• Paradise lost Paradise lost By Emily De Ville When most people think of Hawai‘i they imagine paradise…beautiful sunny weather, girls wearing coconut bras, grass shacks, hula skirts, leis etc. As far as the tourists are concerned that’s the prepackaged
• Paradise lost
Paradise lost
By Emily De Ville
When most people think of Hawai‘i they imagine paradise…beautiful sunny weather, girls wearing coconut bras, grass shacks, hula skirts, leis etc. As far as the tourists are concerned that’s the prepackaged commercial view. The reality is few tourists know or care to know about the native Hawaiian culture, perhaps that’s why many natives or locals have such resentment towards them. As people from all over the world continue to come here, buy land, build houses and then vacation rental them, the availability of affordable long term housing for local residents is quickly disappearing. Due in part to the irresponsible promotion of Kaua‘i and its tourist-based economy the residents of this island face an uncertain future.
Growing up on the North Shore of Kaua‘i I’ve seen it go through many changes. From hurricanes to floods nothing has been more damaging then the continued over development of “paradise.” I’ve watched the neighborhood that I grew up in, turn from small houses with long term residents and undeveloped lots into vacation rentals and huge houses that remain vacant most of the year. Houses that were worth $60,000 are now worth millions. Who can afford to live here anymore? It’s sad when I walk down the block, the trees we played in…gone. The empty lots we played hide and seek in when I was a kid are now private properties with giant mansions. Things change, for better or for worse. Sometimes I wonder why tourists come here in the first place. Is it to experience the island way of life and escape the chaos of the Mainland? Or is it to make the chaos of the Mainland the island way of life? If things continue like this then one day we’re going to look around and realize the natural beauty of Kaua‘i and its people are gone.
There must be a way to accommodate the locals and the tourists so that everyone benefits. Let’s start by protecting the special and sacred places while promoting the island properly. As far as the housing situation is concerned, vacation rentals should be restricted to specially zoned areas, i.e. Poipu and Princeville. Through this effort to save and restore our “neighborhoods,” vacation rentals in residential areas could once again become long term housing. Thus, returning a sense of community.
If we don’t take steps towards protecting our Aina and Ohana now, the island we know and love will be lost.
It is imperative that everyone (locals, tourists, politicians, commercial industries) start sharing the responsibility and working together to “malama Kaua‘i”
- Emily DeVille is a 16-year-old resident of the North Shore
