Who would want to visit Waikiki?
When a “tourist destination” can’t offer the most basic elements that make it an attractive place to visit, it has become dysfunctional. Welcome to Waikiki. Why are street performers who dress up in metal foil and scare unsuspecting tourists by pounding on drums part of our Hawaii experience? A walk down Kalakaua would convince even the most desperate tourist that he has come to the wrong place to relax and smell the ocean air, or walk barefooted through our sandy beaches (oops, watch out for the cigarette butt!). We have allowed Waikiki to become disgusting sideshows full of mainland drop-outs and welfare leeches. Photos of abused birds for $10-$15 each, with a demand for a tip, is not my idea of a visit with nature. Our zoo is a mess, our hotels are losing their ratings, and the tour buses sit in smog-filled streets full of disappointed tourists. Mike Reilly Kaneohe Discourtesy and danger rule the road This letter is to voice my disappointment over the loss of aloha when it comes to
