I am writing since we are deeply concerned about changes we are seeing on the island of Kaua’i. We have vacationed on the island 15 times over the past 11 years. Each time we have rented a house on the
I am writing since we are deeply concerned about changes we are seeing on the island of Kaua’i. We have vacationed on the island 15 times over the past 11 years. Each time we have rented a house on the beach in different locations on the island. The past seven years we have rented at ‘Anini Beach next to the west end of the campground. Many visitors who stay in the hotels and condos probably do not see some of the changes we are noticing, since they are staying in a different atmosphere. Yet, they may become aware of some of what we are seeing. We have watched your struggle and come back after ‘Iniki and your striving to grow economically, yet trying to keep Kaua’i from becoming overly commercialized and to retain the quiet uniqueness of the island. We come for it’s beauty, uncrowded beautiful beaches, two lane highways, one lane bridges, small towns and friendly people.
Since we were here last May we have noticed great changes; not necessarily for the better. There is much more traffic; which has gradually increased over the years. There are many more small tour buses. They even go to Moloa’a; which most people never see. There are now moped rentals and more of them on the highways going 25 mph in a 45-50 mph zone. There are motorcycle gangs coming from somewhere. We could not believe this. As we drove toward ‘Anini Beach we passed a group of 9-10 coming from the polo grounds or park. Then we passed four more, then six more. This is not a good image for Kaua’i.
Over the years we have seen 2-3 hippie-type, scruffy looking people along the roads. Now there are many. My son and daughter-in-law were here for their honeymoon and could not believe they were seeing this on Kaua’i and especially the large number of these people.
I realize this type of culture is all over the U.S., but we do not see them daily or very often. They are ruining the image of Kaua’i. Since we rent next to the campground at ‘Anini we see the activity there. We have noticed two sites there in particular. It appears that these people are living there year round. They also seem to be home bases of some sort. I even recognize a couple of the people from last year or the year before. Certain people are constant figures, while the others float in and out, staying a day or several days, then leaving.
Then others appear. They congregate at this site at the far end of the campground (NW comer near the beach and the houses to the west) or they congregate at another site a short distance down the park to the east. This does not seem right and is not fair to the locals. These people are living on prime beach property for $40 or whatever a month. We saw the same tent and some of the same people in the same spot from 5/11/00 to 5/29/00 when we left. What are your camping regulations? Perhaps they are getting around this somehow.
The weekend before Memorial Day there were many different groups of these people, again at the far west end of the campground. We noticed a smoking pipe being passed among a group of six (in a circle). We can only imagine what that purpose was For. Some had tents, but many did not; they slept under one of the big trees near the road or on the beach. One morning we saw the park ranger telling one of those sleeping on the beach to leave. Many mornings at sunrise we walk the beach and have seen as many as five sleeping on the beach along the campground area and some on the beach in front of private homes where the park ranger can’t become involved in removing them from the beach.
They also have taken it upon themselves to break your laws by bathing nude at ‘Anini Beach. This is an excellent beach for children, but not under these circumstances. Also, in past years we have noticed nude sun bathers at Tunnels Beach near the windy point (2-3 people) and at Shipwreck Beach to the left of the Hyatt (2 people). This May we saw an increase at Tunnels (5-7 people at one time) and some were in swimming. We also saw five nude bathers at ‘Anini not far from shore in shallow water exploiting the situation for a period of time; children were present in the area.
We plan to come back next year and we are hoping these situations have not deteriorated further.
Thank you for taking the time to read our concerns.
Sincerely,
Bob and Barbara Aussprung, Colorado
