Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

HawaiʻI Is Not Your Escapist Fantasy: Varying Perspectives Surrounding Misconceptions And Representations Of HawaiʻI In The Tourism Industry, Shannon Hussey

Senior Theses

In this thesis, I argue that Hawai’i Tourism is dominated by idealized representations of paradise that are portrayed in hotels and resort advertising, selling an “authentic Hawaiian experience” that ignores significant parts of Hawaiian culture and the oppression of Native Hawaiians and local residents. The promotion of these exotified themes and images are seemingly used as a marketing scheme to attract consumers to view Hawai’i as merely a “tropical paradise” further adhering to individuals’ “escapist fantasy.” In delivering on this experience, the tourist industry reinforces and reifies the stereotypical images that are portrayed in the media. The systematic promotion of …