Hawaii Sneers at Fussiness

TAHITI officialdom has been trying to discourage the beachcomber type of tourist. French Oceania attracts all sorts of people from all over the world—and a larger proportion than most of “ratbags” and plain loafers, who take advantage of the hospitable natives.

Nowadays, few people can get into Tahiti unless they put up “caution” money—that is, prove that they have sufficient means to maintain themselves while there, and pay their fares home again.

Mr. L. G. Blackman described this situation in a Honolulu newspaper.

Judging by the following article, pub lished in the Hawaii Yacht Club Bulletin, of April last, he annoyed the Hawaii yachtsmen. f\N March 20, 1950, in the “Honolulu U Star-Bulletin,” there appeared an article by L. G. Blackman, of Tahiti, lescribing what the Tahiti Government errns as “undesirable” yachtsmen who dsit Tahiti. The article is too lengthy to •eprint here, but a copy is kept in our files or anyone to read.

It appears that Tahiti objects to being usited by “small yachts” operated by inexperienced navigators” with a crew who work their way” to get to the glaforous South Sea Islands. They arrive “without unds” and live among the native in labitants and make a nuisance of them elves to the authorities. They smuggle ypewriters, cameras, firearms, etc., and >eddle them off ashore so that they can ;ke out a hole-and-corner existance until hey ship out on another tramp yacht.

Mention is also made of the recent arrival of a young woman, who was a rew member of a small yacht. She was mable to pay “caution” money required iy the government of all new comers. She igned on as stewardess aboard an out oing steamer. Legitimate visitors are welcomed by the authorities who abide by iort regulations and pass over the caution money” required.

We resent the remark made about our wn Kathy Peterson, who was the “woman rew member” of a small yacht, operated y Harry Lattchen, an “experienced avigator.” Kathy well represents the nnest ideals of American womanhood, and he made the trip purely as a tourist who ranted to see the “Isles of Enchantment.”

'he left the yacht upon arrival in Tahiti nd signed on as stewardess on a Panama ound vessel because of an undesirable ituation aboard the yacht.

What makes people visit Tahiti? Does ; have anything more beautiful than our wn Hawaiin scenery? No, the attraction

, ... definitely is the primitive mode of life there. It is expensive for a yacht to make this trip just to see this extravaganza of life, and when they get there the govern ment has other ideas for their reception.

In Hawaii we extend our arms to visitors, in genuine welcome. In Tahiti,

they also extend their arms, palms up, for the “caution” money, with a determined look on their faces, and if you do not abide by port “regulations,” out you go.

Yes, you simply “deposit” $200.00 upon arrival there, behave yourself, patronise their shops well, don’t go near the natives, and you become a desirable tourist there.

Note; From the “Hawaii Yacht Club Bulletin,” of April 17, 1950, Vol. X, No. 4.