Perhaps I can shed some light...
The Airbnb/vacation rental industry has literally KILLED rental availability throughout the islands. Why hassle with renters, leases, etc for $800 per month on your converted garage to studio apt, when you can charge $1250+ per week as a vacation rental!
Rents are through the roof there, with huge housing shortages. In short, the locals can't even afford to live in their home state anymore!
Unlike the US mainland, building out more housing is not much of an option cuz there's very little room to spare for more housing. The only island with lots of room is the Big Island of Hawaii. But with a volcano in your back yard, the risk of losing your home to Madame Pele (Goddess of Fire, aka lava) is always a constant worry.
Adding insult to injury, wages are about 35% lower there, so all the higher education in the world is unlikely to result in a livable income without a second source to supplement. That's why so many of us leave.
With regard to sustainability, Hawaii ranks near or at the top of the nation in sustainability efforts. The limited space and natural resources are prime motivation for finding innovative ways to make use of everything you have.
Solutions to the problems of tourism are ongoing and challenging. Change is slow. Even without the tourists, living there is complicated. With so many cultural differences to consider, reaching governing consensus remains a challenge. Always will.
I suppose like everything else in our world, it all comes down to money with too many people on 8 tiny islands fighting for their piece of the pie, or in Hawaii's case--fighting for their own piece of guava cake. I miss living there with all my heart, but sometimes reality bites.
Aloha nui loa.
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