Unsolicited Advice: Kamaaina Tours

Wouldn’t it be great if there were kamaaina versions of the tours themselves?

Had a terrific time on a recent trip to Kauai, where we did the full-on “local tourist” thing: Fern Grotto, Hanalei, Waimea Canyon. Enjoyed some kamaaina discounts along the way, too—but, we wondered, wouldn’t it be great if there were kama‘āina versions of the tours themselves? That way, locals on both sides of the experience—guides and tourists alike—could drop the Aloooooooha! salutations, the goofy hukilau hula lessons, the descriptions of poi that assume we wouldn’t like the stuff, etc. Let’s just get past all that stuff and be real with each other. Guides, put down the uke, we don’t need to hear “The Hawaiian Wedding Song” or that Elvis Presley once filmed here. No worry, beef curry, you’re with family. Now, tell what’s really cool about these places!