The Garden Island

This mosaic mural on the side wall of the canoe club bldg. at Nawiliwili Harbor represents Queen Liliuokalani's reception to the island of Kauai in 1891. She was overwhelmed by the warm welcome that included many lighted torches and throngs of islanders cheering her.

For such a small island, Kauai offers so much, not the least of which is its sheer magical beauty. No wonder so many films over the years have been made here, and no wonder more and more people are coming to visit, and so many stay.

Today The Garden Island daily newspaper (tgi) reported that the number of airline flights to Kauai in 2018 has increased by more than 42-percent, Many of these flights are direct from major U.S. cities. Economically it may sound good, but the local tourist bureau and many local businesses do not view this as a positive thing. This will increase car rentals and traffic on the few roads here.  The impact will negatively effect the small, already crowded island in many ways.

Celebrities and world travelers have discovered the Garden Island and bought up key viewpoints and acreages. These include  Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who purchased 400 acres a couple years ago on the northwest side and put a rock wall around it. Locals are curious: what's he going to do? Build? Property values are on an upward trajectory.

The state visitors council will be holding meetings in October, on Oahu, to discuss the future of the islands and their capacity for tourism. As the smallest and oldest of the primary islands, Kauai is most threatened.

I was fortunate to have visited Kauai in 1968 before the huge developments, when there was one traffic signal on the island. Even today, the community vibe is still alive. "Living here is like living in a third world country," says one woman who moved here from the mainland 15 years ago.

Things are done on Hawaiian time, which basically means "go with flow." Priorities are not so much about getting things done as going to the beach to cool off, or watching the sun rise and set, or ensuring that you are eating healthy organic food.

I feel somewhat guilty being another haole on the island, one more body, one more car on the road. We are just visitors at this point. And living in the once-small beach community of Santa Cruz, Calif. for the past forty years we understand how impacted such places can become with the changing world. We also have learned to live frugally without many of the popular "necessities." Ride a bike instead of drive your car. Watch the sunset instead of TV. Learn to play a musical instrument. The list goes on.