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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I am a kanaka Maoli who has worked in tourism for over 20+ years and am currently employed part time by a resort. Visitors who want to travel to Hawaii, break the laws of Hawaii which is in place to protect our kamaaina are selfish. Period. Honestly speaking we don’t need those types of visitors. The ones who have said they don’t want to return because the “Aloha” is missing…we don’t need them. Aloha is not a commodity that means Tourism is king and visitors do whatever they want and we have to allow them. That is NOT aloha and obviously those types of tourists need to be educated. Aloha is love and respect and if they don’t respect Hawaii by staying away during this then they do not have Aloha for us and THAT is the issue. We as Hawaii WELCOME (when the time is right) those who ARE waiting to visit, with open arms and most likely a honi as well. Do not worry about tourists, they will always come. Instead worry about Hawaii and her people. She is healing and needs time.
I don’t believe that visitors are uncaring towards the islands. I also don’t think that anyone believes that tourism is king and that visitors can do whatever they want. Being that you have worked in tourism for so long, you may have seen more than your fair share of rude tourists. However, if you’re being truthful I’m sure you would have to admit that most are kind and respectful. Possibly your anger towards visitors is a bit jaded due to working in the industry.
Your statement that visitors can come when the time is right and that visitors will always come is very optimistic. You live on the islands and tourism is your business. However, I think that you are being very naive regarding this situation. Yes, “some” visitors will always return. But, have you thought about how many visitors must visit the islands each year in order to sustain the necessary jobs and support your economy requires? I think not! You really aren’t listening to what the visitors are saying. Thanks or no thanks to the media, we have clearly heard the disdain that some locals hold for visitors. Whether or not you want to believe it, visitors are choosing to go elsewhere. Some will always return but many will never come back for fear of retribution from locals. I’ve read many comments about forcing visitors to rent ankle bracelets so that our every move can be tracked. Statements like this are taken very seriously. Personally I doubt that it will ever happen, but it is very disheartening to hear. Some even feel that it’s such a threat that they don’t want to come at all. Others feel they may be harassed or even physically attacked by angry locals.
All this negative talk is chasing tourists away. Hawaii is fortunate to have suffered very few cases or deaths from this. One death is too many. However, Hawaiian government officials need to be realistic when doing things like 14 day quar antine for every arriving visitor as well as denying rental cars and allowing room keys that work only one time. The rest of the United States is dealing with this pandemic as a country. Hawaii must come to their senses and align with the rest of the states. Keeping Hawaii locked down any longer is economic suicide.
Hawaii is a beautiful paradise, loved by millions. Please kindly share it with the rest of the United States.
Wishing you health, happiness and prosperity.
Mahalo and Aloha!
Hi TJ.
Thank you!
Aloha. R/J.
The Aloha Spirit will need a reboot for sure. We’ve been visiting the Hawaiian Islands regularly for 20 years. We fell in love with Kaua’i Island with the intent to move there in retirement. We sold our home in Colorado and moved in with family while looking for a place to buy. We bought a modest condo a year ago and were ready to make the move. However after spending the month of February 2020 on Kaua’i we have some reservations.
The Aloha Spirit seemed to be just a phrase. We had family join us for a week and while visiting the popular places we were embarrassed by some local attitudes. In addition the condition of the public restrooms at almost every County/State Park was deplorable. Kaua’i is a world class destination with some second world infrastructure. What is being done with the parking new parking fees charged at Waimea Canyon? We are certain the revenue was stellar prior to the lockdown. We hope the funds go to the restroom situation.
Also as a vacation rental owner with intent to make it our home we pay our share. Property taxes are much higher for vacation rentals than what residents pay. We also generate a large amount of GET & TVR revenue for the county. And don’t forget the additional charges on rental cars which are greater than the car rate. Infrastructure has been neglected for some time, was the tourism revenue squandered?
We are saddened to see how visitors are talked about on Kaua’i. We have made a point to volunteer a day each week and donate to local non-profits when we visit because it’s the right thing to do.
The economy where we live for now in Colorado is also predominantly tourism driven and we love our tourists. There will always be a few bad apples but tourism provides so many jobs and lifts everyone.
Hopefully the Aloha Spirt will return. We love Kaua’i.
I adore Hawai’i (Maui) and have tried to go once or twice a year for the last decade. I’m always respectful and tip very well. What I watched unfold with their government as part of this appalled me. Never have I seen so much hate directed at visitors. I was there in March as this game were shutting down and had hoped to go back in the fall/winter. We’ll see. Ankle trackers? Making people get tested 3 days before arriving? Initial quar antines? Anything other than how it was at the beginning of 2020 is unacceptable to me. Hawai’i has forgotten that they are part of the USA. If they want my Money in the future, they will have to start respecting me as I have them. There are many other beautiful places in the world who would be grateful for my tourism dollars.
We would love to return. Our family is from Oahu and some still live there. But we will not risk our personal liberties if there are mandatory tests before flying. We also do not want to be in a place that requires masks, even if it is just for businesses.
There is no credible argument that disputes the fact that if everyone wore a mask when interacting in business’s and on airplanes it would help slow the spread of this. If no one wears a mask the spread would be greater. The point is we all need to do what we can to try and help the situation. We all need to think of others, not just ourselves and our “liberties” Trying to do what we can to help the big picture is the best line of defense we have.
If you believe the conspiracy stuff floating around about masks not working you are being used.
JB, have you asked your relatives on Oahu if they have no problem with anyone from areas with much higher infection rates
coming and interacting with them while taking no safety precautions? Breathing in their face and refusing to be tested even if they
have been around people that have co vid? You are really fine with that?
Open up and I will return in July. We have a trip planned with a private residence but, if no restaurants and other venues are not open with will have to plan for next year. We love Hawaii and will return as soon as we can.
We love Hawaii and plan on coming in late October. We’d submit to a test before we leave the mainland if that means we can come. We try so hard not to be the typical tourist when we come. We respect the Hawaiian culture and traditions, that’s why we love coming to Hawaii. And we would do nothing to upset the islanders. We just hope we can come back and that Hawaii is not too harmed by all that is happening.
“Hitler”? “Nazi” Really??? Are you kidding me? I am a mainlander, but I am embarrassed by your selfish comments. My wife is a nurse on the front lines of this on the East Coast. She knows what a CO VID pneumonia x-ray looks like all too well. We applaud Gov Ige and Mayor Kawaakami’s restrictions. And for all of those Californian comments – Easy for you to say considering the hospitals and healthcare system you enjoy. Do you realize how many patients are fixed-winged every year from Honolulu (which has the best Island healthcare) to either LAX or SFO to a CA hospital. California has about 12,000 ventilators, using about 32% of them now. All combined Hawaii has 667 ventilators! That’s it. Kaui – 18; Maui – 27; Big Island – 39, and Oahu with population of almost 1 million residents has a “whopping” 583 ventilators. Yes, some local residents are afraid of visitors right now. And for good reason. A few stupid visitors could literally create a mini-pandemic on an island easily overrunning the local hospitals. While I’m not in favor of ankle bracelets or a fan of a 14-day quar antine, I’m OK with the police enforcing the rules. If you don’t like the local laws, then stay home. The risk is real. As I’ve said on this blog before, unfortunately, the reality is either wait for a vac cine or re-open the islands with restrictions and expect outbreaks and deaths. It’s not an either or. We will gladly return to Kauai as soon as we can. We should be there now for 3 weeks, but for the pan demic. Aloha
We love Hawaii but not the residents. We have experienced rudeness by the residents towards us every time we have visited and it has gotten progressively worse. The people that haven’t experience rudeness probably stay at resorts where people are paid to be nice. One bad experience leaves a taste in your mouth of not wanting to return. I would love to keep coming back year after year but if treatment of visitors does not improve, we will be spending our hard earned money in other locales that appreciate it. Aloha spirit is alive if you are staying at a resort. Otherwise forget it
I have been visiting Hawaii for over 30 years and have recently seen comments posted on social media that I NEVER would have expected to see coming from most of the the locals in Hawaii. I have found those comments both disgusting AND disdurbing on many levels and although I do not believe that the majority of Hawaii citizens feel that way, especially those that rely on tourism for their livelihood, the very vocal minority are the one’s that are giving Hawaii the reasons for the well deserved bad press that Hawaii is now getting. They and their ilk are indeed entitled to their opiniions because chances are they are not impacted by being locked up in their own homes and a prison, no matter how pretty, is STILL a prison and your state officials have indeed created a prison mentality by their draconian methods of dealing with the situation. There is NOTHING in the numbers about the virus infection in Hawaii that should cause the kind of draconian methods currently in play. I also look forward to the coming lawsuits against the state’s governor and mayors relative to people’s Constitutional rights being violated especially in relation to religious services when this insanity is over. There is literally NOTHING in the US Constitution that has an escape clause as to our rights short of the President or a governor declaring martial law. The Beat of Hawaii has a voice IN Hawaii and it is well past time for you to start expressing it in terms that the state and county authorities might recognize as meaningful. And yes, I will be back at some point but not for awhile.
I’m flat out in shock at the entitlement in many of these posts. You are a GUEST on these islands. The people who live there are more concerned about keeping them and their loved ones safe than your tourist dollars and you are acting like they are wrong for that? My God! We have never had a challenge on the islands even though our stays often lead us to the most native parts of the islands including Waianae and Makaha. I see it all pretty clearly now. You don’t own these people. You don’t own this land and you have no right to it. You are guests. Just freaking wait and respect people’s lives. When they’re ready, you’ll know.
And I am shocked by YOUR sense of entitlement. Do you expect Hawaiian residents to be treated as an outsider if they visit any one of the other 49 states? We are all aware of Co vid and no one wants to spread it or contract it…..but get a grip. This will pass, but your stinging words may not.
Exactly!
A GUEST? I’m sorry, but you are flat out wrong! I am NOT a “guest” anywhere in my country. I am a citizen. It’s not a privilege that I get to visit Hawai’i, it’s a right. Get off your high horse.
Yes, you are a guest. And with attitudes like this, I can see why some tourists have bad experiences with some locals. It would behoove you to learn a little about Hawaii’s history of illegal occupation.
How rude of Hawaiians to resist tourists because they don’t want to die of this.
Believe me, I want to go back as well, but I’m not that selfish.
Agree completely, Jen. There is some very disappointing privilege and entitlement from people who think that because they live in the US, they are entitled to do what they want in a state they aren’t citizens of. Disgusting to see it, but it seems to be going around. Stay home!! Hawaii doesn’t need you.