Comments on: Saturday Night Live-Did They Go Too Far?

By: Ms. Sumida

Ms. Sumida — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:16:24 +0000

Heh Dane Ku, mahalo for linking the video on your post! I had not seen the 4 minute clip so appreciated the fact that you placed it right at my fingertips.

I enjoyed reading your class reactions. Some of you are circulating around the important issues of why Hawaii is so dependent upon tourism but I think the bigger issue is HOW CAN WE CHANGE THIS?? In the past, Hawaii was never dependent upon tourism or even OIL for that matter! We had a totally sustainable and thriving island ecosystem.

I enjoyed our discussion on Thursday morning with all of you. Remember I asked, Where is the Joseph Nawahi in you? How can you and others become effective agents of change for Hawaii? If no one does anything to change the status quo, your own sons and daughters will grow up to do the same things the SNL skit makes fun of. Is that what you want?

By: Suzy

Suzy — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:45:22 +0000

I think people are taking the skit way too serious. For years Hawaii has had a pristine image as a paradise. Just like many other islands outside of the Pacific there is a brutal truth that everything is not surfing and mai tais. Theres drug problems, poverty, etc. As someone who works in the industry the getting “lei’d” joke is heard daily and to hear someone make fun of it is pure comedy. I think SNL has many other skits that are a lot more controversial. Im almost positive that Ive struck an ignorant stereotype when travelling myself. So lets lighten up and laugh a little.

By: Wilson

Wilson — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:19:11 +0000

It was funny and beat some of my favorite YouTube videos because of the act. It was funny for everybody except the Lieutenant Governor and the tourist industry. They have to loosen up. Some of it is the truth, there are many Hawaiians that are homeless, sick, or dropped-out from some schools.

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:09:40 +0000

Hawaii is not only about tourists. You need to have a little fun. Right?

By: Keoni

Keoni — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:07:55 +0000

What I think about this act is that it wasn’t that bad, they do have to weird things like dance like a monkey, but we wouldn’t actually tell the customers the things the skit people told the other people. I also wouldn’t think that the skit would scare away people, i think it would more of attract them here because that skit shows that we have a sense of humor which you can a little of. I don’t know why the tourist guys think it would drive away tourists. They also don’t think about the hawaiians. You know what really gets the people to come here? The culture. It’s unique. Thats what it makes it good! Without our culture, Hawaii would be just like any other state. I think Saturday Night Live went a little too far.

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:06:38 +0000

I thought that the skit Saturday Night Live did was actually funny. I think that the goverment only cares about money. Since tourism is a big part of the money Hawai’i gets, they care abou what will affect tourism. The goverment probally thinks that it was offensive to Hawaii. But they are wrong. I thought it was funny and it was not offfensive to me. They told the truth.

By: Keale

Keale — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:22:11 +0000

In my opinion, I think that the four minute skit on Saturday Night Live was very offensive to the Hawaiian people and Hawaiian culture. Although most of the things they said were true, it is an insult to the state of Hawaii. But, I think Duke Aiona went overboard saying it might hurt our tourist business and economy.

Besides, I think the skit from Saturday Night Live would attract more tourists because that skit was way above H I L A R I O U S ! I think Duke Iona is just being a little weird being so sensitive. Well, let’s just see what happens.

By: Kanoa

Kanoa — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:59:14 +0000

I thought the Hawaiian hotel skit was hilarious! But it was pretty insulting to tourists because in one part, the Rock said to a tourist that they call people like them garbage. But to kids, and I am pretty sure to some parents from Hawaii and tourists, it was funny. I can kind of understand what Duke Iona is saying that it was sort of an insult to Hawaii but I think Duke Iona is overreacting about a funny skit on SNL.

By: Taylor

Taylor — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:53:06 +0000

This was the first time I ever watched Saturday Night Live before and it was hysterical. I don’t know how you couldn’t think this four minute skit was funny especially with The Rock in it. People think about the tourists. I mean is that the only thing that Duke Aiona can think of. I bet that Duke Aiona doesn’t want to show that skit on T.V. because then he might think that tourist aren’t going to come to Hawai`i.

What I am trying to say is that Duke Aiona doesn’t like that skit just because it won’t attract tourist. I mean there is more to Hawai‘i than just tourists! First, it was Duke Aiona’s partner Governor Linda Lingle with the ceded lands, now it’s Duke Aiona and Governor Linda Lingle with a Saturday Night Live skit.

Isn’t it so weird how all these things connect to Hawaiians. An example is the ceded lands which is supposed to be the Hawaiian’s land. Now there is a skit about Hawai`i and what it is like. Isn’t that just strange!

By: kyla

kyla — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:37:45 +0000

The first time I saw this, I thought, whoa that is hilarious! But then, I thought about all the people who hate Hawaii because of how the locals treat Tourists. This video portrays that all Hawaiians are like that when we’re not. What if tourists stopped coming? Tourism is the #1 economy boost in our islands. Think about all the hotel workers. They would lose their jobs. All the maids, room servers, cooks, bellhops, they would all be searching for jobs. Also, in my dad’s property, most of the people there work in hotels or restaurants. How are they supposed to pay their rent?

My point is, it IS funny, but you have to look at the big picture. It is cool if you enjoy this, but I think we need to look at the aftereffects.