Who's To Blame? --Mini Essay

Each year, thousands of visitors from across the world come to Hawaii, eager to find an exhilarating adventure in paradise.  However, their lack of knowledge, desire for adventure, as well as their inability to act in a safe, calm, and controlled manner, has resulted in many fatalities across Hawaii’s rocky shorelines and many of nature’s other pleasures.  This has further resulted in our state having to pay million-dollar settlements to victims and their family members for deaths and injuries that they should not be held liable for.  Visitors should be found at fault for not being conscious of the risks they face when entering the beautiful lands of Hawaii.

             When U.S. citizens are granted the right to vote, they also should take responsibility and be informed so they can make a conscious and correct decision.  Therefore, just as a voter should be informed, someone foreign to our land should take responsibility and only look for attractions approved and acknowledged by the state of Hawaii.  For example, in the case of Paula Ramirez and Elizabeth Brem of California who went on a private, unofficial trail and walked off a steep cliff and died, the state should not have been held responsible, because the trail was not listed under any state sponsored website.  Another resident of California, Daniel Dick, could have easily prevented his death.  He was seen straddling the explosive waterspout at the Halona Blowhole.  If he had researched his plans for the day, he would be able to see that the waterspout was not the newest playground.  These people are considered adults, and therefore, should be knowledgeable enough to get informed, and make responsible choices for their activities. 

            I also believe that the government has put up an acceptable amount of signs across Hawaii’s more dangerous sites.  After that, there’s not much that they can do to make people use their common sense and take precautions as stated by the signs.  Tragically, David Potts, of California, was not one who made the right decision.  Despite a sign warning of the blowhole, Potts was dancing around the blowhole when a wave struck him and he was lost in the hole.  The area was not promoted as an attraction by Maui, and tourists continued to gather around the site, even after being told that someone disappeared a few days ago.  If warnings, signs, and a true story of disaster can’t stop the tourists from seeking a thrill, what will?

            Incidences have shown that for some tourists, the warning signs aren’t enough.  Tourists aren’t taking enough responsibility.  By visiting a foreign place, they are taking life-threatening risks by not being informed, and putting a good adventure over their safety.  The state recognizes a fun, exciting, and safe attraction, and let’s our visitors know through the Internet, travel books, and other resources, and should not be held liable for those who ignore them.