03-10-2010, 06:19 PM
I would like to interject a different perspective, if I may. While we are all facing economically paralyzing times, myself included, and while it is honorable for the various council folks to have opted to not all travel to this annual event, I would like to point out there is no way to quantify the beneficial factor having someone whose innate 'Aloha' like Emily's represent us back east. I spent over a decade in the visitor industry for this island in the marketing field. I served on and with numerous committees comprised of every visitor related stakeholder for this island; some committees with state representation. Tourism has always been a top grossing industry for this state and it has been one of the hardest hit industries. It has not begun to turn around locally even now. But if you are following the news, other favorite destinations are starting to see a little bump in their activity which means we may see it here soon enough.
Who but Emily Naeole could best represent the spirit of Hawaii when traveling and visiting in a place like DC? That may not be her agenda but it is surely a consequence of her very persona. That kind of goodwill costs much more than the dollars I see quoted above. It cannot ever be accurately quantified. Our end of Puna is home to the lower end of the number one visitor attraction of Hawaii Island. If her presence on this trip to DC inspires even a single visit from someone who has not as yet been here, and you know she will be 'talking up' the sights and sounds of her district, then she has more than repaid her trip's costs in potential revenue generated from just such a visit. It may not all be spent in this district, maybe none of it will be spent in this district, but if they make it to this island a lion's share will be spent here on this island which is a major benefit.
Again, I applaud the fiscal decisions made by all of the council reps in declining this year's conference but I would think there would be no myopic vision that would restrict any of them from seeing how beneficial Emily's representation there of our island could be a natural plus for us all! I hope she has basked in the glow of 'talking story' with all kinds of people back east and when she leaves their company I hope each of them will feel moved in their hearts to come to our beautiful state and be touched by its wonderful Spirit!
“A penny saved is a government oversight.”
Who but Emily Naeole could best represent the spirit of Hawaii when traveling and visiting in a place like DC? That may not be her agenda but it is surely a consequence of her very persona. That kind of goodwill costs much more than the dollars I see quoted above. It cannot ever be accurately quantified. Our end of Puna is home to the lower end of the number one visitor attraction of Hawaii Island. If her presence on this trip to DC inspires even a single visit from someone who has not as yet been here, and you know she will be 'talking up' the sights and sounds of her district, then she has more than repaid her trip's costs in potential revenue generated from just such a visit. It may not all be spent in this district, maybe none of it will be spent in this district, but if they make it to this island a lion's share will be spent here on this island which is a major benefit.
Again, I applaud the fiscal decisions made by all of the council reps in declining this year's conference but I would think there would be no myopic vision that would restrict any of them from seeing how beneficial Emily's representation there of our island could be a natural plus for us all! I hope she has basked in the glow of 'talking story' with all kinds of people back east and when she leaves their company I hope each of them will feel moved in their hearts to come to our beautiful state and be touched by its wonderful Spirit!
“A penny saved is a government oversight.”
"Q might have done the right thing for the wrong reason, perhaps we need a good kick in our complacency to get us ready for what's ahead" -- Captain Picard, to Guinan (Q Who?)