What do you think?
Rate this book
Surviving Paradise
True Life and Death Stories of Hawaii's Hidden Dangers-with Advice From Rescue Experts on How to Enjoy the Islands Safely.
350 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2006
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 9, 2023
First off, let me say that the people who gave me one stars is because they don't like me to warn people of the danger that some guidebooks lure visitors into.
For example, as in this case of getting into trouble in Queen's Bath in Kauai. They should pay a rescue charge.
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
=====
How Colonialism Contributed to the Maui Wildfires
https://www.motherjones.com/environme...
========
New insights on drownings while snorkeling.....
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
==============
Update on helicopter crashes. Safety measures have not been implemented.....
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
============
Researchers have warned that selfie-related deaths have become "a major public health problem." According to a study published in October in the Journal of Travel Medicine, 379 people died while taking selfies from January 2008 to July 2021. Deaths have occurred after people have tried to snap photos near dangerous animals, in front of waterfalls and while wielding dangerous weapons.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/A...
-------------
Trouble in paradise....
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
============
Update on Hawaii drownings...
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
-------------------------
Two particular issues to pay most attention to if you visit Hawaii.
It's the drowning capital of the U.S. Some of the most dangerous conditions are on Kauai, but the state of Hawaii budgets zero for lifeguards for the beaches there. There have been numerous drownings in north Kauai during the winter when large swells and waves roll in from the Gulf of Alaska. Meanwhile, on Oahu and Maui, they will rent snorkeling gear to anyone, often to people who have little or no swimming skills. Even those with experience sometimes are not aware that conditions can change suddenly, such as the development of rip currents at high tide.
Helicopter tours are not safe. There were two more fatal crashes, killing tourists, this year (2019) and a total of 18 crashes involving civilians in the last five years alone. Meanwhile, there was a total of 60 fatal crashes in 30 years into 2011.
As the old adage goes: follow the money. Hawaii is utterly dependent on the tourist economy these days. (There's no more agricultural economy to speak of and the military presence on the islands has been greatly reduced). The Tourism Board is reluctant to share safety information of any kind so as not to scare people off. But this is not Disneyland.
The helicopter flights are very expensive and have increased in volume,. The state collects taxes on these, as well as licensing fees. The FAA was supposed to tighten safety standards years ago, but has failed to do so. Some of these helicopter outfits should be out of business. But even the highly certified have had fatal crashes. There's pressure to take flight, even if weather conditions are bad.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/12...
For example, as in this case of getting into trouble in Queen's Bath in Kauai. They should pay a rescue charge.
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
=====
How Colonialism Contributed to the Maui Wildfires
https://www.motherjones.com/environme...
========
New insights on drownings while snorkeling.....
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
==============
Update on helicopter crashes. Safety measures have not been implemented.....
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
============
Researchers have warned that selfie-related deaths have become "a major public health problem." According to a study published in October in the Journal of Travel Medicine, 379 people died while taking selfies from January 2008 to July 2021. Deaths have occurred after people have tried to snap photos near dangerous animals, in front of waterfalls and while wielding dangerous weapons.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/A...
-------------
Trouble in paradise....
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
============
Update on Hawaii drownings...
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article...
-------------------------
Two particular issues to pay most attention to if you visit Hawaii.
It's the drowning capital of the U.S. Some of the most dangerous conditions are on Kauai, but the state of Hawaii budgets zero for lifeguards for the beaches there. There have been numerous drownings in north Kauai during the winter when large swells and waves roll in from the Gulf of Alaska. Meanwhile, on Oahu and Maui, they will rent snorkeling gear to anyone, often to people who have little or no swimming skills. Even those with experience sometimes are not aware that conditions can change suddenly, such as the development of rip currents at high tide.
Helicopter tours are not safe. There were two more fatal crashes, killing tourists, this year (2019) and a total of 18 crashes involving civilians in the last five years alone. Meanwhile, there was a total of 60 fatal crashes in 30 years into 2011.
As the old adage goes: follow the money. Hawaii is utterly dependent on the tourist economy these days. (There's no more agricultural economy to speak of and the military presence on the islands has been greatly reduced). The Tourism Board is reluctant to share safety information of any kind so as not to scare people off. But this is not Disneyland.
The helicopter flights are very expensive and have increased in volume,. The state collects taxes on these, as well as licensing fees. The FAA was supposed to tighten safety standards years ago, but has failed to do so. Some of these helicopter outfits should be out of business. But even the highly certified have had fatal crashes. There's pressure to take flight, even if weather conditions are bad.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/12...
Displaying 1 of 1 review