Home

RSVP

Wedding Events

Ethically Visiting Hawaiʻi

Accommodations & Travel to/in Hawaiʻi

Registry

Things To Do (not in Waikiki!)

FAQs

Libre Baskerville

Reylight

Augusta

Jennalynn-Ann & Aleksander

How can I visit Hawaiʻi ethically?

It’s impossible to give a straightforward yes or no answer.

For those who may not know, Hawaiʻi used to be an independent sovereign nation recognized by Great Britain and France. Our Queen and Hawaiian government was overthrown in 1893 in a coup d'état of American Businessmen led by Sandford B. Dole (yes, of the Dole pineapple company) backed by the U.S. military. A completely illegal act that has still yet to be reconciled. For more information on this, I would encourage you to research via Hawaiian-focused resources.

All that said, Native Hawaiians have a very complicated relationship with the United States. Many Native Hawaiians, including Jenna, do not consider themselves to be of American nationality. Millions of people visit Hawaiʻi without understanding this complicated history and never quite realize their impact on our small islands. 

Here is a video made by a Native Hawaiian woman who briefly summarizes how to ethically visit Hawaiʻi.

Gallery