Writing Position Statements

Group Position Statements (Tiffany, Brianna, Dylan):

 1. Tourist deaths at local attractions are the state’s fault because there was a lack of signs posted, they weren’t posted around other potentially hazardous areas, and if there were signs, they weren’t adequately maintained to warn visitors. 

2. Tourists are responsible for their safety when visiting hazardous attractions because signs have preciously been placed in various sights and attractions only to be ignored. The state cannot be held responsible for any lack of common sense on the person’s behalf, and it’s impossible for the state to know every hazardous point of every attractions. It’s the tourist’s responsibility to know which points to avoid.

3. In Hawaii, there are many incidents at tourist attractions, but both sides are at fault because there is a lack of signs on the government’s part. Tourists should also use common sense, and tourist services like Triple A should have warnings about attractions.

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Mini Essay:

     Every year, thousands of tourists come to Hawaii to get away from the stress of every day life and relax in paradise. Although there are many sights to see, they're just as beautiful as they are deadly. Along with the privilege of seeing the sights comes the risk of being killed or injured. Tourists are responsible for their safety when visiting hazardous attractions because sign have previously been placed at various sites and attractions, only to be ignored. The state cannot be held responsible for any lack of common sense on the person's behalf, and it's impossible for the state to know every hazardous point of every attraction. It is the tourist's responsibility to know which points to avoid and are potentially dangerous. 
     A big part of tourists getting injured when seeing the sights is because a lack of common sense. In 2002, 18-year-old Daniel Dick of Sylmar, California, was killed when he reportedly straddled an explosive water spout at the Halona Blowhole and was lifted three to five feet in the air and dropped headfirst onto a rocky crevice. A warning sign was posted in the parking lot, only to be ignored by Dick as he strolled along the shoreline of Sandy Beach. Although the water spout site was not equipped with signage, it's only common sense to be careful while in close proximity to an explosive water spout, knowing that falling in could be lethal thanks to the sharp rocks below. It's like replacing the water spout with explosives and a detonator. If the sign tells you to be careful about the detonator, you don't straddle it and fall on it and explode into a billion pieces. In another case, witnesses said that David Potts, 44, of San Anselmo, California, was dancing around the blowhole when a large wave struck him from behind and knocked him into the hole. While the Maui Fire Department conducted a three day search, no sign of Potts was found. The Maui Visitors Bureau had not promoted the area as an attraction. The only warning sign was a hand painted sigh that read "Blowhole: Park and walk at your own risk" attached to a rock at the Nakalele Point parking lot. Even if Potts wasn't aware of the sign, it's common sense that you don't dance around a blowhole with your back to the waves that are known to be big and powerful. 
     Although there may be a lack of signs and warnings around certain potentially dangerous sight seeing areas, it's common sense to be precautious around places like a blow hole or a cliff. Why would common sense be called common sense unless it's not common? Everyone may have it, but it's their choice to use it or not. The state cannot be blamed for tourist safety when they are responsible for their own when visiting potentially hazardous sites.