“It also seems like some want to treat us like visitors to “Disney” as this narrative keeps getting thrown around. Is this how Hawaiians truly feel or is this some “bad actors” trying to scare off visitors?'”
I think that quoted commenter has it backwards. It feels more to me like some people come here expecting Disneyland and then are disappointed. I also don’t know how the idea people living in Hawaii treat travelers like visitors to Disney is supposed to scare off visitors. I think this just highlights misconceptions that have been growing on both sides.
I like your advice: treat each other gently, take a deep breath, and start from a place of aloha.
We are in Molokia this week. We have been treated very kindly. Some have just ignored us, which is fine, I am sure they have busy lives. I saw a help wanted sign offering $11.00 an hour, no one can live on that. 20 percent for waiters should be mandatory. I was a teacher (low pay), but if you can come to Hawaii you can pay the 20% at the very least.
Absolutely, love Hawaii and the locals. Went to Maui last November for the Holidays. Everyone is so kind and all you have to do is smile back & tip them $$$$. That’s why it has always worked. The plus is we get to enjoy their islands!
Hi,my son lives in Ocean Point. I have been there eight times over the ten years he has lived there. Hawawii is just another state of the union. If I am there for a month I feel no different from Miami beach. Your state is a great place but you don’t own it. Any American can move in.
Pat G, Yes, mandates for sustainability should be imposed on all. Visitor tax and hospitality tax funds should be used to incentivise the mandates for locals. The Hawaiian people need help to fund EV’s,solar and energy storage. The billions made by hotels and the wealthy who visit can fund this. Then everyone wins and tourists will be an in a different light as well… as contributors to Hawaiian well being.:-)
And locals pay nothing for this? That doesn’t seem quite fair. We would benefit greatly from the investment you propose, and additionally, we would benefit all year round. Visitors are only here for a few days.
Everyone is so quick to feel some sort of entitlement, and is so quick to vilify others. We and the visitor industry can work on this and contribute together.
Agreed…. Both should contribute to this, corporations could allocate revenue from tourists as a start toward sustainability and make other small changes.
Recycling would be a great place to start, one thing that I have been seeing more on the mainland is the availability of aluminum cups that replace plastic cups (think aluminum Solo cup). These are starting to be used at sports events too and are infinitely recyclable, I hope more resorts and bars start to use these as a way to further reduce waste.
Hahahaha this thread is killing me with all the naive solutions to problems that the powers to be don’t want to resolve.
Your politicians spoon feed you the crap you want to hear while taking PAC money from their Big Corp stakeholders who are cashing in on the summer travel crush.
Oh wait is this Lake Tahoe, Yosemite oh we’re talking about Hawaii. Boo hoo.
Another cause of the perception that locals have been anti tourism…when Hawaii opened up for travel there was an explosion of pent up demand that caught many off guard. Obviously some resented the influx when Covid was still very much on many residents mind. We went from uncrowded roads and beaches to a mass of tourists who themselves were still copping with what we all went through. Some handled it better than others on both sides. Reality is Hawaii is still recovering, but the essence of Aloha is still here and locals don’t hate tourists, some just don’t suffer fools very well. Give it time.
I do have a perspective I’ve used that’s served me well. Everyone I encounter I give them the benefit of the doubt. This has been a tough couple years on everyone, some more than others. For instance, my kids are grown but I really feel for parents of school age kids and what they have faced…home schooling/masks/are my kids safe, etc. can’t imagine dealing with that while handling your own possible job uncertainties. Others have faced unspeakable tragedy. Been a lot of hardship out there folks, a little kindness can work wonders.
Great comment by JohnW. It’s been a tough couple of years. I have a grandson who missed his kindergarten year because of Covid. His 1st-grade year has been a borderline disaster. Another grandson is just getting over his “separation anxiety”. Time to show a little grace to everybody. We’ll all be better off.
“It also seems like some want to treat us like visitors to “Disney” as this narrative keeps getting thrown around. Is this how Hawaiians truly feel or is this some “bad actors” trying to scare off visitors?'”
I think that quoted commenter has it backwards. It feels more to me like some people come here expecting Disneyland and then are disappointed. I also don’t know how the idea people living in Hawaii treat travelers like visitors to Disney is supposed to scare off visitors. I think this just highlights misconceptions that have been growing on both sides.
I like your advice: treat each other gently, take a deep breath, and start from a place of aloha.
We are in Molokia this week. We have been treated very kindly. Some have just ignored us, which is fine, I am sure they have busy lives. I saw a help wanted sign offering $11.00 an hour, no one can live on that. 20 percent for waiters should be mandatory. I was a teacher (low pay), but if you can come to Hawaii you can pay the 20% at the very least.
Waiters, like Smith Barney, should be expected to make money the old fashioned way.
Absolutely, love Hawaii and the locals. Went to Maui last November for the Holidays. Everyone is so kind and all you have to do is smile back & tip them $$$$. That’s why it has always worked. The plus is we get to enjoy their islands!
Hi,my son lives in Ocean Point. I have been there eight times over the ten years he has lived there. Hawawii is just another state of the union. If I am there for a month I feel no different from Miami beach. Your state is a great place but you don’t own it. Any American can move in.
Typical haole disrepect for Hawaiian people With this attitude why don’t you just stay on the mainland
Since I can’t say no profanity Rudeness or personal attacks or bullying all I can say is merry Christmas Hawaii
Pat G, Yes, mandates for sustainability should be imposed on all. Visitor tax and hospitality tax funds should be used to incentivise the mandates for locals. The Hawaiian people need help to fund EV’s,solar and energy storage. The billions made by hotels and the wealthy who visit can fund this. Then everyone wins and tourists will be an in a different light as well… as contributors to Hawaiian well being.:-)
And locals pay nothing for this? That doesn’t seem quite fair. We would benefit greatly from the investment you propose, and additionally, we would benefit all year round. Visitors are only here for a few days.
Everyone is so quick to feel some sort of entitlement, and is so quick to vilify others. We and the visitor industry can work on this and contribute together.
Agreed…. Both should contribute to this, corporations could allocate revenue from tourists as a start toward sustainability and make other small changes.
Recycling would be a great place to start, one thing that I have been seeing more on the mainland is the availability of aluminum cups that replace plastic cups (think aluminum Solo cup). These are starting to be used at sports events too and are infinitely recyclable, I hope more resorts and bars start to use these as a way to further reduce waste.
Hahahaha this thread is killing me with all the naive solutions to problems that the powers to be don’t want to resolve.
Your politicians spoon feed you the crap you want to hear while taking PAC money from their Big Corp stakeholders who are cashing in on the summer travel crush.
Oh wait is this Lake Tahoe, Yosemite oh we’re talking about Hawaii. Boo hoo.
This isn’t the new reality it’s Hawaii’s reality.
Another cause of the perception that locals have been anti tourism…when Hawaii opened up for travel there was an explosion of pent up demand that caught many off guard. Obviously some resented the influx when Covid was still very much on many residents mind. We went from uncrowded roads and beaches to a mass of tourists who themselves were still copping with what we all went through. Some handled it better than others on both sides. Reality is Hawaii is still recovering, but the essence of Aloha is still here and locals don’t hate tourists, some just don’t suffer fools very well. Give it time.
I do have a perspective I’ve used that’s served me well. Everyone I encounter I give them the benefit of the doubt. This has been a tough couple years on everyone, some more than others. For instance, my kids are grown but I really feel for parents of school age kids and what they have faced…home schooling/masks/are my kids safe, etc. can’t imagine dealing with that while handling your own possible job uncertainties. Others have faced unspeakable tragedy. Been a lot of hardship out there folks, a little kindness can work wonders.
Great comment by JohnW. It’s been a tough couple of years. I have a grandson who missed his kindergarten year because of Covid. His 1st-grade year has been a borderline disaster. Another grandson is just getting over his “separation anxiety”. Time to show a little grace to everybody. We’ll all be better off.