Fact-Checking Policy

Travel information changes at different speeds. The history of a place may remain stable for years, while parking, road access, weather, surf, operating terms, and tour details may change quickly. Our fact-checking process reflects that difference.

1. Purpose of this policy

This policy explains how we assess factual information before publication and during later reviews.

It applies to:

• destination guides;
• parking and access information;
• wildlife guidance;
• ocean and beach information;
• tour descriptions and comparisons;
• commercial claims;
• tables, summaries, FAQs, and planning tools;
• material updates to existing pages.

2. Review before publication

Before a new page is published, we identify the claims that matter most to the reader and classify them by risk and volatility.

Claims are generally grouped into the following categories:

Stable background information

Historical, geographic, or descriptive facts that are unlikely to change frequently.

Time-sensitive operational information

Parking, access, construction, opening arrangements, schedules, prices, and service details.

Safety or wildlife information

Statements that could influence road behavior, ocean activity, animal interaction, or visitor safety.

Commercial information

Tour duration, inclusions, meeting points, restrictions, availability, cancellation terms, and provider claims.

Editorial judgment

Reasoned conclusions about visitor suitability, trade-offs, value, or alternatives.

Each category is checked using sources appropriate to the subject.

3. Source hierarchy

We prefer the source closest to the fact being reported.

4. Preference for primary sources

Primary sources are generally preferred for claims involving safety, access, law, official restrictions, wildlife behavior, public works, and direct commercial terms.

Examples include:

• an official state notice for a road change;
• NOAA guidance for wildlife viewing;
• an operator’s own published meeting point;
• an official weather service for current warnings;
• a booking platform’s current cancellation terms.

Secondary sources may be used for context, interpretation, or reporting on local discussion, but they should not be presented as final official policy unless confirmed.

5. When multiple sources are required

We seek independent confirmation when:

• a source is incomplete or ambiguous;
• official and observed conditions appear to differ;
• a proposal is being discussed but has not been implemented;
• a provider makes a claim that could materially influence a purchase;
• the subject is contested;
• the information is likely to change quickly;
• a single source has an obvious commercial interest.

Agreement between several low-quality websites does not necessarily count as confirmation. Repeated wording may simply reflect copied or outdated information.

6. Time-sensitive information

Parking, access, construction, tour details, opening arrangements, prices, and similar information should be reviewed more frequently than stable background content.

Where appropriate, we use:

• a page-level last updated date;
• a specific checked date inside a status box;
• language that explains uncertainty;
• a direct link to the official source;
• a reminder to confirm current conditions before traveling.

7. Wildlife and safety claims

Safety-sensitive and wildlife-related content receives additional review.

We avoid statements that imply:

• the ocean is safe under all conditions;
• a road crossing is risk-free;
• parking is always available;
• a wildlife sighting is guaranteed;
• a suggested viewing distance replaces current official guidance;
• a general article should override instructions from authorities or trained personnel.

Wildlife guidance should be checked against the responsible public authority. We distinguish between a legal requirement, official guidance, and general visitor etiquette when the source makes that distinction.

8. Tour and commercial information

Tour prices, schedules, meeting points, inclusions, operator names, accessibility, minimum ages, cancellation rules, and availability can change frequently.

When a page discusses a tour or booking option, we may verify:

• the current operator or booking platform;
• the stated duration;
• the pickup or meeting location;
• the main inclusions and exclusions;
• age, mobility, health, or participation restrictions;
• cancellation and refund terms;
• whether the experience actually visits or serves the location discussed.

Provider marketing language is not automatically treated as independent fact. Claims such as “best,” “exclusive,” “guaranteed,” or “once in a lifetime” require attribution, context, or removal.

9. Prices and availability

Prices and availability are especially volatile. Unless a page explicitly states otherwise, a displayed or referenced price should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent offer.

The merchant or booking page controls the final price, fees, taxes, availability, eligibility, and transaction terms.

Before completing a purchase, readers should confirm the final details directly with the merchant.

10. Facts, estimates, and editorial judgment

We aim to distinguish clearly between different types of statements.

Fact

A statement that can be verified through evidence, such as an official restriction or an operator’s published meeting point.

Estimate

A practical approximation, such as a typical visit duration, that may vary by visitor and conditions.

Editorial judgment

A reasoned conclusion, such as whether Laniakea Beach is a poor fit for a family seeking full facilities.

Provider claim

A statement made by a third party that is clearly attributed and not automatically presented as our own conclusion.

11. Recommendations and comparisons

Recommendations are reviewed for factual support and reader fit.

We consider whether the recommendation:

• solves a real visitor problem;
• matches the reader’s likely needs;
• includes meaningful limitations;
• uses current commercial details;
• distinguishes editorial judgment from provider claims;
• remains useful even when no affiliate commission is available.

We may conclude that a reader should choose another beach, visit at another time, or make no booking at all.

12. First-hand observations

First-hand observations are useful, but they are not treated as permanently current.

When personal experience is used:

• it should be genuine;
• the date should be considered;
• it should not replace current official information;
• it should be separated from general claims;
• we should not imply repeated or recent testing when none occurred.

13. AI and automated tools

Automated tools may assist with organization, formatting, summarization, language review, and editorial workflow.

They are not considered reliable sources by themselves.

Before publication, factual claims generated or transformed with automated assistance should be checked against appropriate sources, especially when they concern:

• current access or road conditions;
• wildlife guidance;
• weather or ocean safety;
• prices, schedules, or booking terms;
• legal or official restrictions;
• named organizations or individuals.

We do not knowingly publish fabricated quotations, invented experiences, false citations, or unsupported factual claims created by automated systems.

14. Reader reports and submitted updates

Reader messages can alert us to possible changes, but a single report may not be sufficient to establish a current fact.

A useful report includes:

• the page URL;
• the exact statement in question;
• the date the issue was observed;
• an official notice or reliable source;
• a photograph when appropriate and safely obtained.

We may contact the reader for clarification, compare the report with official information, or temporarily qualify a statement while verification is pending.

15. Review cycle

Not every page is reviewed on the same schedule. Review priority is based on risk and volatility.

Older pages may be revised, consolidated, redirected, or removed if they no longer provide sufficient value or cannot be maintained accurately.

16. Conflicting information

When reliable sources disagree, we do not hide the disagreement.

Depending on the situation, we may:

• identify the conflicting sources;
• explain which source appears more authoritative and why;
• state that the issue remains uncertain;
• avoid a firm conclusion until better evidence is available;
• recommend that readers confirm the matter directly.

17. Corrections

When a factual error is confirmed, we correct it.

The response depends on the significance of the issue:

• minor spelling, grammar, or formatting edits may be made without a public note;
• clarifications may be added when wording is incomplete or ambiguous;
• material factual errors may receive a correction note;
• seriously misleading or outdated pages may be withdrawn, redirected, or replaced.

See the Corrections Policy for the full process.

18. How to report a possible error

Use the Contact page or email contact@laniakeabeach.com.

Please include:

• the page URL;
• the exact disputed statement;
• why you believe it is incorrect;
• the date you observed the issue;
• the strongest current source available.