Love it, hate it, or indifferent, Hawaii IS dependent upon tourist dollars and nothing is going to change that. Tourism is the only industry in Hawaii.

To get back to Molly5's original question: If you stay in or near the resort areas most of the residents that you come in contact with will be working in the hospitality trade and they will treat you very well (because that is what they are paid to do). You will have a much bigger problem the tourists, some of whom can be rude, ignorant, and bigotted.

Those comments don't make sense and I wish you'd explain what you really mean. Tourists are bigoted but locals are not? Then you say locals are only nice because it is their job?

Natalie:

Tourism is not always a great thing. People who view your community as an amusement park instead of a place where people live, not taking time to understand the problems of the locals, creating low-paying tourism related jobs instead of higher paying jobs. In the case of Hawaii, you have all these people walking around where their cameras, fanny packs, and Big Gulps tramping all over the wildlife and fauna, expecting people to do the Hula and wear leis in their every day lives.

Nataliemm, I did not make or imply either of those statements. I did not say anything about bigotry and locals. And I used the word "some" with reference to tourists. Please re-read what I wrote. It is very clear. I

How are the individual tourists creating low paying tourism related jobs? Isn't that the employers fault? The tourists create jobs. And the people that dirty the place up are few and faw between. I encounter more garbage left from fishing lines which kill sea life.

Natalie, tourism itself generates jobs that historically don't pay very well. Are you going to pay a fast food worker $40,000 a year?

Look at any destination that heavily depends on tourism. Ask the conchs who live in Key West how many jobs they hold just to live there.

You are also making too much of what Rusty stated. He didn't write in absolutes.

And yes, when you work in the tourist industry you are paid to be nice to tourists whether you want to be nice or not.

Back to what happened to my son-It was indeed said with malice in a very rude tone of voice. Maybe the guy had a bad day or whatever but his whole attitude was negative from when he bagan to deal with us till the comment to my child of 3. Who, by the way, travels around the world with us and is extremely well verse in the language of MANNERS. By saying mahalo, as he had been saying to everyone who had needed to be thanked, he was simply being nice. Rusty, I grant you your point about tourists only knowing snippets of the local language, but my point was how rude the person was being.

We made two trips to Hawaii this year. We just returned from Kauai yesterday.
I find the people in Hawaii to be no different than people anywhere. Some people are easy to talk with and some are'nt. If I feel bad vibes from someone, I leave. I don't stay in situations that I don't feel comfortable in.

Molly5 and Alohamom,
It's too bad that the employee felt the need to make those comments so that they could be heard by Alohamon and her son.

We have been to Hawaii five times and have never experienced any negative vibes. Actually the last time we visited Kauai we were asked by a guy to come watch him ride his horse during the Waimea town celebration. Unfortunately we didn't go because we were leaving that day.

Now that I think of it I rarely ever say aloha or mahalo. I just make sure that I greet everyone with a hello or how are you before I ask for anything.
Most of the time when we go into the smaller shops we end up in some sort of conversation with the owner/employee if they aren't busy.

I also have to agree with carbogilligan that the Hawaiians are happy when we spend our dollars there. I disagree with those who think that the Hawaiians "should" be greatful that we are visiting. I have the opposite attitude. We are privileged to be able to go there. We could go on and on about how expensive it is for them to live on there and how most of them have to work 2-3 jobs just to make ends meet. I think eventually I would have a bad day too. Just my opinion.

Alohamom, if this minor incident is the worst that has happened to you you have nothing to complain about.

Anita, thanks for a voice of reason. It IS a privilege for tourists to visit Hawaii, and as guests tourists should be on their best behavior at all times. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

I completely agree we should be on our best behavior there (or anywhere) and it IS a privilage to be qable to go there. The thing is... I live in an area that would love to have the amount of tourists that they have. Our economy in PARTS of Oregon is still trying to cling to fishing and logging...as a matter of fact the LOCALS here have done more damage than tourists. You can see somewhat the same thing in parts of Hawaii and I suspect other places as well. Glass Beach on Kauai is one example...the dumping of sewage in water is another.
That said... I love Hawaii ...I have never had any problems with anyone and always treat people with respect. Were there a problem though people wouldnt return.
Then lets see how well ANYone can feed there kids. I hate clerks that hate there job,waiters that dont like people,
people whos JOB is to smile and make people happy. Its called earning a paycheck...we all have to do it...some of us can leave our attitudes at home and go with a smile.
Geez...thanks for letting me rant. :-d
...or should I say "Mahalo"???

Agree with caligirl. I always treat people with respect no matter where I am and expect the same in return. If one does not like tourists they should not be working with the public. I worked customer service for many years and loved to meet new people! Some of the above comments here just don't make sense and are hypocritical. But I still ((L)) Hawaii. I fear a local "tourist hater" has been responding to this thread.

For nataliemm: The 'cruise ships stop on Molokai' issue goes way deeper than your understanding of it. You're making assumptions without really knowing what you're talking about. It's difficult to get a clear picture of the politics that go on here when you're a tourist and see the issue from only that side.
For alohamom: Sorry about the clerk. That was uncalled for. But just so you know, being called a "haole" isn't always a derogatory thing. It can be, yes. And it probably was in your son's case. But we also use it as a description as well, without any malice intended at all.
For molly5: I'd like to bet you never hear a negative word while here in Hawaii. Most locals are gentle, caring, wonderful people. A few have different agendas. The only tourists we don't like are the ones who come with an attitude. Like those who believe some of the Hawaiians on Molokai prefer welfare to the job opportunities created by tourists off some huge cruise ship. Just come with respect for the land, the culture, and the people and you'll have an incredible time.

Could you please explain the deeper issue to me? If I'm incorrect I'd really like to know the other side of the story. Thanks.

PS, I have absolutely no attitude when I visit the islands. I am a very nice person and personally conribute alot the economy, more than anyone could guess. I have never been unfriendly to any Hawaiian person and have many acquaintences from Hawaii.

This will be my last comment regarding the Molokai Cruise issue (which is a non-issue).
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacif...7/daily86.html

Unemployment rates around the islands as of 11/22/03: Oahu:3.9%, Big Island:5.9%, Maui4.5%, Kauai:4.5%, MOLOKAI:12.9%, Lanai:2.9%

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacif...7/storey3.html

The Molokai Visitors accociation estimates a single-day visit by a cruise ship will add $131,000 to the island's economy.

Why anyone would boycott this is beyond reason. I understand there are polution concerns but the plusses far outweigh any negatives. Why anyone would rather chose to picket and alienate visitors that provide jobs to a suffering economy is beyond me. And with that I bid this thread adieu.

Now we know EXACTLY why some Hawaiians don't like tourists !!

We went to Paris three years ago and I was treated in a rude manner by some Parisians in a restuarant. Did it feel good? No. Knowing that it might happen before I went did not stop me from going, nor would it keep me from going again. I loved the Parisians and understand why some would not like American tourists. Molly5: Go to Hawaii, you will encounter some amazingly friendly people and one of the most beautiful places on the face of earth. It is healthy to learn about a place, it's people and it's issues before you visit so you are better equipped to be an empathetic and sensitive tourist instead of an arrogant and selfish one.

Call me foolish but I'm wondering what is wrong with Nataliemm's comments, Rusty?