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Olivia Rodrigo criticized for vacationing in Hawaii and promoting it on social media amid push to reduce over-tourism on islands

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Olivia Rodrigo criticized for vacationing in Hawaii and promoting it on social media amid push to reduce over-tourism on islands


Olivia Rodrigo finds herself caught in the middle of the anti-tourism movement in Hawaii.

Following her ‘vacay dumpppp’ of photos and a video on her Instagram on Wednesday, some people have criticized the singer-songwriter for promoting her stay in Hawaii at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.

While most people took to the comments section and shared their love and support for Rodrigo and her music, there were some who reiterated the calls of some locals in recent years to get people to stop visiting the islands.

‘Stop vacationing in Hawaii’ and ‘how do people not know not to travel to Hawaii?’ summed up what many in the anti-tourism movement were thinking when they confronted Rodrigo on social media.

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Native Hawaiians and other residents have had valid concerns about the impact of over-tourism, especially in recent years, being that the islands are a popular destination for vacationers.

Backlash: Olivia Rodrigo, 20, is facing criticism for taking a vacation in Hawaii and promoting it on social media, amid the effort to reduce over-tourism on the islands

Situated about 2,000 miles from the U.S. mainland in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, and its eight main islands, is the only U.S. state outside of North America. 

Since statehood in 1959, tourism has exploded on the islands. As a result, the cost of real estate has soared, leaving many properties affordable to developers and the rich and wealthy, which includes celebrities, who buy second homes that largely sit empty for much of the year.

All of this has also pushed Hawaii’s cost of living to among the highest in the U.S.

Over the years, many native Hawaiians have been pushed out of their homeland, where their ancestors lived for some 3,000 years, all while being significantly overrepresented in the homeless population, according to Buzz Feed.

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Those who support the anti-tourism movement can point to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence to their claims about the impact of over-tourism on Hawaii’s environment.

The reduction of visitors in 2020, amid the coronavirus crisis, allowed the state’s natural resources, such as beaches and coral reefs, to recover from the impacts of the steady influx of people on the islands, according to Tai Swim.

Plus, its believed that most Native Hawaiians and residents living on the islands don’t benefit from all the tourism. 

One person who criticized Rodrigo maintained it was ‘very unethical’ to promote tourism to Hawaii.

Fun in the sun: The singer-songwriter heard it from naysayers after making a 'vacay dumpppp' on her Instagram on Wednesday, where she promoted her stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Fun in the sun: The singer-songwriter heard it from naysayers after making a ‘vacay dumpppp’ on her Instagram on Wednesday, where she promoted her stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

The California native can be seen posing for photos all around the islands

The California native can be seen posing for photos all around the islands

Rallying calls: 'Stop vacationing in Hawaii 'and 'how do people not know not to travel to Hawaii?' are some of the comments she's faced from the anti-tourism movement

Rallying calls: ‘Stop vacationing in Hawaii ‘and ‘how do people not know not to travel to Hawaii?’ are some of the comments she’s faced from the anti-tourism movement

‘I mean no disrespect to her but can celebrities please stop going and promoting going to Hawaii?’ the user wrote, adding, ‘The people living there don’t benefit from the tourism and it is very unethical considering the damage tourist do to the environment and just not respecting the culture and Island.’

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Another naysayer wondered how travelers could continue visiting the islands after Native Hawaiians have repeatedly asked them to stop coming.

‘How are people still going there after the people that lived there begged y’all to stop,’ the tweet read.

Some people wondered if most visitors and promoters of Hawaiian tourism aren’t aware of the issue, while also citing the struggles of island locals.

‘I guess celebrities don’t read the local’s requests, that people should NOT travel there. they are already struggling, pls don’t travel to Hawaii,’ someone else shared on Twitter.

Native Hawaiians and other residents have had valid concerns about the impact of over-tourism, especially in recent years, being that the islands are a popular destination for vacationers

Native Hawaiians and other residents have had valid concerns about the impact of over-tourism, especially in recent years, being that the islands are a popular destination for vacationers

Those who support the anti-tourism movement can point to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence to their claims

Those who support the anti-tourism movement can point to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence to their claims

New music: Rodrigo is poised to drop her second studio album on September 23

New music: Rodrigo is poised to drop her second studio album on September 23

So far, Rodrigo has not directly responded to the criticism over her promotion of tourism in 

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The Murrieta, California native first gained recognition in the late 2010s with her lead roles on the Disney television series Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

After signing a record deal in 2020, she saw her debut single Drivers License become one of the best-selling songs of 2021.

She has since earned critical and commercial success with her debut studio album Sour (2021) and the single Vampire, which shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, ahead of the release of her follow-up album Guts (2023), which is set to drop on September 23.



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Dead body found in wheel well of Chicago to Hawaii jet – DW – 12/26/2024

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Dead body found in wheel well of Chicago to Hawaii jet – DW – 12/26/2024


Police on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday said they were investigating the discovery of a dead body in the wheel well of a United Airlines jet that arrived from Chicago.

Flight operator United Airlines said the area of the Boeing 787-10 was only accessible from the outside of the aircraft, adding that it was unclear how the deceased individual had gained access.

What we know so far

The body was found in one of the compartments housing the airplane’s landing gear after United Flight 202 from Chicago O’Hare International Airport landed at Kahului Airport.

“The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft. At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well,” the airline said.

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The Maui Police Department said it was “actively investigating” the grim discovery, but shared no further information.

Stowaways sometimes hide in the unpressurized wheel-houses of planes, or inside cargo holds, and can face temperatures of between minus 50 degrees and minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 58 and minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit).

They also face the problem of a lack of oxygen when the plane is at altitude. The fatality rate is high for most of those who hide in wheel wells, but some people survive the journey.

Last year, a stowaway was discovered in the undercarriage bay of an Algerian carrier’s aircraft in Paris.

A person was also discovered alive in the wheel section of a Cargolux freight plane at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, which had traveled from South Africa via Kenya.

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rc/rm (AP, Reuters)



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With jolly festivities in full swing, how are you celebrating the holidays? Share your photos!

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With jolly festivities in full swing, how are you celebrating the holidays? Share your photos!


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With family and friends celebrating the holidays, Hawaii News Now wants to see how you are making the most of the jolly festivities.

From house decorations and shining lights to unwrapping presents and spending time with loved ones, share your photos by submitting them below!



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Plane crash under investigation on Hawaii Island

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Plane crash under investigation on Hawaii Island


WAIMEA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Federal investigators are looking into what caused a plane to crash on Hawaii Island Monday.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirms it is looking into what caused a Cessna to go down at Parker Ranch in Waimea shortly before noon.

Investigators said preliminary information indicated the plane experienced a loss of engine power.

A witness said two people walked away from the aircraft on their own. No one was hurt.

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