Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 7, 1 July 1989 — Tourism: what impact on Native Hawaiians? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tourism: what impact on Native Hawaiians?

"Tourism in Hawai'i: lts Impact on Native Hawaiians and Its Challenge to the Churches," is the theme of an eeumenieal working conference to be held Aug. 25-28 in Honolulu at St. Stephen's Seminary. Conference organizers include: chairperson Rev. Kaleo Fatterson of the Kapa'a First Hawaiian Church; vice-chairperson Dr. Haunani Kay Trask, University of Hawai'i; conference coordinator Rose Schilt of the American Friends Service Committee; and Patricia Mumford, steering eommittee member, Hawai'i Council of Churches. The goal of conference organizers is to increase public awareness of the impact of tourism on the life and society of Hawai'i, particularly on Native Hawaiians. They estimate by the year 2010, Hawaii's population will increase to 1.5 million residents and 11 million tourists a year, bringing unprecedented impacts and unforeseen eompounded effects. The conference will bring together about 80 Hawai'i, U.S., and international participants. About one-third of the participants will be Native Hawaiian church and grassroots community activists and leaders, representing the five major Hawaiian islands. One third will be nor>Native Hawaiian church leaders in the state. Less than one-third will be international representatives of indigenous peoples and other organizations, who will be able to share their strategies and experiences. Prior to the start of the actual conference, participants will visit Hawai'i tourism centers and rural development projects. They will hear presentations on the eeonomie, social and cultural history of Hawai'i. Emphasis will be on Native Hawaiian rights and social and eeonomie justice. The two days of the main conference will include discussion of tourism's impact on land and water, island economics, housing, jobs, Hawaiian identity, culture and trust lands. On the second day discussion will center on self-sufficiency, sanctuaries and sovereignty. The conference may initiate a locally-based network to develop education and action around tourism and related eeonomie and poliheal issues confronting Native Hawaiians. Conference sponsors include: the Eeumenieal Coalition on Third World Tourism, World CounciI of Churches/Pacific Conference, Hawai'i Council

of Churches, National Council of Churches, American Friends Service Committee. Funding is also being sought from Hawai'i churches and international foundations. In a statement on the reason for the conference, organizers note, "Modern tourism is commercializing the human desire to travel, and eompromising the integrity and health of indigenous cultures around the world. The traditional people and culture of Hawai'i have been intensively exploited in promoting tourism. Native Hawaiians, who now constitute about 20 percent of Hawaii's one million people, are at the bottom of key health and welfare indicators measuring social wellbeing. This is a bitter irony in their homeland of nearly 2,000 years."

Wilbert Tai Hook gave Malia Marrotte a hand with the lei she brought for the statue of Queen Lili'uokalani at the state capitol during the 'Aha 'Opio O OHA (youth legislature) in June. Both are students at Kapa'a High School. ^Seestone^n^ages^^T