Hawaii visitor arrivals slump by 14.3%

[macuu222]

I guess the topic says it all. I'm just wondering how it will ultimately affect the business climate on our island. Especially with the loss of another cruise ship in a couple of weeks.

http://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS01/804180374&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

[JerryCarr]

And so it begins. So far the remaining airlines in the Hawaii market have not exactly jumped into the gap left by the demise of Aloha and ATA. They may be waiting to see how their load factors play out before offering more flights. Hawaiian has added an Oakland flight, and Delta has announced increased frequency to Kona (they've been all over the place with their Kona service) and a new flight to Lihue, both from LAX. That's not much of a replacement factor for what was lost, about 10% I think. The ecomomic effects could be drastic if a 14% reduction in deplaning visitors continues for any length of time. The cruise ship thing might not have as much total economic impact beyond the cruise companies themselves because cruise ship passengers generally don't rent hotel rooms and rarely rent cars. They do, however, patronize tour companies and tourist shops on land excursions, and I expect their business will suffer.

One last note on airline economics. The type of planes they have to use to get to Hawaii coincide with the type they use on international service to Europe, Latin America, and to a lesser extent Asia. Those international flights are one of the few current profit centers in the airline business. They will have to be convinced that it is worth diverting an international aircraft from a profitable business route (Europe or South America) to a leisure market like Hawaii. Of course somebody could buy ATA's or Aloha's overseas fleet, but they are narrow-bodies which are not as popular or efficient as wide-bodies.

It's really complicated, and the State powers that be need to move with uncharacteristic speed to avert serious ecomomic issues.

Cheers,
Jerry

[gtill]

Well, we have been slipping in numbers for some time now, and knowing isle attitudes toward all tourists out here, we won't get much eco or small traveller either (except for hippie types who seem to blend right in)! Myself and my wife who is part Hawaiian, rented a typical tourist car rental for 5 days! She got the greatest kick out of blonde bum looking Haoles stinkeying us, actually it was kinda fun considering the source!

Our property taxes are either going to skyrocket for structures(because of rentals)! I've already altered my building plans, I need the smallest size structure to qualify as a taxable house! If our tax base drops low enough, we won't be getting much help for anything from the city or state!

Worse yet, in the next few years,Cuba will be opening up, and it'll be cheaper and safer than here!

And with our paranoia of any possible "dangerous" substance or process, which any business will have, no business will be clean enough for Puna!

[Rob Tucker]

You're probably right about Cuba. I hadn't thought of that....

not sure what you're talking about regarding paranoia about dangerous substances in Puna though. Is that referring to something specific?

[rusty h]

Alaska Airlines will start up daily flights to Maui starting in July from Seattle and twice weekly from Anchorage Alaska (only during the peak season) starting in late Oct. to May. One way from Anchorage will run around 260.00 on certain dates. Round trip from Anchorage will be around 750.00 - 900.00 to Maui plus tack on the flight to Hilo and your spending a good bit of cash to visit!

FLight to Hawaii 900.00
Rental car for two weeks 350.00
Rental house 700.00 to 1400.00
leaving -40 below for 75 PRICELESS[8D]

[gtill]

Rob, the foam you use for your material, and other plastics, could be extruded in the industrial park, using excess PGV power. Including all insulation (By Code) and any custom size or shape plastic! Begin a recycling mill, to take care of the flotsam materials in Mid Pacific! Should be unlimited!
Where's the Manganeze Nodules now we need em!

[Rob Tucker]

gtill, You are on to something. There are a number of opportunities here on this island for reprocessing waste material. To date, over the course of twenty years, the State of Hawaii has shown no interest in them. It may be that the "event horizon" of remanufacturing in Hawaii may be approaching. Then again it may be an illusion.

At this time there is only the most primitive recycling effort. Much more needs to be done.

But we are way off topic here unless tourism might increase as visitors come here to marvel at our ingenuity in reprocessing and remanufacturing.

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Tucker

But we are way off topic here unless tourism might increase as visitors come here to marvel at our ingenuity in reprocessing and remanufacturing.

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I hope the Wheelabrator officials aren't listening.... I can hear them trying to say that their contraption will increase tourism somehow. []

The visitor arrivals slumping is one thing, I'd like to know the percentage of people that actually moved here, compared to last year in comparison to the amount of visitors in that same time span.

I wonder if there is any statistics that are compiled about people who come and visit here... and then decide that they want to move here later on and actually act upon that initial tourist visit.

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The more we speak up... the more they will listen.

[gtill]

Rob, i'm looking at replacing tourist revenue! Lord knows the island needs somthing to jumpstart it, or does it? I don't intend to pave paradise, I don't even mind bad roads!

We could probably get along at 3x our present yearly bldg tax rate! But I'd bet a manufacturing business orsuch a proposal would cause a riot! Lord knows yo're not supposed to make a profit, high taxes and all!