54 thoughts on “Hawaii Tourist Or Resident Misbehavior – What’s Worse?”
Jeanne F
I’ve lived in Hawaii for most of my life. My observation is that most visitors act respectfully in Hawaii. I am saddened by the increasingly hostile behavior of residents.I drive a small car and feel unsafe and bullied on the roads by tailgating and squeezed into parking monopolized by large trucks.I feel like the quality of life in Hawaii has deteriorated because of the lack of civility.
Ditch HI and go to Mexico! The people are so friendly and want you to come there because it raises their standard of living. And Mexico is so gorgeous! I always try to speak Spanish and they are always so appreciative. I’m done with the faux Polynesian “culture” on the islands. Mexico is authentic and welcoming.
Hello. I’m a Caucasian resident of Oahu. Been here 8ish years. I’m not military so I actually live here. I came here to raise my family. We own a nice house. By and large, this move was a huge success. We are all pretty happy here. But, a person not born here begins to notice things after a while. The natives are generally not ok with white people, tourists or other. They call people like me “haole” and it’s usually said with an F-bomb preceding it. Hawaiians are quietly racist and many still say the “you stole My aina” stuff. Then they trash the place with burned cars and garbage everywhere. So, uh, what? They also sell clothing here called “Defend Hawaii” and it’s clearly directed at white people- bc I asked and it got real awkward quickl
Respect. Respect for nature, both the land and the animals. Respect for people; those who live in the area and are graciously sharing their home with visitors, those who work in hospitality and are trying to meet the needs of those visiting and the needs of the companies they work for, and those who are choosing to spend a good portion of their income to briefly experience this unique location while relaxing and recharging from their own hectic and burdened lives back home.
Understanding. Understanding that often what benefits one simultaneously burdens another. Understanding that it is often hard to see how your own wants, needs and desires could possibly ‘burden’ another.
My husband and I have been visiting all of the islands fir 20+ years. The last 10 years we have settled on our favorite location which is renting condos in the Mauna Lani area several times a year. Unfortunately the cost of everything in Hawaii has become offensive. We can afford the high costs but choose not to. So we now spend our beach vacations in Costa Rica or the Caribbean. We do miss Hawaii but don’t know when we will return.
Yet another “Us vs. Them“ article. Sigh…I’ll play anyway (I have no shame). As a long-standing resident of Hawaii, I believe that this is a complex, dynamic problem that is mostly rooted in economics. The financially stressed locals resent tourists since in their eyes tourists perpetuate the service economy that will never offer a true living wage. The tourists resent the “uppity” locals because they feel they are owed deference, given the very high cost of vacationing in Hawaii. Watching all of this from the sidelines, laughing, are the mega corporations (airlines, hotels, realty). None of this will change until Hawaii figures out how to shift its economy from tourism to something else. I hope that it happens in my lifetime (probably not).
Aloha. Thank you for this great article. I forwarded it on to many people, some who live on BI, and others here in CA. I lived on the BI till March this year. Sad to leave, yes, but all you mention about residents has been my personal experience. I moved there in 2007. I was always diligent and paid trash fees. Recycled. Etc. The garbage on the roads didn’t go unnoticed however. These were not “tourists”. These are angry locals. I have been almost run off of twisty roads, been treated rudely, and in some cases, ignored. My feeling in this is, if you don’t like it, go somewhere else. Natives, locals, Live Aloha, don’t blame others for your anguish.
With alelo ma ka papalina, let me offer some suggestions to the topic of toxic tourists and residents.
If caught touching an endangered creature have a creature touch them (like a jellyfish).
If caught biting a police officer or flight attendent have a Hawaiian bite them (like a tiger shark).
If caught urinating in public let the public urinate on them.
Too harsh? Maybe.
However, disorderly behavior causing flight deviation/physical restrant the perp will be placed on the TSA No Fly List. Sanction length to be determined by the victims, the fellow passengers.
Felonious conduct in Hawaii by tourists should be punished with a lifetime ban to return at the conclusion to their imprisonment.
It’s up to you Hawaii, your house, your rules.
I am so sorry to read about these happenings. As travelers, we try in every way to respect the place we’re visiting and to get in touch with the culture. We love Hawaii, however, since COVID and since the increase in costs, we’ve redirected our travel dollar to South America, Europe and Costa Rica. We had several disconcerting experiences with locals on our last visit. We were heading down to the beach area and got sidetracked on a small road and attempted to turn around. The local out in his yard was very rude to us. Driving down from Hana, we were tailgated by a local in a huge 4-wheeler with giant tires. He revved his engine all the way down. Clearly, a lot of animosity toward tourists.
My first visit to Hawaii was in 1972. Since then I have returned almost every year. Two summers I took post graduate classes at the University. A few years before the Pandemic I started to feel less welcomed. It was also around that time that crime began to increase. While I will again return for a month this year, each year I am feeling more unwelcome and much less safe. Hawaii wasn’t so economically dependent on tourism then. Agriculture was a major economic driver. The government allowed thousands of hotel rooms to be built and it continues to do so by allowing Hilton Hawaiian Village to build another massive tower. Then a ridiculous law is passed to ban rentals of less than three months in many areas of Waikiki. No Win!
I’ve lived in Hawaii for most of my life. My observation is that most visitors act respectfully in Hawaii. I am saddened by the increasingly hostile behavior of residents.I drive a small car and feel unsafe and bullied on the roads by tailgating and squeezed into parking monopolized by large trucks.I feel like the quality of life in Hawaii has deteriorated because of the lack of civility.
Ditch HI and go to Mexico! The people are so friendly and want you to come there because it raises their standard of living. And Mexico is so gorgeous! I always try to speak Spanish and they are always so appreciative. I’m done with the faux Polynesian “culture” on the islands. Mexico is authentic and welcoming.
Heard tourists were getting kicked around mexico
news.yahoo.com/state-dept-issues-cancun-travel-153712888.html
Ditch HI and Mexico…go to thailand! They really love tourist money and it’s cheep! A safer option to mexico.
Hello. I’m a Caucasian resident of Oahu. Been here 8ish years. I’m not military so I actually live here. I came here to raise my family. We own a nice house. By and large, this move was a huge success. We are all pretty happy here. But, a person not born here begins to notice things after a while. The natives are generally not ok with white people, tourists or other. They call people like me “haole” and it’s usually said with an F-bomb preceding it. Hawaiians are quietly racist and many still say the “you stole My aina” stuff. Then they trash the place with burned cars and garbage everywhere. So, uh, what? They also sell clothing here called “Defend Hawaii” and it’s clearly directed at white people- bc I asked and it got real awkward quickl
Aloha-
Respect. Respect for nature, both the land and the animals. Respect for people; those who live in the area and are graciously sharing their home with visitors, those who work in hospitality and are trying to meet the needs of those visiting and the needs of the companies they work for, and those who are choosing to spend a good portion of their income to briefly experience this unique location while relaxing and recharging from their own hectic and burdened lives back home.
Understanding. Understanding that often what benefits one simultaneously burdens another. Understanding that it is often hard to see how your own wants, needs and desires could possibly ‘burden’ another.
Respect and understanding. It goes a long way.
My husband and I have been visiting all of the islands fir 20+ years. The last 10 years we have settled on our favorite location which is renting condos in the Mauna Lani area several times a year. Unfortunately the cost of everything in Hawaii has become offensive. We can afford the high costs but choose not to. So we now spend our beach vacations in Costa Rica or the Caribbean. We do miss Hawaii but don’t know when we will return.
Yet another “Us vs. Them“ article. Sigh…I’ll play anyway (I have no shame). As a long-standing resident of Hawaii, I believe that this is a complex, dynamic problem that is mostly rooted in economics. The financially stressed locals resent tourists since in their eyes tourists perpetuate the service economy that will never offer a true living wage. The tourists resent the “uppity” locals because they feel they are owed deference, given the very high cost of vacationing in Hawaii. Watching all of this from the sidelines, laughing, are the mega corporations (airlines, hotels, realty). None of this will change until Hawaii figures out how to shift its economy from tourism to something else. I hope that it happens in my lifetime (probably not).
Bingo!
Making weed legal here would bring the state out of tourist only income. Grow the industry. What the hell are they waiting for? DisneyAloha!!
Yeah, just what Maui needs. A bunch of stoned out dopers driving the already dangerous Honoapiilani Highway.
Aloha. Thank you for this great article. I forwarded it on to many people, some who live on BI, and others here in CA. I lived on the BI till March this year. Sad to leave, yes, but all you mention about residents has been my personal experience. I moved there in 2007. I was always diligent and paid trash fees. Recycled. Etc. The garbage on the roads didn’t go unnoticed however. These were not “tourists”. These are angry locals. I have been almost run off of twisty roads, been treated rudely, and in some cases, ignored. My feeling in this is, if you don’t like it, go somewhere else. Natives, locals, Live Aloha, don’t blame others for your anguish.
With alelo ma ka papalina, let me offer some suggestions to the topic of toxic tourists and residents.
If caught touching an endangered creature have a creature touch them (like a jellyfish).
If caught biting a police officer or flight attendent have a Hawaiian bite them (like a tiger shark).
If caught urinating in public let the public urinate on them.
Too harsh? Maybe.
However, disorderly behavior causing flight deviation/physical restrant the perp will be placed on the TSA No Fly List. Sanction length to be determined by the victims, the fellow passengers.
Felonious conduct in Hawaii by tourists should be punished with a lifetime ban to return at the conclusion to their imprisonment.
It’s up to you Hawaii, your house, your rules.
I am so sorry to read about these happenings. As travelers, we try in every way to respect the place we’re visiting and to get in touch with the culture. We love Hawaii, however, since COVID and since the increase in costs, we’ve redirected our travel dollar to South America, Europe and Costa Rica. We had several disconcerting experiences with locals on our last visit. We were heading down to the beach area and got sidetracked on a small road and attempted to turn around. The local out in his yard was very rude to us. Driving down from Hana, we were tailgated by a local in a huge 4-wheeler with giant tires. He revved his engine all the way down. Clearly, a lot of animosity toward tourists.
My first visit to Hawaii was in 1972. Since then I have returned almost every year. Two summers I took post graduate classes at the University. A few years before the Pandemic I started to feel less welcomed. It was also around that time that crime began to increase. While I will again return for a month this year, each year I am feeling more unwelcome and much less safe. Hawaii wasn’t so economically dependent on tourism then. Agriculture was a major economic driver. The government allowed thousands of hotel rooms to be built and it continues to do so by allowing Hilton Hawaiian Village to build another massive tower. Then a ridiculous law is passed to ban rentals of less than three months in many areas of Waikiki. No Win!