Considering all the financial pressure facing state budgets, and all the ways we spend money to support and coddle tourism, I don’t understand why we let tourists clearly violate the warning signs on the rocky coastline sightseeing lookouts along Kalanianaole Highway.

If a tourist has a problem while looking down the throat of a blowhole or taking selfies from the rocky edge, Coast Guard and fire rescue teams are dispatched at taxpayer expense.

What is even more troubling is that typically there is at least one police car parked at these tourist attractions to help control theft for people who park and leave their cars open or with valuables in plain sight.

Why can’t the on-duty officer issue citations to tourists for their own protection, while watching for petty thieves? Why wouldn’t a few fines not only improve tourist safety but help pay for the on-duty officers?

Greg Schmidt

Hawaii Kai

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