If you ask a high school senior in Hawaii where they are headed for college, their likely answer is somewhere on the mainland. Hawaii is a beautiful place with fresh local food, strong community ties, and a deep sense of ohana found nowhere else. Why, then, would anyone want to leave such a close-knit and peaceful community for somewhere they have never lived before? Simply put, the answer is the lack of good job opportunities.
The following editorial was originally published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, September 5, 2021 as part of the "Raise Your Hand" column in the Insights section.
PRO: A PRACTICAL CHANGE TO HAWAII TOURISM
“Not only are hotels understaffed, but Hawai’i is at full visitor occupancy while there is a severe shortage of other resources elsewhere in the islands…This prioritization of tourists’ wants over local residents’ needs caused an uproar within Hawai’i’s communities.”
- Carolei Edra
CON: ADDRESSING FLAWS IN HTA’S NEW PLAN
“If we want to move from accidental to purposeful perpetuation of what makes Hawai’i special, we need a Cabinet position or shared vision between the HTA and the government, or else any well-intentioned actions fall short.”
- Jamie Hirano
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