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“Everything that happens to Hawaii is because of the government,” Chevy Wagner said. “We think of the government as, I hate to say it, but it’s like our opposing enemy.” 

Chevy Wagner-Chun, a senior Kinesiology and Health Promotion major at Grand View University, was born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, or as Wagner describes it, “a walking paradise.” 

But even paradise faces problems. Mainly, the fires that ravaged Maui throughout early August, causing major damage, both physical and emotional, and permanently altering historic towns such as Lahaina. 

“The fires impacted my dad’s cousin who lived in Maui and my cousins. Gladly they’re all safe and they were able to get out fast enough,” Wagner said. “All these people lost their homes, lost people, lost pets, lost their food, their clothes, everything that they had.” 

There is no denying the tragedy that occurred in Maui. But some would say the bigger tragedy is the aftermath of the fires, where limited action by the government and predatory behaviors of many investors and businesses failed to assist native Hawaiians. 

“When people lost their homes, the first thing that was brought up to these people was ‘Oh, can we buy your land?’ Why is it not ‘Can I help you build your house? What can I do to help you and your family through this time?’” Wagner said. 

Though it is disappointing, it does not come as a surprise to Wagner. In fact, something similar happened on Big Island back in 2021. Fires decimated the area, and soon after cleanup began, the area was turned into a popular tourist site.

“Personally, I think the US sees Hawaii as money. We have land, we have income. It’s literally a running circus,” Wagner said, “On Big Island—people lost their homes and whatnot, and the first thing the government did was build hotels. Today, it’s another little circus for people to run through.” 

There has been a lot of recent controversy and debate over whether tourists should visit Hawaii, and the ethical implications involved. Some Hawaiians call for minimal tourism— if any at all—based on the negative connotation tourists possess. Wagner provides a more nuanced approach. 

“I definitely agree with tourism kinda taking a step back from Maui— especially Maui…because people are still grieving even though it was over a month ago,” Wagner said. “Hawaii in general, we live off of tourism. That’s our first point of income. So therefore, without tourism our government would shut down, people would lose their jobs.”  

Whether Hawaiians like tourists or not, there is the undeniable truth that the state’s economy relies heavily on tourism revenue. A reduction in tourism would also mean a financial struggle for many Hawaiians. Respectful tourism remains the key. 

“Personally, I have a lot of friends from the mainland, so I can’t say that they can’t come to Hawaii because that would be hypocritical of me, knowing they would respect my culture, respect our land, respect our people. I just think they get a bad rap to their name because of certain people,” Wagner said. 

Ever since its colonization in 1898, Hawaii has been wrestling with regaining its identity and ensuring that Hawaiian traditions and culture live on. With the loss of land, activism moves to the internet. 

“There are many local activists who are speaking out through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter… Everybody documents everything. And everybody gets exposed for what they’re doing,” Wagner said. “It raises awareness for the rest of us around what’s actually going on in life. I didn’t just lose my family, lose my house, lose my dog, lose everything that I have, but now I’m losing the right to even have a say. Because my house burned down, this land goes back to the government. Like no, that’s my land.” 

When it becomes difficult to see beyond external strife, Chevy looks inward. She looks towards her family and the people she knows. To those who know that true power is solidarity with other people and helping those who are suffering. 

“We have strong people. There’s a lot of people with voices,” Wagner said. And one can only hope those voices are heard.