I've had my own threatening incident or two on Kaua'i (in 10 years), but nothing that I would call life-threatening. Last one was when I asked a kid to stop riding his ATV through a campground. The parents (locals), didn't like me (a white person) "telling" them what to do. When the cops came, they made the ATV-riders stop, and told me to call the police dispatch next time so they could send the ranger to talk to them.
Some comments about this unfortunate incident:
- I see tourists driving slowly, erratically, or dangerously all the time in Hawaii. Want to take a picture? Let's just stop in the middle of the road without looking behind. Go the wrong way? Just flip a U-turn on this small road and do a 5-point turn while everyone stops for me. Yes, it's pretty much true for any tourist in a rental car anywhere, but the density is just so much higher in Hawaii (about 20% of the people/cars on Kauai at any given time are visitors/rentals). Don't get me wrong, locals do it too. A guy ran a stop and pulled in right in front of me the other day, I had to honk my horn for probably the first time all year. But it can be frustrating to other drivers.
- There is a fair amount of drug use, alcohol, pot, and crystal meth on Kaua'i. Usually happens in homes and out of the way places that tourists don't see or notice. But if you cross paths on the road with a tweaker high on meth, I can imagine something like this happening.
- There are regular people on Kaua'i, some are testosterone-driven young males driven to road rage, perhaps involving the preceding issues, perhaps not. Regarless, road rage and threatening other people is never OK, and I hope the cops can find them. One good thing I've noticed is that the cops on Kaua'i respond fairly quickly and take these issues seriously.
Quote:
Originally Posted by whtviper1
For anyone following this thread - you may run into bad people but especially in Kauai don't turn into an unknown road to explore - they might be growing something they don't want you to see and you might not be seen again. Really.
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I don't know whether to refute this or not. Yeah, it's dangerous here, go hang out in Chinatown after dark, or maybe Kaanapali on Maui--watch out for those killer mai-tais. But really, "Really?" Yes there are neighborhoods that look sketchy and a few streets that I would probably not bother, but A) this incident is about road rage (presumably), not someone defending their grow house, and B) I don't really see a road on Kaua'i that would lead to a confrontation like this. And outside of maybe Puna on the BI, I don't see this as a reality in HI. Unless you have a news story or something, I call BS.
I would drive down any public road on Kaua'i, it's not the anarchy state you make it sound like. Yes, there are places where people are unfriendly and would rather not have tourists driving through every day to gawk at them. Yes, there are signs of run-down neighborhoods (dead-ends with junk cars, badly kept houses, etc.), and those are so obvious that people would know to turn around--but I don't think anything would happen if you didn't. People aren't growing herb right next to their house. The only, single, one time I stumbled on a grow operation, it was deep in a forest, far from roads and houses.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TVC15
Are these unknown roads marked with no trespassing or private property? How would a tourist know which roads are the ones to stay off of?
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Like I said, these roads non-existent. There are private drives (mostly for luxury homes, and they're marked or gated. Often, you get to the end of a country road, and then several driveways continue, but they have a mailbox, usually gravel/cement instead of blacktop, and often marked "Private," "No Tresspassing," or "Kapu" (Hawaiian for taboo, forbidden)--so you know to turn around. Sometimes there is the issue of public roads being wrongly marked as private by people (either rich or not) trying to keep people out. But there is nothing down there that's worth your time--just turn around when you see the sign. Otherwise, like I said, all other public roads are fine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TVC15
Also why does your state allow this to be a reality?
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Because it's not a reality. Whtviper1 made it sound like Harlem in the 60's or Watts in the 80's, or whatever gang-infested neighborhood of whatever large city he was thinking of today. That doesn't happen on Kaua'i. Anyways, I think plenty of other states have "allowed" it to happen in their jurisdictions, and Kaua'i hasn't had to deal with it because it isn't an issue here. Like I said, there is a minor issue of some entitled property owners marking public roads as private, but it's usually to restrict access, not for criminal activity. I wish the "state" (or county) would do something about it, but it is not a matter of public safety.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TVC15
Are there any recent cases of a tourist vanishing for wondering upon the unknown road?
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This is why I am contesting whtviper's post so seriously, because people jump to the wrong conclusions. Yes, there have been tourists who die on Kaua'i. The vast majority of them perish in the ocean, helicopter crashes, and traffic accidents (there was a family who U-turned in front of a tanker truck). There are very few who are victims of criminals. I can only think of two incidents in the news, and both were single women, after dark on remote beaches--and they may have been involved with the suspects and/or drugs.
So I'd like to reassure you that your incident was very uncommon, though I realize it was unpleasant. If you want to discuss the details, it would be interesting to know more, just because I'm interested in knowing how and why these things might happen (I suspect drug use).
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