Maui Hippies
Perennial Topic
Surfaces Again

MAUI HIPPIES-MORE FLAVOR FROM THE 1970'S-WOULD YOU PASS THE SALT?-PERHAPS A GRAIN

The perennial topic of discussion-the "hippie problem" cropped up again at last week's meeting of the Maui Chamber of Commerce directors.

The discussion was prompted by a letter from A.J. Huddleston of Lahaina, who claimed that the island's longhaired visitors are "adversely affecting real estate values, the tourist trade, and life, as we have known it, in the island of Maui."

Huddleston, broker in charge of the Lahaina office of Wick Realty, said he now must be cautious about sending clients to the Kihei and Makena areas of Maui.

"Now, we are embarrassed to send anyone to these areas as the 'hippies' have taken over," he said.

The letter sparked ten minutes of talk in which "hippies" were accused of trespassing, taking advantage of public funds, and violating building codes.

"This is the same perennial problem that recurs every other meeting," said acting chairman Douglas Sodetani. "What can we do?"

John Derby, manager of the Lahaina branch of the Bank of Hawaii, suggested publication of a brochure outlining the rights of property owners and explaining how they can have tresspassers removed from their property and prosecuted.

Charles Dubois of Maui Land & Pineapple Co. suggested the Chamber send a letter to Maui Mayor Elmer Cravalho, asking his help with the "problem".

Sodetani asked Chamber Manager Webb Beggs to look into the possibility of having Maui Police Chief Abraham Aiona and County Attorney Kase Higa attend a directors' meeting to discuss the situation.