, salmon and eventually halibut fishing became regulated by government

organizations and treaties. Allocation systems for salmon and halibut limited the

number of permits issued. A limited-entry permit system was developed for the

salmon fishery in 1975. Permit sales and transfers resulted in a large movement of

permits out of the community. The entry costs for fishing, including permits, boats,

gear, and insurance, made it difficult for many young fishermen to enter the market. Hoonah fishing also suffered a blow in 1976, when the Inian Islands fishery, a

source of income and employment since 1915, was closed to purse seining. This

culturally significant fishing ground gave the Hoonah fleet a comparative advantage; their ability to fish in the torrential currents flowing near the islands offered

social status among regional fishermen. After the closure, Hoonah fishermen were

forced to travel further to catch fish (Price 1990). Another setback came in 2000,

when the National Park Service closed Glacier Bay to most commercial fishing.

After 2000, the global market for salmon created competition for Alaska harvest

(Gilbertsen 2003). The Hoonah fleet, which reportedly consisted of more than 40

seine boats in peak years, dwindled down to 3 in 2001. The decline in the seine

fleet represented a loss of livelihood and a reduced capacity to contribute to the

local subsistence share. In addition, the seine fleet had been a tremendous source of

community pride. With the demise of the fleet came a loss of community identity

(fig. 6).

Logging—

The timber industry became important to the Hoonah economy beginning in the

early 1980s, when the USDA Forest Service began timber sales on National Forest

land near Hoonah. Of the 268 650 hectares in the Hoonah Ranger District, 40 percent was designated commercial or productive land. By 1995, nearly 8500 hectares
18

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

had been cut, totaling 689 million board feet (3.1 million cubic meters) (Alaska

Coastal Management Program 1997). Several log transfer facilities were built, and

temporary logging camps were constructed throughout the district. More than 170

miles of roads were built to access the timber sales.

Native Corporation logging in the Hoonah area began in the 1980s and continued steadily through 2000. The Huna Totem Corporation had harvested more than

1200 hectares of land in the vicinity of Hoonah by 1985. Faced with bankruptcy,

Figure 5—Limited-entry permits registered in Hoonah, 1980–2004. Source: Alaska Commercial

Fisheries Entry Commission 2005.

Figure 6—Fishing boat, Hoonah, Alaska.

Lee Cerveny
19

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Huna Totem sold the stumpage rights of their land to Sealaska in 1994. Sealaska

extensively logged the hillsides near Hoonah in 1996, in spite of community

opposition to the loss of their viewshed and salmon habitat. After 2000, the Alaska

timber industry received competition from tree plantations in the southeastern states

as well as an increase in timber supply in Russia and Asia (Gilbertsen and Robinson

2003). Timber activity waned after 2002, and Whitestone Logging, the primary

contractor, shifted its focus to value-added timber products and small-scale logging.

The loss of longshoring opportunities associated with the logging decline hurt

Tlingit households. Longshoring offered sporadic, highly paid, and physically

demanding work that blended well with the subsistence lifestyle.

Employment and income—

Hoonah’s employment structure demonstrates the economy’s reliance on natural

resources and government agencies. Among wage and salary workers, the largest

percentage worked in forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining (24 percent). Other

prominent industries were education and health services (23 percent), transportation

and utilities (13 percent) and manufacturing, which includes logging and seafood

processing, (11 percent). Manufacturing employment had declined from 15 percent

in 1990 (USDC Bureau of the Census 2000).

Declines in traditional industries of fishing and timber meant a reduction in

employment opportunities for Hoonah residents, particularly young people. The

unemployment rate for Hoonah residents fell from nearly 15 percent in 1989 to

12.5 percent in 1999 (USDC Bureau of the Census 1990, 2000).10 Hoonah’s unemployment rate in 1999 was twice that of the state (6.1 percent). In addition, nearly

40 percent of eligible workers chose not to participate in the labor force, compared

to 29 percent statewide. In other words, 48 percent of working adults were employed in a wage-based economy, compared to 62 percent for all of Alaska (U.S.

Department of Commerce 2000). These data reflect the difficulties experienced in

generating local employment opportunities.

A brief look at income levels revealed that Hoonah was significantly below

average income for the state of Alaska. Median household income in 1999 was

$39,029, compared to $51,571 statewide (USDC Bureau of the Census 2000).

However, these data do not account for the income from subsistence sources, which

can translate into an additional $3,000 to $4,000 per household (Schroeder and

10 The unemployment rate measures the ratio of unemployed workers actively seeking

work over the total number of possible workers in the labor force. Adult residents who are

not working and not actively seeking work are not considered to be in the labor force.

The loss of

longshoring opportunities associated

with the logging

decline hurt Tlingit

households. Longshoring offered

sporadic, highly

paid, and physically

demanding work

that blended well

with the subsistence

lifestyle.
20

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Kookesh 1990). About 12 percent of residents supplemented their income with

public assistance in 1999, compared to 8.7 percent of Alaskans statewide. And 14

percent of Hoonah families lived below the poverty level, compared to 6.7 percent

statewide. These income indicators suggest that Hoonah is falling behind the rest of

the state. This realization has prompted many community leaders to pursue other

sources of income to support Hoonah households.

In 2001, local officials were actively searching for sources of employment to

keep young workers in Hoonah or to attract those who had moved away to make a

living. These efforts were considered important for maintaining the economic and

social life of the community and for encouraging the sharing of cultural knowledge

between generations. Shifts in traditional industries caused local officials to look

anew at tourism and its potential to create jobs.

Local Government and Civic Institutions

In contemporary Hoonah, there appear to be several parallel and sometimes overlapping structures of decisionmaking and authority: the City of Hoonah, the traditional clan structure, the tribal government, and the Native corporation. Hoonah is

a first-class city led by an elected mayor and a city council. The City of Hoonah

oversees all activities within city limits and is responsible for infrastructure improvements that affect economic and community development. The city owns and

leases property to businesses and runs the boat harbor. The city planning committee

plays an important role in shaping the pace of economic development.

The Hoonah Indian Association (HIA) is the tribal government. The HIA was

founded in 1939 as a federally recognized tribe under the authority of the Indian

Reorganization Act. The goal of the organization is to negotiate with federal and

state governments on behalf of tribal members. The HIA serves as manager of

economic, political, and legal affairs for the tribe and has the goals of protecting

and preserving natural resources and cultivating Native arts, language, and culture.

The HIA is a vibrant organization, with programs that assist tribal members in

many aspects of life, including higher education, housing, health care, social services, cultural preservation, and land use. They also operate the Hoonah Medical

Clinic, which serves as a primary health care facility for all Hoonah residents.

The HIA regularly consults with tribal elders in its planning and decisionmaking

processes. However, some families still do not recognize the authority of the HIA

to represent the Huna Tlingit. The traditional clan structure involves leadership by

elders whose decisions represent the whole. When an issue occurs that requires clan
21

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

leadership, multiple gatherings take place to discuss protocol, process, and implementation of clan rules. An elders council is convened when decisions require

multilateral participation.

The Huna Totem Corporation, headquartered in Juneau, is one of the largest

landowners in the city, with 21.4 square miles. Decisions made by Huna Totem

board of directors directly impact Hoonah residents. The corporation includes

1,150 shareholders, with about one-third residing in Hoonah. Shareholders receive

dividends from the corporation, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand

dollars annually, representing an important source of household income. Huna

Totem lands were selected as a result of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

(1971). Timber harvesting had been the primary source of income from corporation lands, although the corporation began pursuing tourism in 2003. Huna Totem

derives the bulk of its revenues from managed investments including stocks, bonds,

real estate, and venture capital projects based in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Las

Vegas. Huna Totem is managed by nine board members, with day-to-day operations

run by a CEO and staff. A subsidiary, the Huna Heritage Foundation was established to encourage preservation of culture and language.

The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS)

were founded after 1912 as civil rights organizations with philosophical and intellectual roots in the Presbyterian missions (Mitchell 1997). Throughout the 20th

century, ANB and ANS were active in protecting the economic and political

interests of Native people, including fishing regulations, education, and citizenship

(Price 1990). Membership in these organizations has dwindled in recent years and

their mission has changed to focus on community services, college scholarships,

and sponsorship of social events.

The city has undergone many changes in the last 20 years, with significant

improvements in local infrastructure, transportation, and telecommunications. With

the advent of cable and satellite TV, a local Internet provider, and an automatic

teller machine, the community is more closely integrated to the rest of the world

and perhaps more subject to global social and economic changes. The implications

of these social and economic changes perhaps far outweigh the long-term impacts

of any one industry, such as timber or tourism.

Tourism Development and Local Response

Although many southeast Alaska communities embraced tourism to varying degrees

in the 1980s and 1990s, Hoonah leaders had adopted a more cautious approach.

Prior to 1990,

visitors to Hoonah

found few accommodations or organized

attractions to entertain them.
22

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Prior to 1990, visitors to Hoonah found few accommodations or organized attractions to entertain them. Beginning in the late 1990s, a number of small, locally

owned tourist enterprises emerged, including several bed and breakfasts (B&Bs),

charter fishing operators, and a guiding service. Then, in 2001, following downturns in logging and fishing, Huna Totem announced plans to invest in a culturally

based cruise ship port at the Point Sophia cannery, with the promise of hundreds of

jobs. This section traces the development of tourism in Hoonah from 1884 to 2001

and local responses to the first wave of tourism to the area.

Early Visitors to Hoonah

A study of the history of tourism in Hoonah shows that tourism to the area initially

grew as a result of external initiatives. Early explorers and scientists visiting

Glacier Bay piqued the interest of travelers, resulting in the growth of steamship

travel. The creation of Glacier Bay National Monument in 1925 accentuated tourist

interest, attracting independent adventure travelers, tour vessels, and eventually

cruise ships. In the 1990s, the popularity of whale watching and charter fishing led

to further tourist growth in Icy Strait.

Explorers and scientists—

A series of visits to Glacier Bay by scientists and adventurers sparked the growth

of steamship tourism to southeast Alaska (Norris 1985). Adventurer Charles Wood,

under auspices of the U.S. Navy, arrived in 1877, en route to Mount St. Elias,

where he hoped to conduct the first Euro-American ascent. Woods spent several

weeks in nearby Cape Spencer with Tlingit hosts, and later wrote about the area’s

cultural life and the natural features and sparked keen interest (Kurtz 1995). John

Muir traveled to Alaska in 1879 to study glaciers. Arriving from Wrangell in a

cedar dugout canoe with a Presbyterian missionary, a Tlingit guide, and a crew of

three, Muir tried to convince Hoonah fishermen to guide him into Glacier Bay, an

area where ice was known to destroy canoes. Muir found a seal hunter willing to

take him into Glacier Bay, where he spent 5 days observing nature (Nash 1981).

Muir’s writings about the ‘”primordial” and “pristine” beauty of Glacier Bay

sparked the interest of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, which began bringing visitors in 1883. One passenger, Eliza Scidmore (1896), documented her trip

in a popular travel narrative, Appleton’s Guide-Book to Alaska. Steamships often

stopped in Hoonah and Bartlett Cove, where a trading post had been established.

Scidmore was greeted by a canoe of Tlingit who offered baskets in exchange for
23

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

goods. Over the next few decades, Tlingit artists would demonstrate an astute

understanding of the consumer market for Native arts and crafts. In 1899, Edward

Harriman organized a famous expedition to Alaska with a steamship of scientists,

artists, photographers, historians, and writers who documented their observations of

the area’s natural and human history (Grinnell 1995). This well-publicized voyage

further heightened interest in Alaska and Glacier Bay. That same year, an earthquake near Yakutat caused calving of glaciers in Glacier Bay, which became locked

with ice. The earthquake halted steamship tourism to Glacier Bay until the early

1930s. Hoonah residents still remember when steamships, such as Alaska Steam

used to dock at the cannery, bringing supplies and visitors.11 Local residents were

known to offer shuttle service and sell handicrafts.

Glacier Bay National Monument—

A second wave of tourism was kindled when Glacier Bay National Monument was

created in 1925. National interest in the geological and ecological importance of

Glacier Bay was sparked with the 1916 visit of William Cooper, a professor of

ecology studying aspects of glacial recession. Cooper petitioned to the Ecological

Society of America that Glacier Bay become a national monument (Catton 1997).

In 1925, President Coolidge proclaimed 4700 square kilometers as a national

monument for purposes of scientific study. In 1939, the Tongass National Forest

transferred an additional 2500 square kilometers to Glacier Bay National Monument, with the understanding that tourist facilities would be developed there.

The monument was virtually ignored by the National Park Service, which did

not assign a full-time ranger until 1951. In 1953, a ranger began operating out of

a new headquarters in Bartlett Cove. A lodge was also built there in 1966 to cater

to visitors. By 1970, an estimated 29,000 visitors annually came to Glacier Bay,

including 16,700 cruise ship passengers (USDI National Park Service 2005).

When the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was passed in

1980, Glacier Bay National Monument was expanded further and redesignated as

a national park. The area gained worldwide attention in 1986, when the United

Nations Man and the Biosphere Program identified the new Glacier Bay-Admiralty

Island Biosphere Reserve. In 1992, Glacier Bay became a World Heritage Site. The

layers of national and international designations have promoted this site in the eyes

of the world and encouraged further tourism growth. From 1980 to 2004, total

11 One life-long resident of Hoonah recalled the excitement of the visiting steamers at the

cannery in the 1940s. As there were no roads to drive on, local entrepreneurs offered boat

trips for visitors from the cannery to town for 15 cents.

The emphasis on

cruise ships as the

predominant form

of travel has been

apparent since the

1970s.
24

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

visitation to the park increased from 95,000 to more than 350,000 (fig. 7). The

emphasis on cruise ships as the predominant form of travel has been apparent since

the 1970s. The percentage of total visitors arriving by cruise ship increased from

85 percent in 1980 to 95 percent in 2004 (USDI National Park Service 2005).

In 1996, the tourism industry petitioned the National Park Service to increase

the number of large cruise ships permitted to enter the park between June 1 and

August 31 from 107 to 139. As a result of an environmental impact study in 2003,

the number of ships arriving in those peak months was limited at 139, with the

potential to increase based on scientific review (USDI National Park Service 2003).

Limitations also were placed on other types of visitor traffic. Vessel traffic associated with Glacier Bay was expected to grow steadily in response to an increase in

ship arrivals. Cruise ships without permits to enter Glacier Bay seek other ports,

such as Haines and (after 2004), Icy Strait Point (Hoonah).

Understanding visitor trends in Glacier Bay is important for two reasons. First,

historical management of the park occurred without significant recognition of the

Huna people and their special relations with Glacier Bay. Huna Tlingit felt excluded from their traditional homeland, with the gradual erosion of subsistence and

fishing access and the regulated visitation (Catton 1997). These attitudes shaped the

views of some residents, particularly elders, when discussing tourism in general,

and some residents worried that other federal agencies, such as the Forest Service,

Figure 7—Visitor traffic to Glacier Bay National Park, 1980–2004. Source: USDI National Park

Service 2005.
25

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

could impose similar restrictions. Glacier Bay tourism trends are also important

because of the sheer volume of people in the area. Visitors to Glacier Bay on

smaller tour boats often visit the Huna territory for sightseeing, wildlife-viewing,

and sport fishing. Glacier Bay serves as a catalyst for tourist activity in the Icy

Strait region, with implications for Hoonah.

Independent visitors—

Although relatively close to Juneau, Hoonah was not an easy place to access until

the early 1970s. Steamships brought people to Hoonah through the early 1950s, but

stopped operations in 1954. Until the late 1960s, when an airport was built, Hoonah

was only accessible by float plane or private boat. In 1970, the ferry dock was

completed, linking Hoonah and other small communities. Although connections to

Hoonah improved, few visitor accommodations awaited travelers venturing to the

community. In the 1960s, one Hoonah resident operated a charter fishing cruise in

Port Frederick and catered to high-end clientele. One 20-room lodge was built in

the 1960s and operated intermittently. This was the primary site for hosting travelers, although some families rented rooms to guests.

The growth of logging in the mid-1980s affected the tourist trade in three

significant ways. First, logging created a system of roads, which afforded hunters

access to previously remote areas. Whereas hunting previously took place from a

boat with hikes deep into the woods, hunters soon discovered the advantages of

hunting on the road system. Weekend hunters with campers and four-wheelers

arrived from as far away as the Yukon (Dugan et al. 2006). Some speculated that

logged areas provided forage and habitat for deer, resulting in a perceived increase

in deer populations on north Chichagof Island. Second, logging activity brought

loggers to town, many of whom were impressed by the opportunities for fishing

and hunting. Friends and family of loggers would often travel to Hoonah for

recreational hunting and fishing. Third, some have suggested that logging had a

dampening effect on growth of other forms of tourism. Clearcutting in Port

Frederick created what one resident described as a “moonscape aesthetic” in the

bay. Tour operators worried that visitors would prefer not to see clearcut mountains

and slash piles.

Local Efforts to Expand Tourism: 1980–2001

Local governments have long considered the potential of tourism as a means of

economic growth. Like many rural Alaska communities, Hoonah had depended

on natural resources and small cottage industries to support the economy. Many

Local governments

have long considered the potential of

tourism as a means

of economic growth.
26

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

community leaders were recognizing the impending declines in the timber industry

and the unpredictable nature of fishing. In 1980, the Hoonah Community Action

Committee, chaired by the city mayor, Albert Dick, contracted with a Juneau consulting firm to create a Hoonah Tourism Plan, which provided an outline for how

to develop tourism (Homan-McDowell 1980). The report encouraged residents to

establish a tourism organization and develop a cooperative marketing program.

Specific strategies included the creation of a Tlingit cultural attraction, capitalizing on access to Glacier Bay, the development of boat tours, and outdoor recreation

opportunities. The report indicated that Huna Totem, which had purchased the 20-

room lodge, was in the best position to lead tourism development efforts. Although

this report offered useful suggestions, it resulted in few actions. According to one

official, the rapid growth of the timber industry boosted the economy in the 1980s

and 1990s, providing no immediate need for other development. Huna Totem sold

its lodge in 1991. In addition, community ambivalence about inviting visitors to

Hoonah curtailed formal planning efforts.

In the 1990s, many people recognized that logging was a finite operation and

would likely be diminished by 2005, owing to the declining timber supply. Thus,

the 1990s brought about a resurgence of interest in tourism potential. A survey

conducted in 1995 interviewed 101 Hoonah households about attitudes toward

tourism and other aspects of business development (McDowell Group 1995). The

report showed that more than 77 percent of households favored tourism growth that

offered jobs or new businesses. Among tourism supporters, several tourism activities were identified as being desirable: a cultural heritage center or museum, gift

shops, charter fishing, and big game guiding.

Based on the apparent support for tourism, as indicated by the study, the 1997

Hoonah Coastal Zone Management Plan identified opportunities for developing

outdoor recreation. The plan recommended development of attractions and facilities that served residents as well as visitors. They also urged tourism approaches

that did not over-tax infrastructure. The plan recommended a focus on smallscale nature-based tourism and cultural tourism, urging protection of subsistence

resources. Hoonah’s forest road system was identified as an important asset, along

with the Point Sophia cannery. The report also recommended capitalizing on

Hoonah’s special relationship with Glacier Bay by developing ferries and air taxis

to Glacier Bay. In addition, local accommodations would need to be expanded and

upgraded (Alaska Coastal Management Program 1997). The plan also called for

a collaborative approach among local agencies and public officials. The report
27

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

acknowledged residents’ concerns about tourism growth, especially conflicts with

subsistence, worries about disproportional economic benefits, and tourism’s ability

to alter local character and cultural identity.

The City of Hoonah also adopted a long-range goal of encouraging and expanding tourism. In 1999, the city developed an Overall Economic Development

Plan (OEDP) to outline priorities for economic development and consider how city

infrastructure and services could support economic growth. The plan recognized

that Hoonah would benefit from developing outdoor recreation and tourism that

would both attract visitors and contribute to local quality of life (City of Hoonah

1999). Specific suggestions included a campground/RV park, ferry service to

Glacier Bay, small cruise ships, and air taxi services. The report also identified

the need for improved marketing and upgraded accommodations (City of Hoonah

1999). The OEDP outlined several priorities for the city to encourage visitor

growth, including the expanded boat harbor, berthing for large tour vessels, airport

improvements, a new city park, a cultural center, and a downtown beautification

program.

In 1999, the Hoonah Ranger District office of the Tongass National Forest

initiated a planning process for recreation development. The Hoonah District

offered two cabins, six trails, and two wildlife viewing areas. The district ranger

informally questioned residents of Icy Strait communities about their desires for

recreation development. Feedback received suggested an overall desire among area

residents to maintain existing levels of developed recreation and to keep recreation

facilities as primitive as possible. For Hoonah respondents, boat ramps and picnic

sites were preferred to campgrounds and trails.

Several organizations in town were developing plans and ideas about tourism

in 2001. The Hoonah Indian Association was in search of a larger, more centrally

located building to serve as a museum and cultural center. The current building was

perceived to be insufficient in terms of size and the technology required to store

and display cultural artifacts. The HIA also was initiating a long-term project with

the National Park Service to develop a tribal house and cultural center at Bartlett

Cove. In addition, there were some speculative discussions about the tribe sponsoring interpretive programs on charter fishing vessels or whale-watching tours and

some interest in building a lodge.

Huna Totem had a long-standing interest in tourism. Although the company

had invested most of its resources in the timber industry throughout the 1980s,

the company purchased the cannery at Point Sophia in 1997 and in 1999 began

In September 2000,

a Holland America

cruise ship traveled

into Port Frederick

for the first time.
28

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

researching its potential for a tourism development. In the meantime, Huna Totem

began providing interpretive services in Glacier Bay on board Holland America

cruise ships. In September 2000, a Holland America cruise ship traveled into Port

Frederick for the first time. Tlingit dancers, corporation board members, and local

officials boarded the ship to provide a cultural program. The corporation hoped to

build from this positive experience to generate future interest and investment from

cruise lines in the Point Sophia development. In 2001, the corporation announced

plans to develop the site and invest $2 million in rehabilitation.

Tourism development also was occurring on a grassroots level. In 2000,

roughly 30 local artists, Native and non-Native, developed an artist’s cooperative

and arranged use of an historic building for sale of their goods. The cooperative

often opened their doors and sold art during conferences and gatherings in Hoonah.

According to one of the project’s founders, the co-op had encouraged many local

artists to produce new works and had established a sense of community among

artists and artisans of all backgrounds.

Cooperation among civic, cultural, and governmental organizations to develop

tourism was one of the recommendations offered by the Coastal Zone Management

Plan in 1997. In interviews with community leaders in 2000 and 2001, there was

widespread acknowledgment about the need for agencies to work together on

tourism initiatives. The Economic Development Group, a local volunteer organization that formed in response to the need for an OEDP, provided one forum for

cooperation and information sharing about tourism.

Visitation Levels in 2001

The period of 2000 to 2001, when the primary data for this study were collected,

was characterized by a growing interest in tourism among local residents and

increasing visitor pressure from outside the community. Independent travelers were

the most common form of visitors, including deer hunters, bear hunters participating in guided hunts, fishing enthusiasts in chartered fishing, and independent

visitors arriving by ferry, air, or private marine vessel. Other visitor activity took

place outside Hoonah proper, but in the traditional Huna territory.

Deer hunters—

Deer hunters are attracted to Hoonah by the abundance of roads and deer. A significant proportion of deer hunters on Chichagof and Yakobi Islands came from outside

Hoonah during the 2000 and 2001 seasons (ADFG 2001b). In fact, 45 percent of

hunters (about 500) came from Juneau, Haines, or Skagway, and 24 percent from
29

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

other southeast Alaska communities, compared to 19 percent from Hoonah.12 Juneau

and Lynn Canal area hunters harvested 38 percent of the total deer harvest, compared to 36 percent harvested by Hoonah hunters (ADFG 2001b). Hunting activity

increased steadily along the Hoonah road system.

Guided bear hunters—

Another category of visitor activity that affected the Hoonah economy was guided

hunts for brown bears. In 2001, there were three established professional brown

bear guides based in Hoonah. Brown bear guiding was a highly profitable business,

for many customers travel from across the globe for the opportunity to hunt in

Alaska. Clients paid between $10,000 and $12,000 for a brown bear hunt in 2001.

Local outfitters and customers purchased many supplies in Hoonah before heading

into other parts of Chichagof Island and Icy Strait. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there were 173 brown bears killed in 2000 in Game Management Unit 4, which included Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof Islands (ADFG

2001a). Estimates suggest that brown bear hunting generated $300,000 in gross

revenue in 2005 (Dugan et al. 2006).

Private marine travelers—

Other independent visitors arrive in Hoonah via private marine vessels. Hoonah’s

well-run boat harbor offers mariners a safe and protected place to rest and to

purchase fuel and provisions. Growing popularity of yachting and wooden-boat

travel in the late 1990s created an increase in marine traffic to Hoonah. Hoonah’s

harbormaster described the brisk pace of boat traffic in the summer, associated with

the arrival of yachts and pleasure cruisers. The harbormaster also noted that many

nonresidents stored pleasure boats in Hoonah for seasonal use, estimating recreational visitors to make up about 40 percent of boats stopping in Hoonah during the

summer months (Dugan et al. 2006). An examination of marine traffic in Glacier

Bay provides some indication of the level of boat activity in Icy Strait. In 2001,

322 private recreational vessels from outside the region traveled into Glacier Bay.13

We assume that many stopped in Hoonah en route to Glacier Bay waiting for their

12 Because of traveling distances, it is most likely that hunters from Lynn Canal

communities are hunting on Northeast Chichagof Island near Hoonah and Sitka hunters are

visiting southern Chichagof and Yakobi Islands.

13 This is considerably higher than the 5-year average of 148.
30

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

permits to take effect. The growth in private marine traffic was often noted by

residents, especially fishermen, who described increased competition over slips at

the harbor.14

Other independent visitors—

Visitations to Hoonah by ferry and air taxi were difficult to measure without more

detailed survey research. Ferry visitor arrivals to Hoonah remained fairly constant

between 1988 and 2003, ranging between 5,000 and 7,000 people (Alaska Marine

Highway System 2005). There is no way to determine what portion of those people

on the ferry are visitors, however. First-hand accounts from local residents indicate

that an increasing number of hunters, fishermen, and other travelers are arriving by

ferry. In addition, many travelers passing through to and from other communities

stop in Hoonah and briefly wander through town. Air travel represented an important part of the tourism equation. Three companies provided regular air service to

Hoonah’s airport, with 10 to 13 inbound flights daily. In 2000, 60 percent of air

traffic to Hoonah took place in the summer months (second and third quarters),

which may have been caused by the increase in seasonal logging and cannery jobs.

In 2000, 9,664 passengers flew into Hoonah (Alaska Department of Transportation

2001). Local air industry officials also described significant airport activity for

private airplanes. Hoonah was a popular place for Juneau aviators to fly for lunch

outings and day-trips.

Commercially guided groups—

Steady customer interest in nature-based tourism, including whale watching, wildlife viewing, and adventure travel, led to an increase in visitor activity throughout

the traditional Huna Territory. In 2001, there were at least 15 Gustavus companies

and 6 firms in Pelican and Elfin Cove offering guided, nature-based tours into

Glacier Bay and Icy Strait. One area of high visitor use was Point Adophus, located

across Icy Strait from Gustavus, where visitors traveled to enjoy a high concentration of whales. Other companies based in Juneau, offered guided tours by boat or

float plane, such as fly-in fishing, which was popular in remote areas of Freshwater

Bay near Hoonah. The growth of these tourism sectors influenced overall tourist

activity in the traditional Huna territory.

14 According to harbor officials, fishermen are assigned slips, but when they are on the

water, these slips are offered to transient marine traffic. Occasionally, conflicts arise when

fishermen return unexpectedly to find a yacht in their space. Harbor officials noted that the

summer season meant for a rapid flow of boat traffic and continuous juggling of slips.

Local boaters often made adjustments to accommodate harbor visitors.

Steady customer

interest in naturebased tourism,

including whale

watching, wildlife

viewing, and adventure travel, led to an

increase in visitor

activity throughout

the traditional Huna

Territory.
31

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Tour operators using Forest Service lands are required to apply for a special

use permit from the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass National Forest experienced growth in special use permits for recreation (table 1). Data show a steady

increase in visitors to the Hoonah vicinity from 1998 to 2000, but a slight decline

in 2001. In 2000, 32 companies or individuals had special use permits to bring

guests to the Hoonah Ranger District.15 The use of lands within the vicinity of

Hoonah by outfitter guides was concentrated in a handful of large, nonlocal firms.

In 1999, 40 percent of the total site user days came from three firms.16

Charter fishing—

Each year thousands arrive in Alaska with the intent of fishing for wild salmon,

halibut, and other species. Some visit all-inclusive fishing lodges, where they stay

several days. Others hire charter guides for a day or two, utilizing local accommodations. Cruise ship visitors sign up for half-day trips that return them to their ship

by early evening. Experienced guides take lodge guests to choice fishing holes and

carefully clean, prepare, and pack the catch into boxes for shipment. Charter fishing has an economic impact on Alaska communities. Nonresident anglers in Alaska

spent $54 million, nearly 40 percent of which went directly to the charter fishing

15 Of these 32 outfitter guides, 19 processed permit applications through the Hoonah

Ranger District, while others sought permits from other districts.

16 It should be noted that these data from the Forest Service measure outfitter guide use of

the Hoonah Ranger District among those with a portion of their activities taking place on

land. Numerous other guides and operators offer water-based activities, which are more

difficult to measure.

Table 1—Client visits to Tongass National Forest sites near Hoonah

Forest Service recreation sites 1998 1999 2000 2001

Pt. Adolphus/Mud Bay areaa 2,697 3,854 3,647 2,131

Icy Strait Islandsb 50 136 147 102

Port Frederick areac 223 191 192 380

Idaho Inlet aread 1,158 1,313 1,578 1,253

Total in Hoonah vicinity 4,128 5,494 5,564 3,866

Source: USDA Forest Service 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.

a

 This area includes: Point Adolphus, Eagle Beach, Pinta Cove, Pinta Point, Mud Bay, Flynn

Cove, Chicken Creek, Gull Cove, and Goose Island.

b

 This area includes Inian Island, Pleasant Island, and Sisters Island.

c

 The Port Frederick area includes Port Frederick, Neka Bay, Freshwater Bay, Salt Lake Bay,

Humpback Creek, and Game Creek.

d

 The Idaho Inlet area includes Idaho Inlet, Fox Creek, and Trail River.

Between 1982

and 2004, the

number of charter

vessels operating in

southeast Alaska

increased from 139

to 1,306.
32

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Figure 8—Charter vessels registered in Icy Strait communities, 1986–2004. Sources: Alaska

Department of Fish and Game 2000b. Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission 2005.

operation (ISER 1999). The growth in charter fishing interest in Alaska has been

dramatic. Between 1982 and 2004, the number of charter vessels operating in southeast Alaska increased from 139 to 1,306 (ADFG 2000b). Among the four Icy Strait

communities, the number of registered charter vessels increased from 21 in 1986 to

110 in 2001 (fig. 8). In 2001, there were 34 fishing lodges or charter fishing operations in Icy Strait region.

Hoonah was host to a fledgling charter fishing fleet. In the mid-1990s, local

organizations sponsored several Hoonah residents for a training program to acquire

their guiding licenses (“six-pack licenses”) from the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2001,

there were 17 registered charter vessels in Hoonah, although estimates from state

officials suggest that between 30 and 50 percent of these actively fished. (Several

local fishermen held charter licenses as a hedge for the implementation of a quota

system for the charter fishery or because they hoped to transition to charter fishing
33

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

in the future.)17 In 2001, three companies offered comprehensive guest services that

included lodging and charter fishing, and nine other independent charter operators

provided services. Half of charter vessels registered in Hoonah were owned by

local operators.18 In 2000, 131 nonresident anglers traveled to Hoonah for sportfishing, with nearly half purchasing 3-day stamps (ADFG 2000b).

Local accommodations—

In 1990, a summer visitor to Hoonah had just one choice for overnight accommodations. By 2001, there were 10 overnight establishments in Hoonah. Many of these

did not operate year-round, and some catered primarily to charter fishing guests.

Others advertised as a lodge, but typically rented rooms to long-term tenants or

business travelers. The viability of accommodations also was difficult to predict.

The former Huna Totem Lodge, sold by the corporation in 1991, has undergone

several new owners.19 During my field stay, the facility opened and closed several

times. In 2001, the lodge owners, who were Juneau-based, bought a van for local

transport, and registered a few charter vessels. The B&B owners interviewed

primarily catered to three types of clientele: business travelers, particularly from

government, transportation, and telecommunications industries; charter fishing

guests, particularly those establishments that had cultivated a partner relation with

local charter operators; and hunters. At least one such facility had a room with

hoses, sinks, and equipment for preparing deer and fish.

Tourism businesses—

In 2001, there were roughly 35 tourism-related businesses in Hoonah and many

others operating in the vicinity of Hoonah, including 10 lodges, 9 charter operators,

and 4 gift shops (table 2). Two cab companies provided local transportation and

three air taxis offered service to Juneau. One small outfit rented kayaks and another

17 One resident described the “quota mentality” of many southeast Alaskans, who watched

as friends and family members were excluded from the halibut quota program because they

had temporarily left the area to find work elsewhere, or had stepped out of fishing.

18 Some additional companies may be using Hoonah as a base, but did not register this

information with the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission at the time the report was

issued. According to the Alaska Division of Community and Business Development, nine

businesses applied for licenses for charter fishing in 2001.

19 In 2001, the 28-room facility was called the Icy Strait Lodge and was owned by a

proprietor from Juneau.
34

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

sightseeing business offered cultural tours. Several existing businesses in Hoonah,

such as the grocery store, hardware store, convenience store, and tackle shop, had

expanded their product line to include gifts, souvenirs, and other items of interest

to visitors (fig. 9).

Hoonah showcased one major tourist attraction, the Hoonah Indian Association’s museum. The HIA building housed cultural artifacts and properties of the

Huna people and displayed aspects of Hoonah’s recent history. The building also

served as offices for HIA staff and as a meeting place for the community. Perched

atop a small hill, the building was relatively inaccessible to visitors, and its presence was not widely advertised. A few residents noted that the building hours

sometimes did not coincide with the periodic influx of visitors from the ferry or

the boat harbor. Furthermore, while always willing, HIA staff members were not

always available to offer tours when visitors wandered in. In the late 1980s, a tour

operator from Gustavus had offered guests a trip to Hoonah and a tour of the HIA

museum, bringing several groups of visitors through the facility. This relationship

deteriorated over a reported dispute over fees. The HIA sought funding for construction of a new, separate museum facility in an area that would encourage

visitation and be less disruptive to staff.

Determining tourism employment in Hoonah was difficult, as many of the

tourism businesses were part-time or seasonal. As noted above, some businesses

operated on an as-needed basis. For instance, one charter fisherman worked only

when a friend or a friend-of-a-friend called to make arrangements–about once

annually. Another charter operator pieced together several jobs to make a living.

Table 2—Tourism businesses by category in Hoonah, 2001

Hoonah tourism businesses Number

Tour operators (adventure, eco-tours, sight-seeing, cultural) 1

Lodging (inns, motels, hotels, lodges, cabins) 10

Attractions (museum, totem park, cultural center) 1

Galleries/gift shops 4

Transportation (air, water, or city taxi) 5

Fishing lodges and guides 9 (4)

Restaurants 4

Kayak/skiff rental 1

Total 35

Source: Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs 2001.

Note: number in parentheses is estimated “active” businesses.
35

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

 In addition to the charter boat, he crewed on commercial boats, worked construction, did periodic work for the logging company, and relied on hunting and fishing

to feed family members. Still another charter fishing company was owned by a

commercial fisherman, who divided his time depending on the season and the run

of fish. Some tour operators had full-time jobs in other professions. One Forest

Service employee operated a kayak rental company out of his backyard, while

another was a charter guide. One B&B owner/charter guide also worked as a public

school teacher. There were few year-round jobs in tourism in 2001, but many

residents did supplement their income by renting out rooms or taking a few guests

on charter tours.

Marketing—

Advertising among the existing tourist businesses in 2001 tended to be rather low

key, relying primarily on word-of-mouth. Some local institutions had produced

visitor materials. The Forest Service offered a directory of visitor services at the

ranger station. In 2001, a Hoonah High School English class developed a brochure

that was distributed at city hall. In 2001, three Hoonah tourism providers offered

brochures. In 2001, no Hoonah tourism businesses had their own Web sites, but

Figure 9—Hoonah business.

Lee Cerveny

There were few

year-round jobs in

tourism in 2001, but

many residents did

supplement their

income by renting

out rooms or taking

a few guests on

charter tours.
36

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

several B&Bs and charter operators were listed in online directories. Some small

operators were not advertised in yellow pages. Local business owners recognized

that they were not employing highly sophisticated advertising techniques commonly

found in the tourism industry. For some, this marketing strategy represented a

decision to keep their business low key and manageable and to work with a predefined clientele. Several local entrepreneurs indicated a desire to improve their

advertising capacity but lacked capital to invest in advertising. Among local firms,

there was a shared concern that outside businesses could compete and eventually

dominate Hoonah’s tourism economy unless local firms became more proactive in

their marketing.

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism

Interactions with visitors shaped local attitudes toward tourism and made some

residents worry about the implications of increased tourist volume. Visitor encounters were far more common among residents living in downtown Hoonah near the

boat harbor and ferry terminal. Many of the downtown homes were owned by clan

elders and community leaders. Residents often noticed the increase in ferry passengers and boaters in the summertime. Ferry passengers passing through Hoonah

were drawn into town by the attractions and services such as the cultural center and

the arts cooperative. In addition, boaters passing through Hoonah were found at the

harbor and walking along the main street to grocery and convenience stores.

Strangers in town—

Hoonah is a close-knit community and residents are keenly aware of each other’s

habits and personalities. When strangers enter the community, they are subject to a

great deal of attention and scrutiny. For some residents, the presence of a significant

volume of strangers was uncomfortable or undesirable. One life-long resident explained, “I don’t like not knowing everybody. It would be hard having strangers in

town. I’m concerned about safety.” Encounters with visitors garnered mixed reactions among Hoonah residents. One resident said he enjoyed the opportunity to

learn from other people about life in other parts of the world. Another resident

enjoyed the opportunity to expand her horizons:

Talking with visitors reminds me that there are more places than here.

It’s nice to get to know people with different thought system than the

people here. The kids always say it’s boring here, but they say the same

thing in New York City. Then you realize the boredom is inside you.

Among local firms,

there was a shared

concern that outside

businesses could

compete and eventually dominate

Hoonah’s tourism

economy unless

local firms became

more proactive in

their marketing.

Tourists sometimes

unconsciously

assume that residents are part of a

fabricated world–

created for their

own consumption.
37

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

According to resident accounts, some visitors appeared to interact with their

environment as if they were participating in a theme park or display. Tourists

sometimes unconsciously assume that residents are part of a fabricated world–

created for their own consumption (Selwyn 1996). Residents of the old part of

town, which is located closest to the harbor, often commented about tourists taking

pictures of objects in their yard, such as smokehouses, salmon drying racks, fishing

equipment, and the array of everyday-life objects in the yard. Hoonah residents

sometimes wondered what about their lifestyle and community appeared to be so

different in the view of tourists. As one resident explained,

One day I was smoking fish outside of my house. Some tourists came

up and started taking pictures. I’m thinking, “Why would they want to

photograph this?” I felt invaded. I didn’t really want to engage with

them because I felt offended that they had come onto my property. I felt

obligated to be nice.

This resident commented that tourists often seem to think that because they

paid for a tour or because they are on vacation, everything and anything is open to

them for exploration and viewing. A focus group participant explained the feeling

of being in a fishbowl or a living museum, particularly when you live in downtown

Hoonah. “It’s an intrusion of privacy...because, wherever the tourists are, they

own. That’s just the way it is. They own it. They own the space and you’re just

here for them.” Unsolicited, direct contact between locals and tourists, especially

in “local spaces” often seemed to result in feelings of frustration similar to that

expressed above. Urry (2002) described this as the “tourist gaze” referring to the

idea of the tourist transforming the world around them into aesthetic spaces for

their own entertainment and consumption. When the private spaces and personal

lives of residents become part of the tourist gaze, it makes locals aware of the

social differences between themselves and visitors.

Respect for local lifestyles—

The presence of visitors made some Hoonah residents self-conscious about the

appearance of their community and how the city would be interpreted by outsiders.

Robinson (1999) noted that guest appreciation and tolerance of host cultures is an

important component in tourism success. “People in Hoonah don’t like to be made

to feel poor. People visit, look around and it looks to them like poverty....People

here are not poor; we have plenty of food and a good lifestyle.” Other residents
38

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

echoed this notion. “I worry that people come and won’t understand the Native way

of life. They may look unkindly upon our people. We may appear less than what we

are.”

The cemetery represented one common source of concern. “You see tourists

taking pictures of the graveyard. They had to put a fence around it to keep the

tourists out. They were going in there and trampling on the flowers and walking

on the gravestones.” Another resident added, “We have some problems with people

who bring their dogs to the cemetery and let them [urinate] on the graves. They

infringe on our spirit and our dignity. It really makes me wonder, ‘Are we less

than human?’” Residents told me stories about driving early in the morning to see

visitors with their sleeping bags sleeping on the graves while waiting for the ferry,

with backpacks strewn about. Eventually, the community built a fence around the

graveyard, but ferry passengers still wandered over to take photographs. Tourist

respect for local practices and places was important to residents.

Residents of tourism destinations may be sensitive to differences in income

level and social status from visitors, which can foster a negative reaction

(Mathieson and Wall 1982). Hoonah residents acknowledged the value of their

lifestyle and the conscious choice residents have made to uphold it. Yet, they also

recognized that the lifestyle appeared foreign to a person unfamiliar with rural

Alaska. One owner of a tourism business felt uncomfortable with tourist questions

about poverty and social welfare issues. “I don’t like how tourists take pictures of

bad things, dirty houses and drunks. They get off the ferry and take pictures of the

graves. I don’t go to their homes and take pictures of garbage.” Some felt a need to

downplay social problems and tout the virtues of rural living. One resident told a

story about the time a group came to town during a time when a gravestone of an

important relative was sitting in their yard, waiting to be moved to the cemetery.

This is a common cultural practice among Huna Tlingit. Tourists were photographing the gravestone. “I was very upset. They probably thought my mom was buried

in the yard. I wanted to say something to them, but didn’t know what to say.” This

resident felt that visitors would not understand the difficulties of erecting a monument in a town with no funeral home.

Questions visitors would ask about timber harvesting practices also made many

Hoonah residents feel uncomfortable. “I get tired of explaining about the

clearcuts,” said one Hoonah resident who frequently interacts with visitors. Another

Hoonah resident told me,
39

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

People come here and ask us about the clearcuts, saying, “How could

you let this happen.” It is a long and complicated story and they are not

really that interested in hearing it. They see Hoonah and think people

here are either passive victims or partners in creating this tragedy.

Some tourists had left the impression that they were avid environmentalists by

asking questions and making comments about the logging. Visitors with a lack of

understanding about the complexities of regional resource politics can appear

condescending to residents. Many Hoonah residents interviewed enjoyed opportunities of sharing their lifestyle and their community with outsiders, yet some felt

uncomfortable being made to feel different from their guests.

Congestion at the boat harbor—

Localized congestion of tourism can be difficult for residents working or living in

areas of tourist concentration (Mathieson and Wall 1982). In fishing communities,

the boat harbor can be a place where fishing identities are represented and contested

(Macleod 2004). Although visitors to Hoonah were few, several hundred private

marine vessels arrived in Hoonah’s boat harbor each year. Some were small groups

of visitors on a chartered excursion, while most often they were couples or families.

In some cases, nonlocal residents harbored their boats year-round in Hoonah, using

the community as a base for shorter trips. During the summer season, competition

for slips intensified, creating social tension between local fishermen and visitors. As

one city employee explained,

The harbor gets a lot of money from tourists coming in and from Juneau

people who keep their boats in Hoonah. In the summer, there is some

competition from the slip. We do hot-berthing in the summer. Fishermen

who keep their boats here are assigned a slip, but if they are out, we give

their slip to someone else....They are supposed to let us know if they are

coming back in and when. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they get

mad when they find someone in their slip. I’ve heard them make comments about the private boaters. Some of them don’t like having them

around.

The harbormaster described one incident where local fishermen were harassing

a boater, who was found in the slip they usually occupied.

A young couple pulled up in a charter boat. They were from out of town

but were here doing some fishing. A man...pulled up in his boat next to

theirs. The couple was tied next to him and he revved the engine,

During the summer

season, competition

for slips intensified,

creating social

tension between

local fishermen and

visitors.
40

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

spitting soot from the stack. The soot got all over their boat. It’s really

hard to clean. He felt that they were in his spot, even though I tell

people that they don’t own their spots. I really chewed him out.

While these events were rare, it does suggest the possibility for deeper tension

between local and nonlocal interests, as well as possible conflicts among boaters

of different types. As the reputation of Hoonah’s harbor grows among recreational

boaters, the community is likely to see a steady increase in marine traffic, putting

more pressure on harbor infrastructure.

Tourism and Implications for Natural Resource Use

Tourism creates competition for fish and game and affects the ability of local

residents to access natural resources necessary for everyday survival. Residents

interviewed described situations that reflected conflict among resource users,

representing different values, backgrounds, or interests. Resident encounters

with commercial tour groups owned by nonlocal proprietors raised concerns

about outside exploitation of local resources. The theme of local vs. nonlocal

access reverberated throughout these discussions, suggesting a shared wariness

about the role of outside interests in the management and use of natural resources.

Commercial and charter fishing—

The growth in charter fishing activity can create competition for the commercial

fleet, as well as local sport and subsistence fishermen (Young 1999). Commercial

fishermen expressed several concerns over the growing charter fleet, especially

competition for fish. Over the years, the allocation of salmon to the charter fleet

increased at the expense of the commercial fleet. For those commercial fishermen

with a long fishing history, it seemed unfair that anybody with a boat could begin

charter fishing and be allowed to take away a portion once allocated to the commercial fleet. “Now, anyone can come in and get a charter license,” said one commercial fisherman, “while the commercial fisherman got their quota dropped back. It

doesn’t seem fair.” Many claimed that the charter fleet was having a negative effect

on salmon trollers, which fished in the same waters as the charter fleet. On the other

hand, charter fishermen pointed out that, overall, commercial fishermen harvest

significantly more fish than charter fishermen. In the words of one charter operator,

“There is no bigger baby than a fisherman. It is always someone else’s fault when

you don’t catch fish.”

Tourism creates

competition for

fish and game and

affects the ability

of local residents

to access natural

resources necessary for everyday

survival.
41

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Some commercial fishermen worried that the growth of the charter fishing

fleet was having a negative impact on the resource. Competition for fish was

viewed as being particularly devastating for halibut. Although commercial fishermen were not allowed to catch halibut fewer than 32 inches in length, there were

no such restrictions for charter fishing. “Charter fishermen are a different breed,”

said one Hoonah seine fisherman. “The government says it’s not commercial, but it

is. They catch little halibut—less than 32 inches—and there are no restrictions. The

tourists don’t care about the size of the fish. They would be happy with herring.”

Several fishermen felt that the state should reclassify charter fishing to regulate it in

a way that is more similar to commercial fishing. The implication was that because

they are not recognized as a commercial enterprise, their potential for having a

significant impact on the fish resource was being overlooked. One charter fisherman explained, “Charter boats should not be lumped in with sport fishing. We are

making money from the resource. It should be treated as another form of commercial fishing.”

The increase in charter boats in Icy Strait to more than 120 vessels in 2004 was

noticed by charter and commercial operators alike, who almost universally felt that

a quota program should be developed for charter fishing (see fig. 8). Fishermen of

all types were concerned about unrestricted growth of the charter fleet and its

effects on the health of the fishery. Existing charter fishermen also indicated that

they would benefit from a quota program because they would be assured a permit.

“You need a moratorium for charter boats, not because of problems today, but

because you need to control for the future.” Many saw a quota program as essential

for protecting the long-term viability of the resource. For those who may have

been denied a permit for halibut fishing, charter fishing is viewed as a last effort to

keep a boat and continue making a living as a fisherman. Thus, some may view the

quota system as an assurance that they will be able to keep fishing in the future.

Others may object to the implementation of a quota system on charter fishing.

Another concern expressed by commercial fishermen was that some charter

operators lacked experience on the water. Inexperienced charter captains were

known to gravitate toward the commercial boats, presenting safety concerns.

Commercial fishermen, who may be setting nets, typically require a great deal

of space. Commercial fishing boats, particularly purse seiners, are larger and

heavier, with limited maneuverability. Charter boats, on the other hand, are small

and nimble, and sometimes jockey around commercial boats looking for an advantageous position. Inexperienced charter captains risk getting tangled in the nets as

they position themselves between the commercial boat and the beach. In addition,
42

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

new charter captains may not be aware of protocols for passing, and according to

local accounts, many dangerous situations have resulted. In other cases, charter

boats are a nuisance, making it more difficult for the commercial boat to navigate.

The rapid growth of charter fishing vessels caused concern among local charter

operators worried about the future of their enterprise. Of particular concern for

charter fisherman was the growth in competition from nonlocal charter operators.

Because of declines in fish, particularly halibut in the Juneau area, many fishermen

moved into Icy Strait. Clusters of charter vessels were found in areas accessible

to the Juneau fleet. One charter fisherman observed that a few newcomers were

actually running trips out of Hoonah harbor, but were booking these trips from out

of state. Several charter operators noted that increased competition made for more

difficult fishing. “When you have four or five boats, it is too much.”

Encounters between recreation and subsistence users—

Many local residents noticed the increase in commercial recreation activity around

Hoonah and worried about the long-term resource effects. “It’s happening more and

more that outfitter/guides are coming from Gustavus, Pelican, and Juneau...they

come to Hoonah and catch fish, hunt for bear and deer. They are taking things away

from us.” One resource manager noted that conflicts between local and nonlocal

users seemed to shift to new areas as guides moved around searching for an elusive

experience of solitude. One year, a conflict might surface in one part of the forest,

and the next year a new area of high use crops up on the radar screen. Hoonah

residents were concerned that tourism growth would inhibit their future access to

subsistence resources. In 2001, few actual reports of diminished access to fish and

game had been reported. But, local residents were watching closely.

One example of conflicts between local subsistence users and commercial recreation outfitters was in the area of Neka Bay. Located inland from Port Frederick,

Neka Bay was accessible to Hoonah residents by skiff and represented an area

heavily used for everyday hunting, fishing, and berry picking. Since 1998, guided

freshwater fishing had gained popularity in Neka Bay. One Juneau guide flew

customers into lakes, streams, and bays near Hoonah, including Neka Bay. According to one local account, “Neka Bay is more crowded. We go there for berry picking, but there are so many boats, skiffs, and people. I’m worried about getting shot.

I see strangers on the skiffs.” In 2000, nine groups of guests came to Neka Bay for

fishing expeditions. That season there was one notorious incident on the Neka River

when a local fisherman and his family crossed paths with the guide and his guests.

Apparently, their conversation nearly turned physical as they argued over rights to

the fishing area. As a relative of the fisherman recounted,

Of particular concern for charter

fisherman was the

growth in competition from nonlocal

charter operators.
43

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

There is one tour that does fishing and photography. They transport up

Port Frederick and walk the beach....They came from Juneau. They

were swearing, belching, snapping, and popping. Airplanes were landing

on the beaches. They took a rubber raft up a creek. [My relative] was

there with a friend. They got into a verbal dispute. That would kill

tourism, if local people found out about this happening in their special

local public places.

This story was widely circulated throughout Hoonah and served as an example

of the growing realization that the territory shared both by tourists and locals was

expanding. In talking about the growing practice of sportfishing at Neka Bay, one

Hoonah resident did not endorse the Forest Service practice of awarding permits in

this area. In 2001, commercial recreation use of Neka Bay shifted again, with the

arrival of a large tour boat, with permits for 30 or more passengers to go on-shore.

Although the sportfishing operation had moved to another site, the visitor volume

in this active subsistence area increased from 47 visitors in 2000 to more than 300

in 2001 (USDA Forest Service 2001).

Another resident described an incident in Mud Bay. “I’ve had conflicts with

kayakers when I do a lot of sea otter hunting out by Mud Bay. There is a big haulout for the kayakers. There’s a pile of them up there all the time and that’s a good

spot for sea otters. And, I’ve had them up there hooting and hollering at me when

I’m hunting.” According to the district ranger, these types of encounters were not

unusual, because of the increase in resource use by nonlocal fishing outfitters.

“Everyone is seeking a ‘wild experience’ but you have a number of groups fishing

the same holes or adjacent holes looking at each other. Each creek only has a few

holes. We’re starting to see complaints both by locals and other outfitter guides.”

Residents told similar stories about encounters with charter fishing groups in

various places in the Huna territory. One man described his experience of feeling

displaced by tour operators at Mud Bay. “We were out there fishing for cohos.

Some duck hunters from Juneau came with helicopters. People get the idea that

they are paying to use the land [with permits] and that they own it.” One local

resident worried about the growing Forest Service role in promoting recreation in

the vicinity of Hoonah. “The Forest Service emphasis on recreation is in conflict

with the needs of local people to live off the land.”

Several residents did not believe that tourism was in conflict with subsistence

uses near Hoonah. One community leader emphasized that tourism was highly concentrated at Point Adolphus, an area used primary in the fall for shellfish harvest
44

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

and by commercial fishermen year-round. Another resident actively involved in

subsistence issues noted that “six-packers [charter fishermen] view whales and fish

for kings. This doesn’t affect us much.” Another active fisherman said that the

presence of charter boats was not a serious problem.

I don’t like it when I’m out there fishing and there are charter boats

around me. It bugs me, but it’s not the end of the world. I just go

somewhere else. There are plenty of fish out there. ...Some people think

tourism is a threat to subsistence fishing. I personally don’t see it, but

that fear is out there.

Another long-time Hoonah resident shared this view when I asked him about

subsistence, “There is enough for everyone. This is not a problem.”

Conflicts among tour operators—

There was a wide range of tourism enterprises plying the waters of Icy Strait,

from low-tech kayaks to 4-passenger fishing vessels, 20-passenger tour boats, 100-

passenger cruise ships, and 2,000-passenger cruise liners. Conversations with Forest

Service officials and regional tour operators suggested that encounters among different types of recreation users were increasing and intensifying. Friction occurred

when a proponent of one type of tourist activity encountered another tour of a different size, shape, or scale using the same resource.

Hoonah residents noted several areas with increased congestion from tour

boats, sport fishers, commercial fishers, and outfitter-guides. One of these areas was

Point Adolphus, a promontory along Icy Strait directly across from Gustavus and

down the coast from Hoonah. Once the site of a Tcukanedi settlement, Point

Adolphus has long been a prolific fishing grounds (Goldschmidt and Haas 1946).

Localized warming currents fostered a productive feeding site for humpback and

orca whales. The Point Adolphus area includes eight salmon streams that attract

bear, deer, and small game as well as hunters. From 1950 through 1975, 60 to 75

percent of active subsistence users visited the area near Point Adolphus for fish,

deer, shellfish, and other subsistence foods. However, use of the area declined

sharply in the 1980s probably resulting from the opening of logging roads closer to

town (Schroeder and Kookesh 1990).

Point Adolphus’ proximity to Gustavus made it ideal for half-day or full-day

outings for whale watching and fishing excursions. The area was also popular

among guides providing multiday kayak and camping tours, because of the accessibility of beaches for camping. Independent groups and solo trekkers also discovered the virtues of Point Adolphus. In 1999, the Forest Service listed Point

Friction occurred

when a proponent of

one type of tourist

activity encountered

another tour of a different size, shape,

or scale using the

same resource.
45

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Adolphus as a recreation “hotspot” that required special management consideration

to provide quality recreation experiences for a variety of users. For Hoonah fishermen, Point Adolphus was a concern because of the increased competition with

charter boats for fish and congestion in the area that made it more difficult to pull

up nets. Meanwhile, outfitter-guides and wildlife biologists wondered about the

effects of increased activity by land and sea on both bear and whale populations,

prompting a study of the effects of tourist activity on wildlife and marine life at

Point Adolphus in 2000 and 2001. As one active fisherman said,

At Point Adolphus, sometimes you see 80 people per day....There

are canoes going back and forth, boats, from Glacier Bay. The boats

unload...10 to 12 canoes with two people in each canoe. Everyday new

groups come, every other day. Some people are on foot too. I...see them

on the beach....The canoeists must be controlled.

A former charter guide also perceived problems associated with congestion and

multiple uses in this area:

At Point Adolphus, it seems like [outfitter] is always there at the cabin.

You see a lot of mini cruise ships, pleasure boats, charter boats out there.

Twenty years ago, you’d see local boats and commercial fishing boats.

Everyone had a destination. People were going from one place to

another–from home to a fishing site or a hunting site. Now you see

people just wandering around on the water.

Unregulated growth of tourist activity at Point Adolphus will place pressure on

the resource. The conversion of the Hoonah cannery into a cruise ship destination

and the resulting whale watching and fishing tours to Point Adolphus likely will

increase pressure on this resource.

Mud Bay was the site of a former smokehouse and was used by Huna Tlingit

for berry picking and hunting (Goldshmidt and Haas 1946). Grassy estuaries

allowed easy hiking and fishing access. The area features sandy beaches, prolific

salmon streams, an air strip, and a Forest Service cabin for public use. Mud Bay

was popular with many types of recreation visitors, such as duck hunters, bear

hunters, deer hunters, kayakers, freshwater fishers, and campers. The shoreline

often was heavily populated with commercial fishermen and charter boats. And,

located a day’s paddle from Point Adolphus, the area attracted individual and

groups of kayakers on multiday adventures. In 2001, more than 300 visitors used

the Mud Bay area. Noise concerns were paramount, with guides issuing complaints

about pilots “buzzing” wildlife.
46

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Idaho Inlet represented another hotbed of visitor activity near Hoonah. Located

on Icy Strait near Elfin Cove, the area is a part of the historic Takdeintaan clan area

and includes historical fish camps and berrying areas (Goldshmidt and Haas 1946).

Because of its distance from Hoonah, recent resource use at Idaho Inlet had been

modest with fewer than 40 percent of subsistence users visiting the area (Schroeder

and Kookesh 1990). Forest Service records showed 1,200 guided visits to sites in

Idaho Inlet in 2001. In addition, Idaho Inlet was frequented by hundreds of additional saltwater fishing groups. Two firms using small cruise ships possessed Forest

Service permits to bring guests ashore. Idaho Inlet historically supported a population of sea otters and bears, attracting nature-based tourists. In 2000, one tour

operator ran jet boats on Trail River in Idaho Inlet, shuttling people and gear to

freshwater fishing sites, causing some concern for some tour groups, according to

Forest Service officials.

Point Adolphus, Mud Bay, and Idaho Inlet represent three areas experiencing

growth in commercial recreation use near Hoonah. The co-existence of diverse

users in these areas was reportedly causing friction among tour operators with

different goals and values. According to Forest Service officials, those tour operators seeking to provide, “a solitary wilderness experience” differed in behavior and

orientation from visitor groups embracing different conceptions of “wilderness.”

Furthermore, there were situations in which multiple parties were simultaneously

seeking wilderness experiences in the same locale, and the presence of other groups

diminished that experience. Forest Service officials noted that conflicts sometimes

emerged when groups of different sizes and levels of technology encountered one

another in a remote setting. For example, a group of 20 kayakers might have felt

disappointed to find that their beach or picnic spot was being visited by a small

cruise ship or a cadre of jet boats.

With more companies involved in tourism, the sense of competition also has

grown. One Forest Service official indicated that the number of complaints among

outfitter guides and tour operators about the actions of their competitors had increased between 1998 and 2001 with more people using the forest. For the last

several years, several active guides using hotspots met with Forest Service officials

to discuss common issues and to schedule use among themselves to preserve the

feeling of solitude for guests. In 2004, the Shoreline Outfitter Guide environmental

impact study was completed, which regulates patterns of resource use in highintensity areas (USDA Forest Service 2005).
47

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Bear hunting—

Guides escorting bear hunters also reported occasional encounters with charter

fishing and tour boat operators in remote bays. According to one guide, the presence

of boats frightens bears. In previous years, tour operators and charter boat captains

recognized the boats of local hunting guides and knew to stay away from that area.

There had been an implicit understanding that the tour boat operator would avoid

contact with guides and their guests. New tour operators were not always aware of

or willing to acknowledge professional courtesies extended to bear hunters. For example, in 1999, one guide reported seeing a tour boat release 45 passengers into an

active bear area during hunting season. Guides were concerned because increased

human presence scared off the bears. In addition, they noted that the growth in

guided freshwater fishing could result in a decline in the bear population feeding

in those freshwater areas. One guide explained that it might be displeasing for

guests on a wildlife-watching tour to witness hunters shooting bears. If tourism in

the spring and fall seasons continues to grow, the potential for these conflicts to

increase is apparent. As one public official noted, “When clients pay $15,000 for a

prize bear, this is a big deal.”

Resource integrity—

Several Hoonah residents expressed concern for how the cruise ship activity in Icy

Strait and Glacier Bay was potentially affecting the natural environment. Concerns

were focused on three major areas: the effects of air emissions on wildlife; the

effects of wastewater emissions on marine mammals, shellfish, and kelp; and the

effects of human activity on wildlife. Scientists have not detected dangerous levels

of chemicals in shellfish, fish, or other species; however, the perception that ecological integrity has been compromised was very real, and these beliefs shaped their

views of tourism.

Some residents interviewed wondered about the long-term effects of smog

from cruise ships. One Tlingit elder had observed specific changes in goat behavior

over many years, noting that in places where the cruise ships have traveled, the

goats have disappeared. He had observed that when the ships added speed to their

engines, black smoke released from the smokestack. It is possible, he argued, that

the mountain goat’s food was being contaminated by the black smoke. On one trip

to Glacier Bay, he observed a dead mountain goat in the water. Mountain goats

have vanished from several places. Several other residents mentioned concerns

about changes in the mountain goat population as well.

Several Hoonah

residents expressed

concern for how the

cruise ship activity

in Icy Strait and

Glacier Bay was

potentially affecting the natural

environment.
48

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Others were worried about the effects of underwater emissions from cruise

ships on area wildlife and subsistence resources. These concerns were particularly

relevant, given that one cruise line was indicted in 1999 for toxic wastewater

emissions throughout southeast Alaska. A particular area of concern voiced by an

elder was the impact of gray water on Point Adolphus. Deer typically come down

to Point Adophus in the winter for kelp and he worried that the kelp was contaminated by the cruise ship waste. “Our subsistence lifestyle has gone to pot because

of the pollution,” he said. Another resident was concerned about discharges from

cruise ships and its effects on seaweed. In 2001, tougher standards for wastewater

treatment were introduced and the state was given authority to monitor wastewater

quality in hopes that the industry would become cleaner over time. The visit of the

Holland America cruise ship to Hoonah in 2000 generated some local discussion

about the environmental effects of cruise ships closer to home. “The cruise ship

just sat out there polluting our waters, and no one even got off the ship,” noted one

artist, eager to sell her work to passengers.

The effects of human activity on wildlife also presented a concern for many.

One resident commented that the impacts of tourism were potentially more serious

than those of timber harvesting. His rationale was that when you harvest timber,

wildlife still can use the area and eventually the trees return. But when land is used

for recreation, people inhabit the area and wildlife disappears. “All that it takes is

one dog and an ATV and you’ve cleared out your whole estuary.” One interviewee

maintained that recreation occurred in areas that were more ecologically fragile,

whereas timber activity occurred in less sensitive areas. “Once you lose the solitude

of a place, you never get it back.” The growth of interest in freshwater fishing also

may affect wildlife. Area bear hunters noticed more sportfishing activity in remote

creeks and estuaries.

Glacier Bay Tourism and the Huna Tlingit

Increased visitation at Glacier Bay National Park had implications for Hoonah

resource users. To Hoonah residents, it seemed that tourist activities in Glacier Bay

had become prioritized over local use of the region. When I asked residents how

tourism affected them, they told me straightforwardly to look at Glacier Bay.

“That’s the biggest impact right there” said one elder. Many Huna people felt that

they were pushed out of Glacier Bay by the government so that tourists could enjoy

it. While commercial and subsistence use of Glacier Bay has been reduced or

eliminated, the number of cruise boats allowed in the park has increased steadily.

The importance of Glacier Bay was made clear to me by another elder, who stated,
49

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Hoonah used to be Glacier Bay. The feds took it away. They took our

food—our strawberries, our seal, our goat, and our seagull. They

stopped us from trapping. We should have subsistence in Glacier Bay.

We’re not going to rape the country.

And a local fisherman told me,

You have to beg, borrow, and steal to get into Glacier Bay and then you

see double-decker tour ships and cruise ships there—right where Bartlett

Cove is now owned by the Park Service. There used to be two to three

Indian settlements there. Gustavus Airport is the site of one. Strawberry

Point is there, where we used to pick strawberries. The Park Service

planned to shut the Natives out. ...These experiences severed people’s

attitudes about tourism in Hoonah.

This notion that Glacier Bay was taken away from them by the federal government

and given to the tourists is pervasive. One elder explained,

I fished in the winter and spring in Glacier Bay and now the area is

closed off for the kayakers. We could try to compromise. Maybe the

summer—the tourists can have it. But, let me fish in Glacier Bay in the

winter. Let me fish in the spring. You deny me of my livelihood. I can’t

even anchor up to the harbor in heavy seas. It’s all about money.

Interpreting Glacier Bay—

The creation of Glacier Bay National Park demonstrated the capacity of tourism to

impose a new layer of cultural meaning on natural places (Catton 1997). Glacier

Bay remains important as the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit and an

important place for subsistence. As one elder explained, “Glacier Bay is our food

locker. It has been for many centuries.” For some, the changes in Glacier Bay

represented the single most significant impact of tourism on local culture. The loss

of Glacier Bay was not only the closing of the “food locker,” but it also meant a

disconnection from their place of origin. For members of clans with origins in

Glacier Bay, accurate interpretation of the Huna clans and their relationship with

particular geographic sites is an important aspect of cultural identity. As one elder

explained to me, “There are only a few things that are important to a people, and

one is its history and origin of life. History and origin of life make our culture.

For us, that’s in Glacier Bay.”

Tourists to Glacier Bay learn about the Huna people and their land through

interpretative programs sponsored by the cruise ships, smaller tour boats, and the
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

National Park Service. Cruise ship passengers traveling through Icy Strait and

visiting Glacier Bay learned about human ecology through interpreters from

Glacier Bay National Park and Huna Totem. In addition, tour boats and ferries

bringing guests to and into the park included interpreters who shared aspects of

cultural history and resource use. And, outfitter guides from nature-based tour

companies were known to describe Hoonah history and culture.

Hoonah residents observed what I call competing cultural frameworks between

the Huna Tlingit people and their relationship with Glacier Bay and the story of

John Muir. In the minds of many Huna people, explorers like Muir and Cooper

played a key role in redefining Glacier Bay from the “food locker” of the Huna

people to the “glacial paradise” embodied by the tourist brochure. One elder,

who had worked on tour boats as a cultural specialist, reacted to the interpretive

program offered by park officials. “They are selling White history,” he said,

John Muir was the biggest story for the National Park Service. It was

the biggest topic....The Tlingit people were up there when the first

steamship came to Glacier Bay. The Tlingit people were quiet and

watched. They showed Muir around. They are selling White history

on the ship. My job is to explain Native culture.

Another clan leader who had worked as a cultural interpreter explained her reaction

to the emphasis of tour guides on John Muir.

I worked as an interpreter for [company] in Glacier Bay....I got sick

of hearing stories from other interpreters about John Muir. I said, “You

know what? John Muir was a neurotic and obsessive person who was

relentless and demanding. He would not give up until he got into the

John Muir Inlet, even though the weather was bad and the water

dangerous. He went to Glacier Bay with Tcukanedi seal hunters who

were his guides. They left him on the shore with a dog. They left him

there so that he could discover it. After a while, they decided to go back

and get him. Because they have respect for all living things, they went

back to get him, even though they didn’t want to.

While many were concerned about what stories were being told about the

human history of Glacier Bay, others made note that the storyteller often was not

Tlingit and did not always understand the history. Tour guides described the history

and social life of Hoonah residents in ways that guests appreciated, but which

imposed a certain rendering of that history.

Among Tlingit

guides, there also

was disagreement

about how Huna

history was being

conveyed and which

clan’s stories were

being told.
51

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

I used to work for NPS [National Park Service] as an instructor in

Glacier Bay. There were college kids from Salt Lake learning about the

wilderness. I told them what to look for. I was surprised that the Park

Service people were telling them the wrong thing about Huna people.

Among Tlingit guides, there also was disagreement about how Huna history

was being conveyed and which clan’s stories were being told. As one clan elder

explained in a public meeting about tourism,

We have a battle within us regarding how we present ourselves to

visitors. We must be respectful to ourselves and try not to offend

anyone. Tourism means hard decisions–how we present ourselves.

Sometimes it is easier to talk to visitors than it is to our own. We must

tell people who we are, where we come from, and we must do it in a

way that does not sell us out.

A guide said, “I enjoy people. I do not like it when people give the wrong

information out to tourists. They focus on the fierce Tlingits....I hear a lot of lies.”

Tribal officials described an ongoing discussion among Huna clan leaders about the

ownership and use of stories being shared with visitors in Glacier Bay. Disagreements about cultural property had temporarily stalled relations between the tribe

and the National Park Service in efforts to develop a cultural center within the park

boundaries.

Interpreting nature—

One area in which the Tlingit worldview and that of the tourist contrasted was over

the issues of wildlife and wilderness. Each group views these resources through

their own cultural lens. Some Hoonah residents observed differences in perspectives

of nature between the Huna Tlingit and the tourist. When I introduced my study of

tourism with one elder, he said,

I always see the tourists standing on the deck of the cruise ship and

looking through their binoculars. I wonder what do they see—water,

mountain goat, otters? They are too far away. It would be better if they

got off the boat and came down for a cup of coffee; to get out and talk

to people and learn something about what they are seeing.

He went on to describe cruise ship guests marveling at the marine life.

They see the seals on the iceberg and say, “It’s beautiful.” I look at the

same seals on the ice and I say to myself, “It’s my table.” They look at

These differences

in perceptions of

wilderness and wildlife between tourists

and residents suggested a broader

conflict in land use

policy and philosophy among agencies

and peoples.
52

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

the sea otters and think they are cute. I think they are predators for

fishing. I see something different from what the tourist sees....The seal,

the sea gull, the mountain goat—this is medicine, it is spiritual. It is

food.

Other residents noted that marine mammals, such as the sea otter, often are

revered by tourists, yet their proliferation has resulted in destruction of shellfish

harvested by subsistence users. “Those sea otters dig up the beach and destroy the

cockle beds,” said a tribal member.

These differences in perceptions of wilderness and wildlife between tourists

and residents suggested a broader conflict in land use policy and philosophy among

agencies and peoples. These contrasting views of wilderness, landscape, and the

relationship of Huna culture to the natural world will likely continue to be relevant

as long as tourists come to Glacier Bay (fig. 10).

Figure 10—View of glacier from

cruise ship. Blair Kipple
53

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Future Tourism: Hopes and Concerns

Community leaders and public officials in 2001 openly expressed concern for the

future of the local economy. Residents recognized the need for some economic

engine so that the community could support jobs and help families survive. “Fishing used to be the safety net for the community, but this is no longer the case,” said

one resident. There was a shared sense among interviewees that tourism was perhaps the best viable option that remained for Hoonah. One resident thought about it

this way.

I see three economic options for villages. Fishing, but the problem here

is the market is gone, and the number of seine boats has dropped from

25 to about 3...timber, but this will be gone soon...and the third option

is tourism.

For many, tourism was seen as a necessary evil or a last resort. As one resident

stated, “Some people are looking at tourism, but very reluctantly. They see it as the

only option. Some people would prefer the community to decline rather than

accept tourism.” There was a great deal of ambivalence about the tourism industry

and reticence to invite visitors to Hoonah. There also was a sense of inevitability

about tourism—that tourism was coming to Hoonah whether residents cared for it

or not. “People should be gearing up. There is no stopping it. It’s what we’ll have

to do.”

While many in the community were moving forward in efforts to develop a tourism industry, others urged caution, “Hoonah is clambering for tourism. They don’t

know what they are getting into.” Indeed, when I asked residents about overall

community support for tourism, most said that it was divided. “You’re likely to get

a mixed bag when you talk to people about tourism” said one long-term resident.

Another explained, “From some you will hear a lot of cuss words. Other people

will think it is the greatest thing.” Interviews collected in 2000 and 2001 showed

that while not overly enthusiastic about tourism, most residents supported it in

some form or to some extent. Among those I interviewed, it was widely felt that

if done correctly, tourism would benefit the community.

Perceived Tourism Benefits

Hoonah residents believed that tourism could bring immediate economic benefits to

their community and also would promote opportunities for residents to share their

culture.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Economic benefits—

Many saw tourism as a source of jobs and an economic boost for the community.

There is a real need for jobs in the community. All my kids have gone

off to college. Now they live and work away from home....I would like

them to come back. We need more educated people to stay here. We

need more civic leadership and young blood in the community. No one

even wants to run for mayor.

One resident described how meaningful jobs lead to a sense of pride and wellbeing that was missing among young people who remained in Hoonah to work and

raise families. “Workers would feel better. It would be an opportunity for more

people to take care of their family and get off welfare. This [work ethic] gets

passed along to their children.” Another added, “we need jobs for kids who want to

come back. Now, young people piece together two or three jobs to make a living.

There are no year-round jobs.”

The ability for tourism to provide a market for local artists was seen as a

significant benefit of drawing visitors to Hoonah. “It would encourage more artists

and more young people to pursue arts.” According to one local artist, “It provides

access to artists for local cultural talent—not just for their products, but for their

talent and their reputation.” City officials talked about tourism’s ability to increase

tax revenues; however, few residents acknowledged the broader effects of tourism

on the economy. Some business owners observed that tourism has trickle-down

effects, but most residents emphasized employment benefits.

Sharing cultural traditions—

The potential to promote the sharing and learning of cultural traditions also was

viewed as a potential benefit of tourism. Hoonah residents are proud of their

heritage and the need to protect it for future generations. If Hoonah were to

attract visitors interested in Tlingit culture and art, the need for young people to

learn stories, songs, and dances would be great. The process of sharing traditions

may enhance cultural pride among youth.

Others recognized that tourism enhanced the ability of Huna people to tell their

stories and share their historical relationship with Glacier Bay and other parts of

the Huna territory. One resident felt that residents should get involved in tourism

to present an alternative history of Glacier Bay. “They should tell what the government did to the Huna people in Glacier Bay.” For this resident, it was important for

the broader population to understand what was perceived as the injustice to Native

The ability for tourism to provide a

market for local

artists was seen as

a significant benefit

of drawing visitors

to Hoonah.
55

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

people in the creation of Glacier Bay National Park and its ongoing management.

In 2004, Huna Totem bid for and received a multiyear contract to provide concessionaire services in Glacier Bay, which included the operating of tour boats in the

park and management of the Glacier Bay Lodge. This business decision was widely

viewed as a positive step in reclaiming the history of Glacier Bay for the Huna

people. It also presented an opportunity to introduce new interpretations of park

history and the cultural significance of the park to Huna clans.

Another resident noted that tourism would allow visitors to see a living Native

community, to learn about Native lifestyle and the impacts of the Alaska Native

Claims Settlement Act on Tlingit people. “Tourism will let people realize that we

are not a conquered people.” One resident added that tourists visiting Hoonah may

learn more about the community, its history, and culture, and this knowledge would

inspire them to influence politics and decisionmaking back home. In other words,

today’s tourists could become tomorrow’s advocates for resources and needs of

Hoonah residents.

Sharing the rural Alaska lifestyle—

Tourism also was thought to provide an opportunity for residents to share with

outsiders the unique benefits of the Alaska lifestyle and the importance of maintaining a sustainable relationship with the environment. “I used to tell people from outof-state that Alaska is an ‘ace in the hole.’ You can live off the land here. If you

destroy the land, you have no ace in the hole.” Some noted that tourism had an

educational function for visitors and residents—allowing people to learn from one

another about different ways of life. “Maybe they will learn about a different, more

simple lifestyle from their busy, hectic lives. Maybe it will teach them to slow down

a little.”

Recreation facilities—

A handful of residents noted that tourism might result in more recreation facilities

for residents—particularly hiking trails. One person stated, “Tourism might result

in more hiking trails, but I wouldn’t want to see people [tourists] on them.” While

residents acknowledged the benefits of added recreation facilities for their own use,

many worried about the implications of sharing them with visitors.

Concerns About Future Tourism

Hoonah people were extremely savvy to the changes caused by tourism, because of

the proximity of Juneau. As one resident pointed out, “People do not want to see

tourism have detrimental effects on the community.” In a community that has been

Tourism also was

thought to provide

an opportunity for

residents to share

with outsiders the

unique benefits of

the Alaska lifestyle

and the importance

of maintaining a

sustainable relationship with the

environment.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

relatively isolated and that has experienced changes slowly over the years, tourism

may seem to threaten a sense of balance. The volume of concerns mentioned does

not reflect a lack of support for tourism, but rather the complexity of issues associated with any new form of economic development.

Changes in community character—

There was a shared sense that if tourism were to be introduced, it could threaten

Hoonah’s sense of community and culture. “[Tourism] would threaten the closeknit community we have.” Of primary concern were the crowds generated by

cruise traffic. One lifelong resident asked, “Do we really want 500 or 2,000 people

running around our streets? I’m not anti-tourist. I’m pro-tourism. I would like to be

in control of tourism.” A focus group member also wondered about the implications

of large cruise ships in Hoonah.

They’re talking about bringing tour boats in here now. I’ve heard

anything from 6 this year to 60 in 5 years. So, you have to think, there’s

2,000 people on the tour boats and the population of the town isn’t that.

So you are going to have 2,000 people roaming the streets every day–

people who don’t live here. So, you’re looking at this town becoming

like South Franklin [Street, in Juneau] and that’s going to drastically

change what was and is Hoonah. The people here can’t even fathom how

much it’s going to change it.

Primarily, residents were concerned about pedestrian traffic, vehicular traffic and

parking. A tourism proponent noted, “We’ve got to do something so that they are

not running loose all over town. Maybe we can put up a fence to block tourists

from walking on our yards. There should be a local council to handle and monitor

people in town.”

Hoonah residents also noted that tourism can alter the rhythm of community

life. As one focus group participant explained in contemplating cruise ships, “It

might change the rhythm of the town...the living rhythm of the town. When you

get tourists you have to go with the rhythm of the boats. It just dominates everything.”

Several Hoonah residents were concerned about the growing commercialism

linked to tourism—especially the potential proliferation of gift, curio, and t-shirt

shops. One resident was concerned about “rampant commercialism” taking over the

town. Meanwhile, another resident urged that the community stay away from this

type of tourism. “We don’t need t-shirt shops. We just need to be ourselves.” Most

Hoonah residents do not want to see the community’s low-key character change.
57

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Tourist encounters—

Many people in the community worried that the personalities of tourists would clash

with their own. Residents were not sure they wanted to deal with tourists “asking

goofy questions all day.” Some residents I interviewed speculated that they would

meet visitors who were unpleasant, disrespectful, or pushy. One tourism business

owner explained, “People are worried about the nosiness of visitors. They want to

be left alone. I like to talk to people, to see where they are from and to learn something. People here like to be left alone.”

Conversations about tourism also brought up issues of safety and crime, especially within the context of children. One mother explained,

I would like to see some tourism. It might work. But, I don’t want to

see so much tourism where I won’t feel comfortable with my daughter

walking down the street by herself. I always know where my daughter

is. It used to be that I would let my kids play anywhere in town. If my

child was into trouble, people would call me up....Today I don’t think

anyone would call me....There’s a lot of people in town I don’t know.

Many interviewees and focus group participants talked about safety for their

children in the streets. “I don’t like it when you don’t know everybody. I’m

concerned about safety.” Another concern among parents was the issue of drugs.

“I’m worried about more drugs coming to the community. It’s already getting out

of hand; there are too many drugs already.”

Exploitation by outsiders—

Issues of exploitation had been part of the relations between Hoonah residents and

outsiders for centuries. Many recognized the potential for nonlocal interests to

benefit from a Hoonah-based tourism enterprise without looking after the needs of

residents. One small business owner described her fears,

If you don’t have people with gumption, they will let others take

over....I don’t want to see some Texans come and tell us what to do.

 I’m not for the greed of taking money and leaving outsiders to come in

saying this is their home. I don’t like the idea of corporations coming—

cigars, big business, old man stuff. They have no ethics and are careless.

They make everything commercialized and cold. We need to pass

legislation to keep that from happening. I say to people, “This is your

home and has been for centuries. You don’t want to have them take it

Many recognized

the potential for

nonlocal interests

to benefit from a

Hoonah-based

tourism enterprise

without looking after

the needs of residents.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

away.” I don’t like the idea of people making money here to have a

castle in Texas.

Some felt that nonlocal entrepreneurs had an advantage over local business owners

because of their business training and improved access to capital.

They [people] don’t want to be threatened by power sources outside the

community. People have not moved here to be a part of big business.

Tourism is a very efficient industry that is driven by large marketing and

big business. People don’t want to capitalize on large business here.

Moreover, nonlocal tourism entrepreneurs were often associated with a different set

of values and ethics. One resident equated tourism with “scam artists and business

types,” who they viewed as undesirable elements.

Sharing cultural knowledge—

Although most hoped that future tourism would have a cultural basis, there were

many hesitations expressed about the impacts of sharing cultural knowledge with

non-Natives. Some concerns dealt with the value of cultural performance. A few

residents told me that when dancers perform strictly for tourist entertainment, the

ceremony or song is diminished in value. Others worried about the controversies

that might arise in making decisions about which songs to sing, stories to tell, and

dances to perform. The process of making these decisions about which stories to

share is complex, and involves discussions within and between various clans. As one

community leader explained, “telling them about the raven and the eagle is okay,

but we need to stay away from family stories.”

Another concern about cultural tourism was related to exploitation. “I wouldn’t

want our culture to be exploited” said one resident. There was some interest in the

idea of sharing with visitors how traditional foods and other household items were

gathered, processed, and preserved. However, several residents pointed out that

sharing this knowledge could result in subsequent commercial processing of Native

resources. Such commercial enterprises would threaten the integrity of the resources and create competition for subsistence users.

Finally, many were concerned that important cultural items would be stolen or

damaged if a large number of visitors were allowed to view or handle them. “You

need safeguards to protect the cultural heritage of the town,” explained one tribal

member. The need for creating a facility for secure storage of cultural materials

was mentioned by several residents. Some felt that the most precious items were

better off housed in private homes or individual clan houses.
59

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Equity and local control—

Some residents worried about potential negative economic repercussions of tourism,

including raising prices of goods and services and the increase in the cost of living.

“In Juneau, people complain about the thousands of people in town and the high

prices.” A few people worried that tourism would put them at the mercy of the

global market and its cyclical nature. Others explained that tourism, especially

cruise ships, meant that communities entered into a financial arrangement with

corporate interests who focused on the bottom line, not the best interest of the

community. As one long-time resident asked, “I’m worried about why Royal

Caribbean left Haines. Why did it happen? I wonder if it could happen here too.”

Several Hoonah residents were skeptical about the quality of jobs that would be

generated by the tourism industry, and wondered whether locals would be the ones

to get the well-paid jobs. Implicit in these statements is that tourism resulted in

differential benefits.

Effects on subsistence resources—

The environmental effects of tourism growth were often mentioned as a concern.

Residents worried about the effects of air and water emissions from cruise ships and

its effects on marine mammals, shellfish, wildlife, and seaweed in particular. Some

worried that tourism would attract business owners who did not share their respect

for the environment. Yet for some, these environmental concerns were outweighed

by the potential economic benefits.

There are not too many drawbacks [to tourism] unless pollution gets out

of control. You have problems with emissions, garbage, sewage. But it’s

only 4 months of the year and you make good money. You don’t have to

do anything for the rest of the 9 months....Tourism could help to protect

the environment—to see what pristine country we have left. I think it’s a

big benefit.

Exclusion from federal lands—

The experience of Hoonah with the National Park Service in the creation of Glacier

Bay National Park led some to distrust federal land management agencies. Because

of the Glacier Bay experience, some Hoonah residents had adopted a conservative

attitude toward developed recreation and tourism in other federally owned lands,

including the Tongass National Forest. One elder explained, “I have a fear of being

locked out of federal lands. When the Park Service people came, they promised that

we would be allowed to continue seal hunting, berry picking, bear hunting—to keep
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

our lifestyle that had always been there. But, not any more. That’s all gone.” A few

residents interviewed felt that developed recreation would compete for local use of

areas in the vicinity of Hoonah. As one prominent community leader shared, “I’m

worried they’ll say one day, ‘Sorry, you can’t carry a gun in here.’ I don’t want

them to turn it into a reserve—a backyard playground for Juneau.” Many feared that

what happened to Glacier Bay will happen to the Tongass National Forest. One

comment in particular reflected these concerns.

People worry that the Forest Service is like the Park Service. They have

the same attitude about all federal agencies—that they are going to take

away hunting and fishing. They will build cabins and [provide] another

place for outfitter/guides to go. But if local people try to rent a cabin,

it’s booked.

Some residents wondered why the Tongass National Forest focused on creating

new recreation facilities and opportunities that seemed to cater to outside interests

rather than local residents, such as the hot springs facility along the Neka River.

There also was a concern that Forest Service recreation venues will attract a

different breed of people to town. “A lot of people do not want to see outdoor

yuppie types with their LL Bean clothes and their two kids, their dog, and their

SUV, who show up to see the ‘Native village.’”

Desired Characteristics of Future Tourism

Despite the long list of precautions, Hoonah residents were interested in pursuing

tourism on some scale. Hoonah residents shared interesting and creative ideas about

tourism-related businesses. Some of these ideas originated from previous planning

documents. Other ideas were based on the experiences of residents in other Alaskan

communities or other parts of the country. Since Huna Totem had purchased the

cannery with the intention of investing in tourism, many residents naturally contemplated potential uses of the cannery site.

Small scale—

There was much agreement about the size and scale of tourism development desired.

In talking about future tourism, most were supportive of some level of tourism as

long as it did not drastically alter the everyday life patterns of the community or

inhibit access to subsistence resources. Because of concerns among residents that

large groups of visitors would disrupt community life, most residents felt that

tourism should take place on a small scale and at reasonable intervals. Focus group
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Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

participants were asked whether they wanted to see “significant tourism growth,”

“small-scale tourism growth,” “the same level of tourism as in 2001,” and “decreased tourism levels.” There was unanimous agreement among the group of

business owners and artists, that small-scale tourism growth was ideal. For the

group of active subsistence users, responses were split evenly between small-scale

growth and no growth.

Outside of town—

Residents interviewed preferred that the tourism enterprise take place away from the

main part of town, such as in the national forest or at the cannery. A major reason

for supporting tourism outside of town was control. One resident explained, “You

need to keep people at the cannery. You need activities to keep them busy and keep

them controlled.” Yet, many recognized that if an attraction was located outside of

town, downtown businesses may not benefit to the fullest extent. However, most

felt that having a large number of visitors in a controlled location away from town

would reduce the impact of congestion. Some suggested that local entrepreneurs

may develop shuttle buses, water taxis, or van tours to bring guests to town in an

organized fashion so as to minimize impacts. Focus group participants were asked

whether they preferred tourism “in downtown,” “close to town,” or “well outside

of town.” The vast majority of business owners and artists preferred tourism to take

place close to town, while active subsistence users preferred a tourism development

in an outlying area away from town.

The cannery at Point Sophia was on the top of everyone’s mind in 2001,

because it was viewed as the project with the greatest potential. The advantage

of this locale was summed up by one resident, “They need to find an area, buy it,

build it, and take tourists away from town ... [to a place] where they can absorb

2,000 people.” Although some were critical of Huna Totem’s policies and some

were doubtful about the project’s feasibility, virtually no one interviewed spoke out

against the idea of developing the cannery into a tourist attraction. The cannery site

was historically significant for many Hoonah residents. Some worried that tourism

would change the flavor of the cannery, “There is talk that they are going to convert the cannery into a tourist attraction. I hope they don’t. It’s nice out there. It’s

a quiet place and a good place to walk your dogs. I don’t want to see it swarmed

with tourists.” Generally speaking, there was support for a development at the

cannery as long as it created local employment and business opportunity, provided

structured activities for visitors, followed city codes, ensured maximum safety, and

There was support

for a development

at the cannery as

long as it met a list

of criteria.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

involved local input in the planning process from citizens, tribal members, agencies, and clans. One life-long resident echoed the sentiments of many in talking

about the cannery. “Hoonah needs to be connected with it not separated from it.”

Reflect local identity—

Residents also agreed that a tourist attraction should reflect local identity and should

be something that is not offered in other communities. Many wanted to see Hoonah

do something that would reflect its Tlingit heritage in an authentic and meaningful

way. Still others suggested that Hoonah take advantage of its access to roads and

remote recreation sites. The idea was that Hoonah should develop a niche product

that would be widely recognized as unique to Hoonah and be closely linked with

Hoonah’s identity as a community. Almost everyone interviewed suggested that

Hoonah should take advantage of its identity as a Tlingit village. Several residents

stipulated that a cultural tourism program should emphasize authentic production

and sale of Tlingit arts and handicrafts. For others, the importance was placed on

creating an experience that was alive and not framed in the past tense. “I don’t want

to see a static display, but want to show a living, breathing culture.” Many felt that

tourism had the ability to spark a renaissance in Tlingit arts and culture and inspire

youth to learn Tlingit language and tradition.

Many residents desired a museum or cultural center to store Native artifacts

and to showcase the history of Huna people, as well as the contemporary history

of Hoonah and its residents. In both focus groups, there was unanimous support for

a museum or cultural center. In addition, focus group participants wanted to see a

performance center built for dances, storytelling, and other arts events. Other ideas

included the development of a school or educational program to teach aspects of

Native art and culture to Native and non-Native learners.

Local economic benefits—

Of utmost importance to Hoonah residents was that tourism be planned to benefit

the local economy and to create local jobs and businesses. As one focus group

participant noted, “Tourism should be developed that offers productive and positive

experiences for people involved.” No one wanted to see tourism benefit outside

entrepreneurs or nonlocal workers. A resident who had lived in Hawaii and Juneau

worried about the ability of local residents to benefit economically from tourism,

particularly cruise-based tourism, which relies heavily on tours and promotes shops

owned by the cruise lines.
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Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

[In Juneau]...the tourists are basically herded off those ships, put onto

their own set of tour buses, taken on their own tours, taken to their own

tourist shops. Mostly the local people miss out. And, the same thing

happened...in Hawaii. The local people...don’t really benefit by the

tourism. They get maid jobs and bellboy jobs, but basically the tourism

belongs to larger companies that bring workers in from somewhere else.

Local cooperation—

Many felt that local agencies should be cooperating to promote tourism. For some,

the key to success was working together, “If we can do it hand in hand, maybe it

would be okay.” Several community leaders noted that different agencies offer

different expertise and resources, but that these resources must be pooled for

maximum effect. Others suggested that clan participation be stressed from the

beginning. “We need all the clans involved. We need approval of the clans to share

culture with visitors. It has to be a joint effort.” A number of residents noted the

need for a stronger umbrella organization to focus on tourism and make sure that

local agencies were involved jointly. One resident suggested that key organizations

should get together and offer a workshop about agency roles and responsibilities

with regard to recreation and tourism. Another resident suggested a moderator be

hired to bring organizations together to get something started. “Everyone wants to

be the leader,” she said.

Planning and pacing—

There was a shared sense of urgency about moving into tourism quickly. “Someone has to jumpstart it, not just talk about it.” Many hoped that the potential Huna

Totem project at the cannery would spark local tourism efforts. At the same time,

the need for “slow careful planning” for tourism was emphasized. Planning was

seen as crucial for minimizing the potential negative effects of tourism and maximizing the benefits. One resident felt that tourism should proceed slowly to maximize local involvement. “Tourism should go at a slow pace so that locals can get

involved.” The need to prepare locals for the tourism industry was embedded in this

concern.

Cruise ships—

Residents interviewed in 2001 were not supportive of large cruise ships docking

in town. Residents were generally fearful about the potential effects of large

cruise ships on the natural and social environment. In fact, 18 of 20 focus group

participants put large cruise ships on the bottom of their list of desired tourism

Tourism should go

at a slow pace so

that locals can get

involved.
64

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

developments. The consensus was that Hoonah was not set up to accommodate the

high visitor volumes. Criticisms of large cruise ships focused on several areas. Some

residents worried that cruise lines have too much control over communities. “Wherever they go, they own the town,” said one resident. “The cruise lines are cheap.

They want to absorb everything. They don’t want to share the wealth with the

local community.” Other critiques were leveled about the amount of local spending

associated with cruise guests. “They have the most impact and leave the least in the

community.” “Visitors eat on the boat. They don’t spend money on food in town.”

“A lot of them don’t even get off the boat.” “They have minimum economic impact

compared to other forms of tourism.” Other concerns focused on the impact to the

community. “Our town would get trampled. Skagway can absorb a lot of tourists.

This would be hard in Hoonah.” One business owner did note some benefit to the

cruise ships, “On a positive note, it would bring people to town. It would get people

to Hoonah.” Another added, “it might work if it was limited to one part of town,

like the cannery.”

Small cruise ships were deemed far more acceptable to Hoonah residents interviewed in 2001. Some residents readily touted the merits of small cruise ships,

noting that guests tend to be more interested in learning about the ports they visit,

and that small cruise ships offer significant programming to focus on nature and

culture. “We might pursue this on a trial basis to get our feet wet.” Some talked

about small cruise ship tourism on a limited basis, “I would not like to see boats

every day—maybe once a week unless our infrastructure can be improved.” In

talking about small cruise ships, the need to keep visitors separate from downtown and to provide structured activities for guests to eliminate aimless wandering

was echoed. Among focus group participants, business owners and artists were

more likely to support small cruise ships, whereas subsistence users were less

enthusiastic.

Forest recreation–

Hoonah’s extensive system of forest roads offers access to hundreds of miles of

national forest land for hunters, anglers, and other outdoor adventurers. The recreation resources of the Tongass National Forest were developed to promote primitive

or rustic outdoor experiences, catering to those who prefer fewer signs of human

activity. Although many Juneau hunters have discovered the Hoonah road system,

other recreation users could be attracted to the area as well. Residents interviewed

mentioned a number of activities that would promote recreation and take advantage
65

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

of Hoonah’s location, including kayak and canoe routes, bird-watching areas, bearviewing facilities, mountain bike tours, car and jeep rentals, and other nature-based

tours.

The need for a campground facility near Hoonah was discussed by many in

2001. A campground or RV park near town was seen as a way to benefit local

businesses and the city. Businesses would benefit from in-town shopping by campers, and a downtown camping facility would reduce the resource problems created

by camping along forest roads. Some residents felt that Whitestone Harbor may

serve as a good site for primitive camping, because it could adequately serve roadbased traffic as well as marine traffic along Icy Strait. The lack of funds to maintain the campground was recognized as a barrier. In addition, some residents

worried that a campground may attract too many visitors to the area.

Tourism Constraints

Although Hoonah’s tourism potential was widely acknowledged, many also focused

on the constraints that could inhibit tourism growth. When I asked people to reflect

on reasons why tourism has not already been developed in 2001, several factors

were mentioned. Many of these themes relate not only to the development of

tourism, but to economic development of any kind. Some focused on the business

climate and cost of utilities, others were concerned about perceived inadequacies in

infrastructure and facilities.

Business climate—

Several interviewees felt that Hoonah lacked a pro-business atmosphere. One public

official explained that the city owned significant land-holdings in Hoonah acquired

as a result of statehood. Unlike some other Alaska cities, which sold their land to

private interests, Hoonah officials held onto this property–leasing to local businesses. The process of receiving a permit to lease city land was reportedly somewhat cumbersome up through the 1990s, making it difficult to start new business

ventures. Some residents told me that over the years there had been an anti-business

sentiment among city committees that resulted in the denial or delay of permit

issuance. According to one resident, “If the city does not favor your business, you

will not get a lease. This gives the city a lot of power to determine business activity

and impedes business development.” Another noted, “The city policy makes it hard

for people to do business. Everything goes through the planning commission. There

is an anti-development sentiment on the planning commission. It has been against

new ideas.” According to the city manager, the process for permit applications had

Decades of

ambivalence about

business development and a cumbersome permitting

process discourage

significant outside

investment.
66

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

been streamlined in 2001. However, decades of ambivalence about business development and a cumbersome permitting process discourage significant outside investment.

Utilities and infrastructure—

Several public officials and business owners commented on the need for a lowcost energy supply to promote economic development. The high cost of electricity

dissuaded many prospective businesses from locating in Hoonah. In 2001, electricity

costs were 37 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to 8 cents in nearby Juneau.

“Electricity is a serious problem in Hoonah. It makes the cost of doing business

very high,” the mayor explained. The city was working with state and federal

agencies to solve this problem, but until it is resolved, utility costs remain high for

residential and commercial customers.

Several residents commented that Hoonah was not set up to handle tourists.

Two areas were mentioned most often: public works and municipal services.

Some were concerned with the capacity of city infrastructure to handle high visitor

volumes. Areas most emphasized were waste, water, sewer, fire, and medical services. There was awareness among those interviewed that cruise ship passengers

may be elderly or ill and that the local medical facilities may not be able to accommodate health needs. Others worried about the city’s ability to handle emergencies

in the national forest.

Local attitudes—

Tourism appeared to be quietly controversial in Hoonah and there was some hesitancy to talk openly about tourism. One resident told me he could not discuss his

personal views and ideas about tourism until several organizations had an open

community discussion about it and all viewpoints were on the table. Another resident described that she came back to Hoonah after having been away for many

years and was very excited about Hoonah’s tourism potential. However, when she

brought this up in social situations, she was told to stay quiet with her beliefs.

“People told me ‘no, that’s not a good thing to talk about.’ They don’t want to see

people wandering around.” Another person informed me, “I will tell you that I am

in support of cruise ships, but I wouldn’t say that in public.” There appeared to be

an anti-tourism undercurrent in the community, yet few residents interviewed were

actually against tourism. One resident suggested that opposition to change was coming from elders and those who had never lived outside the community and were
67

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

opposed to change. Meanwhile, the generation of adults assuming leadership positions in civic and government institutions seemed more supportive of tourism as a

viable development option.

Aesthetic appeal—

Hoonah residents often joked about the overall appearance of their community.

Although many defended the right for people to maintain their homes and yards in

the way that suited them, they recognized at the same time that visitors may come

to the community with a different set of aesthetic standards. In one person’s words,

Tourists don’t want to come here and see a beat-up town with trash

everywhere. They are going to have to clean up the town first. Get rid of

some of the old cars and boats lying around. Haul out the garbage and

the old refrigerators. Do something with the store fronts. I don’t know

that people are going to want to do that.

In one focus group, someone made the suggestion that tourism might be an incentive for people to “clean up their yards.” Another group member responded,

“Maybe people don’t want to clean up their yards.” If visitors are to come to

Hoonah in greater numbers, the community may anticipate some discussions about

aesthetic standards or city codes.

Local tour operators commented that the timber industry had squelched the

tourism industry somewhat because of their practice of clearcutting. One resident

lamented the fact that the Native corporations chose to harvest timber in a way that

had such an impact on scenery. “They need to log in such a way that views are protected and fish and game habitat is protected. At least do logging behind the hills

and out of my face.” When considering the potential for tourism in Hoonah, one

tour operator said, “What about eco-tourism? We destroyed that when we clearcut

the hills.” He went on to say that businesses will have to attract tourists who do not

care about the lack of visual appeal of the area. Charter boat operators explained

that often their guests do not comment on or notice the logging because they are

focused more on fishing and less on their surroundings. For charter fishing and

hunting, the clearcuts may not be a deterrent to tourism growth, but a few local

tour operators believed it will be a long time before nature-based tourism catches

on in the vicinity of Hoonah.

Labor constraints—

Community leaders described the need for more jobs in Hoonah, yet some residents

were skeptical that local workers would be interested in or trained for tourism jobs.

Community leaders

described the need

for more jobs in

Hoonah, yet some

residents were

skeptical that local

workers would be

interested in or

trained for tourism

jobs.
68

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Several residents expressed a concern that if tourism were to grow, outsiders would

be hired to assume tourism jobs because Hoonah workers may not favor these jobs.

One Hoonah resident claimed that the timber industry had spoiled workers with

high salaries for sporadic labor. Many Hoonah residents worked sporadically as

stevedores, longshoremen, and as sorters and loaders for the logging ships—earning

high wages for several days. The sporadic nature of this work was preferred by

some residents, who would then be free to hunt, fish, work in other jobs, or relax

between ships. According to some government employees, local workers were not

attracted to year-round, full-time employment. “We can’t even fill jobs at the city,”

said one city employee, “even though we offer benefits, no one wants to work 9 to

5.” It remains to be seen whether tourism employment would be attractive to local

workers. The part-time and sporadic nature of some tourism labor may fit well with

local employment patterns.

Although the timber employment had diminished significantly, a generation of

workers was accustomed to higher wages and may have a difficult time adjusting to

jobs that offer more stability but at lower wage rates. Many residents pointed to the

Hoonah Cold Storage plant, which offered some year-round employment and many

seasonal jobs in fish processing. In 2001, the plant imported workers from out of

state to fill seasonal jobs. In addition, a commercial fisherman described his difficulties putting together crews of local workers for fishing trips despite the potential

to earn hundreds of dollars a day. “Kids do not seem to have the same work ethic.”

Another resident told me, “Some people don’t want to work. They have new homes

for about $50 per month. They are trained not to work. Many people are not going

to work. They will have to bring people in to work. People won’t want to work

these jobs. They don’t like consistent work. They will quit after a week.” Without

employment skills training, Hoonah residents may not possess appropriate skills for

success in the tourism industry. Local agencies discussed the need to work with the

schools to develop a curriculum that addressed professional needs relevant for

tourism jobs.

Creation of Icy Strait Point

The development of a cruise ship destination at an historic cannery 1 mile from

downtown Hoonah in 2004 altered the face of tourism in Hoonah. This section

describes the efforts by Huna Totem to promote economic development through

tourism. After explaining the various stages of decisionmaking that resulted in

the creation of Icy Strait Point, I describe the status of tourism in Hoonah in 2004.
69

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Resident interviews conducted at the end of the first cruise ship season provide a

glimpse into local reactions to the new economy and the presence of visitors.

The degree to which corporation executives responded to the needs and concerns of Hoonah residents ultimately may determine the success of this tourism

project. Residents explained their desire for tourism that was small in scale, located

away from the downtown residential core, and that represented the unique cultural

identity of the Huna people. They desired multilateral participation in the tourism

process to control the pace and rate of tourism development. They also sought

tourism that resulted in wide distribution of benefits throughout the community and

promoted jobs, employment skills, and business opportunities for a wide range of

residents. To a great extent, the development at Point Sophia achieved many of

these goals. Yet, issues of equity, access to local spaces, and local control remain

important.

Point Sophia Development Corporation

The cannery at Point Sophia, known locally as “Cannery Point” has a long history. The area at the mouth of Port Frederick was originally known as Gaax’ayi

(“Duck’s Point”) where Huna people from throughout Icy Strait joined together at

the time of the advancing glaciers. In 1912, the Hoonah Packing Company built a

cannery at Point Sophia. The cannery closed in 1923, but reopened in 1934 under

ownership of the Icy Strait Salmon Company. In its peak season (1944), the cannery employed 82 Hoonah residents and 21 nonresidents canning salmon (Roppel

2001). The cannery closed in 1953, but was later used by Wards Cove Packing to

store and repair seine boats, nets, skiffs, and gear (fig.11). In addition, houses at

the site were leased by local families, and the area was a popular recreation and

picnic area for residents. A small cemetery on site also had historical and social

significance for many Hoonah families.

In 1996, Huna Totem purchased the cannery with hopes of developing the site.

Tourism was considered a top investment prospect because of its historic value and

advantageous location on the mouth of the bay. For 5 years, no changes were made

at the cannery site, although the corporation continued leasing the facility for

fishing boat repair. Plans were drawn to convert the cannery into a tourist facility

as early as 1999, and Huna Totem actively began seeking exclusive partnerships

with cruise lines. In the meantime, Huna Totem began its forays into tourism when

board members began working as interpreters onboard Holland America ships. In

September 2000, a Holland America cruise ship pulled into Hoonah harbor, setting

the stage for future cruise ships in the community.

Residents explained

their desire for

tourism that was

small in scale,

located away from

the downtown residential core, and

that represented

the unique cultural

identity of the Huna

people.
70

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

In 2001, Huna Totem officially broke ground for renovation of the cannery

complex and community residents gathered for speeches about plans for tourist

development. According to Huna Totem board members, local meetings were held

in the summer of 2001 to air concerns and share hopes for the project.20 At these

sessions, residents emphasized the need for local employment opportunities and

expressed concerns about potential changes to community life. Huna Totem still

had not developed a contract with a cruise line, but planned to invest corporation

resources into the project.

In 2002, Huna Totem announced the creation of the Point Sophia Development Company (PSDC), a joint venture between Huna Totem and Koma Sales, a

tourism company based in Juneau. The corporation would invest $20 million in

cannery renovations to attract the interest of cruise lines. The 7.7-hectare facility

would be developed around a Tlingit theme, emphasizing cultural performances,

Native arts and crafts, culturally-based tours, and wildlife tours. Architectural

drawings revealed a cannery museum, cultural center, shopping areas, restaurants,

a salmon bake, walking trails, and bus tour staging areas. The firm also announced

that the destination would accommodate a maximum of one ship daily. Over the

next 2 years, 60 people were employed in cannery restoration–more than 90-

percent locals.

20 More than one Huna Totem board member interviewed in 2003 explained that community meetings had been held in 2001 to share project ideas and generate community

input. However, no documented evidence of these meetings exists, suggesting that

perhaps they were not widely advertised.

Figure 11—Cannery Point in 2001.

Lee Cerveny
71

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

In 2003, Huna Totem hired a former executive of Princess Cruises to an executive position in tourism development. With his help, PSDC achieved a 5-year

contract with Royal Caribbean Corporation to bring 33 cruise ships to Hoonah in

2004 (Huna Totem Corporation 2003). The cannery was renamed Icy Strait Point

by a Florida-based destination development firm, and was billed “Alaska’s first

purpose-built destination,” reflecting a trend in the cruise industry to create wholly

owned destinations. Icy Strait Point was to be the first privately-developed cruise

destination in Alaska. The city of Hoonah issued a memorandum in support of the

project and sought federal grants to build a cruise ship dock. An agreement was

made with the Hoonah Indian Association to manage cultural resources and develop

cultural programs for visitors. Point Sophia Development Company purchased six

fishing boats and two 149-passenger whale-watching boats for shore excursions. A

consultant’s report assessing the feasibility of the project determined that Icy Strait

Point would generate 298 direct jobs, with an annual payroll of $3.5 million

(McDowell Group 2003). The city of Hoonah would receive sales tax revenues

from the sale of tours.

On May 26, 2004, Celebrity Cruise Lines’ 1,800-passenger ship Mercury

became the first to dock in Icy Strait Point. The ship anchored off-shore within

sight of Hoonah and was greeted by a flotilla of Tlingit canoes. An estimated

1,300 passengers came to shore to participate in excursions or wander the cannery

grounds. During the first season, 32 cruise ships brought an estimated 55,000

passengers to shore twice weekly. The cruise lines expressed approval, sending 37

ships to Hoonah in 2005. In 2006, Holland America added 20 ships, bringing the

total to 55 calls (estimated 130,000 visitors). Governor Murkowski visited in

September 2004 and declared the project a success. In late 2004, Huna Totem

renegotiated its arrangement with Koma Sales and became a majority owner of

Point Sophia Development Company, renamed Icy Strait Point.

An understanding of the creation of a cruise ship destination in Hoonah would

not be complete without recognizing the important social ties among leaders of key

Hoonah institutions. Through the early phases of the PSDC project, the tribal administrator, harbormaster, and a prominent PSDC executive were all members of

the same family. In past decisions related to economic development, infrastructure

improvements, or other proposed actions affecting Hoonah, tension among various

civic leaders made collective decisionmaking an arduous process—in some cases

resulting in inaction. The coalescence of relatives in local positions of power resulted in a more unified voice in favor of swift movement toward tourism.
72

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Overview of Tourism in 2004

In September 2004, I returned to Hoonah on the weekend of the final cruise ship

visit of the season and the arrival of Governor Murkowski and his delegation. My

purpose was to assess the status of tourism in 2004 and the initial community

response to tourism. Three days were spent conducting 12 standard interviews and

engaging in casual conversations with another 6 residents. A variety of people were

included in the followup sample including tribal officials, PSDC administrators and

employees, downtown business owners, tour operators not affiliated with the cannery, Forest Service employees, and everyday residents. This section draws from

interviews along with personal observations to describe Icy Strait Point.

The cannery had been completely overhauled since 2001—painted barn red

with white trim. Worn and creaky boards were replaced with new wood. Warehouses that once housed fishing gear, marine repair parts, tools, and boats in

varying stages of repair were replaced with a very open structure, housing a fishing

museum, café, and several shops. The facility was rustic, but comfortable, with

adequate lighting, heating, and amenities. The boardwalk was well-maintained, and

informal trails had been converted to wide gravel pathways adorned by attractive

landscaping and prolific signage in a consistent aesthetic theme. The layout promoted the circulation of visitors over a large area, creating a relaxed, unhurried

atmosphere symbolized by the presence of the long-time cannery dog sleeping in

the sun in the center of the boardwalk (fig. 12).

Icy Strait Point employed approximately 125 part-time and full-time employees during tourist season, with an estimated 94 percent local residents (Alaska

Coastal Management Program 2005). Employment opportunities included administrative staff, deck hands, boat captains, mechanics, maintenance workers, drivers,

clerks, restaurant workers, and customer service agents. Several elder Tlingit tribal

members served as storytellers at the fire pit on the beach. Others performed as

dancers in the performance center or engaged in cultural reenactments as part of

the “Journey Through Time.” On cruise ship days in May and September, local

schools closed to provide a labor pool of students and teachers.

The cruise ship arrived in midmorning, anchoring in Icy Strait. Guests began

arriving on zodiac boats that brought them to the cannery dock. The first guests

boarded fishing vessels and whale-watching boats and were escorted out of Port

Frederick. Other guests boarded buses, vans, and bicycles for land-based tours in

Hoonah. Icy Strait Point featured 11 shore excursions, including charter fishing,
73

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

whale watching, bush exploration, forest and nature tram, jeep tours, bicycle tours,

Glacier Bay flight-seeing, and a cultural history exhibit. A wildlife tour took guests

to Spasski Creek, an area about 10 kilometers from Hoonah on land owned by

Huna Totem. Most tours were owned by PSDC; two tours were developed by local

entrepreneurs. Tours were sold to Royal Caribbean at a fixed price and the cruise

line marked up prices based on market demand. Tours ranged from 1 to 3 hours in

length and were priced between $40 and $80.21 Corporate officials explained that

the most popular excursions were whale watching, fishing, and bear viewing.

Subsequent zodiacs brought guests who wanted to visit the cannery museum,

cultural center, or walk on the trails. A group of Huna Tlingit dancers in ceremonial dress greeted them on the boardwalk and performed to the beat of a drum. A

welcome center provided information about Icy Strait Point and many customer

service representatives circulated to guide visitors (fig. 13). The cannery provided

space for 24 shops. In its first season, 12 shops operated on an open-lease basis. At

least four shops had local ties, including one that served as a fund-raiser for the

21 By 2007, the range of tour prices diversified, with some selling from as low as $36 to

$299 for the most expensive tour (Glacier Bay flight-seeing).

Figure 12—Cannery after renovation, 2004.

Lee Cerveny

The most popular

excursions were

whale watching,

fishing, and bear

viewing.
74

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Hoonah School District. Another venture was a result of a Hoonah Incubator

Project that helped low-income residents gain business skills through a combination of grants and training. Other businesses were owned and operated by Juneau

entrepreneurs, some of whom flew into Hoonah on cruise ship days. A theater

provided the venue for cultural programs and Tlingit dances.

Visitors to Icy Strait Point appeared to enjoy the destination, particularly

its tranquility, peacefulness, and absence of commercialism. Visitors also commented about the authenticity of Hoonah. I overheard one visitor say to his traveling companion, “Now this is the real Alaska.” A downtown business owner told me,

“Visitors say to leave Hoonah the way it is, don’t commercialize it.” Most guests

appeared to enjoy the absence of jewelry and t-shirt shops, but not all visitors were

at home in Hoonah. As a PSDC official explained, “This is not the best place for

power shoppers.” Residents noted that visitors were quite interested in community

life and asked questions about local schools, winter weather, and how people in

Hoonah acquire food and provisions (fig. 14).

Corporation officials seem to have acknowledged local concerns to manage the

growth of tourism by establishing use limits up front. According to PSDC officials,

the corporation’s intent was to attract one cruise ship per day, with a maximum of

five or six weekly. Most residents who were interviewed agreed with this gradual

approach to growth and to the idea of establishing limits on cruise ship visitation.

One resident stated, “One ship a day is perfect. They come out with the tide and

Figure 13—Dancers with tourist on deck at Icy Strait Point.

Lee Cerveny

Corporation officials

seem to have acknowledged local

concerns to manage

the growth of tourism by establishing

use limits up front.
75

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

leave with the tide.” Another person said, “If you get more than one ship per day,

people will move in with gift shops and you won’t get that Alaska experience.” As

the number of ship arrivals increase in 2006, as expected, it may be useful to

reassess local reactions to maximum cruise ship arrivals.

Resident Reactions to Icy Strait Point

Among residents interviewed in this small followup sample, there was widespread

agreement that the development at cannery point had been a success and that

tourism was an overall benefit. Most impressive were the economic benefits,

including jobs and business opportunities for residents. Many acknowledged the

role of the Huna Totem Corporation for making this happen. As one resident said,

“This is a great economic opportunity not possible otherwise without corporate

investment.” Still, there remained the concern that residents need to control the

direction and pace of development. As a local fisherman explained, “Tourism is

the only hope we have. Logging and fishing are gone. We have to handle tourism

in the proper way to benefit.” The creation of Icy Strait Point resulted in jobs and

income for Hoonah residents both directly at the cannery site, and in town. Although response was profoundly favorable at the end of the first season, residents

Figure 14—Visitors to Icy Strait Point.

Lee Cerveny
76

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

did share a few concerns about the development. Several themes emerged from

conversations with residents that are elaborated below. These themes should be

viewed as possible trends for future research and analysis.

Community involvement—

Local involvement in the cannery project was seen as essential to its success by

PSDC officials, who claimed that they had support from 98 percent of the community. Yet, residents interviewed in 2004 had mixed responses about the extent to

which PSDC officials had solicited local involvement. Several interviewees indicated that the tourism project at the cannery had brought the town together and

created a more cohesive community. Although most residents interviewed were

supportive, some acknowledged that the corporation had turned off some people

by approaching the community with ready-made plans, “They knew what they

were going to do–like a steamroller.” Another person said, “PSDC never sat

down with people in town and refused to meet with local organizations to plan.”

Cannery access—

One major concern raised by residents was their inability to access the cannery

during the visitor season. The PSDC officials made the cannery off-limits to

Hoonah residents, resulting in the loss of a favorite place for local recreation, dog

walking, and family outings. The cannery also represented an important part of the

history of the community, and Hoonah residents were dismayed that they were not

invited to cannery grounds, a rule particularly enforced during cruise ship visits.

The PSDC officials explained that the prohibition of visitors was required by the

cruise line, Royal Caribbean, because of liability issues. However, few fully accepted this explanation. “They don’t want us at the cannery. That is the clear message we’re getting–stay away.” During the last week of the season, posters were

hung around town inviting Hoonah residents to a Local Appreciation Day at the

cannery, where they could benefit from 40-percent discounts on selected items.

After the 2004 season, a decision was made to open parts of cannery grounds to

residents, which somewhat alleviated this sense of exclusion. Still, the beach beyond

the salmon bake remained closed to locals.

Visitor flow downtown—

Icy Strait Point was designed as a comprehensive and enclosed destination, responding to a wide variety of guest needs for food, comfort, and entertainment. The

PSDC officials explained that they were concerned about the effects of large visitor

groups on downtown Hoonah and the loss of corporate revenues when visitors left

One major concern

raised by residents

was their inability to

access the cannery

during the visitor

season.
77

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

the grounds. Thus, they sought to control the flow of Icy Strait Point guests both

at the cannery and in the PSDC tours to minimize interaction with downtown

residents.

Developers did not anticipate the extent to which visitors would desire to venture to Hoonah on their own volition, nor did they predict the disappointment of

many downtown business owners and others who hoped to benefit from tourism.

The PSDC officials and local business owners alike were surprised about the

volume of guests who opted to leave the cannery site to walk downtown. Maps of

the site clearly labeled a “guest boundary,” but this did not dissuade guests from

leaving the cannery. One PSDC official estimated that between 200 and 400 cruise

ship guests walked to town with each ship. As one PSDC employee stated, “On the

day of the first ship, we were overwhelmed. No one thought or imagined people

would come through town.” According to residents, visitors walking downtown

wanted to see an authentic Alaska community. The appearance of visitors outside

the cannery also brought some unanticipated changes to the flow of pedestrian and

vehicle traffic in town.

Downtown Hoonah businesses benefited from the cruise guests who walked or

shuttled to town. Many shops offered gifts, artwork, and other items of interest to

visitors. One enterprising youth sold lemonade to passersby along the dusty road

leading from the cannery to town. A crafts market featuring local works also

sprouted in the ANB hall and drew visitors looking to buy directly from artists.

Downtown restaurants also experienced an increase in business from tourist traffic

or crew members–hiring additional help during cruise ship days.

Not knowing how many cruise ship guests would actually venture to town,

many businesses used a “wait and see” approach and responded quickly to address

emerging visitor needs. Local business owners explained that they had not specifically geared up in preparation for visitors, but were responding to demand from

passengers and crew. The story of one local restaurant/bar was fairly typical.

“We just stumbled on it,” said the owner. Crew members were looking for a local

establishment for relaxation. The restaurant responded by offering crew free cans

of salmon and special beverage prices. Rumor spread throughout the ship fleet and

the Internet about the friendly Hoonah establishment, and business grew. “We

spoiled the crew with favors and they told the tourists about us.” Customers began

requesting food service and the bar responded by serving fresh salmon, crab, and

side dishes. The bar owners hung large banners welcoming crew members and ship

guests onto their deck. The business also benefited from PSDC workers, who came
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

in for dinner after the ship had sailed. This entrepreneur had identified and capitalized upon a niche. Then, when a neighboring restaurant wanted to get in on the

action, the two businesses developed an informal agreement not to compete; one

restaurant offered crab and the other served halibut.

Several local businesses also fared well with the arrival of the steady trickle

of pedestrians coming from the cannery. Stores, such as the Hoonah Trading Post,

had stocked up on gifts. Still, other businesses noticed few changes in their receipts. One tackle shop explained that when the cruise ships were in town, they

saw more tourists but fewer locals, as many local customers were working at the

cannery. Hoonah business owners and city officials also recognized that the attention brought to Hoonah from the cruise stop could result in an increase in independent visitors in the future. Some B&B operators and restaurant owners were thinking of ways to gear up to support future tourism among cruise ship guests who

wanted to come back on their own. The city was considering how a potential

increase in independent guests might place demands on existing infrastructure.

Over the course of the first season, local firms emerged to offer a variety of

services, including a shuttle service to town, cultural and historical tours, and

fishing excursions. These tours were not sanctioned by Point Sophia and targeted

guests who either had signed up for a shore excursion on board, or who had

contracted their own tour options on the Internet. The PSDC officials apparently

underestimated visitor use of local tours not sold on the ship. Tension flared

between local start-up businesses not formally associated with the cannery, and

PSDC executives, particularly as the number of off-site tours increased.

Some residents felt that PSDC actively discouraged visitors from knowing

about the proximity of Hoonah. According to resident accounts, the first cruise

ships to arrive in the spring of 2004 anchored within full view of Hoonah. After

visitors surprised everyone by walking unguided to downtown Hoonah, ships began

anchoring in Icy Strait. Some believed that this change was designed to discourage

people from leaving the site by downplaying the cannery’s proximity to town.

Several interviewees showed me the map of Icy Strait Point, noting the clear delineation of a “guest boundary” and the presence of a checkpoint or guard station.

They also made a point to indicate that the town of Hoonah was not marked on the

map. Moreover, brochures distributed to guests did not discuss the location of

Hoonah. One interviewee told me that PSDC employees were discouraged from

elaborating on the location of Hoonah. Clearly in the minds of many residents,

Icy Strait Point was designed to be a self-enclosed destination. While this model
79

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

worked to limit visitor encounters with residents and reduce opportunities for social

change, the separation of the tourism development from the business district was

perceived negatively by many downtown business owners.

Encouraging independent tourism—

Another issue noted by interviewees was the cannery’s emphasis on catering to

cruise ship guests and their unwillingness to provide guest services to independent

visitors. A well-publicized incident in the Juneau Empire described the experience

of a small party of independent travelers. According to media reports, a party of

independent visitors approached PSDC about the possibility of participating in a

cannery tour. The corporation initially responded that tours were unavailable

because they had been previously sold out to cruise ship guests. Later they explained

that the tours were not actually full, but there was no existing procedure for ticketing visitors who did not book trips on the cruise ship. Regardless of intention, the

corporation was not set up to handle request from independent visitors. Moreover,

cruise line representatives may have been concerned about their ability to capture

spending by independent visitors (Juneau Empire 2004).

Employment and earnings benefits—

The cannery provided an opportunity for local workers to earn income and support

their families. One worker claimed that jobs at the cannery reduced resident dependence on food stamps. Point Sophia was viewed as a primary employment opportunity for high school and college-age students as well as parents and elder tribal

members without other sources of income. Cannery jobs provided a secondary income for teachers, school officials, and others with part-time or seasonal work in

other sectors. Nonlocal workers also were hired in key positions, where local skills

were not available. Although residents acknowledged the importance of these

workers to the success of the operation, many hoped that the local organizations

could provide opportunities to improve hiring opportunities for the local labor

force.

Hoonah residents also noted that the cannery provided opportunity for workers

to learn new skills. Local residents, particularly youth, had learned to engage with

the public and to establish a work ethic. However, PSDC officials observed that in

some cases there was a gap in the skills needed for some cannery jobs and the job

skills available in the local labor force. According to resident interviews, some

cannery workers had been dismissed because their work practices did not match

with management needs. One interviewee told me that PSDC management was
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

“fire-happy”–removing people too quickly and without adequate justification. The

PSDC managers indicated the need to import workers from outside Hoonah with

particular skills. Given that cruise ship arrivals were expected to increase after

2004, there was a concern about the long-term supply of skilled workers to meet

seasonal employment needs.

Tax revenues—

The Icy Strait Point development also provided tax revenues to the city, based on

sale of tours taking place in Hoonah. Indeed, sales tax revenues to the city increased

from $374,000 in 2003 to $522,000 in 2004 (Alaska Coastal Management Program

2005). City officials were determined that PSDC would make a contribution to the

city coffers to help offset costs for infrastructure and city services. “They (corporate

officials) are in a position of power,” said one city employee, “but why should the

city pick up the tab for people in town?”

New business growth—

The role of Icy Strait Point in generating new business growth is difficult to determine. An analysis of business licenses issued between 1999 and 2007 shows that

the number of tourism-related businesses registered in the local community has been

relatively stable, although the proportion of businesses in various categories shifted.

Table 3 shows a growth in nature-based and sightseeing tours as well as gift shops

and galleries. The number of charter fishing businesses licensed in Hoonah declined,

along with local accommodations. However, some businesses operating in Hoonah

may be registered in Juneau or other cities, suggesting ownership outside the

Hoonah region. The portion of local firms devoted to tourism has increased from

27 percent in 1999 to 39 percent in 2007, although this increase also reflects stark

declines in the total number of registered Hoonah businesses.

Prevalence of nonlocal firms—

The cannery sponsored several nature-based tours, which it developed internally and

sold to the cruise lines at a markup. Some Hoonah residents noted that they hoped

to see more involvement in the cannery development by local business owners in

future years. During the first season of operation, there were 3 to 4 (of 11) vendors

with local roots operating at the cannery. Others stores were owned by nonlocal

entrepreneurs. Hoonah workers were employed by some of these establishments as

clerks and in other functions. Cannery officials expected that more local entrepreneurs would secure vendor contracts in future years.

Cannery officials

expected that more

local entrepreneurs

would secure vendor contracts in

future years.
81

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Emergence of independent guides and firms—

A small number of independent firms who were not endorsed by PSDC also offered

services to cruise ship guests. Originally, corporate officials had intended to cooperate with these local entrepreneurs to handle guest overflow. When the fishing excursion was sold out, they would subcontract with local charter guides. However,

several enterprising guides managed to book trips without the aid of the cruise lines,

using word of mouth recommendations shared among guests and crew and from

sources such as cruisecritic.com, a Web site used by guests to assess the quality of

local tours and attractions. Local providers found themselves competing with PSDC

tours for customers, which created a tense atmosphere. As one resident explained,

“There has been a lot of tension between the cannery and downtown business

owners, over infrastructure issues, problems, failed promises.”

Local, independent providers explained that the corporation was eager to prevent them from accessing the cannery to pick up and return guests. Independent

guides were prohibited from dropping off or picking up guests at the cannery parking lot or on the beach. As one charter guide said, “[PSDC official] told me, ‘don’t

land here.’ We grew up together, went to school together and played on that beach.

They say they own it.” The sense of being excluded from economic benefits associated with the cannery was a repeated source of concern among long-time residents.

Independent guides worked with city officials and private landowners to clear out

a turnaround area directly outside the cannery boundary. According to local guides,

PSDC employees began parking there to discourage use by these independent

(nonendorsed) firms. In response to pressure from local business owners, the city

erected a “15-minute parking” sign at the parking site, which eliminated PSDC

employee parking and provided a venue for local tour operators, taxi companies,

Table 3—Tourism businesses for selected years between 1999 and 2007

Tourism as

Charter Nature and Tourism- a percentAll Hoonah Lodges fishing Hunting cultural Gift shops related age of all

Year businesses and inns guides guides tours galleries businesses businesses

Percent

1999 109 10 10 3 2 4 29 27

2001 107 10 9 3 2 4 28 26

2004 104 10 11 3 3 6 33 32

2005 97 7 11 2 2 7 29 30

2006 95 8 7 3 3 10 31 33

2007 80 8 7 1 5 10 31 39

Source: Alaska Division of Community Advocacy, 2007.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

and bus lines to generate business at Icy Strait Point. These negotiations created an

atmosphere of distrust among members of Hoonah’s business community. One

guide felt that the corporation was reluctant to see dollars spent outside the cannery. “Give us the leftovers” he said, “there is enough to go around.”

Emphasis on nature-based tours—

Between 2004 and 2007, the number of tours sold onboard the cruise lines increased

from 11 to 14. Over this period, the tours increasingly emphasized wildlife-viewing, adventure, and fishing, rather than cultural themes. This resounding emphasis

on nature-based tours was unexpected, given that Icy Strait Point is billed as a

destination for experiencing Tlingit culture. Of the 14 tours offered to Royal

Caribbean guests in 2007, 4 were wildlife-related, 3 involved active adventure, and

2 were charter fishing excursions. Just two tours sold on the cruise ship had explicit

cultural themes. Corporate officials indicated that their most popular (and most

expensive) tours were fishing and wildlife-viewing. A meeting was held in 2006

with members of Huna Heritage Foundation and HIA to discuss the declining

focus on cultural heritage at Icy Strait Point, in lieu of revenue-generating adventure tours. After 2006, the “Journey Through Time” tour, which involved many

tribal members reenacting and representing various cultural periods of Hoonah

history, was cancelled. A new zip-line attraction (adventure tour) was installed in

2007. In addition, the cultural museum was relocated to a smaller room to allow

more space for the gift shop (Mary Beth Moss. 2007. Curator, Hoonah Indian

Association).

Visitor interactions—

Residents interviewed were enjoying opportunities to interact with visitors and share

stories about their home. Some saw this as an opportunity to share with visitors an

accurate portrayal of their lifestyles. As one person stated, “The bottom-line thrill is

being able to share Hoonah with visitors from all over the world. The more important thrill is the opportunity to be involved in our own culture.” Many told stories of

residents who had given pedestrians walking from the cannery a free ride to town,

or had taken them to one of the local attractions not on the tourist map, such as the

dump, which is a beacon for bears. There was little indication that local residents

felt inundated by the presence of visitors. Several people noted that Hoonah residents had opened up to visitors and were more comfortable with strangers around as

a result of tourism. One former timber industry worker said that the tourists did not

bother him because he worked all day and they were gone by the time he got home

from work. “I just try to avoid hitting them on the road,” he quipped.

This resounding

emphasis on naturebased tours was

unexpected, given

that Icy Strait Point

is billed as a destination for experiencing Tlingit

culture.
83

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

A few said that the presence of visitors in town was still something to which

they had to get accustomed. Elders who lived in town sometimes felt intimidated

by visitors and were more hesitant to come out of their homes on cruise ship days.

One downtown resident told me that visitors walk onto her mother’s porch and peer

into the windows. “My mother peers back at them. She doesn’t get out much. They

take pictures of the signs on her front door that tell guests to remove their shoes.”

Later she described how she once went home for lunch and found visitors gazing

into her house. She greeted them on the porch and talked to them. “They wanted to

know if we had outhouses in our backyard. I said no, they were smokehouses. I

told them about smoking fish.” The visitors also were curious about the headstone

in the yard and took pictures of it. This interviewee enjoyed the exchange and the

friendliness of the guests. Still, a few others felt uncomfortable with the presence

of visitors in her home. “They say Hoonah is this little village. They way they say

it sounds like we’re ... I guess we are a little village; I guess I’m sensitive about

it.” As many social scientists have found, the presence of tourists from a different

socioeconomic and cultural background can create a sense of “otherness” that can

manifest itself in visitor-host interactions (Smith 1989). Many residents were

somewhat surprised about how sincerely interested cruise ship guests were in their

everyday lives.

Sharing Tlingit culture—

Hoonah residents interviewed very much appreciated the opportunity to share

Native culture with visitors. The early emphasis on cultural attractions required that

workers learn more about traditional culture, particularly dancers, performers, and

storytellers. Youth, who may not have prioritized cultural learning from elders in

the traditional way, found new incentives to learn about their cultural heritage.

“Young people get hands-on experience in cultural history. They work all summer

and get paid to learn about culture.” In the spring, a storyteller came from Juneau

and provided an all-day workshop on storytelling for the Tlingit theater group. As

the tribal administrator pointed out, the opportunity to share Native culture through

art and performance has strengthened existing efforts in cultural education and also

promoted a sense of pride. The presence of visitors also created a market for locally

produced Native art, which sparked local artists to learn or return to carving,

basket-making, and other skills. Stories from Huna clans were being shared in

2004, because clan elders had given permission for use of their stories. Other clan

stories and songs were not represented because PSDC did not have permission to

use them. Some stories told were not owned by any particular clan (fig. 15).
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Although most comments about the effects of the cannery development on

Native culture were positive, one person observed that the tribe had moved the

totem poles from their position in front of the tribal office to the performance

center at the cannery. Others were concerned about what was supposed to be a

temporary relocation of a carved canoe from the front of the high school to Icy

Strait Point. Not everyone had agreed with the tribe’s decision to relocate the totem

poles and other cultural items to the tourist venue. Others were concerned about the

cultural museum, which housed some clan property on the cannery site for the

benefit of tourists. Because residents were denied open access to Icy Strait Point,

some worried about being separated from their cultural legacy. These concerns

were given greater weight after 2005, when PSDC took over the management of

cultural programs from HIA and deemphasized the museum. Local access to this

historic site remained an important issue in 2007.

Resource effects—

With the exception of visitors walking to town, most tourist activity took place at

the cannery site or on lands owned by Huna Totem. In 2004, there was minimal

cruise-related tourist activity taking place in the adjacent national forest. Still,

community residents were eager to ensure that natural resources were not adversely

impacted by tourism. One long-time resident explained, “Tourism is okay if villagers can make a few dollars without [the tourists] destroying the natural resources.”

Thus far, the footprint of tourism had remained confined to Native corporation

Figure 15—Heritage Center at Icy Strait Point.

Lee Cerveny

Because residents

were denied open

access to Icy Strait

Point, some worried

about being separated from their

cultural legacy.
85

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

land-holdings; however, Forest Service officials were predicting an increase in

demand for national forest land, both by tour operators and resource users who may

have been displaced from corporation land. Forest Service officials had seen an

increase in request for special use permits for commercial recreation and were

predicting an increase in permit issuances in 2006. Recreation planning was underway in 2004 to consider future demands for cruise-based tourism on public lands.

Access to subsistence areas—

Few interviewees observed any adverse impacts to the natural resources as a result

of tourism. However, one issue widely discussed had to do with Native shareholder

access to corporation lands, in particular, the area in Spasski Creek, located roughly

10 kilometers from Hoonah. This area owned by Huna Totem was historically used

as hunting and fishing grounds and a place for gathering of subsistence resources,

particularly berries and cedar bark used for baskets. With the tourism development

at Icy Strait Point, the Spasski area was converted into a bear-viewing area including a 2-kilometer gravel pathway wandering through meadows and featuring several

raised platforms over the creek. Several residents told me that they were no longer

allowed to visit the area as a result of the tourism enterprise there. The loss of this

area raised questions among shareholders who felt entitled to use the land. In

reference to a non-Native PSDC executive, one resident asked, “Who is this guy

from Florida to come and tell a shareholder that he can’t walk on the land he

owns?” Other residents were not deterred from visiting Spasski Creek, in spite

of corporate policy. Corporate officials were not clear about their specific policy

related to shareholder use of this special area. Nor was it known whether this

prohibition of use was only during cruise ship season, or would be year-round.

The implications of restricting access to this area depend on the parameters set

by the corporation and their ability to communicate regulations clearly to Hoonah

residents.

City infrastructure—

Tourism expansion at Point Sophia cannery also had an impact on city infrastructure, including roads, facilities, and public services. City officials talked about the

frequent visitor requests for access to restrooms in city hall. The city secured funding for the use of portable toilets to accommodate cruise ship guests, but there was a

sense that more permanent restroom facilities were needed. There was an acknowledged need for expanded telecommunications capacity for cruise ship guests and

crew members. Hoonah city officials also sought a needs assessment of their existing

medical and emergency services, given the presence of cruise ship passengers with
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

health needs. “So far there has been no problem, but we need to consider training

for EMTs [emergency medical technicians]. Who will pay for this?” Finally, there

was discussion about the need to extend the city water line to the cannery. Some

residents objected to the use of public funds to support private tourism development, when other needs might be greater. As visitor volumes rise in future years, it

is likely that pressure on public resources will also intensify. Other southeast Alaska

cruise ports have devised ways to raise funds to support these services through sales

taxes, docking fees, head taxes, and other means.

The development of Icy Strait Point was welcomed by a diversity of Hoonah

residents. The economic benefits in the form of jobs and income helped to offset

some losses from the loss of fishing and timber employment. The short-term and

sporadic nature of the work meshed well with the subsistence lifestyle of many

employees. At the close of the 2004 season, there was a shared sense of success and

accomplishment among local officials and PSDC executives. Local residents grew

accustomed to more frequent interactions with visitors. Youth and other residents

involved in cultural performances for tourists gained new opportunities to learn

about aspects of Tlingit culture. Still, the development raised many questions about

the future relations between the community and Icy Strait Point. Residents desired

greater access to the cannery grounds, which represent an important part of the

community’s history as well as a favorite place for recreation. Residents wanted

visitors to know about their community, rather than be written off the tourist maps

and brochures. The transfer of totem poles, a carved canoe, and other cultural

materials to Icy Strait Point was a source of concern, particularly given limited

local access to the tourist facility. Finally, residents desired greater opportunities

for local firms to access the cannery site and benefit from the presence of cruise

guests.

Conclusions

Tourism was slow to take hold in Hoonah prior to 2001, in comparison to other

communities in southeast Alaska, as wary residents were concerned about the

changes that tourism might introduce. Residents interviewed in 2001 were hopeful

that tourism would generate local employment, but worried about being able to

control the growth of tourism, in lieu of the perceived imbalances in power between communities and cruise lines witnessed in other southeast Alaska cruise

ports. Residents also wondered about changes their community might experience.

How might people react to the presence of strangers who bring different values and

As visitor volumes

rise in future years,

it is likely that pressure on public

resources will

also intensify.
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Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

worldviews? How would the city deal with large groups of people wandering

around downtown? Would Tlingit cultural properties, both material and oral, be

threatened by exposure to visitors? What would be the effect of tourism on subsistence resources? Hoonah residents were adamantly opposed to introducing changes

in their rural values and lifestyles and practice of Tlingit culture.

Once initiated by Hoonah’s native corporation (Huna Totem), tourism flourished, bringing tens of thousands of cruise visitors to Icy Strait Point. Hopes

and concerns expressed in 2001 were being addressed by local civic and political

institutions. The location of the tourist venue outside of town reduced the physical

impact to the local community, although it also meant that downtown businesses

and firms not endorsed by PSDC did not have ready access to visitors. Local jobs

were generated by the project, both in the construction phase and in operation

of the destination. The focus on Tlingit culture and the interpretation of both

traditional and current cultural practice for the benefit of visitors enhanced a sense

of cultural pride and cultivated interest in Tlingit language, stories, and songs. Icy

Strait Point was deemed successful in its initial phases, yet residents shared ongoing

concerns about access to natural areas used for recreation and subsistence.

Ownership of the destination by a corporation with local roots and a stake

in the community helped residents feel that their interests would be considered

in management decisions. Meanwhile, the assets brought to the project by Huna

Totem Corporation, in terms of land, labor, and capital, resulted in a strong company with greater negotiating power, compared to other cruise ports, where business owners, civic leaders, and local officials were less unified. This unique arrangement between Huna Totem and the cruise lines suggests the potential to exert

greater influence over future tourism growth and the ability to protect and represent local needs and interests. The unequal distribution of power between cruise

lines and local communities has been a common theme in cruise ports worldwide

(Cerveny 2004, Pattullo 1999). The dual role of the Native corporation as both

mediator and developer of tourism is a complex one. Over time, the corporation’s

ability to maintain control of tourism growth may be tested as the cruise lines exert

pressure to expand guest capacity and frequency of ship stops.

Prevailing Themes

In contemplating the story of tourism in Hoonah, particularly in juxtaposition to

the rise (and fall) of tourism in nearby Haines, Alaska, several themes rise to the

surface.

Ownership of the

destination by a

corporation with

local roots and a

stake in the community helped residents feel that their

interests would be

considered in management decisions.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Economic importance of tourism—

Tourism is often recognized as an important source of economic development for

rural, resource-based regions (Perdue et. al. 1990). In the 1990s, Hoonah community leaders were investigating the community’s tourism potential, but little momentum was in place to develop a tourism industry. The closure of the Whitestone Logging Camp in 2003 signified the end of the large-scale timber harvest and the need

for a new source of economic growth, particularly given the ups and downs of the

fishing industry. Hoonah residents interviewed in 2001 realized that a new source

of employment was needed to sustain the local economy, and many acknowledged

that tourism would be a likely alternative. The timely introduction of the cannery

project in 2003 helped to offset some job losses from the closure of the camp and

gave residents a sense of hope for the future. Residents rallied around the creation

of Icy Strait Point and worked together to ensure its success. As a result, tourism

has become the community’s foremost industry and gained significant importance

economically.

As visitor volume grows in coming years, the economic role of tourism is

likely to increase further. Examples from Haines and other communities suggest

that becoming overly dependent on the arrival of cruise ships can be dangerous.

With little investment in fixed resources on land, cruise lines may quickly shift

itineraries to accommodate new destinations or increased entries to Glacier Bay,

for example. Thus, local officials may consider following the example of other port

communities by exploring opportunities for diversifying into other tourism sectors,

such as independent travelers and smaller cruise lines. In the meantime, local

officials may consider alternative paths to development not related to tourism as a

means to further diversify the local economy.

Cooperation among local organizations—

Cooperation among community institutions and stakeholders in tourism development is important for maintaining local control of tourism and promotes a sense of

ownership and involvement (King and Stewart 1996). An important element of the

story of tourism in Hoonah is the unique circumstances that promoted cooperation

and support among local institutions, namely the cooperation of the native corporation, city, tribal government, and to a lesser extent the Tongass National Forest. In

recent Hoonah history, these organizations have often worked in parallel fashion,

or in other cases, at cross purposes. The development of Icy Strait Point found these

institutions working toward a common goal—to create a tourism destination that

emphasized Hoonah’s cultural and natural heritage and proud fishing history. The

With little investment in fixed resources on land,

cruise lines may

quickly shift itineraries to accommodate

new destinations or

increased entries.
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Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

realization that this project would employ shareholders, tribal members, and

Hoonah citizens focused the energies of these organizations, which possess different

values and interests. The constellation of leadership of these organizations within a

family group also facilitated these efforts. Over time, relations between local organizations became strained when Huna Totem assumed control over cultural programs

at Icy Strait Point. The corporation must balance disparate goals of achieving a

profit for shareholders, generating employment, and protecting community interests. The need for local organizations to work together to identify common interests

and potential sources of tension has been shown in other communities. When community agencies work at cross-purposes, the potential for social conflict is great

(Cerveny 2004). Although resentment persists among some residents, no organized

opposition movement surfaced, as occurred in Haines in 2000.

Protecting local interests—

Cruise lines have demonstrated an ability to exert leverage among rival ports within

popular cruise destinations such as the Caribbean or Alaska (Garin 2005, Klein

2005). As Wood (2003) pointed out, cruise ships are “deterritorialized destinations”

that provide for a full range of visitor services on board. For some passengers, the

cruise ship itself is the source of entertainment, not the port, although this may be

truer in the Caribbean than Alaska. What is obvious is that cruise lines have the

ability to shift venues quickly to respond to changes in customer demand, prices

of oil, incentives offered by other ports, or dissatisfaction with the port offerings.

These shifts have occurred in Alaska, often with serious effects on the host community. Several cruise lines, including Holland America and Carnival, left the port of

Valdez in 2001 and 2002, owing to a variety of factors, including the opening of

entries to Glacier Bay, and dissatisfaction with the variety and quantity of shore

excursions offered (Juneau Empire 2001, 2002). Royal Caribbean ships reduced

arrivals to Haines after 2001 as a result of a variety of economic factors, and the

perception among corporate officials that Haines residents did not welcome cruise

ships (Juneau Empire 2000).

Evidence from Haines and Hoonah suggests that certain institutions may be

more successful in negotiating with cruise lines. In Haines, no unified voice represented community interests, nor did any institution possess the capacity to exert

influence on the cruise lines (Cerveny 2004). Local organizations were not unified

in their tourism goals. Individual business owners competed for cruise ship contracts, which inhibited them from working together to protect common interests.

City officials attempted to facilitate tourism planning; environmental organizations

The corporation

must balance disparate goals of

achieving a profit

for shareholders,

generating employment, and protecting

community interests.
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GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

pressed corporation and city leaders for solutions to address the social costs of

tourism. As a result, the cruise lines were in a position of power, without a unified

tourism organization to represent and translate community interests. Huna Totem

invested in the redevelopment of the cannery site and created the destination.

They also negotiated with the cruise lines to develop tourism at a pace that was in

keeping with local concerns. The corporation thus played the dual role of investor/

developer and protector of community and shareholder interests. With access to

capital and resources, the corporation was in a stronger position to negotiate with

the cruise lines on their terms. The dividends paid out to shareholders create a sense

of local investment in the project. The effectiveness of the Hoonah model will be

tested over time.

Native culture—

The wealth of cultural resources in Hoonah presents rich opportunities for sharing

information with visitors. Cultural tourism represents a growing sector of the

tourism industry with potential economic and social benefits for host communities.

A study of Alaska visitors showed that 77 percent were potentially interested in

visiting cultural centers or museums to learn about Native culture (Christiensen et

al. 2003). Yet, cultural tourism poses unique challenges to host communities. Consumer demand for cultural and heritage experiences can result in greater resources

and incentives to protect cultural resources. At the same time, visitor exposure and

interaction with cultural and heritage resources also puts them at risk for exploitation, over-use, commodification, or worse, damage or destruction (McKercher and

DuCros 2002). Moreover, the display of cultural heritage for the benefit of visitors

may or may not enhance appreciation by local residents whose cultural traditions

are being represented. Local leaders have recognized the need to consider ways to

provide quality visitor experiences and increase visitor exposure to cultural heritage

and at the same time protect and manage cultural resources.

Hoonah residents acknowledged the potential benefits and pitfalls of culturally

based tourism on existing cultural resources. Tourism developers and tribal officials

were working together to pursue strategies and design facilities to promote visitor

enjoyment while protecting the integrity of cultural properties. A museum on the

site of the Icy Strait Point facility provides a venue for visitors to appreciate Tlingit

culture and provides a climate-controlled environment for storage of cultural properties. Local access to these cultural materials may become an important issue in

the future if Icy Strait Point continues to restrict resident access to the cannery site.

With access to

capital and

resources, the

corporation was

in a stronger position to negotiate

with the cruise

lines on their terms.
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Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Cultural tourism also involves sharing stories, histories, and interpreting

cultural traditions for the benefit of visitors. Interpretation represents a powerful

means for Hoonah residents to share their interpretation of history, culture, and the

land. Opportunities to engage in interpretation on ships in Glacier Bay as well as in

Hoonah represent an important step for the Huna people to regain control of their

history. Yet, as anthropologists have learned, social conflict can emerge when one

clan or ethnic group perceives that their stories have been muted, altered, or overshadowed by another, or when there is a perception that the oral history of one

group is being presented at another’s expense (Adams 1997). Cultural interpretation

requires ongoing involvement and feedback from many clans and ethnic groups that

make up the broader community. The ultimate success of tourism in Hoonah may

depend on managing clan relations and encouraging a sense of inclusion to the

extent possible.

Tourism landscapes—

The introduction of tourism into a host community can result in a change in cultural

meanings attached to tourism places (Shaw and Williams 2004). They can also

change the predominant use of these areas, disrupting traditional patterns of land

tenure (Mansperger 1995). In Haines, the presence of a commercial tour in a

favorite remote recreation site led to a shift in local use and attachment to that site

(Cerveny 2004). Similarly, the creation of a cruise destination at Point Sophia also

changed user patterns at cannery point, at least during cruise ship season. In addition, the development of a bear-viewing area at Spasski Creek altered the predominant use of that area from a subsistence hunting and gathering location to that of a

trail designed for commercial tourism use. This change in definition of land use

displaced subsistence and recreation users who appreciated having a site close to

town for hunting, fishing, and gathering. The presence of the tourism industry in

Spasski and at Point Sophia may add new layers of meaning to those places or

challenge local relations with these socially and economically significant places. As

visitor numbers increase, other areas in the Huna territory may see increased visitor

use by commercial tour operators. More research is needed to understand the effects

of these changes on local patterns of resource use and place attachments.

Regional aspects—

The emergence of a new cruise destination in Hoonah had repercussions for other

ports throughout Alaska. Ships traveling to Alaska from Vancouver and Seattle

typically have a 7-day itinerary. Glacier Bay National Park is the region’s preeminent attraction, with many cruise lines spending a full day in Glacier Bay. Other

Social conflict can

emerge when one

clan or ethnic group

perceives that their

stories have been

muted, altered, or

over-shadowed by

another.
92

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

staple ports on the Alaska itinerary include Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan, where

the major cruise lines have invested in onshore enterprises. This constricted schedule

leaves finite opportunities for ships to visit secondary ports, such as Sitka, Haines,

and Wrangell. When Icy Strait Point opened its doors in 2004, ship traffic shifted,

and some secondary ports experienced declines. Local officials responded by

striving to build relations with cruise executives and seeking strategies to regain

market share. More information is needed to understand how the introduction of Icy

Strait Point affects the regional patterns of cruise ship visitation and the implications for local communities.

Implications for Resource Managers

Managing hot spots—

An increase in tourist volume along with the expanding diversity of tourism products and services has resulted in more people sharing the same natural areas in

increasingly diverse ways. In some cases, this has resulted in “hot spots,” places of

tourist interest that attract a wide variety of recreational users in ever greater

volumes. Hotspots can breed tension or conflict among user groups with different

ethics, interests, modes of transportation, or recreational activities. The Tongass

National Forest has identified several hotspots in the Hoonah area and is managing

these through the allocation of permits to commercial recreation providers. Yet,

many visitors to these areas are not required to obtain permits because they are not

physically accessing the land. In the case of Point Adolphus, the majority of visitors, including sportfishers and whale-watching enthusiasts, do not leave their boats.

The addition of tour boats from Icy Strait Point in 2004 further intensified use of

these areas. Thus, management of land-based activities in these popular areas

addresses one portion of the problem. To continue to ensure a quality visitor

experience and to minimize undesirable impacts on natural resources, additional

mechanisms for managing use may be considered.

One strategy employed successfully in other settings has been the use of areaspecific planning groups, consisting of tourism stakeholders and public agencies.

By bringing together multiple users, including fishing guides, tour operators, commercial fishermen, local subsistence users, and representatives of federal and state

resource agencies, the values, interests, and needs of groups can be identified and

addressed. Examples of multistakeholder, site-based planning has occurred in other

parts of southeast Alaska, such as the Chilkoot River Corridor (Haines), and the

Thorne Bay Watershed (Prince of Wales Island). Stakeholder groups can work

An increase in tourist volume along

with the expanding

diversity of tourism

products and services has resulted

in more people

sharing the same

natural areas in

increasingly diverse

ways.
93

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

together to develop voluntary protocols, adjust schedules, and monitor effects in

certain hotspots or across a broader area. Public resource managers often play a key

role in facilitating these groups.

The use of mapping software and computer modeling may help to predict the

emergence of hotspots. Although user patterns throughout the area tend to shift

from year to year, potential hotspots may be predicted based on proximity to recreation infrastructure (e.g., anchorages, docks, trails), natural features (e.g.,

scenery, beach haul-out areas, known presence of wildlife and marine mammals),

and proximity to communities or other sources of tourists (e.g., ships). Data

gathered from existing outfitter guides and tour operators may help to establish a

visual depiction of user patterns over time. This would allow managers to predict

and plan for use of these areas.

Anticipating growing visitor use—

The creation of Icy Strait Point in 2004 brought 66,000 new visitors to Hoonah. By

2006, ship visits increased by 20, resulting in 115,000 guests at Icy Strait Point.

With visitor growth, the array of tour opportunities generated directly by Icy Strait

Point, as well as by local entrepreneurs is likely to result in increased visitation to

public lands and resources. In Haines, the volume of visitors increased fourfold and

the number of tour guides doubled within 5 years after the cruise ship dock was

built. These changes resulted in expanded use of public lands and resources, which

affected local user patterns and values. Moreover, Hoonah is likely to see growth in

independent travelers as a result of increased exposure. These visitors are more

likely to venture into the national forest and use existing recreation facilities. As

visitor volumes rise, the tendency for visitor and local use to overlap is greater. All

of this is compounded by restricted use of Huna Totem lands being developed for

tourism. Thus, forest areas closest to Hoonah likely will experience an increase in

visitor use, particularly those with recreation facilities or scenic qualities. Some

displacement of local users may occur, as happened in Haines. Tongass National

Forest officials may study the distribution of outfitter-guide use in Haines and other

sites to predict patterns of road use.

A 2004 recreation plan completed for the Hoonah Ranger District outlined the

need for additional capacity to engage in recreation planning and management to

meet user demands. Without staff or an adequate budget to maintain existing recreation infrastructure or plan and implement new recreation programs, the district

will inevitably be reacting to recreation problems caused by increased visitor use.
94

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

Forest officials would benefit from working proactively with Icy Strait Point

officials to plan tourism growth and mitigate undesirable effects of tourism on

resident resource use.

Restricted use of public lands—

The creation of Glacier Bay National Park and the gradual exclusion of Hoonah

residents from their homeland resulted in a bitterness and distrust that has shaped

attitudes of many local residents toward federal land management agencies. The

Tongass National Forest is managed by different statues and regulations, enabling

more open access to Huna Tlingit residents for hunting, fishing, and other subsistence uses. However, the growth of tourism in Hoonah has caused some residents to

worry about restricted access to the forest in the future. Some equate the construction of recreation facilities geared to commercial recreation groups as steps toward a

more visitor-focused management policy. The need to build trust and engage with

Hoonah residents in planning future recreation facilities is apparent. Models of

collaborative planning may provide useful examples for working with local stakeholders to integrate community values in future recreation decisions.

Future Research

This report has identified several trends associated with tourism development in

rural, resource-based communities in southeast Alaska. Further study may help to

provide greater detail to enable resource managers and community leaders to better

predict and respond to changes associated with tourism development. Four areas of

study are recommended: (1) An analysis of the relation between tourism and recreation trends in the Huna Territory and its effects on places of social, cultural,

spiritual, and economic significance for local residents. This study could combine

oral history accounts with mapping tools to understand how tourism affects local

relations with significant spaces. (2) The development or implementation of models

to determine and predict ideal recreation sites in coastline areas of the Huna territory. This study would combine an analysis of market trends in recreation and

tourism with a methodological approach to determining geographic, topological,

aesthetic, social, or other site features that encourage use by a variety of recreation

groups. (3) Ethnographic study of the importance of Glacier Bay to the Huna

people and its various clans, and the sociocultural implications of visitor use of this

sacred territory. (4) Using sustainable livelihood approaches to explore the interaction between tourism employment and other income sources and livelihood strategies in everyday survival.

Growth of tourism in

Hoonah has caused

some residents to

worry about restricted access

to the forest in the

future.
95

Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Hoonah, Alaska

Acknowledgments

Many individuals and organizations contributed to this research in Hoonah. I am

especially grateful to Paul Matter and the Hoonah Ranger District of the Tongass

National Forest, who offered me accommodations and office space during my stay

in Hoonah, as well as numerous other support services. I especially thank Donna

Pratt, Winona Dick, Chuck Parsley, Gino Cisneros, Chris Budke, and John

Baldwin.

I want to acknowledge the City of Hoonah staff, who graciously donated their

city chambers for focus groups and who helped orient me to Hoonah, especially

former mayor Albert Dick. I also thank Johanna Dybdahl and the staff at the

Hoonah Indian Association, who were so generous with their time and helped me

to identify key elders and community members for this research. Thanks are also

extended to Johann Dybdahl and other representatives of Icy Strait Point, who

shared with me aspects of the project at the cannery. And, I commend the staff at

the Bromley Center whose work was tremendous.

Thanks are extended to Bob Schroeder for his mentorship throughout the

process of field research and for familiarizing me with the study community. I

also thank Peter Castro for providing helpful methodological insights and field

work support from afar. I appreciate the reviews of Stephen Langdon of the

University of Alaska, Anchorage, Mike Dunning at the University of Alaska,

Southeast, and Mary Beth Moss of the Hoonah Indian Association. Dale Blahna

and Richard Haynes also reviewed final drafts of this report.

English Equivalents

When you know Multiply by: To find:

Kilometers 0.6215 Miles

Centimeters .394 Inches

Meters 3.28 Feet

Hectares 2.47 Acres

Celsius 1.8 + 32 Fahrenheit

Kilograms 2.205 Pounds

Square kilometers .386 Square miles

Cubic meters (logs) 222 Board feet
96

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-734

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Appendix 1. Sample Characteristics

The sampled residents represented a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Roughly 40 percent of the sample was female, which is slightly below the percentage of females in Hoonah in 2000 (47 percent). The sample was 56 percent

Native and 44 percent non-Native. The percentage of non-Native participants in

the study was slightly higher than the population average (39 percent.) This higher

participation from non-Native residents was because many local firms were owned

by non-Native persons. Because tourism was the focus of study, business owners,

particularly tourism entrepreneurs, were active participants in the study. More than

half of respondents (53 percent) had lived in the community all their lives. Another

26 percent had lived in Hoonah more than 10 years, and 20 percent were relative

newcomers, having lived in Hoonah for less than 10 years.

The following data comes from the USDC Bureau of the Census (2000):

Sex. In 2000, Hoonah residents were 53 percent male and 47 percent

female, with a slightly lower percentage of female residents than the

state of Alaska (48.3 percent).

Age. The median age of Hoonah residents has increased from 29.4 years

in 1990 to 35.6 in 2000. State averages increased less dramatically, from

29.4 years to 32.4 years. The proportion of Hoonah residents over age

65 increased from 5 percent in 1990 to 8 percent in 2000, compared to

the state average of 5.7 percent in 2000. Looking at the younger generation, 43 percent of Hoonah’s population was under the age of 25 in

1990, compared to 38.6 percent in 2000, which is similar to the state

average for 2000 (39.6 percent).

Veteran status. Roughly 14 percent of the population was made up of

Veterans in 1990, slightly higher than the state average of 12 percent.

Education level. The levels of educational attainment in Hoonah in 1990

were slightly lower than state averages. In Hoonah, 80 percent of the

population had at least a high school diploma, compared to 87 percent

of Alaska residents. In 1990, 37 percent of Hoonah residents had some

college experience or a college degree or higher, compared to 57 percent

of Alaska residents.
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Nativity. The percentage of Hoonah residents born in Alaska has

declined over time. In 1990, 74.8 percent of Hoonah residents were born

in Alaska, compared to 68.3 percent in 2000. These numbers still exceed

state averages. Just 38 percent of Alaska residents in 2000 overall were

born in Alaska.

Residency. In 2000, 15 percent of residents reported having lived in a

different county in 1995, suggesting an influx of newcomers and

returning residents.
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Appendix 2. Interview Guides

General Interview Guide

This study is being conducted by the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Juneau,

part of the research branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

The goal of the study is to understand the effects of tourism on (a) local residents’

everyday lives and decisions, (b) community life and the local economy, and (c)

local use of natural areas. Through this process, we also hope to be able to gain

an improved understanding of the unique qualities of the visitor experience in

Hoonah.

I. Background Questions

A. Years in [Hoonah]/Years in Alaska

B. Previous residences (Where from originally/school/other places lived)

PROBE:

What brought you to Alaska?

C. Resident status (Year-round or seasonal/Neighborhood)

D. Household economics: How do family members contribute to household income

in 2000?

II. Community Life

1. Why did you decide to move to [Hoonah]? [Why have you decided to remain in

[Hoonah]?]

2. How would you describe [Hoonah] when you first moved here? (Or, how would

you describe the [Hoonah] of your childhood? (note years)

PROBES:

a. Where did you live? What were people doing for work then?

b. If you think back to those early days, where in [Hoonah] did you get

together to socialize with your friends?

c. What kinds of activities did you do in your leisure time? Where?

d. What was [Hoonah] like during and after the War? The pipeline?

Timber years?

3. What changes have you observed in the time you have lived here?

PROBE:

How would you explain the causes of these changes?

4. What do you value most about living in [Hoonah]? What do you value least

about living in [Hoonah]?
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5. What characteristics, if any, do you feel [Hoonah] residents share in common?

a. What differences do you see among people living in [Hoonah]?

b. How would you describe newcomers to [Hoonah]?

6. What would you hope for the community in the future?

PROBES:

a. What industries would you like to see grow in [Hoonah] in the

future? Why?

b. What are your biggest fears or concerns for the future of

[Hoonah]?

III. Tourism

A. Background

1. When did you first notice that tourism was becoming an important part of life in

[Hoonah]? [Try to get approximate year.]

PROBES:

a. Did it happen overnight or was it a gradual process?

b. Was there an event or incident that made you realize what was going

on?

c. What types of tourists did you notice first? What activities were they

involved in?

2. What changes have you noticed in the shape of tourism in [Hoonah]?

PROBES:

a. What changes have you observed in the types of visitors who come to

[Hoonah]?

b. What changes have you observed in the types of tourism activities

taking place?

c. What changes have you observed in the places tourists are visiting in

[Hoonah]?

3. How do you know when you are looking at a tourist?

B. Tourism Attitudes

1. What kind of contact do you have with visitors to [Hoonah]?

PROBES:

a. What types of visitors do you see?

b. What are they doing?

c. How often do you see visitors?

d. Where do you see them?
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2. How has tourism in [Hoonah] affected your life?

3. What aspects of the tourist season do you look forward to?

4. What aspects of tourism concern you?

C. Effects of Tourism

1. In your view, how does tourism benefit [Hoonah]?

2. In your view, what are the most significant negative effects of tourism for the

community?

3. How has the growing presence of the tourism industry affected community life?

PROBES:

a. Friendships and social relationships among residents

b. Local decisionmaking in the city and borough

c. Local economy

4. How does the presence of tourism affect the way natural resources are used?

PROBES:

a. Access to recreation and quality recreation experiences

b. Commercial uses of lands and resources

c. Subsistence activities

5. How much tourism would you like to see in the future–say in 10 years?

What sectors of the tourism industry would you like to see grow, decline, stay the

same?

6. What are your biggest fears or concerns for the future tourism of [Hoonah]?
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Focus Group Interview Guide

I. Background

We are about to begin what is called a “focus group.” A focus group provides a

safe and structured environment for a group of people to share ideas about a given

topic. Today we are meeting to talk about current tourism activity in Hoonah and

the community’s future relationship to tourism. This is one of several focus groups

that will be held in the next few weeks with different segments of Hoonah’s population.

A. Context

This focus group is one part of a study being conducted by the Pacific Northwest

Research Station in Juneau, Alaska, which is the research unit of the Forest Service. [I am working closely with Bob Schroeder, whom some of you may know

through his work on subsistence with Fish & Game.] Our overall goal is to understand tourism and its role in three southeast Alaska communities, so that communities and the Forest Service can be better prepared for the future. We also are collecting information in Haines and Craig. My name is Lee Cerveny, and I am the

primary researcher on this study. This research is also part of my dissertation at

Syracuse University in upstate New York.

Each summer, nearly a million people visit southeast Alaska and this number

is expected to double in about 7 years. Many communities enjoy the economic

benefits that go along with tourism. And, communities catering to tourism often

have undergone significant changes in their local economies, infrastructure, social

relationships, and land uses. Community residents see both positive and negative

impacts related to tourism development. Whether or not people in Hoonah decide

to promote tourism, tourism is happening all around us. In addition to the 800,000

people touring Icy Strait on 2000-passenger cruise ships, there about a dozen small,

100-passenger cruise ships touring southeast Alaska. We also are seeing tremendous

growth in whale watching, charter fishing, and adventure tourism, such as

kayaking, hiking, and nature tours based in Juneau, Gustavus, and other communities. Fishing lodges are blossoming in places like Elfin Cove, bringing in hundreds

of visitors a year to catch fish in southeast Alaska waters. Independent marine

traffic is growing–benefiting ports such as Hoonah, where people stop for fuel and

supplies.

I have been studying Alaska tourism for 3 years and have been talking to

Hoonah residents about tourism since October. I have learned that tourism brings

jobs and other economic benefits to local communities. It also creates changes in
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community life–some welcome and some not, depending on one’s perspective. Like

any industry, tourism has benefits and costs. In thinking about tourism as an option

for economic development, Hoonah faces tough choices that may affect the community’s future. So far in my research, I have learned a couple of important things.

First, as the tourism industry grows in a community, more nonlocal business

owners get involved and influence community life. Second, planning is needed to

minimize tourism’s negative effects and maximize local benefits. The reality of

tourism is that it is happening all around Hoonah. As today’s more popular tourist

places become crowded in the future, some visitors will turn toward areas like

Hoonah for travel and adventure. Ready or not. Hoonah is now in a good position

to start thinking about what its future relationship with tourism will be and where

the community wants to go.

Today, our job is to talk about tourism in Hoonah now and in the future. I am

not here in support of tourism or against it, but merely to learn about how people

in the community feel about it. First, we will talk about community life and the

local economy, then we will spend time talking about tourism. We’ll go about 60

minutes, take a break and have something to eat, and then we’ll finish up for

another 30 minutes. We should be done by 7:00 p.m. when the planning meeting

begins.

Before we start, I want to make a few comments about how this session will be

run. I have a list of questions I want to ask. I will ask the whole group and whoever

wants to speak first may do so. Everyone who wants to address the question will

have an opportunity to speak before we move on. Because we have a number of

topics to cover, I would like to encourage people to remain focused on the questions asked. I apologize in advance if I have to cut short an interesting discussion

because of our time constraints. Geno here has the difficult job of keeping me on

track with time.

Before we move on, are there any questions?

B. Geographic Scope

Please consider tourism and its effects on the city of Hoonah and the surrounding

areas used by Hoonah residents for hunting, fishing, collecting, and recreation,

including Native corporation lands, nearby Native claims and private holdings, and

Forest Service land on Chichagof Island. We will not be talking directly about

Glacier Bay, since it is part of the National Park Service. [SHOW MAP]
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C. Ground Rules

Before we begin, I would like to propose a few ground rules. [Posted on flip

chart.]

(1) Every idea is a valuable one. There is no such thing as a “wrong” answer.

Everyone has an important perspective to contribute. I’m here to learn about your

ideas, whether or not you’re involved in tourism.

(2) We will listen to and respect the ideas people share.

(3) What we say will not leave the room.

(4) No comments will be attributed to individuals in the report. All comments will

be lumped into the group report.

(5) You are free to leave at any time. However, if you leave early, you will miss the

cookies and the bonus prizes.

Are there any other ground rules you would like to add to the list?

D. Other Housekeeping

I will pass around a sign-up sheet. Please feel free to write your name and check

the box if you would like a copy of the final report about tourism in Hoonah.

For research purposes, I also am required through my University to have written

consent that you are willing to participate in the study. If you could sign your name

next to your printed name, this would imply your written consent.

Also, I have given everyone paper and pencil if you want to jot down any thoughts

(or draw doodles) as we go along. If you draw a doodle of me, the only thing that I

ask is that you make me look 20 pounds thinner and 10 years younger.

Finally, we would like to record this session so that we may better remember what

the group said. We will destroy the tapes after the information has been typed. Is

everyone okay with that?

E. Introductions

I realize that most of you know each other well, but could we go around the room

and introduce ourselves. In addition to stating your name, I encourage you to talk

about your background, clan, number of years in Hoonah, other places you’ve

lived, and your experience with tourism.
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FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONS

A. Community (10 minutes)

1. First, let’s do a little warm-up exercise. Let’s go around the room. Using a few

words or short phrases, how would you describe Hoonah to someone who had

never visited? (3 minutes)

2. Hoonah has been affected by changes in the commercial fishing and timber

industries. Many people feel that there need to be new sources of economic growth.

What kinds of jobs would you like to see grow in Hoonah? (7 minutes)

PROBE: What is next for Hoonah?

B. Tourism: Part I (45 minutes)

Now let’s talk about tourism in Hoonah and the nearby area.

CURRENT TOURISM LEVELS (15 minutes)

1. First, how do you know when you are looking at a tourist? (2 minutes)

2. When you see tourists in Hoonah and the surrounding area, what sort of things

are they doing? [fishing, hunting, boating, ferry, etc...] (5 minutes)

PROBE: What activities are visitors involved in? LIST.

3. Are there places you often visit in the area of Icy Strait/Chichagof Island where

you have seen an increase in visitors or tour operators? (8 minutes) LIST

3a. How (if at all) does it change the way you use these places?

FUTURE TOURISM (30 minutes)

In the summertime, there are more than half a million people going through Icy

Strait on cruise ships, whale watching and sight-seeing tours, charter fishing boats,

yachts and catamarans. Some people talk about bringing more of these visitors to

Hoonah.

4. What features does Hoonah offer that would attract visitors? (2 minutes)

PROBE: Why would someone want to visit Hoonah?

5. Given all the tourism activity happening close by, why don’t we see more

visitors in Hoonah today? (3 minutes)

6. Why would the tourism industry be good for Hoonah? (5 minutes)

7. When people think about tourists coming to Hoonah, what concerns might

arise? (5 minutes)
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8. How does tourism affect people’s ability to hunt, fish, and gather items for

customary and traditional use? (5 minutes)

One thing we want to do is establish whether Hoonah residents see tourism as an

option for growing the economy and creating jobs. There are many kinds of

visitors to attract and visitor activities to promote.

9. What sort of tourism activities, businesses and attractions do you think would be

most desirable in Hoonah. Try to consider realistic options. BRAINSTORM LIST.

(5 minutes)

b. Now, let’s rank these based on desirability. Pick three top choices and write them

down on some paper. How many people put “X” on their list of top three? (It

doesn’t matter what order.) Go down the list. (5 minutes)

BREAK: (15 minutes)

C. Tourism Part II (30 minutes)

FUTURE TOURISM LEVELS (cont.)

Using the list of ideas people generated, make a “top-five” list.

10. Now let’s talk a little more in detail about each of these items. (10 minutes)

PICK ITEM #1, #2, #3 (depending on time)

Why would this be good for the community?

What concerns might people have about this?

Where would this take place?

Volume. How much? Level?

IF NOT ON THE “TOP 5” LIST, DO 10a, 10b, 10c

10a. In many areas of the world, visitors travel to learn about Native culture. Do

you think it would be a good idea to promote something like this in Hoonah? Why?

What are some ways Tlingit culture might be shared with visitors? (5 minutes)

10b. A number of southeast Alaska communities are bringing in cruise ships. What

would be the benefit of having large cruise ships dock or anchor near Hoonah?

What concerns would you have about this? (5 minutes)

10c. Smaller ships typically bring fewer people and stay longer in port. What are

the benefits of small cruise ships? Drawbacks? (5 minutes)

LOCAL CAPACITY (10–15 minutes)

1. What things need to happen for tourism to grow in Hoonah?
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2. What improvements need to be made in local infrastructure to accommodate

future visitors in Hoonah?

3. What could be done to prevent any unwanted changes future tourism might bring

to Hoonah?

4. What agencies should be involved in talking about tourism? What should they be

doing? (PROBES: city, HIA, Huna Totem, ANB/ANS, etc.)

5. What should the Forest Service be doing with regard to recreation and tourism in

the Hoonah Ranger District?
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