Westernization of Hawaii: Tourism

      Roughly 1,500 ago with only the stars the stars to guide them, Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands first set foot on the Island of Hawaii. Soon after, settlers from Tahiti arrived. In 1778, Captain James Cook landed on Hawaii and from that point on Westerners began coming almost endlessly. In 1893, American Colonists illegally overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom and in 1959 "The Aloha State" became the 50th state in the US. From that point on Hawaii began attracting tourists from all over the world with its magnificent sights and culture. Now the amount of foreigners are overpopulating the Native Hawaiians. With that, the first experiences of Western contact created the tourism industry in Hawaii.

      Tourism is the largest single source of private capital in Hawaii. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, 8,028,744 visitors came to Hawaii in 2012. That is an overwhelming amount for our small island. It's a no-brainer that the population of pure Hawaiians are becoming extinct because of the exposure of Western contact. The Hawaii Tourism Authority also states that in 2012 the total visitor expenditure added up to $14.4 billion. That is 18.1% more than it was in 2011. It's amazing how much our tourism industry has grown throughout the years. It has created a major impact in our social, political, and economic life. Western contact has been bringing more and more tourists and has contributed to its economic success. 

      Over the years, Hawaii has been depending on the tourism industry. It provides a quarter of the labor force on the entire island. Now it's not only Hawaii that depends on tourism, but the workers too. If the popularity of tourism begins to decline, so will their income. It is a $10 billion sector of the state economy and has contributed $232 million in tax. Without tourism, the conomy would struggle greatly. Tourism has been a dependable and reliable source for everyone on the island.
      The islands became known as "The Paradise of the Pacific." People became motivated to see the beautiful sights before they vanish forever. Hawaii's scenery is very memorable whether you live on the island or if you're just visiting. It's the perfect place to spend your summer vacation or honeymoon. Many tourists come to experience our very unique culture. That's a good feature of our tourism industry. They will become more informed about our land and history. Soon everyone will have more respect towards Native Hawaiians. Hawaii's landscapes and culture has brought people from all around the world.
     Tourism is the biggest and most profitable industry in Hawaii. Westernization has created the
tourism industry in Hawaii to thrive throughout the years. It has become a dependable source for the
 economy and for ourselves. Let's hope that it will continue to be successful for the years to come so that we can continue to spread aloha all over the world.