Visitor and community survey results for Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse: Completion report

Abstract

As a result, in order to include the views of Refuge visitors and the local public in the ATS planning process, surveys were administered to Refuge visitors and local community residents. Study Objectives As part of the preparation of the ATS, social and economic issues, and potential impacts, must be addressed. Therefore, the objective of the visitor and local community surveys, and the economic analysis, was to quantify visitor and community resident perceptions, recreation use values, and the economic impacts such as local income and employment effects of potential ATS management options. Survey respondents were asked to provide information on the type of economic and social benefits they derive from Kilauea Point NWR. Respondents also were asked to provide their perceptions on access to the Refuge, on the Refuge experience, and indicate their willingness to pay for certain services and/or ATS options at the Refuge. Specific study objectives are listed below. Objective 1: Quantify Visitor and Community Resident Experience of the Refuge (Section 2 of Report) The purpose of this objective was to quantify visitor and local community perceptions regarding Refuge experience in the context of an ATS, including respondent characteristics, importance of activities, satisfaction with services, and preferences for management of services. Objective 2: Quantify Community/Refuge Relationship and Community Quality of Life (Section 2 of Report) The purpose of this objective was to quantify the community/Refuge relationship in terms of the importance of the Refuge to the community, the benefits and concerns residents had with being a neighbor of the Refuge, and how the community participated in decision-making. Another purpose was to identify satisfaction with Kilauea community living, including specific community characteristics. Objective 3: Quantify Regional Economic Impacts Associated with Visitor Trip Spending (Section 3 of this Report) The purpose of this objective was to estimate the current level of spending and associated regional economic impacts associated with Refuge visitation. Objective 4: Measure Visitor and Community Resident Willingness to Pay (Section 4 of this Report) The purpose of this objective was to measure the actual and potential dollar amount visitors would pay for current and proposed ATS options and Refuge entrance fees. Objective 5: Quantify Visitor Perceptions Regarding Transportation Options and Access (Section 5 of this Report) The purpose of this objective was to quantify visitor trip patterns and trip planning, and to identify visitor and community resident perceptions and preferences regarding visitor access and alternative transportation options. 1-3 Methods Survey Development In order to develop a survey that reflected the policy-relevant management issues to be addressed in the ATS planning process, background ATS planning documents and relevant research were assembled and read. Detailed discussions were held with USFWS and CFLHD personnel individually and in a formal site visit to the R...

Appropriate Uses and Considerations for Online Surveying in Human Dimensions Research

“…Given the scale of this survey (estimated n > 10,000) and previous research on National Wildlife Refuges (Sexton, Stewart, Koontz, Ponds, & Walters, 2007;Sexton et al, 2005), an online option could reduce overall data collection and entry costs. An online-only option, however, was not appropriate for the target population since not all refuge visitors actively use the Internet, and certain demographics (e.g., lower income, rural residents) are less likely to have an e-mail account (International Telecommunications Union, 2010;Internet World Stats, 2010).…”