When the first hippies arrived on Kauai in 1967 from the Mainland United States, they went to Kalalau Valley, but left a short time later, 15 men and women in all, after being warned by Warren Robinson of Gay &Robinson that they were trespassing on 780 acres of private property under permit to his father, Selwyn Robinson.
When the first hippies arrived on Kauai in 1967 from the Mainland United States, they went to Kalalau Valley, but left a short time later, 15 men and women in all, after being warned by Warren Robinson of Gay &Robinson that they were trespassing on 780 acres of private property under permit to his father, Selwyn Robinson.
“People like that are no benefit to the Island,” declared Board of Supervisors Chairman Antone Kona Vidinha in March 1968. “I do not know why they come here. Just the word ‘hippie’ gets people all riled up.”
County Supervisor Ralph Hirota went a step further by stating hippies “are not welcome and not wanted” on Kauai, while County Attorney Toshio Kabutan advised that trespass laws be enforced to prosecute hippies.
Supervisor Henry Gomez called for new ordinances aimed at tightening health regulations as a way to get hippies out of substandard housing, “an ordinance so we can chase them out,” but “the dope thing is the worst part of it. Some of our local kids have been introduced to it by the hippies.”
Reaction to hippies took a violent turn in April 1968, when gun shots were fired into the home of a hippie living in Aliomanu, and three hippies were later beaten at home in Waimea by several juveniles.
One hippie lamented in May 1968 that “Kauai at first looked like the spot we are seeking, but there have been too many ugly things happening, like the shooting of a house recently where there was what you call a hippie living.”
More pressure was put on hippies in April 1969, when 13 hippies were sentenced to 90 days in jail for vagrancy by Judge Norito Kawakami — a sentence that would be suspended for one year anytime the defendants wished to leave Kauai.
And, a “friendly cop” program, inaugurated in July 1969, whereby police officers would drop by ostensibly to hear hippies’ problems and offer aid, also forced many hippies to exit Kauai — reducing their presence from an estimated 250 to about 85.
Lol.there is no Aloha still for white .long hair or not.or in less you have the right ginger…lust bad people. ..
Yeah right buddy, it’s now all of the locals leaving the island cause we can’t afford to live there,you are speaking like a true hauli, how long you been there two years, cause you sound like a two year local
pdolson1111@icloud.com. I was ten years old in 1967, living across the street from Brennecke Beach. At that time, that was the largest best body surfing beach in the world. I remember when the waves were so big and clear that the surfers in the water were all naked when the swell stood up. What did I care at ten. I swam out there with their help and treated me like a princess and made sure I was safe.
I went to Koloa Elementary School and my 6th grade teacher was a hippie. I was a hula dancer, my sister babysat at the hotels, my brother a senior at Kauai High surfed only where locals surfed. My younger brother was born there. We all had to fight someone to be accepted into the culture when we moved there. It was easier for me with having long dark wavy hair, friendly as can be with no fear and I tanned up and people thought I was a true local.
Those were glorious days and the hippies were peaceful rich kids. What a lot of you might not know is during that time the Vietnam War was taking those island boys and sending them back in boxes. The population of men was quickly deteriorating and much sadness throughout. No family was untouched. There was also a large medical study being done on women who got pregnant then and the large numbers of miscarriages. There was a census taking place of how long children were living and how far along the women were when it happened. So, more loss and sadness.
This time in my life has never ever left me. It was a great foundation for the person I wanted to continue being my entire life. That little Hawaiian looking little girl nickname Tish Dole and confirmed there as Malia is still here. A little hippie in music, hearing pigeon English, the aroma surrounding me, the crash of the waves from my bed and the stupid Mina Bird who wouldn’t shut up. The only difference is that my toes are so crooked from hanging ten, walking barefoot everywhere, I can’t go under water as much and that long wavy hair is not dark anymore.
When we left on that very sad August 17th, 1973, all I remember besides the tears and saying I don’t want leave at the airport, was the huge crowd of people crying and hugging and wishing us a safe trip.
You want more or “you like beef”
Hippies were sent to Kauai from outer space to spread GMO.
Bigotry isn’t a new occurrence and it’s not only on Kauai but we have less of it than most places…
People who are too proud to be a part of the system but not too proud to cockaroach off of it get no respect from me. It’s nice to be able to live off the largesse of others but I’ve never felt that anyone owes me anything; I’ve run into too many people who feel otherwise.
Agreed
The caption for the picture in this story should read: One exception was Howard Taylor, brother of actress Elizabeth Taylor. He allowed hippies to reside on his Haena property for free beginning in 1969.
Well you forgot Taylor Camp.. My late Brother, Dr. Arnie Hoffman, was doctor in the camp, and also had a free clinic in Hanalei, where he accepted barter for payment to give medical treatment to area residents who could not afford paying in the traditional way. There are still a few campers on Kauai even now. And there are still artifacts of the camp up at the end of the road.
Please come to KauaiCann Expo and Conference 9/22/18 to learn that not all who smoke are hippies creating “the dope thing”
Hippies are just vagrants that eat healthy food they are a disgusting creature that needs to be eradicated from Kauai
Your smallminded attitude is what needs to be eradicated from Kauai. Not all locals think like you. You sound like a horrible person and with any luck, you’ll move away. Kauai doesn’t need people like you. Shoo!
Replace “Hippie” with “haole” and that is present-day Kauai.
I was 6 yrs old in 1972 when we moved from Cali to Kauai- was told by local kids I was a stink, $&@$ing hippie Haole… I had no idea what a hippie or a Haole was, as we didn’t live in the north shore- but I quickly learned all about the bigotry here- and yes it is alive and well, even 45 years later….coming back here was a huge mistake on my part
If it was such a mistake coming back, then please feel free to leave. Bye.
I was a teenager back then and my father told me that there were hippies at the Kalaheo Post Office waiting for money that was sent by their parents who sent them away because they were embarrassed by their lifestyle. There were some of them living in an old warehouse in Kalaheo near where I lived.
I can’t stand hippies. They’ve been ruining this place for almost 60 years now. Not just here though. Every area they go to, they slowly ruin.