I hope people can still feel welcome on Kaua‘i
I was sad to hear Nolan Ahn’s call for charging much higher rates for us to visit the islands. We all know tourist dollars are critical for many business owners. And, while I agree 100% that Kauai has become overcrowded, there can be other ways to solve the problems associated with swarms visiting.
My home here in Western Washington is also far too crowded. When I was a kid I could ride my bike to school, a journey that would now be fatal due to traffic we have yet to see on Kauai. We have struggled to find ways to curb growth with no success.
I guess I am not offering a solution for the island, except to say we should provide some form of help if we visit. Say, no one can come without offering kookier. Or maybe we can only drive X amount while visiting.
I do know my wife and I give back in was most will never know and I also know we save forever to afford to visit the island we love so much we would never move here since moving would be more of a burden than our occasional visits. If you charge more, only wealthier tourists will be able to visit and it is probably that income level that builds all those multi-million dollar homes.
I hope my family will still be able to afford to come to Kauai. We have been gifted salt, fish, lobsters, and fun times down at Salt Ponds on many occasions. We’ve always felt welcome. I hope that feeling remains and that unfair fees don’t get in the way.
Ron Hirschi, Poulsbo, Washington
Source: The Garden Island
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