132 thoughts on “Hawaii 2020: Biting The Hand That Feeds Us”
Lori L
I’m so glad these issues are being addressed, as the future of Hawaii depends on it. I really want to see the Islands and it’s people thrive! I lived there once and want to move back in the near future. I love Hawaii’s culture, her people, the ever flowing Aloha spirit and it’s history. I am a pre-school teacher and would love to contribute to early childhood education on my favorite island of Kauai. I have friends there and I deeply care for their future as well as everyone else. Praying for recovery and new industries to sprout up for all the folks in Hawaii. Supporting local agriculture is also key as it continues to grow. My heart will always be with you!! Even though my vacation had to be canceled 2 ago, I will attempt it again next year. Mahalo Nui Loa
Gary B
Am glad I saw Oahu twice before this lunacy set in.So sad to see how things changed so quickly with the fear that CDC spewed out daily on the news.My best wishes to all Hawaiians.
James B
Respectfully Gary, the lunacy you describe is the way most mainland states have “managed” the virus. Please read my earlier post for a comparative analysis of how Hawaii has managed through the suffering by putting public safety first. You are sadly mistaken if you feel that the CDC promotes fear. If the few voices of reason to adopt universal, simple public health asks had been followed, perhaps we would not be leading the world in infections, hospitalizations, infections and deaths.
Please consider moving your blame up the D.C. street a bit to 1600 Penn. ave.
Shawn C.
I read all of your articles and this one has so far been the best. Keep it up.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Shawn.
Thanks for that and all your comments.
Aloha.
Andrea G.
My husband (a local boy) and I have been visitors to Hawaii (as tourist and to visit my husband’s large family there) 1-2 times a year for decades. Like many, we had to sadly cancel this year’s HI trip.
* I have never seen so much confusion, and ensuing harm, on how to deal with a crisis as has happened with Hawaii with Covid-19. The multiple vacillations in travel regulations, for example, were unprecedented. It will take us a long while to trust what Hawaii says, so I can make solid travel plans and return. And we so want to support Hawaii and its locals!
* I also feel for the locals and their businesses — the many that have struggled and finally closed.
* I am concerned as well for the well-being of the businesses that still remain standing to serve the locals, never mind to serve any tourists who make it through the gauntlet and actually reach the islands, without being locked up for 14 days.
* I pray for the clarity for the State of HI to make conclusive and wise decisions to the best of their ability that include the well-being of the residents, the businesses and their owners in Hawaii, and also embrace the return of the many enthusiastic and loyal visitors to Hawaii.
For the government leadership of Hawaii: Make decisions based on leadership principles, on forward thinking, and on the wisdom of the Spirit of Hawaii rather than based on fear and confusion. Just.do.something and stand by it. Make it right for all involved as best is possible. You can only do your best in any situation. Consider the highest and best course for all involved. Your actions or inaction now will affect your state for a long time to come.
GaryB
I really appreciate your indepth writing and analysis. Mahalo for always being thought provoking.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Gary.
Thanks for that and your dozens of comments. Much appreciated.
Aloha.
Jonna C
We held out as long as we could with hopes we could proceed with our post-Christmas visit. But alas, we cancelled 27 flights to get 12 of us there and back, as well as our rental home. Broken-hearted, but felt like our hands were tied with minimal action being taken in the visitor-friendly direction. Such travel is far too expensive to feel like puppets/prisoners, even if we were to arrive with our healthy bill of health.
Dean L.
Amen!
As a Hawaiian tourist for the past 28 years and from a state that depends on sole source funds (oil and gas) for our education system I can proudly tell you from our ranking of near the bottom, it’s a poor strategy that leads to failure. Couple this with monopoly power of NEA which keeps trying the same old “best practices “ and survives by conscription of dues contributed to the same political party irrespective of results and your educated workforce will soon be if not already is nonexistent. Buena Suerte
Tim Z
so go back to basic’s, Pineapples and sugar cane…….
Cheri A.
Unfortunately, Hawaii has lost the comparative advantage in exporting pineapples and sugar cane.
It could be an opportunity for companies whose employee telecommute. 🙂
John A
When my wife and I started going to Hawaii in 1974, the islands still had some sugar cane and pineapple infrastructure. I’m sure it doesn’t exist anymore and cannot be rebuilt economically, Hawaii has the defense business (maybe less under the Democrats) and tourism and that’s it. I see people going east for jobs wholesale!!
Pat d
The Sugar industry went foreign and it’s Not coming back. It should have been kept alive and Tariffs placed on imported foreign Sugar cane. Much like the Steel industry.
Mike S
Thanks for the succinct summary of the situation (at this moment in time). We are all anxiously awaiting the next travel-rules scheme to be revealed by the State next week.
Based on the numerous possibilities you recently laid out, it will take the wisdom of Solomon to satisfy everyone and fairly treat those hoping to fly to the islands in the near future. Unfortunately Solomon is not a current Hawaiian politician.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Mike.
Thanks for all your comments and the much needed levity.
Aloha.
Dean L
As a heading home tomorrow visitor, you are right on about changes and fair traveler treatment. Thanks for your humor. It doesn’t appear that common sense follow science, but only fear. See ya next year for our 29 year to the island. Aloha
Dn
Beautifully said. Sad for us all though, and not just Hawaii. Businesses going down, people unemployed, etc. But at least the rules of travel haven’t changed from day to day on the mainland and this issue in Hawaii contributed to the lack of tourist dollars. People don’t know from day to day what the new Hawaii rules are. Something has to change drastically.
The dude
Hawaii has the wrong people in charge. I watch all the Hawaii youtube channels nightly and there was a Hawaii think tank on that said we need to raise the tax on tourists to 40 percent. Really that’s all you got? There is no coward thinking. How about bring in Larry Ellison for governor? Who could then bring in people that have a clue about business and diversifying.
The dude
Should be forward thinking
Pat d
Ellison. He wouldn’t want that job. He’s Rich.
Comments are closed.
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I’m so glad these issues are being addressed, as the future of Hawaii depends on it. I really want to see the Islands and it’s people thrive! I lived there once and want to move back in the near future. I love Hawaii’s culture, her people, the ever flowing Aloha spirit and it’s history. I am a pre-school teacher and would love to contribute to early childhood education on my favorite island of Kauai. I have friends there and I deeply care for their future as well as everyone else. Praying for recovery and new industries to sprout up for all the folks in Hawaii. Supporting local agriculture is also key as it continues to grow. My heart will always be with you!! Even though my vacation had to be canceled 2 ago, I will attempt it again next year. Mahalo Nui Loa
Am glad I saw Oahu twice before this lunacy set in.So sad to see how things changed so quickly with the fear that CDC spewed out daily on the news.My best wishes to all Hawaiians.
Respectfully Gary, the lunacy you describe is the way most mainland states have “managed” the virus. Please read my earlier post for a comparative analysis of how Hawaii has managed through the suffering by putting public safety first. You are sadly mistaken if you feel that the CDC promotes fear. If the few voices of reason to adopt universal, simple public health asks had been followed, perhaps we would not be leading the world in infections, hospitalizations, infections and deaths.
Please consider moving your blame up the D.C. street a bit to 1600 Penn. ave.
I read all of your articles and this one has so far been the best. Keep it up.
Hi Shawn.
Thanks for that and all your comments.
Aloha.
My husband (a local boy) and I have been visitors to Hawaii (as tourist and to visit my husband’s large family there) 1-2 times a year for decades. Like many, we had to sadly cancel this year’s HI trip.
* I have never seen so much confusion, and ensuing harm, on how to deal with a crisis as has happened with Hawaii with Covid-19. The multiple vacillations in travel regulations, for example, were unprecedented. It will take us a long while to trust what Hawaii says, so I can make solid travel plans and return. And we so want to support Hawaii and its locals!
* I also feel for the locals and their businesses — the many that have struggled and finally closed.
* I am concerned as well for the well-being of the businesses that still remain standing to serve the locals, never mind to serve any tourists who make it through the gauntlet and actually reach the islands, without being locked up for 14 days.
* I pray for the clarity for the State of HI to make conclusive and wise decisions to the best of their ability that include the well-being of the residents, the businesses and their owners in Hawaii, and also embrace the return of the many enthusiastic and loyal visitors to Hawaii.
For the government leadership of Hawaii: Make decisions based on leadership principles, on forward thinking, and on the wisdom of the Spirit of Hawaii rather than based on fear and confusion. Just.do.something and stand by it. Make it right for all involved as best is possible. You can only do your best in any situation. Consider the highest and best course for all involved. Your actions or inaction now will affect your state for a long time to come.
I really appreciate your indepth writing and analysis. Mahalo for always being thought provoking.
Hi Gary.
Thanks for that and your dozens of comments. Much appreciated.
Aloha.
We held out as long as we could with hopes we could proceed with our post-Christmas visit. But alas, we cancelled 27 flights to get 12 of us there and back, as well as our rental home. Broken-hearted, but felt like our hands were tied with minimal action being taken in the visitor-friendly direction. Such travel is far too expensive to feel like puppets/prisoners, even if we were to arrive with our healthy bill of health.
Amen!
As a Hawaiian tourist for the past 28 years and from a state that depends on sole source funds (oil and gas) for our education system I can proudly tell you from our ranking of near the bottom, it’s a poor strategy that leads to failure. Couple this with monopoly power of NEA which keeps trying the same old “best practices “ and survives by conscription of dues contributed to the same political party irrespective of results and your educated workforce will soon be if not already is nonexistent. Buena Suerte
so go back to basic’s, Pineapples and sugar cane…….
Unfortunately, Hawaii has lost the comparative advantage in exporting pineapples and sugar cane.
It could be an opportunity for companies whose employee telecommute. 🙂
When my wife and I started going to Hawaii in 1974, the islands still had some sugar cane and pineapple infrastructure. I’m sure it doesn’t exist anymore and cannot be rebuilt economically, Hawaii has the defense business (maybe less under the Democrats) and tourism and that’s it. I see people going east for jobs wholesale!!
The Sugar industry went foreign and it’s Not coming back. It should have been kept alive and Tariffs placed on imported foreign Sugar cane. Much like the Steel industry.
Thanks for the succinct summary of the situation (at this moment in time). We are all anxiously awaiting the next travel-rules scheme to be revealed by the State next week.
Based on the numerous possibilities you recently laid out, it will take the wisdom of Solomon to satisfy everyone and fairly treat those hoping to fly to the islands in the near future. Unfortunately Solomon is not a current Hawaiian politician.
Hi Mike.
Thanks for all your comments and the much needed levity.
Aloha.
As a heading home tomorrow visitor, you are right on about changes and fair traveler treatment. Thanks for your humor. It doesn’t appear that common sense follow science, but only fear. See ya next year for our 29 year to the island. Aloha
Beautifully said. Sad for us all though, and not just Hawaii. Businesses going down, people unemployed, etc. But at least the rules of travel haven’t changed from day to day on the mainland and this issue in Hawaii contributed to the lack of tourist dollars. People don’t know from day to day what the new Hawaii rules are. Something has to change drastically.
Hawaii has the wrong people in charge. I watch all the Hawaii youtube channels nightly and there was a Hawaii think tank on that said we need to raise the tax on tourists to 40 percent. Really that’s all you got? There is no coward thinking. How about bring in Larry Ellison for governor? Who could then bring in people that have a clue about business and diversifying.
Should be forward thinking
Ellison. He wouldn’t want that job. He’s Rich.