Peeling back the layers beneath Hawaii’s tropical facade yields deep-seated uncertainty.
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67 thoughts on “Hawaii Tourism’s Deep Divide: Opposing Perspectives”
Peeling back the layers beneath Hawaii’s tropical facade yields deep-seated uncertainty.
Respectfully, I’d really like to know what the “ideal” Hawaii looks like to those who live there. If you could make Hawaii anything you wanted, what would it be? Tourists don’t vote in your elections. What do you want your elected officials to do? What would you and your community create? Go ahead and imagine, then go make your dream happen. What do you want tourists to know about Hawaiian culture? What thoughts do you want us to consider? Are we tourists even capable of understanding? Sometimes the actions of locals towards me lead me to conclude you don’t think we are. Let us know what it is you really want, because we can’t guess. I love visiting Maui and look forward to more visits. Aloha.
I just read a Census report that indicates Native Hawaiians represent only .2% of the population. Is that .2% entitled to a veto over the majority?
Doubt if that will change much over time.
When someone tells you who they are and what they think, believe them. I can tell that you are riding a line regarding being drawn to the natural beauty of the islands and the horrific treatment tourists receive. Especially white mainlanders. I understand the draw, but, at what point do you start getting the message?
For the most part Hawaiiians stay clear of where the tourists are. I am very sorry for any bad experiences you may have encountered but have never seen this or heard it from the visitors I converse with daily. My work is talking with visitors for the past 30 years. Perhaps in areas that are Kapu or if a visitor has done or said something viewed as disrespectful. Some locals but not the majority are resentful. Some not even Hawaiian. They blame the high costs on tourism. Yet, almost all of us are dependent on tourism in one way or another. We welcome tourists and do our best to assist in them having a memorable time so that they will want to return and tell others to come. I agree the politicians should watch what comes out of their mouths.
Sorry Kim but I have never had an issue until my visit to Maui in Feb 2024 but I had several issues then. If asking where an item is located in a store to an employee could be considered disrespectful then I am sorry. I had three distinct occasions in 2 grocery stores and a clothing store where I asked an employee where I might find something and was either totally ignored or rudely told over there. One simply ignored me so I politely asked again and he turned and looked at me with apparent disgust and then turned away. All three definitely appeared to be Native Hawaiins. I had one other issue with a non employee where a woman refused to allow me or another person to get past her as she was blocking an aisle unnecessarily.
I am so sorry Bill! I wish you would report to the manager/owner anything like this. If I or the people I know saw this we would step in. This is very sad and hurts all of us. There is no excuse.
Just out of curiosity, are you a white person? I have never felt real racism directed at me anywhere but on a visit to Hawaii.
I have sometimes felt the same way. It’s as though Some want us to drop our cash at the airport and catch a return flight home.
There is much criticism of large out-of-state corps building high-rise hotels. Well, assuming elected officials could do something about that – only Hawaii residents voted those losers in.