People of Kauai need to take a stand
We have been coming to the island for years, more than once a year.
It saddens us to no end to see the gradual deterioration of the environment, the disrespectful, careless way a large (and growing) number of tourists show regarding the Island, the increasing stress on the island resources, and the overcrowded spaces and roads.
But most of all, we are stunned by the way the people of Kauai let all this happen.
We are outraged to see tourism-related industries make bags of money, and return so little to the island and islanders, not even caring about what their patrons do, as long as they pay.
This trip has left a bitter taste, seeing people harassing seals and sea turtles and impeding them to beach to rest, trampling on coral, leaving trash everywhere, and behaving like the owners of the island.
People of Kauai: if the big hotels and the investors from outside the Island are not willing to help, it seems that it is in your hands to do something to educate, prevent, inform, end when necessary enforce respect, care, and love for the environment.
In one word: awareness.
When governments and money-makers wash their hands as long as money keeps coming at the expense of the land they inhabit, the people of the island, their present and the future, to me it looks like a sad case of prostitution.
Claudio Luchina, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
It’s going to be ok Claudio, the new Mayor will fix all this, they promise.
You must mean Debra.
In your wildest Dreams!
For too long the tourist have been spending bags of money and bringing their trash cars and appliances from the mainland to dump on the island. Only the owners of the island can do that!
Enough! Ban tourists, make them pay more. Stop trampling the coral!
Come on locals, what are you thinking????
“Ban tourists, make them pay more.” That’s going to be difficult to pull off, Bullwinkle. Maybe we should ask Rocky what he thinks . . .
Rocky thinks Electronic Fund Transfer will work make foreigners pay just for the thought of visiting, brah.
Your letter is very powerful, Claudio Luchina. Kauai is not alone in this; it happens just about everywhere that’s desirable, advertises a lot and draws swarms of visitors.
Realistically, I don’t see much changing in Kauai’s case unless/until it diversifies its economy, finding ways to make it less dependent on tourism.
Claudio;
I think most of us who live here agree with you that we need to better protect the environment and beauty of our Island. Yes, we face challenges from developers, who would rape the land to make a profit, and from greedy corporations who push endless tourist hotels and resorts upon us. There are also a minority of tourists themselves who litter and act like idiots; However,I find the majority of tourists to be respectful of our Island and quite pleasant. A bigger, more troublesome problem concerns the lack of environmental awareness of many of us who live here. It’s not the tourists who abandon and burn cars on our beaches and back roads. It’s not the tourists who keep dogs penned up and chained in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. It’s not the tourists who illegally operate Airbnb’s and destroy the quality of residential neighborhoods. It’s not always the tourists who trash our public restrooms and spray graffiti all over the place or who’s yards look like junk yards from Appalachia. Awareness needs to awaken in us as well as visitors to our Island. Just because you live here doesn’t give you a free pass to blame everything on tourist and not take care of our Island yourself.
Claudio…set an example then. Stop coming to Kauai.
I was born and raised here and can tell you that the standard of living for everyone has hugely improved over the last six decades.
RG DeSoto
RG, I am not sure how to interpret your comment. First, I thought you were giving the tourist industry credit for improving Kauaians’ standard of living over the decades. But, you’re also telling Claudio to stay away. How do I reconcile the two? Mahalo.
Awareness this…. MAHALO and stay in your own country! You are not welcome here until all the illegal occupiers are gone and their toxic waste removed…..
HAWAIIANKINGDOM.ORG
Most of the toxic waste you refer to is locally produced, Malama. Time you woke up.
Claudio, “I want you to show us the way!” Try talking to our thick headed on track minded leaders and all those in it only for the money.
Stay a little longer next time,check behind the Facade of Kauai! Actually we are just Another Ghetto in America,like Chicago ,Detroit or Baltimore!
Seems as though many of “your people”, even though we are all One according to Hawaiian beliefs, continue to invite the so called “illegal occupiers” to the island. How does that work?
Claudio, visiting Kauai from the exclusive community of RPV, regarding your advice: “In one word: privilege” Stay home until you can do more than scold the residents of Hawai`i. Help with your hands, not your mouth.