If the hotel was very, very stuffy, I probably would have welcomed the "Howzit." It would have been a nice ice breaker. I have stayed at many top hotels in the world--The Oriental Bangkok, Connaught, Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, Claridge's--and I hate stiff, unsmiling hotel staff.

I like a fun atmosphere. In fact, I hated the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul for its snooty staff. The thing that made everything better was all the high-priced hookers at the pool. They shot all the snobbery to hell.

I actually posted too hastily. I should have asked, "Where is the aloha?!"

Visitors to Hawaii had better get over the neo-colonialist attitude that an offending
"darkie" servant should be reprimanded for some perceived inappropriate familirity with a guest.

If they want sub-servience, go to another destination. Our people here have no patience with "sahibs" who have no patience or tolerance of the casualness that is the hallmark of the Hawaiian culture.

The greeting was not offensive, but not deferential. If this guest was so offended that due deference was not paid to him, he should visit and stay in some third-world country where darkies will bow and scrape for him.

This is Hawaii. when you visit here, you come on our terms, not your vision of how an exploiting colonialist would lord it over the natives.

Way to go PorkChop. Well said !!

Two star motel or five star hotel, I find it refreshing to get a REAL greeting from a REAL employee with a REAL smile...someone who is obviously enjoying what they do. I get really tired of trained greetings from robotic trained seals who obviously would rather be somewhere else.
So from me, Mr. Howsit sounds like someone who would probably have gotten a fattened gratuity.