Tourism And Tourism In Hawaii

Introduction

Tourism in Hawaii has expanded widely throughout the years and has affected Native Hawaiians and their culture in many ways. According to Business Insider, Hawaii is number ten on their most popular states to visit list. It also ranks as sixth in the world in tourist visits according to the Environmental Justice Atlas on their topic of “Tourism and Indigenous”. However, there have been reports from Native Hawaiians that Hawaii is not the paradise state many tourists claim it to be. In a survey, 60% of Native Hawaiians disagreed with the quote, “[tourism] helps to preserve Native Hawaiian language and culture”(Garcia). Instead they stated that the current tourism in Hawaii has not been displaying their native culture in a

It has greatly affected Native Hawaiians more than others. In a 2016 report from HOPE Services Hawaii, an organization dedicated to help decrease homelessness in Hawaii, 33% of Hawaii’s homeless are of Native Hawaiian ethnicity. Prices in food, activities, and homes have increased to meet the growing tourism. Due to this, many Native Hawaiians are evicted from their homes, because they are not able to pay for their housing. Most Native Hawaiians no longer buy homes due to the growing of cost for housing having to keep up with the tourism; “only 2% of homebuyers… majority are wealthy out-of-state speculators”(Matsuoka & Kelly). Tourists from wealthy places sweep in and take the homes from the Native Hawaiians. Furthermore, this has caused many Native Hawaiians to flee Hawaii, so they wouldn’t get stuck living on the street. It has also caused street protests by Native Hawaiians who are tired of the constant renovation of their island, due to the fact that tourism has caused tourists to number natives thirty to one(Grafton). Currently, only about 5% of Native Hawaiians live in Hawaii. The percent has been decreasing because of the increasing prices. The current tourism in Hawaii has provided more jobs for natives and locals; however, from these jobs they are poorly paid. Numerous Native Hawaiians work as servers, bartenders, and cashiers, which all make less than the state’s minimum wage(Hill, Sudick, & Schiaretti). The state’s current minimum wage is $9 an hour, meanwhile, these jobs only pay them around $7 an hour. Some are poorly paid to hold up wrong stereotypes of themselves - hula dancers - and try to attract even more tourists. The tourism does help the economy; however it ignores the needs of the Native Hawaiians. By cause of developing tourism, Native Hawaiians have preferred to leave their homeland and their culture to be able to have affordable and stable housing