For all the above reasons, we believe that tourists and citizens alike are trapped in the Tragedy of the Commons. The overdevelopment of Maui's beaches is self-serving in nature. Maui's economy depends on it. Maui's government wants to ensure the maximum good for every person. There are several issues we feel should be explored to better analyze the overdevelopment of Maui's beaches and its relation to the Tragedy of the Commons.
Incentives play a key role in the development of the island.
It is well known that people make choices in regard to their immediate, personal consequences. Tourism is extremely important to Maui's economy. Without further development, hundreds of thousands would suffer economic consequences. To avoid this, many support the construction of additional tourist facilities. We will take a closer look at the current incentives that are driving further development and offer suggestions for incentives that may curtail this problem.