Hawaiians angry--again: Dirt skiers on MK

[Rob Tucker]

"Please tell me how they could have possibly known that what they were doing was wrong."

Well, they appear to have gotten away with it. They're gone. And it is true there was not a sign up there on the mountain saying 'it is illegal to be incredibly stupid'. It isn't illegal to be stupid and there is always someone looking for some loophole to exploit.

In my opinion, setting aside Hawaiian feelings of religious affinity for the mountain, skiing at high speed down a cheese grater is extremely dangerous. Darn lucky they didn't end up in Hilo's ER... likely at taxpayer expense. Being extreme skiers they unfortunately made it look easy. God help the amateur or intermediate skier that attempts the same thing.

In my opinion, setting aside Hawaiian feelings of religious affinity for the mountain, what they were doing was essentially a form of off roading. Yahoo off roading leaves trails and visual damage which is durable. I've seen it in American deserts where ten year olds (literally and figuratively) leave their rather ugly marks on the landscape. Those lava surfaces are durable. Snow is ephemeral. It is also considerably easier on the body than a`a.

Then there is the fact that thoughtlessly they offended a portion of the host culture. Being offensive is not illegal.... it is offensive.

Now maybe an argument can be made that there is no law on the books saying painting your children head to toe in lead paint is illegal and therefore it's okay. A certain degree of common sense should come into play. But this reminds us of why there are so many laws. They are a reaction to something harmful or stupid.

So I align with the Hawaiians expressing offense for a different set of reasons not excluding religious sensibilities.

Their video should carry a common disclaimer: Do not attempt this at home. And I think home, by implication, should also mean at someone else's home.