In TRAVELER’s November/December issue, writer Rita Ariyoshi reports on how Hawaii’s state park system preserves relics of ancient Hawaiian culture and hard-to-see native flora and fauna—a kind of “hidden Hawaii” that most tourists rarely get to know. Even if you do visit some of the 56 parks, you may learn little of the rich lore behind the landscapes. Money for good signage, or for rangers to lead interpretive walks, is scarce.

Hawaiians often complain that tourists don’t see the real Hawaii—just kitschy shows, beaches, and big hotels. Visitors never learn about the legends of telepathic priests or the ingenious, ancient fishponds or why so many native birds live only at high elevations or the difference between true hula and a Waikiki show.

Brochures, park signs and guides, video segments on Hawaii-bound flights could all provide the missing information—at a cost. But the state legislature instead revoked funding for better park interpretation. Many tourism authorities argue that visitors come for sun and sand, not culture or nature, so why bother?

This month, the Tourism Forum asks: If you were going to the islands, would you pay, say, another dollar a day—maybe as a hotel surcharge—to get better information about this hidden Hawaii?

Post Your Comments
Other Forum Topics

Manhattan Shopping Guide | New York City | Staten Island | Brooklyn | Bronx | Queens | Brittany | Hawaii State Parks