134 thoughts on “Are You The Tourist Hawaii Wants? New Study.”
Chris M.
I might do a project where I would go to a part of Hawaii to work, but want to get paid for it. On a vacation, which is what I’ve always done on Kauai or Maui, is to relax and retreat from the work I do. Having to plant trees or taro would keep me from visiting Hawaii. It is getting very expensive to visit the islands and to think I might have to work for free–No way! Lots of other tropical places to go. Thank. you for making me aware of this.
Great idea! I can see the highways now, littered with tourists in bright orange vests and a pokey stick with a garbage bag picking up trash. Maybe a big “Welcome to Kauai” sign on the back? Perhaps special walkers for the senior citizens with built in aloha print trash holders? They would have to figure out how to handle the rebellious kids that might think that somehow this is not a great vacation though, maybe make them watch a video on the flight over? One problem could be everyone would want to go to Kauai because of all the fun there and the other islands tourism may suffer. So definitely they would have to do it on all the islands! Hawaii could be a model for tourism all over the world!
Just to clarify my attempt at humor. To be clear I am strongly in favor of the idea that ecotourism is important and hopefully a wave of the future. I just don’t think it can be mandated and creating a system that makes one type of tourist “better” then another is a slippery slope. The State should incentivise and reward the introduction and operation of ecotourism and leave it at that.
Funny that this should be suggested. Would I want this to be a condition of travel, no! However, in January we stayed on a mango/vanilla farm on BI. Our host has great pride in his farm, and as a master gardener, I had a glorious time. As he worked a 2nd job, I helped weed out the vanilla orchids and learned to pollinate them. This was my choice, not a requirement. I enjoyed it, he was surprised and thrilled I helped. We happened to mesh, but I wouldn’t want it to be required for visitation. An inexperienced person could do a lot of harm if not babysat.
Interesting concept. I wouldn’t mind doing some volunteer work while visiting Kauai as long as I get to make the choice of what and when. I may want to spend a day helping clean up a beach or volunteering at the Humane Society (we adopted two dogs from Kauai, so we have an emotional connection), just as long as it is my choice. Being mandated to do it, however, would be off putting and leave a sour taste. Kauai is our go to island, we have visited it many times and have always been treated well and with aloha. Sadly, if I was required to work I’m exchange for visiting we may think twice. As always thanks for the great article and keeping us informed about all things Hawaii.
I suppose taxpayers paid for this ridiculous study. A one week visit is pricey for a family of four with airline tickets, rental car, hotel or vacation rental. Activities such as luaus, tubing, zip lining, boat tours, horseback riding, beach rental gear, restaurants, hiking Waimea Canyon and Ha’eana state parks support the economy and leave little time for working in the taro fields.
I think it’s a fantastic idea! And needed! Especially for Hawai’i. We will be vacationing in Florida next spring and will be volunteering some of our time at a farm there on one of the days there. We will be doing this as a family on any vacation now.
So let’s see if I have this correct. As a visitor, the State of Hawaii charges me taxes on:
– airfare
– car rental
– lodging/accomodations
– certain activities
– certain locations
– ???
Now they want me to agree to do stoop labor or whatever other “approved work” the collective decides is in vogue.
No thank you.
I prefer to personally decide what to do with my time and resources. If that is by driving a go-cart, taking a boat trip using only wind or bio-diesel, etc., that is my choice and not someone from UH or Hawaii central planning department.
Thank you BOH for sharing this enlightening article. Hawaii seems to love mandating it’s tourists but to be fair, the Kauai government (and now some citizens) are taking it to a strange new level. I think they might understand if one more mandate were added to their plan (for the sake of fairness). Every forced volunteer action of a tourist visiting Kauai will be equally reciprocated by a resident of Kauai. They will be mandated to take a holiday in that tourists city of residence and do equal volunteer work, ie an LA tourist will require a Kauai resident to vacation there and then spend a decent number of hours under the freeways, clearing a homeless encampment of human waste and trash and feeding and clothing our needy.
I might do a project where I would go to a part of Hawaii to work, but want to get paid for it. On a vacation, which is what I’ve always done on Kauai or Maui, is to relax and retreat from the work I do. Having to plant trees or taro would keep me from visiting Hawaii. It is getting very expensive to visit the islands and to think I might have to work for free–No way! Lots of other tropical places to go. Thank. you for making me aware of this.
Great idea! I can see the highways now, littered with tourists in bright orange vests and a pokey stick with a garbage bag picking up trash. Maybe a big “Welcome to Kauai” sign on the back? Perhaps special walkers for the senior citizens with built in aloha print trash holders? They would have to figure out how to handle the rebellious kids that might think that somehow this is not a great vacation though, maybe make them watch a video on the flight over? One problem could be everyone would want to go to Kauai because of all the fun there and the other islands tourism may suffer. So definitely they would have to do it on all the islands! Hawaii could be a model for tourism all over the world!
Just to clarify my attempt at humor. To be clear I am strongly in favor of the idea that ecotourism is important and hopefully a wave of the future. I just don’t think it can be mandated and creating a system that makes one type of tourist “better” then another is a slippery slope. The State should incentivise and reward the introduction and operation of ecotourism and leave it at that.
Funny that this should be suggested. Would I want this to be a condition of travel, no! However, in January we stayed on a mango/vanilla farm on BI. Our host has great pride in his farm, and as a master gardener, I had a glorious time. As he worked a 2nd job, I helped weed out the vanilla orchids and learned to pollinate them. This was my choice, not a requirement. I enjoyed it, he was surprised and thrilled I helped. We happened to mesh, but I wouldn’t want it to be required for visitation. An inexperienced person could do a lot of harm if not babysat.
Interesting concept. I wouldn’t mind doing some volunteer work while visiting Kauai as long as I get to make the choice of what and when. I may want to spend a day helping clean up a beach or volunteering at the Humane Society (we adopted two dogs from Kauai, so we have an emotional connection), just as long as it is my choice. Being mandated to do it, however, would be off putting and leave a sour taste. Kauai is our go to island, we have visited it many times and have always been treated well and with aloha. Sadly, if I was required to work I’m exchange for visiting we may think twice. As always thanks for the great article and keeping us informed about all things Hawaii.
Hi Paul.
Thanks. We appreciate your input on this interesting study.
Aloha.
I suppose taxpayers paid for this ridiculous study. A one week visit is pricey for a family of four with airline tickets, rental car, hotel or vacation rental. Activities such as luaus, tubing, zip lining, boat tours, horseback riding, beach rental gear, restaurants, hiking Waimea Canyon and Ha’eana state parks support the economy and leave little time for working in the taro fields.
We give enough back with the exorbitant amount of money we pay to vacation in Hawaii. No thanks.
I think it’s a fantastic idea! And needed! Especially for Hawai’i. We will be vacationing in Florida next spring and will be volunteering some of our time at a farm there on one of the days there. We will be doing this as a family on any vacation now.
So let’s see if I have this correct. As a visitor, the State of Hawaii charges me taxes on:
– airfare
– car rental
– lodging/accomodations
– certain activities
– certain locations
– ???
Now they want me to agree to do stoop labor or whatever other “approved work” the collective decides is in vogue.
No thank you.
I prefer to personally decide what to do with my time and resources. If that is by driving a go-cart, taking a boat trip using only wind or bio-diesel, etc., that is my choice and not someone from UH or Hawaii central planning department.
Thank you BOH for sharing this enlightening article. Hawaii seems to love mandating it’s tourists but to be fair, the Kauai government (and now some citizens) are taking it to a strange new level. I think they might understand if one more mandate were added to their plan (for the sake of fairness). Every forced volunteer action of a tourist visiting Kauai will be equally reciprocated by a resident of Kauai. They will be mandated to take a holiday in that tourists city of residence and do equal volunteer work, ie an LA tourist will require a Kauai resident to vacation there and then spend a decent number of hours under the freeways, clearing a homeless encampment of human waste and trash and feeding and clothing our needy.
I suggest that all visitors sign up for at least one day of beach clean up. It is an exercise in giving back.
MJ, I suggest that you sign up twice. Once for you and once for me.