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500 thoughts on “How Some Tourists are Ruining Hawaii Travel for Everyone”

  1. We have visited the Hawaiian Islands six times in the last thirty years. We recently returned from a week in Big and two weeks in Maui. I would not sat that the behaviors described don’t happen, but I can’t say I saw anything like the behaviors described even once on any visit. There have always been jerks and drunken people who don’t know how to behave everywhere, and like in the rest of America, there has been a gradual increase in uncivil and entitled behavior, so this is not a Hawaii problem, it is an American problem. I don’t think it can be solved, but I do think it should be recognized early on and we need to learn the best ways to deal with such behaviors. Generally, recognize it early , get management/police involved early.

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  2. In 1982, my wife and I honeymooned in Oahu. I was able to return once, to Maui, for a business trip 20 years ago. This year we celebrate our 40th anniversary and decided to introduce our extended family of 11 to the peacefulness, beauty and friendliness of the Hawaiian islands and its people. We booked a resort, activities, and a visit with relatives living in Maui this September but mostly we want to relax and take a break from the broader troubled world. I’m saddened by the stories about the number of tourist, the attitudes of some, and frustration they bring to those living on the islands. We hope our family can experience more of the true nature of the islands and promise the people there we’ll respect them and their home.

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  3. Simply cannot understand these people! I was raised to respect & be polite to others, especially when in ‘their’ home! Had a godmother who was epitome of the Ugly American. Felt all the ‘natives’ were just there to serve her. Made me sick.

    I’ve gone on Da Bus instead of renting car, listen to people there talk story, learn so much. Sat in lei stands with ladies, watched & amazed at their craft, told them so. Helped elder aunties across the street, all kinds of silly stuff like that. Feel blessed they liked me & brought me into their various activities. Hoped like heck to show not all ‘haoles’ are crass and rude.

    Been told by many that I am truly kamaiaina. Made my soul feel so good. You cherish any country where you are a guest, period.

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  4. I totally agree. I flew today from Kauai to Maui. While on the airplane and before it took off, another person tried to shove his bag on top of mine in the overhead compartment. The nice flight attendant asked him to please be conscious of other people’s things and not squish others items. The guy with the luggage then said that whoever had clothes in the bag was very rude and uncalled for to be traveling with clothes?!? (I just had a jean jacket on the top of my bag sticking out.) It was a very strange and abrupt circumstance to witness. The guy who was sitting next to me and I were just shaking our heads!

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    1. Yes, I have seen that happen many times, but it had nothing to do with Hawaii. It happened on trips to various locations. This is a general trend of lack of civility and narcissism.

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  5. We just returned from spending a week on your beautiful island & a couple of days on Oahu. We’ve visited 15+ times and come from Mississippi to enjoy these beautiful islands. We bring our warm southern hospitality and are always welcomed with much Aloha!!! We respect your home, bring reef safe sunscreen & try to leave very little footprint.
    We did notice a lot more visitors than we’ve ever seen before and saw some of the behavior you described. I will also add that I was in Vegas in March & witnessed the self righteous behavior several times there as well as on the plane returning home. Some people need to just stay home!

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    1. Sorry to say those intensely self righteous traveller people are the same ones that scream Freedom when what we hear is Freedumb

  6. Having been in law enforcement for going on 40 years, I know what your talking about. And it’s only gotten worse as this world grows more woke. We visited Maui three times last year and are scheduled to visit Kauai this July. We’ll bring our spirit of Aloha with us. We love Hawaiians and your website! 🌴

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  7. I lived in Hawaii the first 27 years of my life. I have been back only 5 times for weddings and funerals over the last 39 years and not since 2009. I no longer even have a place to stay there. How did my wife and I spend our vacation last year? Two months traveling from Kaliningrad to Tampere with snow still on the ground!

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  8. We have been visiting Hawai’i, specifically, Kauai, for 20+ years. I see very few visitors, if any, taking advantage of their vacation location. We are most respectful of the Native Hawai’ian culture, heritage and traditions. We educate ourselves to all the places we travel to. It has been our observation that visitors want a good experience and are not in the mode to create disruption.

    To pick and choose a few abusive travelers as examples of the entire visitor experience is wrong.

    An example, from BOH data, abuse that is not visitor generated. Number of COVID cases from visitors compared to residents. And the closing of Polihale State Park during COVID. Polihale, one of our favorite places, closed because of resident abuse.

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    1. This is a perfect example of entitlement. There’s a world wide pandemic and somebody is unhappy because they can’t go where they want when they want.

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  9. I work in the airline industry so passengers believe they are entitled to everything under the sun! I fly frequently back and forth to Honolulu which is my home. Born and raised. Traveling when covid hit was the worst and still is. Under my breath I tell them to stay home and not ruin my island. All the college students on spring break just love to come to Hawaii and act foolish. .

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  10. Funny last October on Maui we didn’t experience any of this in fact I felt travelers went out of the way with showing patience for under staffed businesses.

    Currently we’re on BI and experiencing same as we saw last October on Maui.

    I will say our first dining experience on BI was a disaster with horrible customer service to the point several dinners walked out due to unbelievable wait time to receive your meal, but none made a scene.

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