It just takes one person to wreck it for others. With some ugly details.
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500 thoughts on “How Some Tourists are Ruining Hawaii Travel for Everyone”
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It just takes one person to wreck it for others. With some ugly details.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
Well said! I lived in Hawaii in 1962, Dad was stationed there with the Navy. I love Hawaii and had great friends there, in school and neighborhood. I was able to back to Oahu twice, a couple of years ago, one trip to Kauai and the other to Oahu, where I lived and went to school. We were with friends and didn’t have the freedom to go back to my old neighborhood. “I. Still love it!!! And plan to go back.
The bad behavior won’t stop until someone has the political will to stop the overtourism, especially from the Mainland. Visiting Hawaii should be an earned privilege. Perhaps requiring a college level class to obtain a tourist permit along with a volunteer work requirement while visiting would be a good first step.
Being from Ohio, I also think Ohio should require a college degree and travel permit to cross into the state border. Where is the eye roll emoji on here?
And a permit to get Out of the state as well.
We have been visiting the big island for more than 20 years and every year is a gift. We are so grateful that Hawaiians are willing to share aloha with us that I do not understand the obnoxious behavior. The culture of aloha is one of love and kindness and only those who open their hearts can truly experience Hawaii. Please stay away and don’t ruin it for the rest of us if you can’t share that gratitude and attitude!🌺
As a Mainlander, I’m so sad and sorry this is happening in Hawaii and frankly all over the service industry in the US. It’s no excuse of being cooped up during covid that people act this way. How would they feel if treated in the same manner? We have been going to Maui and Kauai for over 35 years and always enjoy and respect the local food and peoples. After 3 years of pandemic we are looking forward to our trip in September. Mahalo
We love Hawaii we come often we are guests and greatful to be there we are glad that
New rules are coming to protect the island we love the people of the island and respect them every one has always been great to us love the islands
It is sad to hear the stories of rude people in Hawaii. However, the truth is these types of people are everywhere. On a more positive note, we love Hawaii and have visited every year since 2001. We have never seen bad behavior like described in the article. One of our favorite aspects of Hawaii is the Aloha spirit. The Hawaiian people have been some the friendlyist people we have ever met. To all the Hawaiian residence, thank you, for making our time in paradise the best that it can be.
I absolutely love Hawaii! Had the opportunity to live there as a traveling nurse some years ago.I love the people and the culture and hope be to
It saddens me to hear about those that feel as if their happiness is more important than those that live and work in Hawaii. I travelled for the first time to your lovely state just before all of the restrictions were lifted. I was so impressed by all whom I came in contact with that I can’t wait until I gave the opportunity to come back. But I have seen this “entitlement” mentality in my day to day life that it just doesn’t surprise me. This is a disease that is only getting worse. I’m so sorry that it is causing a problem now for everyone. So sad.
My husband and I are blessed to have visited both Oahu and the Big Island for our honeymoon and first anniversary, respectively. I absolutely love everything we got to experience on both trips. We shopped local grocery stores and farmers markets and drove around to enjoy the scenery. We visited Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Volcano National Park and so much more. We deliberately tried to stay low key and as “non-touristy” as possible. Locals and natives are so fortunate to live in such beauty and I’m sad and apologetic for the negative experiences brought by other visitors. I fear for the future of your wonderful islands, culture and nature if tourism isn’t controlled somehow. To lose any aspect of the treasure that is Hawaii would be tragic.
Although there is no panacea for the regrettably belligerent tourist, it might help if there was more of an effort to promote and advertise the Aloha Spirit state law.
http://www.donch.com/lulhaspirit.htm
5-7.5] “Aloha Spirit”
(a) “Aloha Spirit” is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, “Aloha”, the following unuhi laula loa (free translation) may be used:
I find this very disheartening. I am bringing my grandson (he is 11) to Hawaii in June, this will be my third time visiting the islands and will be his first. I really want him to enjoy the full Hawaiian experience. To know that so many are ruining tourism for others and treating locals in a less than kind way is sad.
Unfortunately those that are mentioned in this article I believe live the same way in their home towns and throughout their lives.
Someone else mentioned them being unhappy people, I agree with that statement. Unfortunately you can’t screen people for their attitude before they book travel.
I am very excited to be visiting the islands again and promise that my grandson and I will be on our best behavior and kind. Aloha
Michelle, you’ll have a great time. As these comments bear out, most people do. The few that don’t reflects on them, not Hawaii.
Still plenty of Aloha here.
I live in Hawaii for years and can say, please keep you want a be entitled idiots at home on the mainland or wherever you come from. We don’t want or need you spoiled acting people on our peaceful Islands.
i love how people who move to hawaii creep over to the locals camp.
No problem, Bruddah! Howz bout the thousands of Hawaiians voting in the Philippine elections? LOL!
We are on Maui since 2 weeks. Have not seen anything really negative of behavior mentioned in the article. Only observations:
Prices went up for everything, overworked wait and kitchen staff (too few available employees?) resulting in a sharp drop in quality. So far had lots of disappointing dinners including one that I thought was one of the best restaurants on Maui is now at the bottom of our list. Let’s see how our Mother’s Day Brunch for $125 a person will turn out today. Going with lowered expectations. Can’t get any worse than what we had at other places.
That’s too bad. We’re staying on Kaimana Beach, Oahu and have had nothing but excellent food and service. Have not experienced any staffing shortages, much to my surprise.
So happy to have finally successfully completed a planned trip to Hawaii after several reschedules.
We just returned from Hawaii. Our 10th trip. Yes, some (most) tourists today are rude and inconsiderate. I give so much credit to the locals and workers . we were treated like royalty by everyone. Mahalo for putting up with some who should have gone to Disneyworld as they just don’t appreciate what the Hawaiian islands are all about.
It is so sad to hear that there are people who think they are entitled and need to be treated like they are better than the hosts of your Islands. I personally miss coming to Oahu to vacation. I enjoy speaking to the locals, who treat us with respect as we respect them and are greatful for their service to the tourists. Aloha!
I waiver between mostly tolerance and occasionally slipping down the rabbit hole the media has created. I have to remind myself that not every visitor is potentially an antivax/mask conspiracy theorist that believes the election was stolen and hates immigrants. I’m happiest when I don’t judge and practice empathy, we can all be jerks at sometime in our lives, looking for the good in others feels way better then anger.
The other day for the umptteenth time this year, I almost got run over by a dirtbiker on the “no motorized vehicles’ coastal path. And somebody let their dog run off leash through our neighborhood an on my property where I watched kill a rooster. And then there are the many dog owners who leave their dog’s poop bags on the side of the trail for somebody else to pick up. And what about all the graffiti on beach pavilions, bridge underpasses and even some rocks and trees. Those are self-entitled, disrespectful actions done by locals.
Yes, I have too have noticed plenty of rude, pale skinned, visitors. But before you point the finger at them, we need to turn that finger around, point it at the many locals who are equally as inconsiderate.
Howzit,
Great article & I mahalo you for speaking out.
I drive Uber here in Honolulu & I constantly see the rental convertible Mustang or Camaro (yesterday a white Camaro with suitcases in the back seat) speeding, changing lanes without turn signals & going back & forth on H1 like they were late to a Mai Tai at Turtle Bay.
It was so disrespectful & for the firs time I wished I did not work in the visitor industry.
My wife and I first visited Hawaii 9/16/01. Five days after 9/11. We fell in love with your beautiful state and have visited multiple times since with a timeshare at Hilton on Waikiki. The Aloha spirit is inspiring and everyone we encounter very pleasant. We come to relax, enjoy your beautiful beaches and attend luaus. I am saddened that people who visit are so arrogant. lts a shame they feel so entitled. The rudest people were other visitors. Thanks to the Hawaiian people for being so warm and welcoming.
It’s not just happening to Hawaii – they act the same on the mainland. Entitlement is rampant, so don’t take it personally Hawaii. Travelers (and not travelers) are acting out everywhere in the US. Who raised these people – wolves?
I was born here but raised on the mainland. I finally moved back here in 2013. There was still some aloha then but since Coronaflu struck and things finally open back up people act like they mad at everything and everybody. Especially the drivers. What has happened to the aloha my bruddah and sistas? As an extensive traveler I can attest to American being hated around the world because of some other tourist attitudes. A lot of us think we are entitled…what a shame. Aloha.
The experience of some Hawaii residents as reported by the article is sad and unfortunate, but I fear that that experience is just a part of a nation-wide trend of entitlement, self-centeredness, incivility. intolerance, and even hate. We are not immune from this trend. Nonetheless, let us not permit the few who are uncivil or self-centered, whether among us or among our visitors, diminish our aloha spirit and our welcoming of the many who visit this special place to enjoy that spirit and our people.
I’m happy to say that I have never experienced any animosity from locals during my annual return to Hawaii. We return every winter for 5 weeks or so. This is most likely due to the fact that I was born and raised in Hawaii and have local friends and family on the Islands. It is also do the the fact that I love Hawaii and its residents, food, music, and water activity. All of the things that I miss most when I’m away.
It is worth mentioning that I have never had an issue with locals in Europe or South America. Visitors need to remember that when traveling to other countries that you are a Guest in that country. Be respectful and take the time to learn the culture from your Hosts. Stop being the “Ugly American”
Aloha
I think this is a problem of the entire service industry. The airlines had to implement legislation nationwide against disorderly travelers. The feeling of entitlement and ensuing rudeness of many individuals is something we are finding everywhere. It’s sad and also worrying.
On this site there was a recent article that stated that HI officials wanted HI transformed into a high price tourist haven. Has anyone thought that maybe with this attitude the officials might be inciting higher than realistic expectations and may be targeting more tourists who are used to a catered life. Could it also be that long time visitors like ourselves feel they are now being ripped off and frustrated by the exorbitant gov. fees and taxes levied strictly on tourists. Or maybe all the homeless the state refuses to address.
Homelessness is hardly a Hawaii-specific problem. If you have some grand plan on how to fix it please do share.
That is a good point that I never really considered, they are definitely attracting a different class of tourist.
Another frustration for local government is that a lot of the taxes don’t go to them, so it doesn’t really help the local economy. That is a big part of the reason Kauai want to go to a permit system/charge for parking and access to Poipu beach and other areas like they do at Haena/Kee/Waimea.
One problem I see with the permit system like I listed above is this really sets them up to have frustrated tourists that feel like they are being charged at every turn and makes the island feel like one big tourist attraction.
Just spent an unending Paradise of 2 weeks on kaui Maui and Hawaii. I can see how both sides feel. On road to Hana the handwritten signs about respect were grating on me but when I saw all the trash left on beac by my hotel nightly it really aggravated me. As did the Hordes on walkways and in Lahaina really no different than Florida communities like ft Lauderdale and Miami. However I had a really nice interaction with a local mother cooking with her daughter on a kaui beach. When I inquired if tourists could use the obviously locals beach she not only said of course but showed us were fishing lines and undertow were. Respect beats respect. Mahalo and aloha !
We have been visiting Hawaii for 35 years, staying on Kauai for more than 30 years with the last 10 at Kekaha. We have gotten to know some of our neighbors and enjoy being in the neighborhood. Our only goal is to just enjoy the beauty of the island and the people. This past December we were there for 3 weeks and even as visitors we have never seen such blatant disrespect for property, wildlife, traditions and other people. We attempted to intervene when protected wildlife was being harassed and threatened by people who view Hawaii as a sort of amusement park. It breaks our hearts but we are going to suspend our annual trips to the island for a few years and hope it returns to pre-pandemic status.
There’s no mention in this post of Hawaii residents holding up signs at HNL notifying arriving tourists to ‘Go Home’, how newly-arrived Billionaires and Multimillionaires have driven the cost of real estate and nearly everything else on the islands through the roof, and how Hawaii has become so expensive that the average long-term resident can no longer afford to live here. All of this adds to the reasons why do many Hawaiian residents are finding life more difficult.
Thanks for addressing this and voicing this important issue. The sad news is there are just toooo many people in the world. People are having children for the wrong reasons and not raising them properly, if at all. The more people the less Earth and green space. We also have too much world greed. The big guys keep buying the little guys and just a few corporations own everything, thus inflation appears. I am almost 80 and really really want to come back and see Maui one more time, but the costs is just too prohibitive. Our lovely condo that we used to rent on Maui is now only rented out to 6 months or more if at all. Its all just so very sad to me very very sad.
10 million visitors per year vs. 1.4 million residents. Las Vegas has about 40 million visitors per year and 2 million residents. Hardly ever hear their locals whining. Unfortunately, I do think Hawaii has become a very large theme park.
You’re talking apples and oranges here. First off…if you’re speaking of just Las Vegas and not all of Nevada then the population is around 650,000. The strip in Vegas where most people go is most definitely a playground! It was made that way. People moved to Vegas because of this and only this. Hawaii on the other hand is an entire culture, language, lands that were stolen from the Hawaiians. You can’t even compare the two!
That’s exactly the problem. Comparing Hawaii to Las Vegas, apples and oranges. Vegas is designed and built for crowds. Hawaii has to figure out a way to prevent the islands from turning into a tropical version of the Vegas Strip. The Aloha spirit is under attack here, no where else has what Hawaii has and it should be protected.
When I’m on vacation I try to treat everybody With respect, courtesy and politeness and always give a good tip everybody works hard for their money.I just came back from Oahu back to the 9th island lol.People who act like that when they’re on vacation they’re probably bullies at home.Scream and yell at people because the food was wrong or they expect something special.I enjoyed the time we spent in Hawaii and everyone made us feel very special. Mahalo!!🤙🏽
It’s sad, living in a tourist infested Wyoming mountain ski town we are getting the same things from tourists. Zero respect to locals, property or nature. I’m not sure what happened to decency or common sense…guess Covid killed it. Be better people!
Beautifully written. Thank You for sharing Hawaii and your beautiful culture. I can not wait to visit again for my Third time, as who knows this may be my last experience I will share with my father….. Thank You!
Always respect the people and the land wherever you travel …….especially in Hawaii with Aloha which also means love ❤️
Bravo for publishing this article. Hawaii has always been the one place we, as tourists, escape to every year for the “Aloha”. We have enough of the “idiot mentality” on the mainland and so much appreciate escaping that for the kindness we find only in Hawaii. Waving somebody waiting in their car into the traffic flow is one graceful example of the Aloha we experience. The lack of angry horn honking to “get moving” or not allowing a car to merge into “your” lane is another example of the love for each other that is lacking in many US states, but not in Hawaii. We have been blessed for many years of Aloha in our past visits and can only hope that this lovely way of life continues despite the rude and “entitled” that invade the islands.
Comparing a visit to Hawaii and a visit to Las Vegas is most certainly a case of apples and oranges. Las Vegas was chosen as the location for a gambling destination precisely because there was not much else there. Hawaii became a destination because of what
*is* there.
That you feel Hawaii has a theme park vibe is definitely part of the attitude problem. Sorry to say this but it’s true.
I’ve been to Hawaii many times and even when things go wrong I can’t help but have a good time and feel love for the place and people. Let’s just face it. We have opened the floodgates to this kind of behavior by encouraging entitled to unleash their hatred and ignorance. They actually think they’re making a political statement.
It’s like all this people had a meeting before they came here and said let’s make sure we ruin Hawaii…lol come on!!! stop being so naive, what are you trying to get out of this?… i live here and I’ve seen locals treat me and others like we’re worthless… so what is it, the color???
Damericans! That’s how they act in Tijuana, pronounced, by the way, “Tea – whana”. Also how Canadians act when they come down to Bellingham Washington, border town.
While I agree with most of what was said, Polynesian Cultural Center is still a place to be respected as there are locals and Polynesian people and culture there. It is not a playground! Same rules apply there and everywhere on the island. You’ll just get nicer people at PCC!
Illegal vacation rentals, Southwest’s mass marketing and Turo’s are all contributing to the degradation of tourism in Hawaii. Trying to maximize tourism as cheaply as possible and turning Hawaii into a Las Vegas or Orlando type destination is going to have negative ramifications on an Island. Out of State business interests that really don’t care about Hawaii are at play here.
BOE,
I don’t think it’s “revenge” travel. There’s a level of disappointment. Everything is more expensive, but so many places are understaffed. So, the visitors have to wait longer for everything. Worse service + higher prices = frustration.
This too will pass.
I’d like to say more, but I won’t!
Aloha
I would love to live in Hawaii.As visitor I would be respectful of locals cause I lived in a tourist town and understand the problems
Live and let live and always be kind
I gotta ask…Mary essentially put a comment that being kind is important, some people actually gave her thumbs down?? Have we devolved as a Country in these last few years of hate and fingerpointing by certain leaders that “being kind is a bad thing”?….Integrity, honesty, respect have all come under attack of late, but kindness? Really?
Thank you for replying to kindness. I usually dont like to take time to sign up for a reply. but kindness is so important. Thank you so much for reminding or even teaching some readers that kindness appreciation should never be attacked. My friendship circle seems to be getting smaller as I discover the lack of the traits you mentioned. I only want my life filled with kindness, integrity, honesty, loving…