Hawaii boycott? ‘We’re not coming to a place that’s having an Islam Day’
Visitor numbers to the islands have been worryingly on the wane for a while, and now Hawaii tourism officials have another matter in front of them — and this one is political and then some. Following the state Senate’s recent approval of a bill to mark Sept. 24, 2009, as Islam Day, dissenters seem to be hoping for a boycott of the state to take shape.
As reported in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
Gov. Linda Lingle told a radio interviewer that her office had received “a lot of angry calls from the mainland saying, ‘We’re not coming to a place that’s having an Islam Day.’”
“Here we are, in a very difficult economy, and it was just unnecessary,” said Lingle, who had no authority over the resolution. “It didn’t make any sense. You know it’s going to get this kind of attention.”
As of yesterday [May 14] the Hawaii Tourism Authority had received 14 e-mails and one phone call protesting the resolution. “Hawaii has always been known to be a tolerant and respectful place,” said Mike McCartney, HTA president, adding that his agency has no position on the resolution.
An Internet search on the general topic will bring up all kinds of reactions, particularly from publications on the U.S. mainland, and since this isn’t a political blog, I won’t go into the varying nods of support and dissent.
But about a possible tourist-driven boycott, I’m not seeing evidence of anything really organized online, though certainly some perturbed forum posters seem to be hoping for viral momentum. As for visitors and would-be visitors who are pleased by the bill approval, that would be even harder to measure, but I’m guessing that state officials would welcome a shaka or two at this point to balance out the protests.
- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times
10 Comments on “Hawaii boycott? ‘We’re not coming to a place that’s having an Islam Day’”
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May 16th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Yes, Hawaii is a tolerant and peaceful place. Unfortunately the rest of the US isn’t… I say keep it. Tourists will still come because it’s HAWAII. LOL The only other options are Alaska, Mexico, and Caribbean and they wont go to them either. LOL
May 17th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
It only shows ignorence of some people. This world will not go forword with view like this.
Great things are only done by people looking for change.
May 18th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
unfortunately when one reads the actual bill, or reads the Quran for that matter, it becomes clear that Islam is not tolerant…
and that Sep 24 happens to be Sep 11, ie 9/11, on the Julian calendar is no coincidence; in fact that date was specifically chosen by the Islamists who wrote the bill and changed the date just before it was reviewed and passed
that type of stealth bigotry and intolerance is why this is not viewed as a favorable event…
not to mention that less than 1% of the population is Muslim, and the only Muslim group on the island is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organization that vows to destroy America from the inside…
connect the dots folks - research who is behind this effort; the politicians are just pawns being used and abused - at least some were brave enough to voice dissent from those who seek our destruction
May 20th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
From Hawaii to Mainland: Please keep your ignorant racists at home. We have plenty of our own here and are happy to pass on their dollars to avoid whatever toxicity they will be spewing out. Any person that would not come to Hawaii because of a bill that recognizes diversity doesn’t belong here anyway. American’s treated the Japanese in Hawaii like this during the 1940’s despite their patriotism and commitment to this country. Some things (and some people) never change….
May 20th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
LoL Maria. Your comments stinks of Islamophobia to high heavens.
Keep your Julian calendar conspiracy theory crap to yourself.
Islam day was done to honor a constituent’s request as an opportunity for his fellow Hawaiians to better learn about his inherently peaceful faith.
But to accuse the Sen. Berg (a woman who sponsored the bill) as an Islamist reminds me of the intolerance and downright ignorance of those bigots during the Presidential campaign calling Obama a “secret Muslim” and the “anti-Christ.”
May 20th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Also, someone needs to remind her, that young Americans servicemen and women are dying in Iraq to defend and protect its Sharia’ Constitution and the safety of its Muslim citizenry, so honoring the Muslim people’s most precious identity, i.e. Islam is the best way to win over their hearts and minds without spending a penny. Duh!
May 24th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Peace unto all. I lived in Hawaii from 1994 to 2006. I initially moved there while I was serving Active Duty in the US Army as a Parachute Rigger. I know the Muslim community very well. There is no Muslim Brotherhood there. The community is the most pacifist community I have ever been. They are very complacent and just happy to go to the Masjid and make their prayers. In some cases, the grandchildren of the first Muslims who came to Hawaii are graduating high school now, that’s how embedded the community is there.
This only goes to show you that there are still pockets of hate and bigotry. Keep up the spirit of Aloha and may God Bless and Guide us All. Ameen.
May 27th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
This is only going to bring alot of loss to their region,before bringing Islam they need to focus more on the creator of our world.Jesus CHRIST
May 30th, 2009 at 4:26 am
well i for one will not be returning to hawaii, islam is a fascist violent intolerant religion that gives little regard to women and non muslims. if hawaii will tolerate an intolerant violent religion than i will not tolerate hawaii. there are other vacations spots to go to.
June 21st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Well then, let’s inaugurate “Buddhist Day” and “Christian Day” and “Mormon Day” and “Jehovah Witness Day” and “Star Trek Day” too!