You could feel it under the surface of a small smile, at restaurants, walking down the street.
You could see it in the abandoned houses that were for sale.
You could sense it, an underlying resentment.
At times it would even come out. “You mainlanders are all the same, back away or I won’t serve you this food.”
It wasn’t everywhere. We talked with a man who owns the land around one of the most amazing coves and he was kind and welcoming to the people who came. Another woman who made necklaces there was open and warm. The Aloha spirit is definitely alive in parts. In others, there is a feeling of decay underneath the glossy surface of hotels and cabana rentals. You can sense that all is not well with the people who live and work on Hawaii. A quiet rumble under the yoke of a very tough economic scene and deep rooted racial and cultural issues.
I woke up early one morning and left my family to take a walk. I had already been on the island for a while and had begun to perceive something I had not been around in some time. There was a distinct feeling of separateness here. Rich people are different than the poor. Servers are different than the people they serve. Native Hawaiians are different than the tourists.
I can understand this feeling. Sunscreen killing the coral, one too many beer cans left behind, an arrogant asshole. Resentment that your livelihood depends on a certain degree of servitude to people who may not appreciate it.
I think what we observed and felt is a complex issue that has a lot of factors. It can’t really be summed up in a few paragraph blog post. What I do hope is that someday soon the spirit of aloha pervades all parts of those islands. I hope that the people who live there flourish. I hope the people who visit appreciate it and marvel at all it has to offer; respecting the land and the people who are there and vice versa.
Is that too much to hope for?
Some of the worst service I have had in a while. (I was also dining with 6 kids so yes waiter, I apologize)
Have you experienced this when you have traveled before? Do you think I am off in my observation? Are tourists just really annoying?
Yes, tourists can be very annoying! I have traveled a good part of the world and have found the same for places that are high tourist areas, even in the United States. But, I have found the most wonderful open and loving people off the main path in the small villas and little coves around the world.
I have found a warm welcome in Turkey, Greece, Italy, England, France, Germany and even Mexico to name a few. I’ve been to countries were I did not speak their language and still had amazing conversations. Like joining the local fisherman in Italy at night time, going to a house in Turkey to take a picture of a woman and her granddaughter who have never had their picture taken before, or being followed in the streets by thirty children who want to know who I was.
Next time you take a vacation, try going to an off beat place and getting to know the local people you will be surprise at the difference. I like to pretend I’m a TIme Magazine photographer on a journey. I photograph everything and everyone, makes for good conversations. Loved you post! Kelly
Just wanted to add a little more to my comment above about tourism. Some time ago I moved to Italy for a year. My first weekend in Italy I decided to take a tour to Rome. Our first stop on the tour was the Vatican. I was so excited and engrossed in taking pictures that I lost my tour group. I was scared! I went into the Vatican could not speak a lick of Italian and tried to get some help! No one would help me, the nuns just looked at me and shock their heads. So, I came out of the Vatican sat on the stairs and started crying. Then, I remembered a little old man who was selling stuff at the entrance to the Vatican and he spoke English. I found him and he told me where my tour group was and how to get there. I ran as fast as I could and caught up with them.
Another time, I went to a small town to observe my first ever Jousting Tournament. There were hundreds of tourist at the tournament, it was crowded and loud! So, I decided to go to back of the tournament to see what goes on behind the scenes. Immediately I seen a man trying to give a hurt horse a shot, but the horse was not having it. I went up to the horse and started singing to it, it calmed down and the man was able to give it the shot! He then decided I was magnificent so he gave me the horse to walk around for the rest of the evening. I was elated!
I have found so much pleasure in my travels! I have never been to a place where their was not some sort of poverty, abandoned buildings, blown up buildings, or some rude person. But, the adventures I had far outweigh any of those observations. :)))))