Global news outlets raise big concerns for Hawaii visitors.
456 thoughts on “Hawaii Public Relations Nightmare as Media Frenzy Fuels Unrest”
Comments are closed.
Home » Blog » Culture and Events » Hawaii Public Relations Nightmare as Media Frenzy Fuels Unrest
Our family loves Hawaii. We own a Marriot timeshare since 2001 and have been going to Hawaii every other year . We love and respect Hawaii and treat the State as our second home. It is disheartening to read some of the comments on how residents feel about the tourist. Like it or not tourism is the heart and soul of Hawaii. It is paradise. Not all tourist are bad, not all tourist disrespect the island and the culture. We want to take care of Hawaii because we want to keep on coming back to our paradise. We have a plethora of vacation options that we can go to, however we keep on coming back here, our second home.
We have been vacationing in Hawaii yearly for the past 15 years. The unreasonable fear and anti-Aloha that is spread by the citizens and the government is alarming. We visited Mexico with our family in February for a wedding and we felt very welcomed and appreciated. Mexico is opening again without draconian measures and mistrust. I’m sure there will be increased screening to help keep them safe. I hope Hawaii and it’s government will see the error of draconian tactics and the assault on freedoms that will leave a mark for years to come.
I also can’t imagine how much more expensive it will be to stay in Hawaii as it attempts in the years to come to dig out of the financial pit that is being dug. The bed tax loss alone that is burdensome to visitors has to be astronomical. I understand measures needed to be taken until we understood this vi rus more, but when the numbers look good and the rest of the nation and world are opening it only makes sense for a place that has the Aloha spirit to welcome its cousins back to the family.
Mexico is beautiful and welcoming and we are planning a trip to Costa Rica this year or next. I’m not sure when we will return to Hawaii. It has lost some of its charm and much of its Aloha.
I had a trip booked to Kauai in April, which I had to cancel due to this. After the fighting to get my money back for my not so cheap rental and reading negative comments about tourists from the locals, I have now booked a trip to the Florida Keys. Cheaper and also beautiful. This kills me. As an environmental scientist who really cares about the islands, I wanted to learn about the culture and islands first hand. My money will be spent elsewhere. I also live in a state which depends on tourism on the East Coast and I cannot imagine treating visitors the way I have heard they are treated in Hawaii and I would never ask them to stay away.
I can only believe Hawaii is on an economic suicide mission. First the Bill on minimum 30 day vacation rentals and now becoming a police state related to this. We have a place in Waikiki and have canceled our usual Spring trip because like all tourists we would need to quarantine for 14 days. There is no aloha is tracking people like cattle and imposing harsh punishments for the most minor of infractions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a rule follower but with all of this, it just isn’t appealing to go to Hawaii now. We have already planned a first post quar antine trip elsewhere. Public relations and marketing plan for the Hawaiian islands? Whew! Good luck!
Everyone is uptight right now mainland or hawaii. It will all relax eventually. We have rebooked our May 1-11 to September 4-14 and are SO looking forward to seeing you all, spending money visiting and getting to know the locals. We love you all and cant wait to spent 10 glorious days there. Take heed everyone. Everyone is uptight. WE WILL GET THRU THIS! Aloha
Hi Paul.
Thanks.
Aloha.
We love spending time each year near the ocean and have reservations to visit Maui in August. Yet we find the Hawaiian response to tourists draconian and disheartening. The actions taken of arrest, quar antine and tracking along with published hostility towards tourists alarming and frightening. I take my family’s and personal safety into account when choosing where to travel. Hawaii is looking unsafe.
Up until recent years, we chose to go to the beautiful Caribbean and Central America instead of Hawaii. I anticipate the alternatives to our booked Maui trip are still welcoming, hospitable and safe – not to mention affordable.
I’d like the two editors of Beat of Hawaii to share their thoughts. My wife and I have been to all of the islands many times over the past 10 years. I have over 20 attorney clients/friends on Oahu. And we have several local (multiple generations) friends on Kauai, our favorite island and where we plan to retire next year. We’ve seen many “ugly American” tourists over the years. But, we’ve also experienced the true Aloha spirit of the locals. I’m just wondering if the negative experiences discussed here reflect a few “vocal minority” and isolated incidents, or if the Beat of Hawaii editors believe it’s a growing trend? And if it is a trend, is it worse on a small island like Kauai vs. the heavily populated and more demographically mixed island of Oahu? Mahalo for a great Beat of Hawaii blog.
Hi Tom.
First, thanks for all your comments. We are happy to share our thoughts, but obviously others experiences will be different. We both live on Kauai full-time, so again, it’s hard to speak for Oahu.
There have always been these issues between visitors and “locals.” Keep in mind too that locals include people whose ancestors include native Hawaiians and others who have been here for a short time to a very long time. Rob’s family came to Hawaii in the 1850’s, as an example.
Our sense is that this has gotten somewhat but not hugely worse over the past ten years, as more and more visitors have come to Hawaii. And the state has done nothing to help that with an aging and inadequate infrastructure which doesn’t well support the number of visitors we have.
Keep in mind that visiting here and living here are two entirely separate things. When you move here, it is a little hard to get into the island flow, both for you, those around you. You have to give it some time and patience, and that has always been true.
Hope that helps. Let us know if you want anything more.
Aloha.
Never after what we experienced!
Prior to last July, Hawaii was the last state for me to visit. Honestly, I never had any great desire to go there until then. Now? I am so very happy I did! I found everyone very friendly and accommodating. The only people that were NOT terribly friendly, were some that obviously were not FROM Hawaii.
Before we went, I kept reading all the boards, blogs, posts, articles, you name it. There was so mush negativity, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go yet, but, it was my 50th state, I could suck it up. Well, I can now honestly say that all those posts and articles must be written by some very bitter people. We had an AWESOME time. If all those people had been correct, I would have been absolutely miserable.
We visitors all need to understand that this is a state with a very rich culture and it should be protected. I also hope that those who live in Hawaii realize that we’re not all “like that”.
For my part, last July could have been a once in a lifetime trip, but, not if I can help it. I will go back as many times as my resources allow. I’ll stop at a roadside stand for pineapple, I’ll go to the top of the mountain, I’ll scuba dive, I will engage the local folks just like I did last time. If they’re not as nice and kind as the ones I met last time, I will simply move on and greet the next friend I haven’t met, yet!
I have visited Hawaii 2-3 times a year for over 25 years. I love Hawaii and consider many who live there to be my ohana too!
Unfortunately, there has been a progressive decline in a quality travel experience over the years. Crime against tourists, the homeless, the trash on the sides of the road, and neglected, abandoned, trash filled buildings that stand unaddressed for decades are all examples. The visitor seems to be the easy scapegoat for Hawaii’s ills. The same politicians keep getting re-elected. It’s time to fix these problems in a fiscally responsible way.
Tourists have a choice of where to visit. No one is obligated to visit Hawaii. It costs a minor fortune to even fly to Hawaii, let alone rent a hotel room and eat there. Does the average Hawaiian even know what the taxes and fees are to visit Hawaii already? Do they know how relatively low their property taxes are compared to other places in the country because of this revenue?
In the current environment, many countries are making it difficult to travel to the US, and many economically strapped countries are recognizing the power of the quick tourist dollar. Does rebalancing tourism make sense for Hawaii? Probably. Tourist restrictions, quar antines and hard handed legal persecution may not be the best idea. Hawaii may not realize what it had, until it’s gone.