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Home » Hawaii » Hawaii Tourism: Olivia Rodrigo Harassed For Visiting
Hawaii

Hawaii Tourism: Olivia Rodrigo Harassed For Visiting

Kyle Stewart Posted onAugust 6, 2023August 6, 2023 52 Comments

Olivia Rodrigo, an actress, singer, and Instagram star was harassed online for taking a trip to Hawaii primarily by those who discourage tourism to the island. But is she really the problem?


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Olivia Rodrigo Dragged For Going On A Vacation

Actress, singer, and Instagram star, Olivia Rodrigo posted photos of her vacation to the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea and was promptly reprimanded on Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Olivia Rodrigo (@oliviarodrigo)

Many commenters discussed the lack of respect tourists hold for the islands and its fragile ecosystem. Others touted the issues with crowding and a lack of benefits for native Hawaiians. Still more suggested simply not going where tourists are unwanted.

While many were supportive of Ms. Rodrigo, the backlash was unexpected by the star who was simply sharing photos of her vacation to a resort purpose-built for well-heeled visitors like herself. She came to Hawaii for its beauty and to relax as millions of visitors do every year.

Hawaii Overtourism?

Hawaii, often dubbed the ‘Paradise of the Pacific’, is a beloved destination for tourists from around the globe. With its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, the islands have long attracted those seeking a slice of tropical paradise. However, with the rise in global travel and the ever-increasing demand to visit this idyllic archipelago, over-tourism has emerged as a pressing concern. Here’s a closer look at the effects of over-tourism on the Hawaiian Islands:

  1. Environmental Degradation: The surge in tourist numbers often leads to increased waste production, putting enormous pressure on local waste management systems. Fragile ecosystems, especially coral reefs, are impacted by sunscreen pollution and physical disturbances. Additionally, the heavy foot traffic causes soil erosion and damages native flora, further threatening local biodiversity.
  2. Strain on Resources: With over-tourism, local resources like water and energy are consumed at a rapid rate. This puts strain on the islands’ limited resources, often leading to shortages or increased costs for the local population.
  3. Cultural Dilution: A deluge of visitors can sometimes lead to the commercialization of cultural practices and traditions. Authentic Hawaiian experiences might get overshadowed by tourist-oriented activities, risking the dilution or misrepresentation of local culture.
  4. Economic Dependency: While tourism is a significant contributor to the Hawaiian economy, over-reliance on it can make the islands vulnerable to global economic fluctuations. A balanced approach, diversifying the economy, is essential for long-term stability.
  5. Infrastructure Overload: Roads, public transportation, and public facilities, designed for the local populace, bear the brunt of the increased tourist influx. This not only leads to wear and tear but also makes these facilities less accessible or enjoyable for residents.
  6. Price Inflation: High demand from tourists can lead to an increase in the cost of goods, services, and housing. This can make it challenging for locals to afford their living expenses, leading to concerns about being priced out of their own communities.
  7. Loss of Authentic Experiences: For travelers seeking genuine cultural interactions and unspoiled natural beauty, the mass of tourists can detract from the very essence of what made Hawaii unique in the first place.
  8. Local Resentment: As residents cope with the downsides of over-tourism, it can foster resentment or animosity towards visitors. This sentiment not only impacts the overall experience for tourists but can also strain the warm, hospitable nature that Hawaiians are renowned for.

A Double Standard

Many of Hawaii’s residents are transplants. They came from somewhere else, fell in love with the Hawaiian islands, and moved there full-time or part-time. That suggests a double standard.

It’s also not necessarily representative of the state. Business owners that can’t afford to make it in expensive Hawaii without visitors spending money, the locals that rely on the industry might differ from those who aren’t dependent on the tourism economy. As with anything, both sides must be examined, but to attack a prominent visitor seems to take a wider problem and laser focus it on someone who was neither privy to the issue at hand nor intentionally flouting the concerns of the people of Hawaii.

Conclusion

Olivia Rodrigo did nothing wrong in visiting Maui for her vacation and then posting photos from her trip. Some concerned locals have voiced their contempt for tourists visiting the islands and drew light to the problems they see. That said, targeting her seemed unfair not only to Ridrigo, but also to Hawaiians who depend on tourism to provide for their families.

What do you think? 

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About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

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52 Comments

  1. Dublin Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 8:02 am

    What garbage. Hawaii keeps forgetting their part of the United States. Their attitude is pretty rude. I wouldn’t go back. United States, you can travel freely to any state when you want where you want. They act like you’re a “foreigner” if you’re not from there.

    • Billy Bob Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 8:12 am

      I don’t think many native Hawaiians are real happy about being a state. That said I love Hawaii and will continue to go, but I’m mostly there for the beaches and pineapples.. I don’t care much for the phony baloney touristized “cultural” experiences or going into local’s spaces

    • Malia Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 1:10 pm

      Please do your research, the United States is illegally occupying The Hawai’i Kingdom.

      • CHRIS Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 3:03 pm

        By all means take it back. We don’t want you on the mainland either!

        • Candis Reply
          August 7, 2023 at 2:44 am

          Oh, are you Native American? Did you get involved with Land Buy-Back? Let’s send foreigners back and reclaim our stolen land. I am Native, too. Lots of Chinese and Japanese are becoming owners of businesses, farms, land… European white people are a dying breed. Trump See’s it. That’s why he and his followers are scared. As a First American living here in Hawaii I feel a great kindred spirit with Hawaiians.

          • chad
            August 10, 2023 at 12:19 pm

            white people gave you civilization thats why you suffer from such envy.

      • Derek Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 3:21 pm

        you lost that kingdom fair and square

        I suppose you also think the SW USA should be handed back to Mexico?

        • Iris Reply
          August 7, 2023 at 2:10 pm

          Your ignorant. Always research facts before you open your mouth, unless you like looking stupid.

    • Joe Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 2:34 pm

      You’re an idiot. The Hawaiian people know all too well they are part of the United States. The island were stolen in an illegal overthrow of a sovereign monarchy. You make it sound like America did Hawaii a favor by overthrowing it’s government, marginalizing it’s people and destroying the once pristine lands. Wake up you moron.

      • Chi Hsuan Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 8:48 pm

        Well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

      • chad Reply
        August 10, 2023 at 12:20 pm

        they did them a favor. They are much better off.
        They were given civilization and have a better life for it.

    • Carli Symons Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 4:45 pm

      Perfect problem solved

    • Harold Sylvester Reply
      August 7, 2023 at 2:46 am

      Ignoramus,YOU ARE A FOREIGNER.
      Check out the history of the plight of the Hawaiian People,it’s somewhat similar to yours with ENGLAND!!

  2. Jason Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 9:08 am

    I’ve never heard of this person

    • Santastico Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 10:10 am

      Exactly. If she went to Hawaii just to enjoy her trip, we would not be reading this post today. But her generation needs attention.

      • Jerry Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 11:50 am

        Relax Boomers. She’s very famous. Ask your grandkids about her.

        • Santastico Reply
          August 6, 2023 at 11:54 am

          @Jerry: famous for what? Because stupid people like you like to see her showing off drinking a cocktail? You are certainly part of the lost generation.

          • Jerry
            August 6, 2023 at 12:00 pm

            I’m just teasing you, buddy. She’s a musician. Check her out on YouTube.

        • Dave Edwards Reply
          August 6, 2023 at 1:21 pm

          Only selfish people who had irresponsible kids have grandkids. “Might” have been ok to have kids 20-40 years but now having a kid is just irresponsible.

          Global warming, debt levels, a divided country on the edge of violence and so much more. Definitely selfish to bring a child into America in the past 20 years.

          • Dave’s inner voice
            August 6, 2023 at 1:45 pm

            You are dumb

      • Billy Bob Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 6:52 pm

        Lots of “back in my day” energy here

    • Min Thapa Reply
      September 3, 2023 at 8:55 am

      How could be this possible? You should have heard about her.

  3. Steerage Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 9:16 am

    As alluded to above, its a double edged sword.
    No tourist, no money, no construction, no hotels, no employment. The other major employer is the US government. There are few other options.
    As for the cost of living, it’s been high from the very beginning considering everything has to imported.
    As for pressure on resources (water, waste, utilities), it goes with the on slot of airlines with non-stop service to the other islands as opposed to the old days when Honolulu was the gateway. Yet, Honolulu is a tourist trap, worse than New Orleans. Therefore, the rush to the surrounding islands.
    Also, I’ve heard multiple stories of tourists and anglos treated with a very cold shoulder.
    You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Hawaii has to make up its mind and find a happy medium before folks find an alternative….Florida and Cancun await you!!

    • Normal Person Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 1:01 pm

      Anyone who hasn’t heard of Olivia Rodrigo is old and crusty and probably is on the spectrum

      • Another Normal Person Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 4:53 pm

        “Anyone who hasn’t heard of Olivia Rodrigo is old and crusty” So sorry you got your feelings hurt. I’ll make sure the admin doesn’t forget to send you a participation trophy for posting a comment. I agree that everyone should like and know about the favorite Gen Z artists. Those boomers are really mean and insensitive aren’t they. How dare they not know who she is. OMG what a travesty. You should write an article to teach boomers how to stay up to date with what Gen Z’s like and how to best coddle your generation.

        • Paper Boarding Pass Reply
          August 7, 2023 at 6:39 am

          As a BEBB (Back End Baby Boomer), I doubt Ms Rodrigo would know of :
          – earth shoes (I had a pair in college)
          – Gino Vannelli (pop star of the 70’s and I went to one of his concerts)
          – airline “paper” ticket (got mine from my first solo flight)
          – Lockheed Tristar (talk about room to spare and PAX behaving themselves).

          All things are transitory….get over it!!

      • A human Reply
        August 15, 2023 at 5:09 am

        My grandma is “crusty and dusty” (she would kill me if she knew I called her that) and loves oliva and I’m on the spectrum and love her as well (I know u probably meant it as a joke 🙂 )

  4. Chad Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 11:20 am

    Its all a bunch of white liberals on Twitter.
    Nobody cares what they have to say.

    • Dave Edwards Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 2:10 pm

      I’ll take a bunch of white liberals on X over a bunch of violent blacks on TikTok and Instagram starting riots and fights for attention.

      • Billy Bob Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 6:55 pm

        As opposed to violent whites on truth social that tried to overthrow the government… and all deserve to be at the bottom of the ocean with Ashley babbitt and bin laden

        • Chi Hsuan Reply
          August 6, 2023 at 8:50 pm

          And you deserve to be in jail with all the other pedos

  5. Jerry Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 11:49 am

    “Hawaiian” means Native Hawaiian. The official demonym for people who live in Hawaii is “Hawaii Resident.”

    Semantics aside… Hawaii Residents can’t enjoy the benefits of Walmart, Amazon, and general US residency while expecting special treatment. It’s on elected officials to develop infrastructure, and to make policies that make Hawaii an attractive place to live. They’re blessed with good geography, but have no right to deny access to people legally present in the United States. Florida does a lot of stupid things, but they’re good at using tourist dollars to benefit state Residents. Most states would be thrilled to have Hawaii’s problem… Even if it meant hiking trails were a little crowded.

  6. Joe United Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 1:26 pm

    I’ve been to Hawaii a few times and never felt welcome by locals. If you want to have a holiday somewhere warm and tropical, go to Mexico. I like Mexico better much better than Hawaii; people have always been friendly and helpful. The food is better and cheaper; you don’t have pay to park at the beaches. I have traveled all over the world and Hawaii is the only location that I did not feel welcome. Perhaps all tourists should boycott Hawaii and just leave the locals to sit on the beach playing with their coconuts while waiting for the next government check.

    • Nate Reply
      August 10, 2023 at 2:52 pm

      There have been incidents of local Hawaiians assaulting American and European tourists. The attacks were unprovoked. There is resentment against what they call “haoles”, or Whites. In some cases, homicides have resulted, and European women have been sexually assaulted. The Hawaii tourist authority will not warn the public, about the criminal element which lives in Hawaii, and preys upon tourists. When I visited Hawaii, I was informed by a taxi driver that a number of cities in the USA, were dumping their homeless population into Hawaii, by sending them on a one way plane trip to the Aloha state. Last, this so-called “Aloha Spirit” is baloney. There is friction between Native Hawaiians, Japanese-Hawaiians, Chinese-Hawaiians, and White Hawaiians. I did not find the hotel clerks that hospitable, either. The only person who was very courteous to us, was a very nice ice cream server, in Lahaina, in Maui. Unfortunately, that establishment was probably destroyed in the recent fire.

  7. Mikeyknowsbest Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 2:57 pm

    Joe United,
    As a long time Hawaii resident I agree completely with you. Please go somewhere else. The Big Island has a resident population of 175000 people, the average daily count of tourists on the island is 175000 and this does not include military. We’ve seen how our lives have changed during the pandemic when tourism came to a halt, for a short time it was paradise again.

    • Jerry Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 3:21 pm

      So why was it OK for you to move there, but not for others to come?

    • Dick Tador Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 3:28 pm

      Agree ! Millionaires and Billionaires are welcome , but US taxpayers and Asian tourists should not go there for years to come! Tax your rich haole, and live your liberal island dream!
      And after all 90% of you should pack up and leave the island to the real Hawaiians, because all of you and your ancestors have been the true invaders!

  8. Lars Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 3:09 pm

    Don’t know anything about this Rodrigo, but if she’s one who goes around virtue signaling and flexing her lefty street cred, then fair game when she ends up getting harangued by her brethren.

    • Jacob Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 4:38 pm

      Careful Lars, you might triger the gen Z’s and hurt their feelings. They will then post a comment that you are a mean and out of touch Boomer …lol. I agree with your comment though, instead of building each other up her generation loves to attack others, especially boomers. Sad and pathetic.

  9. Dick Tador Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 3:13 pm

    Hawaii as a state would stop to exist if not for tourism and rich foreigners.
    The arrogance and ignorance of the residents is breathtaking.
    They get every drop of gas and 95% or more of their food from outside.
    The island has strategic importance for our military. Therefore the US tax payer keeps Hawaii alive, They are basically a territory with an attitude.

    • Jan Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 4:20 pm

      The comments on social media do not reflect the reality of the attitudes of the actual Hawaiians I met when I was there 2 years ago, during the height of the vax and PCR requirements and alleged xenophobia.

  10. Jan Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 4:12 pm

    The boomerism in the comments section reaching all time highs, lmao.

    Some of her songs get 300-400M views on Youtube. Your parents and grandparents probably don’t care about your favorite singer/band too.

    • Jacob Reply
      August 6, 2023 at 4:45 pm

      So sorry that you got your feelings hurt Jan. Would you like some cookies and milk to make you feel better?
      In all seriousness, are you expecting boomers to listen to gen Z music and to know who is popular amoung teens and twenty year olds? lol… Your parents don’t expect you to know who their favorite musicians are, why are you expecting older people to know yours? smh….By the way, what are you doing on this site? Why aren’t you on a site written by a Gen Z? Is it because they don’t know as much as the older folks? lmao

      • Jan Reply
        August 6, 2023 at 5:21 pm

        ok boomer

        • Jacob B. Reply
          August 9, 2023 at 1:01 am

          Ok Gen Z..lol you are so clever aren’t you? I’ll make sure you get 2 participation trophies. Life is wonderful as a Boomer. Yes it is OK to be a boomer, great actually 🙂

  11. Helen Sullivan Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 5:27 pm

    All Hawaii residents could be considered transplants because originally there were no people on Hawaii until the first canoes arrived bearing the ancestors of today’s ethnic Hawaiians.

  12. Tony N Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 7:49 pm

    The woman didn’t do anything wrong. This is just to make a comment section about Hawaii. My opinion: Been to Hawaii ONCE and I WON’t GO AGAIN.

  13. Maryland Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 9:19 pm

    She has a new album in September. Does this not answer all the questions? Ugh.

  14. Anon Reply
    August 6, 2023 at 9:29 pm

    I can’t speak for all Hawaii residents but our economy is basically built on tourism and we would become really poor without it, so please keep coming to Hawaii

  15. John Dogas Reply
    August 7, 2023 at 1:03 am

    The fact is Native Hawaiians have built nothing in history other than special canoes. No electricity, no computers, no cars, no planes, no manufactured clothes, no air conditioning, and no refrigeration. All the comforts they have are due to one group of people of European heritage. I agree that Hawaii should have never been colonized and never become a state. Hawaii should be returned to native Hawaiians and be removed as a state. It is unfortunate, though, that Native Hawaiians would still demand every modern comfort and not thank the people who invented it for them.

    Native Hawaiians are like a lot of groups who only have something because they were lucky to be born on a certain rock. Same with certain groups who were born where there is trillions of dollars of oil or beautiful beaches that bring in tourist dollars. Certain groups were born on nice lands but used their minds to invent things like oil extraction, the railroad, elevators, and rockets that sent men to the moon. The biggest mistake in history is trading things to groups that could not contemplate or build it themselves. Hawaii should have no electricity and no bottled water. They should have no smartphones. Let them eat fish.

  16. Michael Scott Reply
    August 7, 2023 at 10:17 am

    You know what, I’m going to start visiting her even harder.

  17. BDAGuy Reply
    August 8, 2023 at 7:03 am

    Hawaii, being an island chain has one advantage over mainland destinations: they can put in capacity controls on the number of flights/seats allowed to enter. If the islanders and local government feel that the place is tourist-saturated with the negative impacts out-weighing benefits, then they can simply reduce the incoming seat capacity. Multiple European cities are looking at capacity limits (e.g., Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik) but it is harder for them since they are attached to large continents with easy flow of millions of people… not the case for islands. Trashing a well-meaning person for actually enjoying your home is silly and counter-productive; she did nothing wrong. Quite the contrary; she enjoyed her time so much she wanted to share it with her public… only fools sneer at free, positive publicity when your one viable product is tourism.

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