My day in Honolulu

[Rob Tucker]

I had to go to Honolulu yesterday on business and spent the night and came back this afternoon. I wouldn't normally mention such a trip except for this:

Everywhere I went and everyone I dealt with from hotel staff to ABC store to Design Center to airport was super nice and making an extra effort to make me feel appreciated. I noticed. Sales staff would toss in something extra to take home for the kids for free. Stuff like that. Or a nice smile with eye contact and some conversation.

So instead of being dejected about the state of the economy and tourism slacking off and people in traffic- as an apparent tourist I felt great. If this holds true people will return again and again. All that aloha is what Hawaii is really about.

Punaweb moderator

[Andrew]

Excellent post. Thanks very much Rob.

Andrew

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[David M]

I agree Rob.
I went to Honolulu last week, just a quick trip and never left the airport. I normally don't care for "running around" anymore, so I wasn't looking forward to that aspect of my visit. I had to go to Aloha Cargo to clear a shipment - new boxer that came from New Zealand. From there to Customs office, where the Aloha guy met me with the paperwork. At this point I was about to get annoyed as I had already made 2 more stops that I was originally told and beginning to wonder if I'd make my return flight. The Customs agent was all business, but other passed in and out of the office with a smile and hello. The Aloha guy was friendly and we chatted abit. Once the customs paperwork was finished, he offered to drive me to the quarantine office. It was actually close enough I think I could have walked it in the time it took to retrieve his truck from the parking area. Once at quarantine, he actually went in with me. Asked where I was going after I retrieved the pup, I told him our return flight was on Hawaiian. He picked up the crate, placed it in back of the p/u while making compliments about the pup and then drove me to the terminal. I've no doubt from talking with him he could have left immediately after the paperwork was signed (and I paid my fee), but he choose to make things much easier and much more pleasant for me. Sure, I might reread this over on some blog and learn the guy was really goofing off, but it sure seemed like he did a bit extra and made life more tolerable for all of us. Sure improved my day and I thanked him for it. The counter folks at Hawaiian were more than "all business" making a big fuss over the puppy and the fact he had flown all that distance and so cute and friendly and on and on. I don't recall them ever being so nice when it was just me. I even got a cup of coffee from Burger King, but she probably thought I was a secret shopper and faked the smile and pleasantness. LOL

David

Ninole Resident

[Beachboy]

quote:

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So instead of being dejected about the state of the economy and tourism slacking off and people in traffic- as an apparent tourist I felt great. If this holds true people will return again and again. All that aloha is what Hawaii is really about.

Punaweb moderator

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I understand where you are coming from Rob. But your experience was a watered down one at best. you only had to pay for inter-island flight. This summer I took a family from Philly surfing. The father told me that last year the whole family came. Same time, hotel, airline,etc., etc.. Except this year it cost him three times more money to do the exact same as last year. He said he wouldn't be able to afford to bring his family back anytime soon. Then there is the family that say's "screw it", if we don't go this year, next year might not be affordable.
Rob, it's the fuel cost that is gonna hurt Hawaii. The news last night reported that 70% of a purchased airline ticket goes toward fuel! Every single ticket sold on all airlines, 70% goes to fuel. All the "bells & whistles" have been removed already...long time ago.

So it is my conclusion that as pleasant as your shopping experience was, it will have no bearing effect on our future. Hawaii tourism was built on the concept of 'Cheap Fuel",and the days of cheap fuel are behind us. I'm sorry, but I for one don't think a warm greeting is gonna make people return. There is no getting around mounting fuel cost, it effects our daily lives whether we travel or not!
Should have looked me up Rob while you were here. We could have had a great conversation, plus I could have taken you surfing!
Next time?


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Without these remarkable people the island would be nothing. With them it's a carnival. They are generous,courageous and comic. They awake each morning to a fresh day that has forgiven the previous day's outrages. In the pursuit of money they are irresponsible. In the pursuit of happiness,dedicated. They are the perpetual adolescents of the ocean, the playboys of the pacific.

James Michener on Waikiki Beachboys

[Rob Tucker]

I'm sure you are absolutely right Beachboy and the world we've know is morphing into something to worry about. I'm merely glad that the people I ran into on Oahu still manage to enjoy the day anyway despite all the doom and gloom they might focus on. Michener was akeen observer.

[Dave M]

Hey BB,

I totally agree with you in that the tourism industry will feel the fuel costs. As well I agree that the Hawaii tourism was founded on the concept of "Cheap Fuel". I believe the price per barrel was $9-$16 a barrel and the price per gallon was like 85 cents..

You have to remember the fuel cost concerns and cost will be the same for the family going to Europe or the Cayman Islands. Hawaii will continue to compete strongly for the tourist as it has for many many years now. Don't get me wrong I'm not denying that tourism is down right now.. but I don't think this down turn is specific to Hawaii.

It takes a lot more for me to go to Hawaii now than it did years back, but people/I will adjust and Hawaii will always be in the competition. It might be stories like Robs, aloha, or that guy that taught the kids how to surf [8D], on their last visits, that wins the family back to Hawaii.. There's just not that many places that offer the specific things that Hawaii has.

Again.. fuel has always gone up and although it may staggger or slow tourism for a season, or two, people will adjust and tourism, in Hawaii as well as other places, will survive. One of my favorite sayings is "It's gonna get "better" but it may get a little worse first". Peace, dave

Blessings,
dave

"I'm not as good as I once was.. but I'm as good once, as I ever was" George Straight

[JayJay]

The eternal optimists. ' "We shall forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future" ' ... or not. Back in the day, body-whomping the North Shore, that wonderful pre-fiber glass age while the industry was spiraling upward and the growth seemed interminable, that was the time our leaders should have been advocating these islands as a haven for retirement, sans Florida, the Carolinas, Lake Havasu et. al. Had they done so, we'd be set right now dispite the sub-prime debacle etc. These people, yes, do take up space [and I sympathize with the Hawaiian position on keeping things small and rural but this position must be reasonable, which it's not. The pendelum will no doubt swing to far toward retaining rurality and we're going to suffer in terms of inadequate infrastructure developement ... and besides, anyone really abreast with the markets knows the system has just exhibited an historical top and will never in opur lifetimes return to the last summer highs and that the Hawaiian's basic fear ... that they have to stop the developement, is going to occur naturally due to lack of momentum in that same marketplace], but those who retire and make an exodus to warmer climes, for the most part bring, a basically crime-free demographic coupled with stability and (and here's the big one), they bring their monthly checks and as a rule establish accounts in local credit unions because they're smart and want the best return on investment. They go out to dine, they buy cars and use all the essential services, including medical and they PAY. This is where we've missed the boat ... in not projecting Hawaii to the mainstream as an option for retirement and now for the most part that space has been filled by so many, and let's be honest here ... undesireables, who prefer not to earn their keep but to be given it.

JayJay

[kai34]

JayJay,
I could not agree more. I would much rather live next to nice older couple from the mainland then our big "undesireable" pool of folks.
At least here on Oahu the prices of most areas keep them decent. I fear for Puna if things get worse.