Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 9, 1 September 1993 — Tourism: Where do we go from here? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tourism: Where do we go from here?

by Patrick Johnston Tourism in Hawai'i: It gives, it takes away. It provides jobs, it destroys lifestyles. It's a forum for culture, but ean trivialize it in the process. It is one of the largest and most economically important industries in the state, and yet is despised by certain elements of the Hawaiian population that see it tearing apart the cultural and environmental fabric of their society and giving back very little in return. With large-scale agriculture on its way out, the direction and control of tourism remains of primary importance for native Hawaiians, not only eeonomieally, but also politically and culturally. In 1992, according to Hawai'i Visitors Bureau statistics, $9.6 billion, a third of the state gross naūonal product, and 40 percent of all employment, was supplied by tourist-related industries. Fifteen percent of corporate taxes, 22 percent of excise taxes, and 40 percent of liquor taxes were collected from tourism. This money provides a significant amount of the support for state culture and arts programs, heakh and human services, even sovereignty commis-

sions. Despite its obvious eeonomie benefits, very few involved in tourism, even business leaders, think the industry should continue on its present course. Hawaiians point to their trivialized culture and polluted environment. Business people realize

that Hawai'i is going to have to stay unique to remain a popular destination. "I believe the time has long passed for the hospitality industry to eome to terms with the Hawaiian issue," George Kanahele, long time consultant on eul-turally-sensitive hotel manage-

ment, said in a recent speech. "If you continue to deny, ignore or trivialize it, the current slump will be nothing like the disaster you may be inviting upon yourself from hostile elements in the population." Kanahele is a supporter of the industry but would like to see it

become more "Hawaiian," in the sense that cultural activities and programs are performed and monitored by experts in the field, and that managerial staff, especially non-locals, are sensitized to the culture. (see story below) He cites as examples of this the Kā'anapali Beach Hotel and Hotel Hāna Maui whieh have incorporated various features of Hawaiian cultur, into their design and managerial policy. Preserving the "Hawaiianess" of the island is central to the Hawai'i Visitors Bureau's three-year-old "Keep it Hawai'i" program, whieh awards and recognizes companies and organizations who institute programs that include elements of Hawaiian culture. (See story page 5.) The awards are controversial but represent an understanding by the bureau that Hawai'i needs to stay Hawaiian if visitors are going to keep coming. Others want more than gestures of cultural recognition. They want an entire shift in the way the industry operates to one that actively involves Hawaiians at all levels, from the HVB and upper management levels to eommuni-ty-based operations. Says 'Ohana continued on page 16

Beach scene in Waikīkī: Few support the visitor industry continuing on its present course.

Kanahele continued from page 4 to the master/servant stigma they attach to working in the tourist industry. "I'm sad that we don't have more Hawaiians in the tourist industry. ... Hospitality is a Hawaiian value, one of the most important values, and should not be considered an evil. However, I think we must make it work on our own terms. At this point there is no alternative (to tourism) and

there are positive things we ean do to make it work." Kanahele has written extensively including Critical Reflections on Cultural & Hotel Management in Hawai'i whieh ean be found in major bookstores around the state. Waiaha Foundation offices are in downtown Honolulu and ean be reached at 537-3941.