I went back to Hawaii a few years ago, and it's nothing like the place I used to live when I was little (and of course nothing AT ALL like the place the native Hawaiians knew). There were places we'd gone to as kids that had almost no one there when I was ten and were completely overrun now. And while I understand tourism is a vital part of Hawaii's economy, too many people trampling on things only damages the natural beauty that draws people there in the first place.

And I remember taking trips to the Big Island and going to see Kilauea, and there were places you didn't go and things you didn't disturb, because they were sacred. To encourage people to do so is just wrong.

So where'd you live? On O'ahu?

They had to close down Hanauma bay so it could recover from all the traipsing about on the reef. Yeah, that kills it. So now there's this educational spiel you have to sit through for about 30min BEFORE you get to the water whether you're touri or not. And it costs 5 bucks.

The dude is like: "Lava rocks are COOL!!!" Moron.

Yeah, I lived in Mililani on O'ahu. That town itself is totally unrecognizable from when I was a kid - there's a Wal-Mart! I used to be able to walk everywhere, but if we lived there now (and I were that little again) I doubt my mother would feel comfortable allowing that with all the cars.

We didn't even bother trying to go back to Hanauma Bay when we visited our friends there. I remember it was starting to get busy when we moved, and they were first instituting a fee, but they had some kind of kama'aina rate or it was free or something. And they still let you walk to the Toilet Bowl (where I managed to split my chin open just before we moved).

Tourism is going to happen in Hawaii - it's a vital part of the economy. But there's a difference between respecting the place you're visitng, and treating it like your own backyard.

(Aw, man, now I really want to have a teriyaki chicken plate lunch. And I'm getting all misty-memory-laney - and apparently making up words while I'm at it. :P)

Ugh! Mililani. Don't get me started on that place. It's complete genericsville now... not that it wasn't before but it SERIOUSLY is now. They're starting to make the west side like that now with Kapolei, Kunia and Ewa Beach. There's a HUGE Wal-Mart in Pearl City now... HUGE! They put it behind the post office which is smart cos you know there's NO traffic over there... *eyeroll*

Yeah, they blocked of blow hole after that guy got sucked in and died. Cos he 'wanted to see it'. I think because ppl pay SO MUCH to come here from all over the place they feel they have the right to do 'what they want' cos they 'paid for it'. However, there is still a level of decorum you'd expect folk to have.

Funny, I'm plate lunched out. Too much rice, noddles and chicken. NO THANK YOU. I'm gonna go for a burger and some fries. Or pasta... hmmmm... I'll have a plate for you on Friday. YAY!

Heh - I'll never again be plate lunched out - probably because it's nearly impossible to find white rice anywhere but at Chinese restaurants over here. And to get macaroni salad with it? Impossible! I remember what a shock it was when we first moved back to the mainland and my parents had to explain to me that I couldn't get rice instead of fries with my meal. And that people wouldn't know what I was asking for if I asked for shoyu and not soy sauce.

(Strange that so many of my memories involve food. Well, that and watching the stupid people who insisted on standing on the edge where the lava went into the ocean, despite all the posted signs and verbal warnings about the danger.)

LOL! I KNOW. Hawaiian diet is like 3 starches and 2 meats all eaten with a spoon from a bowl. I don't understand the fork and plate concept. Oh, and the Chinese restaurants in the mainland don't have the hot mustard. And their rice don't taste too good either. EW! And there's no fruit punch in the McDonald's, Wendy's, BK, Jack's and all them other fast food places.

Some ppl are just born stoopid. But the food is where everyone gathers so there's always a good memory.

DAMN RIGHT.

I get the impression from the article that the author in question is a real ass. Very full of himself. Forgetting about the letter? Bragging about secrets he revealed? Shoving the blame off on everyone else? Sounds like a real piece of work.

He comes across as a superb ass. Very cocky and all: "This is my living. It's what I do. I'm not the first to do so." Uh, yeah. But you ARE the first to encourage danger. Dumbass.

If I make a living as a hitman, does that make it right?

Only if your name is Leon. And you're the bodyguard for a little girl named Mahtilda.

*over my head* :P

From the movie with Jean Reno and Natalie Portman. Leon: The Professional. Pretty good movie if I do say so meself.

Ah! I've never heard of that one before!

Go watch it. It's good. Kinda gory though and Gary Oldman is a TRIP in that movie. You'll love his psychosis.

I'll have to add it to my Netflix list. :D