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United is the only mainland carrier that comes to Hilo and only from LAX...
I'm told that Kalani generates a substantial portion of that.
Hilo doesn't have any resort hotels and that was by design.
Supposedly this is State control of Banyan Drive, structured so as to discourage investment, because "home rule" is bad or something. Same way PGV can end-run County, because they have a State lease. Go team. Go to Kona.
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Now that they are only approving year-to-year lease agreements those hotels have no choice but to degrade into slums. Nobody is going to invest in their properties knowing they have less than 365 days before they find out if they have to shut down. They can't even book their rooms more than a few months out. The way it is now if a room has a problem they don't fix it, they just stop using it.
ETA: Soon, they will have hourly rates.
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Soon, they will have hourly rates.
Tourism! Problem solved.
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Actually, Hilo WAS the tourist destination on Hawai'i Island up until a very few decades ago...and actually had one of the first planned all inclusive hotels...what is now Waiakea Villas WAS a resort destination to beat out most others! (oh, what a few decades, lack of maintenance & termites will do!)
Although most people only think of Hilo & Merrie Monarch, it still is on many tourist "to do" lists (esp in the Asia market).... one of the very "big" things is the closer proximity to the volcano....something that may become "big" again, soon enough!
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I use the United ito - lax or on to smf flight 6-8 times a year for business .... every flight full enough to be profitable.
It was a much better experience when it was continental - they launched the route a few years ago ... cant beat 5 hrs gate to gate...
Ive checked the rates - driving to kona just not worth the difference in fares (for me) I like being home a half hour after arrival
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Only trouble with that Hilo-LA route is that there's only one plane, which of course is based in LA. So if the flight to Hilo is delayed for any reason, you have to wait for it - there's no alternate plane to take you. Which means a good chance of missing any connecting flight.
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The flight crew is usually Newark based ....usually arrives back in LA ahead of schedule.
Most annoying is getting in on that red eye before the gate crew does to wave the flight into the gate... I hate waiting on the ramp...(5am)
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I doubt it's something we'll be able to find out ourselves for sure, but it would be interesting to find out who uses the LAX-Hilo United flight most. Is it tourists from the mainland visiting Hawaii, or windward side Big Island residents visiting the mainland?
No doubt the flight is convenient for people here, but I cannot fly United ever again even if it ends up costing me more money or inconvenience. Just a matter of principle.
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Mostly locals ....lots and lots of familiar faces and a definite Hilo feel and look (think the Californian in Vegas) ....feels like home in the lax waiting area at gate 74 slipahs, aloha shirts but most of all the coolers going into the hold the give away - grin.
I am looking forward to Virgin America ......
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Interesting, Bullwinkle, thank you. If you're correct in that the United flight is mostly for Big Island residents, then unfortunately I see little hope for any expansion of Hilo-mainland flights. Could be wrong of course, but I would think an increase in that route would only happen if more people on the mainland want it.
