MAUI: Residents ‘take back the beach’ over frustrations with tourism South Maui rep to hold talk today with hotel official, rally organizer
WAILEA — Demonstrators gathered peacefully on Wailea Beach on Saturday to send a message to government and tourism officials that tourism management is sorely needed.
“Hotels and activity companies have been profiting from selling space on our beaches with no compensation to the county and state, no limits to the amount of equipment used and are taking over our beaches,” community activist Kai Nishiki said leading up to the “Take Back the Beach” event.
The rally drew scores of residents, along with Maui Police Department and state Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel, from 7 a.m. until sundown Saturday.
