Month: August 2023

In the light of the recent horrific Maui fires, what are the best ethics for tourists that still want to visit? Immediately after the fires, tourists were urged to stay away from Maui altogether. There were the practical logistics in place that prioritized emergency personnel during search and recovery efforts.  But the massive fire destruction also seemed to bring up Hawaiians’ historic tensions over tourism.

Tourism has always been a double-edged sword for this “Paradise of the Pacific.” Hawaiian economy is heavily founded on the tourism industry. With that tourism comes serious issues. Environmental impacts on fragile ecosystems, strain on water, energy and infrastructure resources, and cultural dilution of genuine traditions are just a few. In other words, mass tourism can destroy the very essence of what makes any travel destination unique in the first place.  Hawaiians may need tourism to support their economy, but they have to manage its downsides.

To Visit Or Not To Visit?

Now the official word on travel to Maui has begun to change. As of August 17, 2023 the Hawaiian Tourism Authority has made new announcements. The obvious needs to be stated- tourists are advised NOT to go to West Maui.  This means avoiding badly decimated Lahaina. Nearby Kaanapali and Kapalua, now filled with displaced fire survivors, are included in the restricted areas. The last thing that hurting Hawaiians need are tourists taking selfies in front of fire areas where their homes once stood. (Unfortunately this may have already happened, explaining those “Tourist Keep Out” signs). 

However, all the rest of the island of Maui is still open to visitors. Popular Kihei and Wailea, or Paia on the North Shore- plus Kahului, Wailuku, Makena, Hana and the neighboring Maui County islands of Lanai and Molokai- all are open for business. Many feel that now is the time for visitors to be a continued part of the tourism that is their major source of revenue. Tourism dollars are needed more than ever to keep locals employed. 

“Come with respect, humility and reverence for our Maui community…” 

(resident Jean Naluai, in LA Times Aug 28, 2023 article“Should You Visit Maui Right Now? What Locals Want from Tourists as the Island Rebuilds”  https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-08-28/visit-spend-go-home-what-to-know-if-youre-traveling-to-maui).  

If visitors do choose to travel to Maui, sensitivity is especially needful at this time.  Tourists may be interacting with retail workers, hotel or restaurant staff that have personal connections to the fire, even losing homes or loved ones. Since recovery from the fires is the priority right now, some places may be short-staffed, or some attractions may be closed. Extra patience is called for from tourists as Maui recovers.  

“No matter what, the rest of Maui has to keep going on…”

(Daniel Kalahiki, Wailuku food truck operator, in  NY Times Aug 17, 2023 article “After Maui Wildfires, Travelers Ask: Would a Trip Help or Hurt?” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/travel/maui-wildfires-travel-tourism.html). 

State tourism groups are encouraging visitors to come to the rest of Maui and the other islands- to support the economy. Yet there are still other voices urging tourists just the opposite.  Oahu-born actor Jason Momoa urged visitors to travel elsewhere. A TikTok video posted by Lahaina resident Kate Ducheneau flatly commanded, “Do not come to Maui.  Cancel your trip. Now.” 

In the end, the opposing voices indicate that there is still much more time needed for healing. Everyone must decide for themselves if and when to travel to Maui, and where their best destination to visit might be. 

Kokua is the Hawaiian word for “help”- something Hawaii, especially Maui, needs right now. Reports are beginning to trickle out from many areas that are crippled with electrical outages and no phone services. Fire damages are being described as apocryphal. Thirty six deaths are listed thus far, but there will undoubtedly be more as the damaged areas are accessed.

Oahu and Maui have long been top tourist destinations. Many the world over have fond memories of enjoying Hawaii’s many beautiful places, and are watching the current fire reports with horror. Particularly heartbreaking is the destruction of Lahaina town in Maui. The historic Front Street area appears decimated- its beloved restaurants, shops, and waterfront destroyed.

Sadly Lahaina’s huge 150 year old banyan tree in Banyan Tree Park is damaged too, possibly permanently. Over the years, there’s not a visitor to Maui that hasn’t taken a souvenir photo by that imposing tree- even in 1886 King Kamehameha had his birthday party by it.

So as the details of the fire carnage become clearer, it is certain that thousands will be homeless and many more impacted economically. Kokua is needed for beloved Hawaii. The public is beginning to be directed to various ways to help during this crisis.

Hawaii News Now has an Aug. 9, 2023 article by Isa Farfan “Want to Help Those Devastated by the Maui Wildfires?Here’s How” (https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/08/09/want-help-those-devastated-by-maui-wildfires-heres-how/). Options range from giving money to Hawaii Salvation Army, the Kakoo Maui fund or America’s Red Cross, along with other fundraisers. In the days to come, there will likely be many more emergency relief sources available from various organizations, churches and groups. 

Maui Strong Fund

Hawaii Community Foundation is emerging as a strong contender delivering meaningful help to the Hawaiian community through its Maui Strong Fund. In response to the devastating wildfire, they are providing immediate disaster relief and anticipating the resources needed for the long-term recovery needs (https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong).

Visitors to Hawaii have often experienced Hawaii’s signature aloha spirit of hospitality and generosity. Hawaii takes its aloha spirit very seriously- it’s even written into the state’s Hawaii Statutes as law. It’s time for some aloha spirit to be showered back on Hawaii now- they need kokua.

“Can’t Act! Slightly Bald! Also Dances!”

So stated a disappointing Hollywood screen test for an aspiring actor/dancer in 1933.  David O. Selznick of MGM, who’d commissioned the test, added in a memo, “I am uncertain about the man, but I feel, in spite of his enormous ears and bad chin line, that his charm is so tremendous that it comes through even on this wretched test.”  

It is a good thing that Frederick Austerlitz (also known as Fred Astaire), ignored his enormous ears, baldness, AND his critics. The world came to greatly appreciate the performer. He became widely regarded as the greatest popular-music dancer of all time. His stellar career in stage, film and television spanned 76 years.  

The world has not always had much good to say about other gifted people either.  In 1919, an editor at the Kansas City Star Newspaper fired an employee because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” The editor might have thought he was right to fire this man. He struggled for work and went bankrupt several times over the ensuing years. However that “unimaginative” ex-employee finally proved he did have just a little imagination.  He was Walt Disney, and he founded Disneyland in 1955. 

“Unfit for television”

That’s what a TV producer told a young Oprah Winfrey when he fired her as a Baltimore news reporter. It took Oprah a few years doing various forgettable jobs, until she took over the low-rated “AM Chicago” show. That show became “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” It made her a household name- and the richest African-American of the 20th century. Oprah, along with so many others, could have listened to negativity and never realized their potential or dreams.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

So said Thomas Edison about his creation of the light bulb. Edison was not one to dwell on his many failures. Even though he was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive,” Edison was anything BUT unproductive. Starting in 1869, he patented over a thousand inventions, many still in use today in some form (the light bulb, phonograph, motion picture camera, telegraph and telephone).

Albert Einstein altered the world of physics. Yet this slow-starter did not read until he was 7, and failed his university exams, reapplying a year later. Cinematic master Steven Stielberg has grossed billions with his blockbuster movies, but was rejected TWICE by his USC School of Cinematic Arts. Sir James Dyson had 5,126 failed prototypes before he finally hit upon his first working Dyson vacuum. All these talented people had something inside that made them keep on trying. They learned from their mistakes, and plodded on.

So the lesson is to keep moving forward and to not get discouraged and quit. There may be many others who are more talented, more intelligent, more gifted.  However, there may not be those that are willing to keep on trying. Even in failure, they learn from their mistakes, and never give up.

By the way, it is said that Fred Astaire framed that negative screen test and put it over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home. It was not just as an “I told you so” against the naysayers that did not see his potential. It was more likely a reminder to never stop working on your goals, despite the obstacles. And to never listen to what the critics say- just learn from them.  

Way to go, Fred.