But more important for me is convincing two kinds of people that the rest of Oahu has much to offer, that parts of this island are as spectacular as anything in the world. The North Shore, a delicate area with many transient accommodations of dubious legality, is a special asset, but one shouldn't overlook the potential on the Windward and Waianae coasts. One group that needs selling is those tourists who bypass Oahu thinking they can only find peace and beauty on Neighbor Islands. The other is our own local people. They might be broadened by the realization that tourism can and maybe should have new dimensions for their neighborhoods.
Residents have a love-hate relationship with tourism.
They appreciate the economic benefits, but they don't like our over dependence on the industry and some side effects of economic growth, such as traffic, higher prices of food, and crime. In coming years, more such factors will work together. But, more than anything, our situation calls for a new local mindset in our love-hate relationship not only with tourism but other forms of development and change as well. John Griffin, former editorial page editor of The Advertiser, contributes regularly to the newspaper. The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co .