Hawaii News Blogs

Molokai Protests Safari Cruises

American Safari Cruises (ASC) began offering cultural tours of Molokai with the Safari Explorer cruise yacht docking at Kaunakakai Harbor on Oct. 30. On the last visits on Nov. 26 & 27 the Safari Explorer was blocked by protesters on small vessels and surfboards who prevented the boat from entering Molokai's Kaunakakai harbor.

On November 30 Molokai community leaders gathered at the Mitchell Pau'ole Center to voice their concerns of the tourism's impact on the native Molokai culture and infrastructure. Also for not notifying the local communities affected and never properly asking permission from the Aha Kiole. (The Aha Kiole Advisory Committee was established in 2007 by the Hawai’i State Legislature to create a system of resource management that is based upon indigenous Hawaiian practices.)

Principal and CEO of ASC, Dan Blanchard, presented his proposal to offer "green, eco-friendly" tours of no more than 36 people. The visitors will be escorted by locals and all services and food products will be provided by local businesses. “It is our intention to find a workable solution to this situation. We are working with members of the community to further this goal. In this effort, we have elected to postpone the Safari Explorer’s arrival in Molokai. The yacht will not visit this Friday and Saturday as planned. We are committed to further dialogue and will respectfully work with leaders in the community.”

After more than four hours of often heated and passionate testimony from 40 individuals, the Molokai community is not any closer to either accepting or rejecting American Safari Cruises from coming ashore.

Tags: Molokai, American Safari Cruises, Kaunakakai Harbor, Hawaii Culture, Hawaii Cruise