01-21-2008, 02:02 AM
Kathy, I'm glad you and you neighbors found a niche industry. I'm for as much diversification as possible, so the inevitable fluctuations in the tourism industry will be cushioned a little. I had relatives in the 70s on Maui that had field jobs in the cut flower industry. But that market is limited due to air freight being a necessity. Besides, I doubt the field jobs paid as well as most tourist industry jobs. What is the pay rate for most of the workers in the live plant industry in which you and your neighbors are involved? Or, are they very small family businesses where management is also the labor?
With continued growth, even at a slower pace, Hilo and Puna are unlikely to remain quaint. I'm sorry for that. I wish it could stay the small quaint town it was. I'm one of those people that piss off many locals because I want to move to the BI and have slow growth (after me and my growth). Sorry, but I'm selfish that way. I'm not for the saddle road improvements, as it will encourage the increased use of the Hilo side as a bedroom community for Kona workers. I think, for many reasons, workers should live near their jobs.
Arts: They are generally funded by a population employed by other industries, or the rich.
Science, Medicine, Education & Astronomy: Maybe to some degree. Other than astronomy or oceanography, I don't know that other research centers would want to be as geographically isolated as is Hawaii. It would be nice to see Hawaii's Schools of higher learning become more renown and become a larger draw. Increased outside tuition would also help subsidize the tuition for residents. I still see them as no more than a moderate size employers.
Industry: Other than these others mentioned? If you're talking manufacturing, what is your labor source? Are you going to import guest workers from the Philippines or India so that your labor costs will stay competitive in the world market?
Publishing: This industry is already being outsourced to cheaper labor markets in Asia.
Computing: Same as above. It's going to Asia.
Real Estate (non vacation rental): It will always be here at some level, as someone is always buying or selling. Do you want another artificial boom market fueled by outside investors and speculators? Such markets do result in a large increase in employment in the Real Estate industry. Ask the Johns how many agents have gone inactive in the currently slowing market. In a healthy steady market, there is room for only a limited number of agents. In a normal market, many newly licensed agents learn that lesson quickly.
Fishing: Unless someone can develop an environmentally friendly open ocean aquaculture method, I don't see much chance for an increase in employment in this area. Aren't fishing stocks dwindling?
Agriculture and Horticulture: I think we covered this topic. No one wants to be field labor at field labor wages. These will probably not become big industries, other than the possibility of large mechanized farms growing crops to support a potential biofuel industry. But, to be viable, they will have to be heavily mechanized, without high labor costs, and hopefully pollute less than the sugar industry.
Construction: There will always be some construction industry. I would hope it can become a much smaller industry. Otherwise, it means we are on our way to totally paving paradise.
Services aimed at residents, performing arts for the community and so forth: Yep, I'm all for that, but you have to have a healthy community supported by some other well paying industry.
Of course we can (or is it continue to) build and sell huge projects for retirees to come and die in (me?). This would support Real Estate, Construction large Service Industry and increased Medical Industry. But most of those jobs are relatively low paying except some of the medical jobs, but most medical jobs would be Aids or LPNs and not well paid. I would think it would be better to have tourists that come, drop their money, and leave.
The reality is, with continued growth, the BI is going to lose some or most of it's quaintness. It doesn't have to lose all of it's aloha. I don't see much possibility of other large industries to support the population, other than tourism. Even if some great resource can be found in the sea, Hawaii would have to be unique from other ocean bordering areas to give it some type of market advantage. Hawaii does have the sun, the sea, beautiful vistas, perfect weather, an active volcano, a unique history and aloha. Be kind to the tourist.
End second (or third) rant in one week.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
With continued growth, even at a slower pace, Hilo and Puna are unlikely to remain quaint. I'm sorry for that. I wish it could stay the small quaint town it was. I'm one of those people that piss off many locals because I want to move to the BI and have slow growth (after me and my growth). Sorry, but I'm selfish that way. I'm not for the saddle road improvements, as it will encourage the increased use of the Hilo side as a bedroom community for Kona workers. I think, for many reasons, workers should live near their jobs.
quote:
Arts, science, medicine, education, industry, publishing, computing, real estate (non vacation rental), astronomy, fishing, at least some agriculture, horticulture, construction, services aimed at residents, performing arts for the community and so forth.
Arts: They are generally funded by a population employed by other industries, or the rich.
Science, Medicine, Education & Astronomy: Maybe to some degree. Other than astronomy or oceanography, I don't know that other research centers would want to be as geographically isolated as is Hawaii. It would be nice to see Hawaii's Schools of higher learning become more renown and become a larger draw. Increased outside tuition would also help subsidize the tuition for residents. I still see them as no more than a moderate size employers.
Industry: Other than these others mentioned? If you're talking manufacturing, what is your labor source? Are you going to import guest workers from the Philippines or India so that your labor costs will stay competitive in the world market?
Publishing: This industry is already being outsourced to cheaper labor markets in Asia.
Computing: Same as above. It's going to Asia.
Real Estate (non vacation rental): It will always be here at some level, as someone is always buying or selling. Do you want another artificial boom market fueled by outside investors and speculators? Such markets do result in a large increase in employment in the Real Estate industry. Ask the Johns how many agents have gone inactive in the currently slowing market. In a healthy steady market, there is room for only a limited number of agents. In a normal market, many newly licensed agents learn that lesson quickly.
Fishing: Unless someone can develop an environmentally friendly open ocean aquaculture method, I don't see much chance for an increase in employment in this area. Aren't fishing stocks dwindling?
Agriculture and Horticulture: I think we covered this topic. No one wants to be field labor at field labor wages. These will probably not become big industries, other than the possibility of large mechanized farms growing crops to support a potential biofuel industry. But, to be viable, they will have to be heavily mechanized, without high labor costs, and hopefully pollute less than the sugar industry.
Construction: There will always be some construction industry. I would hope it can become a much smaller industry. Otherwise, it means we are on our way to totally paving paradise.
Services aimed at residents, performing arts for the community and so forth: Yep, I'm all for that, but you have to have a healthy community supported by some other well paying industry.
Of course we can (or is it continue to) build and sell huge projects for retirees to come and die in (me?). This would support Real Estate, Construction large Service Industry and increased Medical Industry. But most of those jobs are relatively low paying except some of the medical jobs, but most medical jobs would be Aids or LPNs and not well paid. I would think it would be better to have tourists that come, drop their money, and leave.
The reality is, with continued growth, the BI is going to lose some or most of it's quaintness. It doesn't have to lose all of it's aloha. I don't see much possibility of other large industries to support the population, other than tourism. Even if some great resource can be found in the sea, Hawaii would have to be unique from other ocean bordering areas to give it some type of market advantage. Hawaii does have the sun, the sea, beautiful vistas, perfect weather, an active volcano, a unique history and aloha. Be kind to the tourist.
End second (or third) rant in one week.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
