Kaua'i on southpark

[jertheber]

Originally Posted by McFrostyJ

We spent 10 days on Kauai last year and experienced the complete opposite!

I'm glad your stay on the island ended up as a good memory, my trips to the various Hawaiian islands have been a mixed bag of pleasant enough things to remember but overall I couldn't help but notice on this last trip an uneasy feeling that we weren't all that welcome by the locals. It wasn't anything overt, just a noticeable lack of friendliness on the part of clerks, people who worked in stores and bars, and lastly some real obvious cases of resentment on the part of workers at a cafe at the airport. I'm usually polite and don't harbor any negative thoughts about the people around me, I expect the same in return. Hawaii is a state, like it or not, maybe the polynesians should head back to wherever their ancestors came from, the Filipino's surely can return to their homeland, same with the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, etc. who think these islands somehow are "theirs". My home state is becoming a destination for many foreigners who come here to visit and live, I welcome them all.

I've done enough traveling to know when the locals have a good rapport with tourists, I'm not one of those who expect a huge smile from the working folks just because I'm a customer. This resentment I'm referring to is one of those things that you are made to feel, but not in an overt way. Nothing was ever stated outright that would cause a problem for the company these people worked for, it was just something you become aware of if you have traveled a lot and expect a certain level of friendliness. The mainlander vs local sentiment isn't exactly news on the islands, look on the web and you'll find plenty of reference to these issues. If anyone thinks my trip was a complete bust due to this observation I can assure them it wasn't. I just don't like the feeling that I represent anything, I don't care about the issues of island autonomy, I'm simply looking to get some sun.........

[McFrostyJ]

Jertheber, I am sorry that you felt this. I have been to all the main islands including Ni'ihau, some more than once and O'ahu many times as I have family there. I have never been made to feel this way, not even once. When I go, I don't sit still. I explore every part of the island I can get to and am allowed to go. I have been to many sporting events at Aloha Stadium, Les Murakami Stadium and the Stan Sheriff Center. I spend much time talking to locals from people out on the golf course to the homeless at Ala Moana Park. I am not saying that what you felt doesn't exist. There has been many posts about it here and I am sure many other places online. However, I am almost 41 years old, have my father's Irish white skin and I have never been made to feel this way by anyone on any of the Hawaiian islands.