Instagram influencers have found their latest target, but locals aren't pleased.
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, the largest botanical garden on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, is a hit with those looking for dreamy photos to grow their social media following.
A photo of the botanical garden's lush entrance went viral on Instagram, and ever since, more people have been flocking to snap it on the Instagram.
Officials said these viral photos are behind the increase in visitor numbers from less than 250,000 in 2017 to more than 550,000 in 2022.
But as visitors flocked in, they repeatedly broke rules and ignored basic safety precautions to get the perfect photo, local officials said.
Numerous ‘no photography’ and ‘no parking’ signs at the entrance did not stop the crowds.
“There are still significant problems,” said Joshlyn Sand, director of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. SFGATE. “People will ignore the signs. They will literally take pictures right next to the sign.”
“This is our entry point and it is very crowded,” she continued. “This road is a shared road. It's very narrow. There is no bike line. “With no pedestrian walkways, you’re potentially sharing it with two cars, prams, walkers and cyclists, so your photography session isn’t coupled with a precise area.”
The director added that the issue had escalated to a “distressing degree” to the point where there were “close calls”.
She added: “No one has been hurt as far as I know, but it definitely got sticky before.”
Admission to the botanical garden is currently free and no reservation is required to visit. But the Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department is considering changing that.
The more than 400-acre Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens were built in the early '80s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent flooding in the town of Kaneohe.
'Humaluhia' means 'creating a place of peace and tranquility' in the Hawaiian language. The gardens feature plants from Hawaii, as well as Polynesia, the Philippines, Africa, Malaysia, Tropical America, India, and Sri Lanka.
This isn't the first time locals have been upset over the Instagram crowd.
Last year, in the small town of Pomfret, Vermont, local government had to take drastic measures to curb the surge of social media-fueled enthusiast tourists that were causing traffic congestion while trying to capture the state's famous fall foliage.
Instagram users were primarily drawn to the town's popular landscape, “Sleepy Hollow Farm.” Thousands of photos were taken here of people standing on leafy paths.
Traffic congestion has reportedly blocked several back roads, such as Cloudland Road, a dirt road with stunning countryside views often used by locals. However, during fall foliage season, the back roads become crowded with tourists and influencers. Local farmer Mike Doten said at the time: boston globe They say leaf-peeping tourists are interfering with the basic safety of local residents.
“There’s no way a fire truck or ambulance can get up this road in the middle of fall foliage season,” he said. “It’s too crowded.”
Beautiful landmarks around the world are fighting overtourism. Experts encourage visitors and travel influencers to follow local rules and regulations, no matter how crazy they are about taking the perfect photo.