1 DEC: American Safari Cruises (ASC) will meet with residents of Molokai this week after protesters used a water blockade to prevent one of the company’s ships from calling at the island at the weekend.
The protesters said the community wants greater participation in decisions involving tourism to the island, which is the fifth-largest in the Hawaiian archipelago and located about 40km southeast of Oahu.
ASC’s 36-passenger Safari Explorer was not able to enter Kaunakakai Harbor on Saturday local time because 14 people in small boats and on surfboards blocked its way.
The vessel finally docked without incident the next day.
Blanchard is scheduled to attend a community meeting on Nov. 30, she added.
The Molokai Chamber of Commerce issued a statement in support of the cruise company, saying that it "understands the vital role tourism plays in our community."
This is ASC’s first season in Hawaii.
The Safari Explorer is scheduled to undertake itineraries of seven and 10 nights till May next year.
