How a vacation to Hawaii can be relaxing for tourists -- and harmful to its residents

By Scottie Andrew, CNN

Updated 1433 GMT (2233 HKT) August 18, 2022

The Hawaii most tourists see is one of azure waters and towering
resorts, of "aloha" and "ohana" and hula.
But as it exists now, the powerful tourism industry dictates the lives
of Native Hawaiians, often for the worse, said Kyle Kajihiro, a
lecturer at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and activist for the
rights of Native Hawaiians.
The tourism industry in Hawaii powers its state revenue, but that
reliance on tourism has resulted in Native Hawaiians getting priced out of their homes, climate change
wreaking havoc on the natural landscape, and a lack of respect for the 50th state that is also the ancestral
land of more than half a million people.
"I think that it is too easy for people to visit places like Hawaii," Kajihiro said. "It conditions visitors to feel
entitled."
The industry must change to improve the futures of Native Hawaiians, Kajihiro told CNN. He's one of several
residents who have worked to educate visitors and return some elements of Hawaiian culture to the people
from whom it originated.

For many residents, living in Hawaii is no vacation

Tourism is Hawaii's largest single source of private capital, per the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Even amid the
Covid-19 pandemic, it remains incredibly lucrative: In April alone, visitors to Hawaii spent over $1 billion in the
islands, according to a state report marking the recovery of tourism since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But what's profitable for Hawaii's economy can negatively impact the lives of Native Hawaiians and yearlong
residents. To combat drought conditions, residents last year were asked to reduce their water consumption or
face a fine while large resorts continued to use far more water. There are millions more annual visitors than
there are permanent residents -- in 2021, there were more than 6.7 million visitors compared to 1.4 million
residents -- which can cause carbon emissions to surge and overuse of its beaches, hiking trails and other
natural wonders. Hawaii has even been called the "extinction capital of the world" for the number of species
who've gone extinct or are at high risk of dying out.

To empower Native Hawaiians and return some of their rights,

the tourism industry needs to change.

'DeTours' show the real history of Hawaii beyond the beach

In an effort to reclaim the histories of Hawaii and educate

residents and visitors about the impacts of colonization,
militarization and tourism, Kajihiro created the Hawai'i DeTour
Project. The program, which he runs with lifelong activist Terrilee Kekoʻolani, aims to "interject a more critical
historical account of Hawaii" in hopes that it'll start conversations about social responsibility and create
solidarity with social justice and environmental activist efforts in Hawaii.
Kajihiro leads DeTours to locations like downtown Honolulu to discuss Hawaii's former sovereignty; to 'Iolani
Palace, where the US supported a White settler-led coup against Queen Lili'uokalani; to military landmarks
like the Pearl Harbor memorial to discuss American efforts to transform parts of Hawaii into military
strongholds.
One way to support Native Hawaiians is to not visit at all, some say.
Millions of tourists visit Hawaii every year, outnumbering its population of 1.4 million. But to secure a
sustainable future for Hawaii and Native Hawaiians, tourism must change.
"Sometimes the best way to support decolonization and Kanaka 'Ōiwi (Native Hawaiian) resurgence is to not
come as a tourist to our home," the editors write.

Improving tourism begins with respect for the islands and Native Hawaiians

Of course, there will always be tourists in Hawaii as long as it remains the islands' top industry -- and as long
as its beaches beckon to guests with deep pockets. Recentering the focus of a trip to Hawaii from the guest to
the island and its residents might lighten the footprint a tourist leaves there, Misajon told CNN.
"I'm all for coming and enjoying the islands, but (I) encourage people to find ways to be part of the solution,"
Misajon said. "It might be trite, but spend your money locally."
Making fundamental changes to the tourism industry should begin with returning rights to Native Hawaiians
and letting them decide how they want their culture to be shared and consumed, if at all, Kajihiro said. There's
already a model of this in New Zealand, where the Māori people have control over how their culture is
represented and experienced by tourists, he said, with an emphasis on mutual respect.
"Let's abolish the word 'tourism,'" Kajihiro said. "The very term privileges the consumer, the act of consuming
places, and the transactional relationship."
Instead, he said, visitors should "rethink travel as entering someone else's home." Someone who's a guest at
someone else's home may bring a gift with them or express their gratitude to their host in other ways, he said.
"As a visitor, you have the burden to learn, act responsibly, not be a burden and respect your hosts," Kajihiro
said.

Improving tourism begins with respect for the islands and Native Hawaiians

Of course, there will always be tourists in Hawaii as long as it remains the islands' top industry -- and as long
as its beaches beckon to guests with deep pockets. Recentering the focus of a trip to Hawaii from the guest to
the island and its residents might lighten the footprint a tourist leaves there, Misajon told CNN.
"I'm all for coming and enjoying the islands, but (I) encourage people to find ways to be part of the solution,"
Misajon said. "It might be trite, but spend your money locally."
Making fundamental changes to the tourism industry should begin with returning rights to Native Hawaiians
and letting them decide how they want their culture to be shared and consumed, if at all, Kajihiro said. There's
already a model of this in New Zealand, where the Māori people have control over how their culture is
represented and experienced by tourists, he said, with an emphasis on mutual respect.
"Let's abolish the word 'tourism,'" Kajihiro said. "The very term privileges the consumer, the act of consuming
places, and the transactional relationship."
Instead, he said, visitors should "rethink travel as entering someone else's home." Someone who's a guest at
someone else's home may bring a gift with them or express their gratitude to their host in other ways, he said.
"As a visitor, you have the burden to learn, act responsibly, not be a burden and respect your hosts," Kajihiro
said.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/18/us/hawaii-tourism-impact-united-shades-cec/index.html?
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