Kauai locals hate tourists. I hate tourists that forget there are people here living their normal everyday lives. Hate airplanes. The devastating fire on Maui has drawn renewed attention to the longstanding debate over whether the economic benefits of tourism in the state outweigh the harms it causes. Hawaii Locals Want Fewer Tourists But Here’s The Problem I've lived on Oahu for over thirty years. Residents in Hawaii hate tourists so much they are being reminded to be friendly by a state-wide campaign aiming to highlight the benefits of tourism for the island. This historic reality still colors the views of many Hawaiians. Hawaii has experienced an influx of travelers since reopening from the pandemic. If tourists are determined to visit Hawai’i, Okimura offers some ways to minimize the harm. To navigate the love-hate relationship that has come to define Hawaii tourism, we look beyond our beautiful beaches, lush tropical landscapes, and vibrant cultures. In February, they and their family were verbally abused and “flipped the bird”. overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. People hate on mexicans, asians or blacks but eat their food, listen to their music, etc. There definitely are places on Kauai and any of the islands for that matter where locals consider it a locals place. The #1 industry here is tourism and many, many of us, locals and residents - work in the visitor industry - biting the hand that feeds you is never smart and everyone knows that. I've watched this place transform from the islands I fell in love with into something I barely recognize some days. I read several different message boards Having had a taste of a tourist-free state, some residents have come to prefer the peace. travelers and those worldwide is fast-changing, and the future is anything but straightforward. I do there half the year. Locals- would you prefer tourists to come and boost your economy or do you want us to stay the f*ck away for safety? I had booked a trip early this year to Kauai for January 2021, but I’m so concerned about resurgence of COVID this winter both in the mainland and island. 6 million visitors who spent over $20 billion, yet many locals struggle to afford living in their ancestral homeland. Planning on a visit to Hawaii? Let us… - Discover more about How Do Hawaii Locals Feel About Tourism on HawaiiGuide. In 2023, Hawaii welcomed 9. Trust Fund kid or Instagram influencer who makes $300k per year doesn't really care about the local tourist economy but doesn't want all the normies visiting THEIR area so they make a big deal out of a complaint that a small minority of indigenous Hawaiians have. Here’s what really happens when tourists land in Hawaii. Honolulu, Kona, Hilo, Kauai and Maui County's source for news, streaming video, weather, breaking news and sports. Locals ask that tourists be more respectful when visiting. I guess my question is, do the local Hawaiian people hate tourism / tourists? Do I really have to stay away from certain areas at certain times to appease the local population? Two Native Hawaiian men have been sentenced to years in prison for a federal hate crime conviction in the brutal beating of a white man who tried to move to a remote, traditional fishing village. I haven't had a bad experience with a tourist. Social media has changed tourism in 2 ways. locals get priced out of the market in basically every aspect of life. The local tailgated the tourist for miles almost rear-ending him. ” Sometimes visitors feel like they can’t catch a break in relation to Hawaii travel. What? How did After the devastating Maui fires that killed hundreds, tourists were booking snorkeling tours in waters where people died 24 hours earlier – and that level of insensitivity is exactly why some locals have “hang loose” fatigue. A lot of you have been reaching out to me about visiting the island because you have been either reading or watching on tv about how visitors are going off on tourists, don't want tourists Before you buy tickets for a vacation in Hawaii, take a few minutes to think about this: Hawaii hates you and doesn't want you to visit. living in a tourism dependent state is hard. This was a huge roundabout way of saying that I hate the way things are. Nov 8, 2025 · Locals have seen it all, and some stories still leave them speechless. There were so many locals making so many claims of how much they hate visitors. Locals are accustomed to seeing tourists around the island. Now I have seen what you’ve mentioned in these threads, but just know those idiots are everywhere , it’s not unique to just Hawaii. The first is a growing discontent with unbridled Hawaii tourism that’s been ongoing for years. She also told us that the best time to do secret beach hunting is before 11 a. The awkwardly vibrant Aloha shirts, cheap straw hats, and fake shell necklaces usually give it away. I'm tired of seeing all my friends move off-island. Whether it be a bar, a beach area, surfing spot. prices and attractions are always geared towards people who are willing to spend more while on vacation. There was a perfect balance where locals went to spots away from the tourist spots. Move to Papua New guinea The problem is with the tourists that come here expecting locals to convenience them whenever possible, and expect sunshine and rainbows from everyone while clearly demonstrating a complete lack of concern for our time/island. That was followed by the lightning-fast rebound in tourism that was expected to take years, but instead seemed to take just months. Things got heated and resulted in an altercation. Most tourists take the risk of having a quick cool and dangerous selfie without even enjoying and appreciating the natural wonders. Overcrowding, environmental strain, and cultural dilution irk residents, who seek sustainable tourism. In the Beat of Hawaii blog I’ve seen an increasing amount of comments from Mainlanders who have been berated by negative, vulgar and offensive comments from locals, including one couple who’ve been going to Kauai for 20 years and just bought a condo in Kauai. Why you might think locals in Hawaii are rude to you reason #2: They see a lot of tourists all the time. Tourism in Hawaii is surging, but Native Hawaiians don't want visitors in a pandemic. We were happy, they were happy. Just curious if she'd ever traveled somewhere else herself. The video campaign was put together by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, as the number of tourists visiting the island rises year on year, Officials from Hawaii’s top travel marketing agency visited Kauai this week, some for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit, to report strides in addressing the torrent of tourism on The survey asked 463 Kauai residents if regenerative tourism makes the tourism industry and tourists more attractive to residents. However I can see, and empathize with them when idiots or assholes show up with entitlement, and a lack of awareness and respect for them. But the fact that you even say this proves the point. Unfriendly people in restaurants and shops, and a guy threatening to bash tourists (not us, but we felt unsafe as well) with a chunk of concrete out across from tunnels beach (we went to the police on that one) were the lowlights of that trip. What became a dream destination for U. Hawaii news, weather and sports. m. Instead, tourism benefits large corporations and developers that are, by and large, not from Hawai’i. If you travel with aloha, stay in legal accommodations, pay attention to signs and rules, and tip like a gangsterr, you are welcome in the islands. Places to avoid? Any areas (beaches or parks or trails) where you see people having drinking parties - always avoid - people + too much alcohol = trouble. Others want Hawaii permanently removed from your bucket list. Others remained After wildfires devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US If we’re limiting social gatherings, we cannot allow 1million tourists into Hawaii/month. There were areas on Maui for example that were not off limits but were not touched by the developement of tourism and the local people. We try to avoid the stereotypical tourist things to do and we are better for it. Sep 22, 2025 · Uncover the truth behind local feelings towards tourists in Kauai. Tourists can suck, and so can unfriendly locals, but what sucks the most is nobody wins. If you speak French, and even better can understand some minimal creole (very similar to Haitian Creole I understand) you can talk with locals and really get much more out of so many things. I don’t inherently hate tourists. There were areas on Maui for example that were not off limits but were not touched by the developement of tourism and the local people Answer 21 of 31: We have been to Ohau and Maui and were wondering how the local people feel about the tourisim industry on Kauai. I hate to say it, but our last trip to Kauai, gosh it was 10 years ago, left a bad taste in our mouth. MSN During the pandemic locals voiced their opinion that tourists should be not visit the island until the pandemic ended. It seems that one of the most vocal narratives online about Hawaii is that locals don't want tourists to come for a myriad of reasons. growing up here it's sort of embedded in the culture to despise outsiders. Discover insights on culture and respect. Tourists used to visit the many beautiful spots that were on all the tourist maps for decades. Tourism and Hawaii are a united force, intrinsically joined forever. As a visitor I’ve never gotten the feeling locals “hate” tourists. Do Hawaiian residents hate tourists? Explore the complex relationship with Live and Let's Fly. ” We also recently witnessed a degree of disorderliness at a beach park where scores of residents drove recklessly at the beach and on the sand and appeared to be acting drunkenly. Many of Maui's tourists heeded calls to leave the island. Understand the local perspective on this sensitive topic. I love to travel myself. Answer 21 of 31: We have been to Ohau and Maui and were wondering how the local people feel about the tourisim industry on Kauai. People hate on tourist for what? For their desire to explore? To see beautiful places. A thousand times this. The ensuing local controversy reflects a statewide wariness in Hawaii about the return of mass tourism and its negative impacts after a seven-month absence, even as many welcome the economic boost. who they view as illegally taking over Hawaii Most locals don't really think about this. The context of the video is that the guy was trying to warn the tourists about the dangers of Queen's Bath on Kauai, which is a very dangerous place. Their voices reveal a sharp contrast with the picture painted by official numbers. Aloha! I’m a local and I’ll take a stab at this one. The over-reliance on one industry is a wicked problem that affects everything. When LOCALS and TOURISTS Don't Get Along in HAWAII - REACTION and Analysis Lahaina Maui, HI - NEW Drone Tour & Updates - Nov. Texas-based tourism safety expert Peter Tarlow, who has consulted in Hawaii, said, “Hawaii has had a love-hate relationship with tourism perhaps since 1893 and the U. However, the majority of the locals do not hate tourism. Hate your local government and infrastructure. But how do Hawaii locals feel about tourism? You may be surprised how they feel, but also what tourists can all do to help contribute to future days within these beautiful islands. Kauai, we love you. Overall, we loved our authentic Kauai experience but just hate that we didn’t stay longer. I live in an area popular with tourists and I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve had tourists in front of me stop and get out of their cars to take pictures. Overall all of the tourists and locals we met were remarkably kind, it was just a vibe I got. Plenty mainland minorities view white people differently. We’ve always had great experiences with everyone we have dealt with but I also know what entitled tourists can be like so I can understand the feelings that may crop up occasionally when locals are not treated with respect. And second, the drop in tourism during COVID changed everyone’s perspectives, both tourists, and Hawaii residents. May 3, 2025 · Hawaii's tourism boom brings economic gains, but locals face challenges. Over-tourism has contributed to the destruction of ancestral land and Hawaii's ecosystem, with Maui residents in 2021 begging tourists to stop visiting during a water shortage crisis • 3 . Although precautionary measures were taken by the city to reduce the inflow of tourists, it still wasn’t satisfactory to the locals, hence the flare up against tourists. Hate capitalism. A native Hawaiian who lives on Maui shares how tourism impacts locals and what they want tourists to know before they visit: don't be entitled. Kauai residents recently shared unfiltered views on the state of tourism. For what most of the "locals" have put up with in regards to tourists being tourists, most local folks have a far more forgiving, friendly & wonderful attitude towards the visitors, but you can't expect everyone to have Aloha 24-7. Just like in any community, tourists are really easy to identify. One way is to avoid giving money to the hotel industry and Airbnbs, which non-residents mostly own. 2025 I Lived in Hawaii for 7 months, here are the PROS and CONS I think there's a misconception with some Hawaiian natives that tourists come to the islands to specifically treat the locals like crap and also not obey any of the rules. To help you be a better visitor to Hawaii, here's what locals wish tourists would stop doing when in the islands. It’s uncool to tell locals to keep apart, when we see groups of 5-10 tourists walking around town. You CAN go to the Grand Hyatt- I wanted to stay at the Hyatt so badly because of the pool complex, but it was way too expensive. Feb 12, 2026 · That's not normal, and it's exactly why 67% of Hawaii residents now believe our islands are being run for tourists at the expense of local people. #kauai #turtle #beach Keywords: locals dislike tourists in Kauai, Kauai culture and tourism, understanding local sentiments in Hawaii, tourist behavior impacts Kauai, respecting Hawaiian culture as a visitor, Kauai travel tips, reasons locals hate tourists, insights on Kauai tourism Some tourists aren’t mindful of the dangers of places like beaches with strong currents or trails with dangerous hikes. Apparently, every once in a while a tourist or two will find a real secret beach, but it almost never before 11. The numbers tell a stark story. Native Hawaiians are asking for a reduction in tourism after visitors have trashed their beaches and continue to drive up property prices. S. I'm always respectful of local people and customs, just not accustom to planning my vacation around keeping the locals happy. Other locals have been working on creating new tourist experiences that prioritize education about colonization, militarization, and tourism over beach days. Most are not. So, why do some locals seem to hate tourists? Grab your metaphorical passport—Duck’s about to take you on an honest, slightly cheeky journey into the heart of tourist behavior and local frustration. We are the news team that is working for Hawaii. Most locals are employed in or adjacent to the tourism industry. United States - Locals don't want us there? - Hi all, have been so very excited about my first trip to Hawaii in February, now I am having second thoughts. Plenty tourist town folks hate tourists. This act is seriously frowned upon and deemed disrespectful to the locals and their rules. 7yjz, 9lyg, oifef, q7fqf, 87htv, yz7ei8, 0bxe, ps0rh, jx2jx, tvded,