Root causes of tough BI economy? (Honolulu: sales, rent, insurance)

[OpenD]

As a hardcore Hilo lover, I recognize that Hilo is a hard sell to tourists due to the rain.

To a certain extent, I'm fine with that. All I'm really looking for is direct flights from the mainland into Hilo at ticket prices comparable to Kona, and... ummm... that's all I can really think of.

[Serengeti]

I have been looking at possibly moving to the Big Island because of how sparse it is; however, I certainly don't understand why the people of Hawai'i County don't petition the state government, to grant tax incentives to attract/bring more modern manufacture(making the island less dependent on the main land) to the BI, designate gambling like casinoes in a section of, let's say Hilo(much like Atlantic City, Tunica), which will bring the higher end hotel resorts(which would have the casino in them) as well as lower end hotel(like Holiday Inn Express, Regency, Resident Inn, etc) to the Hilo and BI economy. Also resturants, entertaiment/shows, and the natural tours(being enhanced) that already exist on the BI. As well as local amusements like Sports Bar/Bowling Alley, which is what I desire to open, skate rink/skateboard park, recreation parks, clubs, celebration station for teens/young kids...etc. See where I'm going here. Revamp over a 10year period Hilo, while preserving some of it's history/culture. That, I think, may help it not only compete with the Kona side, but help the county and state as a whole.

I'm not native to the state and may be ignorant of the attitude/culture, so forgive me; but, this is the reason why I ask, why people and local business don't petition their government. I hope to reside in a more vibrant area and contribute something to the community in a more modern way, provide a service, and make an income.

[dulcamara]

Serengeti, I think you'd find any community with any vestiges of actual culture - Hawaii or elsewhere - highly resistant to the kind of scorched-earth tourism development you're suggesting. IMO it's more about bringing Hilo's lodging options merely "up to par", plus possibly the county/island recognizing some untapped potential in how their innate tourist attractions are marketed and to whom.

[Serengeti]

It's not necessarily a scorched earth development, one thing naturally bring another ....what I'm saying if you provide and industry like manufactory, some things would make the island less depended, create local wealth, open up store around these industries. I understand, they would still have to import raw materials in, but that happen everywhere, because some regions depend on other regions for resources....but less dependently, creat jobs, and some wealth on the island, small mom & pops stores eateries, and supply shops, etc.

As far as tourism is concern, lets say for an example, if gambling was open up, regardless of what level of limitation the state impose, it would bring resort hotels, which will bring in the entertainment/shows/amusements, which create other local business, like what I would like to open Sports Bar/Bowling Alley, money generating resource that may lead to better recreation facilities, enhancement of existing tourist attractions & tours, providing more jobs, and wealth. It's a sort of trickle down effect. Make the area and the island that much more viable, which in turn help modernize the infrastructure, because of more tax base.

Locals should consider ideas like that, petition local, county, and state representive, for some tax breaks & incentives, to attract companies, industries, tourism, medical, research, warehouses, open more shipping lanes and freight, etc.
I'm just saying, that's how things grow, and the area can control just how much of growth they desire...I'm not saying making the area the eastern version of Honolulu, just way to make the area more economically viable & attractive, and increase industry and revenue, wealth overall.

Locals should consider some similiar ideas and petition local, county, and state representative for tax breaks & incentive to attract companies, industries, tourism, medical, research, etc. I don't understand why sit back and let other areas develop, and while stating how depressed many areas on the BI has become, and not taking the island destiny in their own hands.

[OpenD]

There have been proposals to bring gambling to the islands, some championed by the native Hawaiian people, who are looking for the same kind of autonomy afforded to many Indian (or NDN, as many First Nation people are styling the word now, to avoid confusion with people from India) nations.

The problem is, it won't bring people all this way, when there are so many other choices closer to home and much more convenient to get to. So any gambling activities in the state seem likely to just vacuum up the crumbs from the local market, which probably is not really cost effective when you factor in the various social complications that come with it.

There is another kind of tourism that I do think is ripe for promotion and development, and that's Eco-Tourism. It's already happening, but pretty much in stealth-mode as far as official promotion. I just got an email from an old friends who's coming for a vacay in November, and one of the must-do items on her list is a visit to a Permaculture resort.

In the world of white sandy beaches and surfing, the Big Island is ranked below other isles. But in terms of sustainabliity and permaculture and rainforest ecology, the BI is tops. So I'd like to see them build on that.

[HiloDiver]

The Caribbean island we moved here from had one casino. Oh yah, it was supposed to bring lots of tourists. LOL. Any night we were there, it was filled with LOCALS. It was a locals social night for us anytime we went there. Lots of fun for us locals, but it didn't help the local economy. Harmed it, actually, locals with gambling problems.

Sometimes we'd see tourists in the casino, and they would be loud drunk obnoxious white people.

As a white person on a very black island, I was very embarrassed at how the white people acted.

Now that I live in Hawai'i, the terms would change. They would be "loud drunk obnoxious haoles."

Is that what we want? I know I sure don't!!!

[oregonwoodsmoke]

There are lots of ways to bring the tourists in, if the Island of Hawaii wanted it.

The Iron Man generates $21.7 million to $25.9 million of revenue for Hawaii (depending upon who is doing the figuring). That's a nice boost to the local economy.

The Tourist Board where I currently live is very active. They bring in some sort of national level sporting event every month, and sometimes there is one every week. It generates millions of dollars, and the best thing is that all those people go home after their event is over. Then there are art festivals and music festivals and special events for the tourists nearly every week.

So it is possible to attract the tourists and their dollars with some organization and effort. There are lots of really good ways to promote the Island of Hawaii for tourism. But I assume if Hawaii doesn't do it, then they don't really want the tourists.

It's true that a lot of people do not like having a bunch of tourists around.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

There are lots of ways to bring the tourists in, if the Island of Hawaii wanted it.

Keep in mind that tourism development is in the purview of the State's Hawai'i Tourism Authority. Some of that funding and authority trickles down to the County level, but if you check the website you'll see that the Big Island's featured line item is the Kona Coffee Festival.

It's a chicken and egg situation. There's not much money for developing tourism on Hawai'i because there isn't a lot of tourism on Hawai'i.

Community - Hawaii Tourism Authority

[HiloDiver]

Originally Posted by OpenD

There's not much money for developing tourism on Hawai'i because there isn't a lot of tourism on Hawai'i.

Thank goodness for that!!! A MAJOR factor in our decision to move here.

[Serengeti]

Originally Posted by OpenD

There have been proposals to bring gambling to the islands, some championed by the native Hawaiian people, who are looking for the same kind of autonomy afforded to many Indian (or NDN, as many First Nation people are styling the word now, to avoid confusion with people from India) nations.

The problem is, it won't bring people all this way, when there are so many other choices closer to home and much more convenient to get to. So any gambling activities in the state seem likely to just vacuum up the crumbs from the local market, which probably is not really cost effective when you factor in the various social complications that come with it.

There is another kind of tourism that I do think is ripe for promotion and development, and that's Eco-Tourism. It's already happening, but pretty much in stealth-mode as far as official promotion. I just got an email from an old friends who's coming for a vacay in November, and one of the must-do items on her list is a visit to a Permaculture resort.

In the world of white sandy beaches and surfing, the Big Island is ranked below other isles. But in terms of sustainabliity and permaculture and rainforest ecology, the BI is tops. So I'd like to see them build on that.

I'm sure that is the case everywhere there is gambling; however, with millions that visit the state every year, some percentage of tourist who come to the state anyway, will spend some amount of time to visit the BI if it had gambling, the entertainment/shows/amusement, added to the already existing attraction, and I love the Eco-Tourism Idea. Tunica is a prime example of an impoverish area that had benefitted from gambling, and have controlled growth, so have Branson, MO., Mashantucket, CT, Niagara Falls, and some of the Reservations(hate saying that). Gambling will bring more tourist and dollars to the area. What other place could one go in the middle of the Pacific, on a Tropical Island.

I don't won't to discount Industry/Manufacture/Warehousing, and obviously Shipping, cause thats the engine that supplies sustainability.

Eco-Tourism, how does that work exactly? You say people won't come this far for gambling, but they will for Eco-Tourism??? I think a greater percentage of tourist would come for gambling than Eco-Tourism. Please don't read me wrong, I love the idea, and it's good that county government is thinking along that direction. Locals should stress the importance of the idea, to push funding through. That's my whole point...petition ideas to help bring industry to the area, be it, tourism, manufacturing, medical, warehousing, Eco, or gambling.

Certainly, I plan to be one of those locals; however, I don't want to over step my boundaries, being not native. Reason why I'm trying to understand now. I desire to start my own business, but the area has to be in a position to support local business, and that means dollars has to flow some kind of way into the area, providing jobs, wealth, a viable income & tax base, infrastructure. I don't want to be as one previous poster said of business, restaurant, and people, come and go. I want to be a viable part and contributor to the community. Obviously yet, the concerns & issues are real...it's one thing to sit back and like to see something happen, it's another to actually be apart of making something. Regardless of successes or failure.