132 thoughts on “Hawaii 2020: Biting The Hand That Feeds Us”
Mark
Not sure how it is now but in the 70’s when I went to high school on Oahu, the public schools/education really sucked. If it’s still the same, then it’s no wonder that there isn’t a qualified workforce capable of doing much more than basic tasks. And those that did succeed in their education are working on the mainland with many wishing they could return to their Hawaii ohana and get a decent job. I considered moving back in the 90’s but the wages offered in Hawaii for technical jobs was so low compared to CA that it wasn’t even close to being feasible. The lack of education here has created a bunch of locals whose only choice is to work in the tourism industry doing work suited for high schoolers. I think it all starts with a good education but it’ll be a long road probably. Maybe create a way to entice good teachers to relocate to Hawaii? More incentives for the kids in school would help too- especially if they get little/no support from parents.
John R
We are annual travelers to Maui and twice have had to postpone our plans, once out of acceptance that the islands did not need more people flocking in during an outbreak, and the second time because the travel situation has become confusing, constant changes and a nonsensical evolution on those rules. Only the elite are able to travel, those with large pockets and unlimited time. We estimate spending over $80,000 on the island from the time we fell in love with Maui to last year. And we are not the richest. But we are now soured on a return, one instance is our resort refuses a refund and required we pay more to move our dates from this year to next. Next is the feeling we get from our island friends we stay in contact with. At many levels, visitors are being vilified. The very industry that puts food on the table is being torched by special interest. We’ve even read articles where locals have suggested that low levels of tourism become the normal, reducing environmental impact. Yet the state has no plan to supply food or housing for the thousands of workers who will be displaced, and with poor communication and horror stories coming back to the mainland about how us haolies are not wanted at all, puts a whole outlook on future travel as bleak. We won’t go where we are not wanted, it is sad, for Aloha always made our lives brighter when we returned to the mainland, but we have traveled to countries that did not want us there in all reality and are now afraid of being treated the same way from a place we respect and honor for its diligence as a paradise destination and the love of all the islands represent. We are no longer looking forward to our trip next year…
Shelly c
I have exactly the same story. My family lost several thousands of dollars (that we could not afford to lose) on a canceled trip this year (after resheduling the trip several times). We want to support the islands that we love but I now feel unwelcome, plus I am bitter about the money lost.
Gper
I can’t believe they already reopened Hanauma Bay. It should stay closed for a good long while. It is obvious that it was starting to make a comeback and now they’re going to completely destroy it again -so sad Hawaiian government is only concerned about money!
Jeannem
Eveyone can contribute to Hawaian Food Banks, which help also school children’s nutrition. And at the same time, write to Ige not to cut school funding
Key to the future is funding the schools, and I dont mean Punahou.
Krista H
I live on the mainland and love to visit the islands. It is sad to see the impact COVID has had on so many people and businesses on the island.
I reinvested some of my vacation funds that I had planned to use this year while visiting Maui back into the Maui Food bank. I will continue to do so and encourage others to do the same. Although I may be viewed as a tourist when I am visiting, I value the people and Aloha of all the islands.
Nathan C.
I was born in Hawaii. My folks were among the diaspora of Hawaiians who left our homeland for better opportunity that they foresaw in the 50’s. After a 63 look back things have not changed much over time.
While visiting family on Big Hawaii during Thanksgiving, the process was unbearably difficult due to the Hawaiian government and the disconnect with medical Covid 19 verifications. I ended up taking 3 tests within the the 72 hour window. Test 1 was with an approved tester who did not have a PDF neg. verification form to download to the State of Hawaii, test 2 which was a rapid test with the airlines that was 3 hours late making my family get a 3rd test at the airport. All the while we were not going to get a rental car and the place where we going to stay would not accept us either. You get quarantined.for 14 days. We were there for 10. After many hours, we got the verifiable negative results to the state. Would we do this again? Emphatically NO! We were traumatized. You wonder why people don’t go? It was easier to get in and out of Israel. How can this be?
Conclusion: I feel bad for the people who work to live in Hawaii. I don’t feel sorry for the moguls who own and control the wealth, just the people. The moguls and politicians will survive the ho’oulu lahui will not! The people of the land will succumb to either the treat of the china virus or starve to death as Hawaii continues to sink to massive debt.
Curt S.
To be honest, this sounds like a mess that may never be solvable. While I enjoy Hawaii far more than Mexico, I think Mexico is going to be a major beneficiary of Hawaii’s ineptitude – at lease for U.S. mainlanders.
Sue B.
It appears that Hawaii is stuck between a rock and a hard place. A move to another industry will be painful, but likely worth it for generations to come.
I love Hawaii and the people, but have wo served about its future. Some hard thinking needs to be done.
Mahalo for all you have done, are doing and will do.
Love your little piece of property in the Pacific.
Dedra L.
Mahalo for my longtime daily connection to the important issues going on in Hawaii. Do you have any suggestions of organizations we can contribute to for the economic disaster that is happening in Hawaii? Many people contribute to help the people in places where there are natural disasters. This pandemic is a natural disaster that is causing so much economic harm to the people of Hawaii. We may not be able to help the government figure out how to get tourist to visit safely right now, but maybe we can help the people hold on until the right answers come along. Your obvious love of Hawaii makes me believe you may know how we can help the people we depend on for our amazing Hawaii experiences hold on until we can travel again and provide them with jobs to support themselves.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Dedra.
Good question. There are so many opportunities for contributions, and it becomes a very personal choice. Just for starters, we’ll mention the various Hawaii food banks, schools and youth organizations, Hawaii Public Radio, gardens, the Hawaii Community Foundation, cultural centers, humane societies, health organizations, arts and cultural organizations, and Aloha United Way.
Aloha.
Dedra L.
Mahalo for reponding. My email thought this was spam and I just found it today.
Dedra L.
Mahalo!
Doug M
There were comments earlier in the year from wealthy “mainland transplants” that have permanently tainted my thoughts on Hawaii travel. To all of those people….enjoy your uncrowded islands. Perhaps you can adopt a few local families and pay their monthly expenses. I have discovered a haven in the Caribbean with wonderful island people who appreciate my dollars. Many fond memories of the Hawaiian islands…..I wish all of the true locals the best. Aloha.
Al T
What Caribbean island?
Lynn S
Until this year, I visited HI twice a year on business. Made it a point to learn about and respect the culture and land and people. That didn’t keep a local from verbally attacking and threatening me on the street last Spring. No more “aloha” on the island.
1
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Not sure how it is now but in the 70’s when I went to high school on Oahu, the public schools/education really sucked. If it’s still the same, then it’s no wonder that there isn’t a qualified workforce capable of doing much more than basic tasks. And those that did succeed in their education are working on the mainland with many wishing they could return to their Hawaii ohana and get a decent job. I considered moving back in the 90’s but the wages offered in Hawaii for technical jobs was so low compared to CA that it wasn’t even close to being feasible. The lack of education here has created a bunch of locals whose only choice is to work in the tourism industry doing work suited for high schoolers. I think it all starts with a good education but it’ll be a long road probably. Maybe create a way to entice good teachers to relocate to Hawaii? More incentives for the kids in school would help too- especially if they get little/no support from parents.
We are annual travelers to Maui and twice have had to postpone our plans, once out of acceptance that the islands did not need more people flocking in during an outbreak, and the second time because the travel situation has become confusing, constant changes and a nonsensical evolution on those rules. Only the elite are able to travel, those with large pockets and unlimited time. We estimate spending over $80,000 on the island from the time we fell in love with Maui to last year. And we are not the richest. But we are now soured on a return, one instance is our resort refuses a refund and required we pay more to move our dates from this year to next. Next is the feeling we get from our island friends we stay in contact with. At many levels, visitors are being vilified. The very industry that puts food on the table is being torched by special interest. We’ve even read articles where locals have suggested that low levels of tourism become the normal, reducing environmental impact. Yet the state has no plan to supply food or housing for the thousands of workers who will be displaced, and with poor communication and horror stories coming back to the mainland about how us haolies are not wanted at all, puts a whole outlook on future travel as bleak. We won’t go where we are not wanted, it is sad, for Aloha always made our lives brighter when we returned to the mainland, but we have traveled to countries that did not want us there in all reality and are now afraid of being treated the same way from a place we respect and honor for its diligence as a paradise destination and the love of all the islands represent. We are no longer looking forward to our trip next year…
I have exactly the same story. My family lost several thousands of dollars (that we could not afford to lose) on a canceled trip this year (after resheduling the trip several times). We want to support the islands that we love but I now feel unwelcome, plus I am bitter about the money lost.
I can’t believe they already reopened Hanauma Bay. It should stay closed for a good long while. It is obvious that it was starting to make a comeback and now they’re going to completely destroy it again -so sad Hawaiian government is only concerned about money!
Eveyone can contribute to Hawaian Food Banks, which help also school children’s nutrition. And at the same time, write to Ige not to cut school funding
Key to the future is funding the schools, and I dont mean Punahou.
I live on the mainland and love to visit the islands. It is sad to see the impact COVID has had on so many people and businesses on the island.
I reinvested some of my vacation funds that I had planned to use this year while visiting Maui back into the Maui Food bank. I will continue to do so and encourage others to do the same. Although I may be viewed as a tourist when I am visiting, I value the people and Aloha of all the islands.
I was born in Hawaii. My folks were among the diaspora of Hawaiians who left our homeland for better opportunity that they foresaw in the 50’s. After a 63 look back things have not changed much over time.
While visiting family on Big Hawaii during Thanksgiving, the process was unbearably difficult due to the Hawaiian government and the disconnect with medical Covid 19 verifications. I ended up taking 3 tests within the the 72 hour window. Test 1 was with an approved tester who did not have a PDF neg. verification form to download to the State of Hawaii, test 2 which was a rapid test with the airlines that was 3 hours late making my family get a 3rd test at the airport. All the while we were not going to get a rental car and the place where we going to stay would not accept us either. You get quarantined.for 14 days. We were there for 10. After many hours, we got the verifiable negative results to the state. Would we do this again? Emphatically NO! We were traumatized. You wonder why people don’t go? It was easier to get in and out of Israel. How can this be?
Conclusion: I feel bad for the people who work to live in Hawaii. I don’t feel sorry for the moguls who own and control the wealth, just the people. The moguls and politicians will survive the ho’oulu lahui will not! The people of the land will succumb to either the treat of the china virus or starve to death as Hawaii continues to sink to massive debt.
To be honest, this sounds like a mess that may never be solvable. While I enjoy Hawaii far more than Mexico, I think Mexico is going to be a major beneficiary of Hawaii’s ineptitude – at lease for U.S. mainlanders.
It appears that Hawaii is stuck between a rock and a hard place. A move to another industry will be painful, but likely worth it for generations to come.
I love Hawaii and the people, but have wo served about its future. Some hard thinking needs to be done.
Mahalo for all you have done, are doing and will do.
Love your little piece of property in the Pacific.
Mahalo for my longtime daily connection to the important issues going on in Hawaii. Do you have any suggestions of organizations we can contribute to for the economic disaster that is happening in Hawaii? Many people contribute to help the people in places where there are natural disasters. This pandemic is a natural disaster that is causing so much economic harm to the people of Hawaii. We may not be able to help the government figure out how to get tourist to visit safely right now, but maybe we can help the people hold on until the right answers come along. Your obvious love of Hawaii makes me believe you may know how we can help the people we depend on for our amazing Hawaii experiences hold on until we can travel again and provide them with jobs to support themselves.
Hi Dedra.
Good question. There are so many opportunities for contributions, and it becomes a very personal choice. Just for starters, we’ll mention the various Hawaii food banks, schools and youth organizations, Hawaii Public Radio, gardens, the Hawaii Community Foundation, cultural centers, humane societies, health organizations, arts and cultural organizations, and Aloha United Way.
Aloha.
Mahalo for reponding. My email thought this was spam and I just found it today.
Mahalo!
There were comments earlier in the year from wealthy “mainland transplants” that have permanently tainted my thoughts on Hawaii travel. To all of those people….enjoy your uncrowded islands. Perhaps you can adopt a few local families and pay their monthly expenses. I have discovered a haven in the Caribbean with wonderful island people who appreciate my dollars. Many fond memories of the Hawaiian islands…..I wish all of the true locals the best. Aloha.
What Caribbean island?
Until this year, I visited HI twice a year on business. Made it a point to learn about and respect the culture and land and people. That didn’t keep a local from verbally attacking and threatening me on the street last Spring. No more “aloha” on the island.