Even at popular tourist spots like Nakalele Point, warning signs are few and far between.Īndrew Doughty has apologized for accidentally encouraging trespassing, and has removed specific references to paths. Safety warnings on Maui are often lacking, even after 20 years since the release of Maui Revealed. Inevitably, as the tourist industry grew (along with the internet), similar guidebooks have also been published. Maui Revealed may have been the first book to introduce tourists to the hidden side of Maui, but it certainly isn’t the last.
So, yes, in some ways the anger was valid. Instead, Maui Revealed continues to be a source of local anger. When presented with these issues, the author, Andrew Doughty, could have done more to resolve the issue. To prevent further problems, these sites were blocked for all visitors, disappointing Maui locals. When tourists took a day trip, not fully understanding the danger-which was understated in Maui Revealed-accidents occurred. Natural beauty spots may be breathtaking, but local knowledge was keeping them safe. The busy tourist areas on Maui can get incredibly crowded, which can be frustrating for locals looking for breathing room. Maui Revealed took local secrets and broadcast them publicly, and in doing so trampled over many local toes (both literally and figuratively). Ask a local, and you’ll hear a different opinion.Speak to a tourist, and you’ll likely hear the opinion that Maui Revealed is a fantastic guidebook that offers an unbeatable look at all parts of Maui.The debate around Maui Revealed continues on, although by this point many of the places first “revealed” in the guidebook are widely covered across other forms of media. Of course, by the time Doughty was able to respond to the claims, the wide reach of the Maui Revealed guidebook meant the damage had already been done. Although references to certain areas and paths were removed, the disclaimer warning readers not to trespass felt like a Band-Aid over a serious problem. Tourists following the guidebook may have found themselves in trouble when the safety features were less extensive than they assumed.įurther controversy came when the author responded to these issues. Which in many cases meant that they were dangerous to access. Some felt that by listing them as places for tourists to discover, it undercut the significance of these sacred sites.įinally, many of the areas revealed in Maui Revealed were off the beaten track. Third, natural formations and landmarks were often considered to be spiritual areas in pre-contact Hawaii. Although, once these errors were pointed out, Doughty promised to remove them from later editions. The author admits to having accidentally included paths that cut through private property. In some cases, these accusations were definitely accurate. Hard-to-reach beauty spots were listed, alongside directions that took you across private land. Second, Maui Revealed was accused of directing tourists onto private property in order to access these fantastic areas. With crowds tend to come higher prices as well. Once the crowds had arrived, locals felt a little shoved to the side. There are a few reasons why.įirst, Maui Revealed brought tourists to places that were once considered local spots. To locals, Maui Revealed was less enthusiastically greeted. Maui Revealed was popular on first release, as readers were eager to discover these Maui marvels. Unsurprisingly, this brought more people to those areas.Īs visitors, this all sounds very exciting. Or, places that a few tourists were aware of, but that were rarely mentioned in other guidebooks. What Is The Maui Revealed Controversy?Īs the name would suggest, Maui Revealed uncovered many places on the island that tourists weren’t previously aware of. Maui Revealed quickly became a top choice for visitors to Maui. Rather than guiding tourists to the built-up resort towns, it unveiled hidden pathways to natural wonders. When Maui Revealed was published, it became the first guidebook to show Maui off the beaten track. It’s part of the “revealed” book series, written by Doughty based on his experiences traveling across the islands of Hawaii. Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook is a guidebook of Maui written and published by Andrew Doughty in 2000.