It is always a thrilling experience to go back to one’s hometown, where one has spent most of his or her childhood and where his/her most cherished memories can be traced back to. One is shocked, astonished, and at times perplexed to see how things have changed in the meantime. One is likely to undergo mixed feelings of nostalgia for the things he/she misses; on the other hand, happiness and wonder reign his/her mind when he/she sees the development and changes his/her home town has subjected itself to. Hawaii is such a place that has maintained many of its characteristics but has changed a lot in its appearance in the last ten years. The tourist industry has flourished, and it has resulted in an increased number of resorts, hotels, and other tourist lodges, and this has brought about a change in people’s lifestyle too.
Anyone would be proud to be born in Hawaii as the place that offered the world’s most beautiful sites and scope for entertainment. Tourists have been attracted to the Hawaiian island even in the olden days. One could see the beautiful beaches, live volcanoes, museums, bays, and many other historical sites on the islands. The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, Virtual Web Art Museum, Waikiki beach, Kaena Point State Park, Sandy Beach, Paper Airline Museum, Kaanapali beach, Havana Bay, Hamoa bay, Kaheluli Beach Park Museum are some of the attractions on the island. Even though these places lure tourists today, anyone who has lived there for ten years can notice many changes in the surroundings and atmosphere. The island remained calm and serene with its natural beauty, and there weren’t many resorts, hotels, or huge buildings in the former days. But the ten years have reshaped the whole island, and its natural beauty and serenity have been enhanced by human endeavors to provide the best facility and recreational opportunities to the ever-increasing number of visitors who come there. The natural surroundings of the beaches were cleared, and various tourist guiding centers, gigantic hotels, and resorts have been built. The number of tourists also has increased considerably, turning the peaceful atmosphere which one could enjoy before ten years into one that borders on chaos and overcrowding. No doubt, the tourist industry has boosted the economy, but anyone who has lived in the earlier state of the island wouldn’t be happy with this.
One also feels nostalgia for some of the beautiful spots which have ceased to exist. Ten years ago, anyone could be attracted by the Honolulu, Hawaii- pineapple Water Tower, but a second visit would disappoint him as he would find the Pineapple replica Water Tower being torn down. In the same way, for the most part, the natural surroundings of the beaches had now become commercial centers to assist the tourists who would also leave gloom in the mind of a person who had experienced its original feel when he stayed there before. One could also find that even though efforts were made to develop all these Hawaiian islands into tourist centers, the transport facility, the traffic system, and the educational system of Hawaii remained the same, causing a lot of imbalances in the developmental process. During the gap of ten years, many projects were set up, but neglect to transport facilities have resulted in increased traffic congestion. For example, the H-I Freeway, the travel corridor from Waianae to Hawaii kai, is used by almost 2,30,000 people every day, and anyone can see that this is a hectic experience. In the same way, before 10 years, it took only 15 minutes to travel from the rural town of Pa’ ca to Maui, but today this eight miles ride takes almost an hour. Thus, the imbalanced development adds to the difficulty of both the tourists as well as the native people. In the same way, one could also notice that the educational facilities have not also copped up with the total change. Over these years, there have been no prospects for higher education for the people in Hawaii. Thus, the lifestyle of people is centered on the tourism industry, whereas it was not so much dependent on it before ten years.
Thus, one always tends to make conclusions regarding the changes that take place in his/her home town when he/she visits it for a second time. Coming back to Hawaii after ten years would be like making a pilgrimage to one of the holy lands. Even though one would find a lot of developmental projects, he/she would feel that something was missing in the land and remain alienated from the land as it was occupied by the tourists most of the time. The private moments that one could share are no longer possible now; it remains only as a dream. Still, the pleasant breeze, occasional rainfall, the crystal clear waters, majestic turtles, and the Hawaiian butterflies convinced one that he/she is back in the haven.