Global news outlets raise big concerns for Hawaii visitors.
456 thoughts on “Hawaii Public Relations Nightmare as Media Frenzy Fuels Unrest”
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Home » Blog » Culture and Events » Hawaii Public Relations Nightmare as Media Frenzy Fuels Unrest
Aloha and thank you for the useful, insightful information you provide. We rebooked an April trip to late October only because everything is cancellable with minimal loss (one $30 booking fee). So I won’t hesitate to cancel if the aloha is gone.
Nothing “Beats” Hawaii, period!
I live in a resort town in Cali, we too are severely affected by this and it will be a long road to recovery. Visitors, tourist or snowbirds, however benevolent wouldn’t think twice about haggling for a lower price, be rude or demand compensation, meanwhile sneak a shell or two in their swim trunks. Fact remains if you are not a local you do not and cannot know how it feels to be a native. Our economy also relies heavily on Airbnb & VRBO for many 2nd homeowners who rent their vacation homes. Between the renters whom break the noise, occupancy or car ordinances or the landlord’s reckless driving and defying speed laws, we too like Hawaii are dependent on their revenue. Just like any other tourist destination, Hawaii will survive. The same for our small little town. Downtown will reopen, there will be liter in the street, restaurant servers being yelled at followed by rounds of free drinks from the bartenders. Year after year we smile, nod our heads and say “ welcome back.”
Hello, this has been a very interesting chat. I am not sure I would return, having been to all the islands, 8 times in the past 16 years. My husband has back trouble and cannot tolerate the long flight from east coast mainland anymore. The last time we were there,(2016) we spent most of our time on Kauai. The traffic was so bad that we could not get to Waimea Canyon from Princeville, and just turned around, very disappointed. There were many wonderful things to do elsewhere, of course. But I have found this kind of problem becoming to frequent. We have loved our trips, but maybe us tourists are now victims of themselves. Maybe some Pineapple whip would bring us back 🙂
We’ll return when the islands open up completely and when vacation rentals are allowed to rent again. Hotels are too expensive with the daily resort and parking fees added to the room rate. Also, when airlines can stop herding us in like cattle and packing us in like sardines in a can. We’re looking forward to that day if it ever comes.
Aloha, and thanks for the opportunity to comment on this important topic.
I am a California resident who has visited Hawaii (primarily Maui, but occasionally Oahu and Kauai) numerous times over the past 30 years. Some of the best memories I have are from my visits to your lovely state, including an incredible honeymoon in Waikiki in 1989 and many vacations in Maui in between then and now. To say Hawaii is an amazing paradise is an understatement. I truly love Hawaii and the Hawaiian people and their customs.
In my visits, I have seen both the good and bad sides of Hawaii. There have been times that I felt out of place and viewed as an unwelcome outsider, and other times when I was treated like ohana. To say this experience is unique to Hawaii would not be fair: as a frequent traveler to Italy, and an Italian by heritage, I have received similar treatment there. There are nice people, and also rude people, in the world wherever you go. The common theme seems to be how tourists interact as visitors. If you don’t respect someone else’s home, you cannot expect to be treated with kindness and respect by those who live in that home. That, of course, doesn’t give anyone license to treat you badly. We should all respect each other, even when we are not on our best behavior. I have seen visitors act horribly and disrespect the people who live and work in Hawaii, and that is simply unacceptable. Equally unacceptable is being treated rudely just because someone is “just a tourist” and not an indigenous resident. It is very expensive to go to Hawaii, and when there I expect to be at least treated with the same level of kindness and courtesy with which I treat others. We would all do better by observing the Golden Rule (treat others as you would like to be treated.)
Personally, I understand the sentiment felt by those living in Hawaii. It must be very hard to see your lovely island, and your local customs, disrespected. I can see how the continual flood of outsiders, some of whom are rude, intolerant, and ignorant of the history and traditions of the Hawaiian people and their lands, would cause resentment of visitors. Unfortunately, though, the reality is that Hawaii and tourism go hand in hand. Without the latter, the survival of the former is jeopardized. Thus, there needs to be a better understanding and relationship between visitors and the Hawaiian people and their environment. I don’t know how to bring that about. We can certainly educate each other, but it’s difficult to bring about a change in people’s hearts and how they treat one another. Again, perhaps we can try to employ the Golden Rule and things just might get better. This applies not just to visitors and the residents of Hawaii – it also applies, perhaps even more so, to government leaders who set policy. They can’t expect their constituents to act differently when the leaders themselves send the message that visitors are not really welcomed but instead are a necessary evil.
Sadly, I haven’t been back to Maui for nearly 10 years. Life has gotten in the way, and I’ve spent most of my limited vacation time chasing my Italian heritage. However, I do intend to go back to Maui perhaps for the Christmas holidays this year if everything goes back to normal (whatever that may now be) and I still have the considerable resources needed to fund the trip. I strongly believe in supporting local economies and particularly the small businesses that are being decimated by the pandemic. I think the only thing that would possibly stop me from coming would be a continued shutdown of the islands, a worsening of the pan demic, a personal health crisis, or a continuation of the heavy-handed treatment of tourists by some of your tone deaf leaders. I very much want to come back to Hawaii and enjoy her incredible lands, amazing peoples, and the aloha spirit that I’ve been shown many times in the past.
Again, thanks for the opportunity to chime in, and I hope to see you in December. Mahalo.
John
In Maui, I stay at my uncle’s condo in the Maui Kai complex. He is an original purchaser. In reading the various comments posted before this one, it seems there are really two questions being answered: First, what would it take for tourists to return to beautiful Hawaii? And second, do we want to return given the perception that we are not welcome or appreciated?
Hi John.
Thanks.
Aloha.
This pan demic has been frustrating for everyone everywhere. I completely understand Hawaii’s strict stance because of i’s fragile ecosystem and isolated geography. I have canceled plans to travel at all until at least late August. That said, I hope to make my annual trip to Hawaii at Christmas. To my friends in Hawaii, stay healthy and stay safe. We WILL get through this!!👍
My wife and I have owned a timeshare on Kauai for more than 25 years.We love the islands but will wait until there is a vac cine before we fly again.
We usually visit Hawaii several times a year, last time being February 2020.
After seeing how unfriendly Hawaii response has been towards tourist, is causing me to pause wanting to travel to Hawaii. Hawaii is a prime example of how Hitler came into power in causing fear and saying all their problems are certain type of people.
I know there are several good individuals in Hawaii, and have enjoyed their hospitality when we visited in past, but wortry about how welcome we might be if we ever return.
I love Hawaii and will travel again but only when the two week quar antine is lifted. I just can’t afford to add two weeks to my trip.
Aloha
Hawaii is taking too long to make up their mind for visitors to fly in. We have decided to go somewhere else, as I’m sure lots of other people will do the same. If we cant Fly in, then I guess they can’t fly out.