Editing Kailua, Hawaii (section)

== Tourism ==
[[File:Paaka kahakai kailua.jpg|thumb|View across Kailua Beach to the offshore islet known as ''Moku nui'', one of [[Na Mokulua|Nā Mokulua]] off [[Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii#Lanikai|Lanikai]]]]
[[File:Kailua Oahu.JPG|thumb|View of Kailua from the Kaiwa Ridge Trail (Keolu Hills)]]
[[File:Kailua from Olomana.png|thumb|View of Kailua Town from Ahiki, the third peak of [[Olomana (mountain)|Olomana]]]]

Historically, most tourism on the island of O'ahu has centered around Waikiki and other tourism-designated areas. But tourism has also been a major economic force in Kailua, and tourism-related jobs have historically made up roughly one-third of total employment in Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kelley |first=Richard |date=June 1999 |title=WTTC Hawaii Tourism Report 1999 |url=https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/visitor/econ-impact/WTTC99.pdf |journal=World Travel and Tourism Council}}</ref> The Obama family vacations, as well as coverage from various social media and travel sites, sparked new interest in Kailua as a tourist destination and led to an influx of tourists to Kailua.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-28 |title=Is This Charming Town Hawaii's Next Waikiki? |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kailua-hawaii-waikiki-short-term-rentals_n_6882752 |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> This influx led to pushback from some Kailua residents, prompting proposals of legislation to limit tourist activity there.

===Winter White House===
[[Barack Obama]] vacationed in Kailua between 2008 and 2012. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, the Obama family stayed in the rented, ocean-front house [[Plantation Estate]] in the Paradise Point Estates. The house was built by developer [[Harold Kainalu Long Castle]], who also lived there.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/president-returns-to-paradise-point-estates-the-obama-winter-white-house-112390319.html President Returns to Paradise Point Estates, the Obama Winter White House – KAILUA, Hawaii, Dec. 23, 2010]</ref> Obama also took a vacation break in August 2008 at a different house in Kailua, Oahu Lani, during the [[2008 United States presidential election]].
{|
|[[File:Obama_signs_Zadroga_Act.jpg|thumb|Obama signing the [[James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act]] on January 2, 2011.]]
|[[File:President_Obama_signing_the_Bipartisan_Budget_Act_of_2013.jpg|left|thumb|President Obama signing the [[Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013]] on December 26, 2013]]
|}

=== Controversy ===
Although tourism is the primary driver of Kailua's economy, it remains a contentious issue among the town's residents. On several occasions, residents have successfully introduced legislation to discourage tourism in the town. One such example is Bill 41, introduced to the Honolulu City Council in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Council Records |url=https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=City & County of Honolulu |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, Honolulu County Mayor [[Rick Blangiardi]] signed Bill 41 into law at a press conference held on Kailua beach. The bill places additional limits and restrictions on short-term rental units. These include requiring a permit to rent living space in a residential area for less than 90 days, as well as requiring hosting platforms (such as [[Airbnb]]) to report all listings in Honolulu County (which includes Kailua town) to the county government.<ref>'''{{cite act|type=Bill|index=41|date=2022|legislature=Honolulu City Council|url=https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=12306}}'''</ref> Proponents of Bill 41 expect its passage to dramatically reduce the volume of tourists in Kailua.