Root causes of tough BI economy? (Hilo: middle-class, 2013, rental)

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Serengeti

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.

It's simple... people can go many places for gambling, but not nearly as many for eco-tourism. The big ticket destinations are places like Central and South America, and Southeast Asia, but Hawai'i has the advantages of being in the US, and not needing a passport, etc.

Plus, the demographics for eco-tourism and gambling are very different. Eco tourists tend to be younger, hipper, more active, more highly educated. The idea of learning about solar and wind power and rainwater catchment and aquaponic food growing and such cutting edge technologies as extracting biodiesel oil from algae waste-reclamation, combined with the natural beauty and recreation opportunities of the island are powerful draws for that particular interest group. But there's almost no organization to it, like there are in Brazil or Costa Rica, for example.

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.

To be candid, retirees bring money, and the construction industry builds them housing. That's been the most reliable economic engine for many years. It's just been in a slump the last 5 years. But there are signs it is finally beginning to turn upward a bit.

[MickeyE]

A new casino just opened here in Columbus, Ohio - our first. It will be interesting to see how it affects the community. From what I had read, people here were going to casinos in Indiana - a short drive, and the local powers that be want to keep some of that money here. I hope it works out well.

I had wanted to open a glass art shop with a hot glass studio that people could watch hot glass being made in Hawaii. I have taken glassblowing classes and helped build a hot glass studio here. The cost of gas and electric would be a very, very large part of the cost of a glass studio. There are other glass studios on the BI, and potters who also have the high cost of firing pottery by gas or electric.

My wife is a wedding cake designer/baker and we had thought she could do the same in Hawaii. Hawaii does not have a home bakery license, so she would have had to have a commercial kitchen to work out of, either her own or rent space/time in an existing kitchen.

Since I am 74 and since she - a mere child at 62 - has kidney failure and has closed her business here, we probably won't get to do anything about opening a business there. If we even get a chance to move to Hawaii, it will probably be as retirees with me working part-time (if a job were even available) to supplement our retirement income.

But I still dream of moving to Hawaii - and even though she has said she doesn't want to move, just visit she has recently started talking about maybe looking into moving there, depending on her health, and whether she gets a transplant and so on.

Mickey - retired computer tech, part-time retail sales in a general store, and wannabe hot glass artist

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Eco tourism has a lot to do with the number of people who would really like to see a genuine jungle.

Hawaii (the island of) has that jungle, plus the real attraction of presenting no danger of being bitten by a Fer-de-lance or being eaten by a jaguar. Nice safe jungle experience, but still a real jungle.

Some of it is learning about sustainable living, but a lot of it is things like ziplining and seeing lots of waterfalls. Whale watching complete with lectures on conservation. Tourists get to congratulate themselves about how they walk lightly on the earth, leaving only footprints.

It's not just the young. Modern fit seniors do it, too.

I agree that if it were promoted just right, it would bring the tourist dollars flooding in. And that is generally a lot better class of tourist, careful about damage and concerned about the environment..

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by OpenD

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,

Community - Hawaii Tourism Authority

I realize that nobody is going to ask me or put me in charge, but if I wanted tourists, I would not wait for the Tourism Authority, which I am just going to assume is taking good care of Honolulu. I'd be organizing and promoting. There would be a local tourism board or visitor's center working their fingers to the bone, tapping those computer keys and making those phone calls to make things happen.

But, again, that is only if the island wants tourists. It is possible that they don't.

[whtviper1]

People who go to Belize for Eco-tourism go there for the adventure, how exotic it is, how cheap it is, and easy access from the East Coast and Midwest - they go to escape the US. Hawaii is hugely regulated with things you can't do and people aren't interested in that. And for the same reason pineapples aren't an industry in Hawaii you'd find the same issue with Eco-tourism, that $2,500 trip to Belize would be $5,000 in Hawaii with its expensive land, permits, insurance, and wages.

[dulcamara]

Interesting discussion across the board, thanks.

Just to mention my OP, it does seem that first assessment was a little hasty - after a string of discouraging replies to start, there were some more positive responses including setting up a handful of face-to-face meetings. Regardless of whether anything concrete results from them this trip, good to know at least some companies are in a position to be interested.

[Serengeti]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

I realize that nobody is going to ask me or put me in charge, but if I wanted tourists, I would not wait for the Tourism Authority, which I am just going to assume is taking good care of Honolulu. I'd be organizing and promoting. There would be a local tourism board or visitor's center working their fingers to the bone, tapping those computer keys and making those phone calls to make things happen.

But, again, that is only if the island wants tourists. It is possible that they don't.

This is why an idea has to be put in place, assessments made(not time consuming studies), proposals, community outreach, make calls, set up meeting with possible clients, get corporate backing(sponsors), gain funding for support & the proposal campaign, and start petitioning representatives.

Again, I for one, am not suggesting Oahu/Honolulu size development; but bring some manufacturing/industry, maybe relax gambling laws, other things previously discuss will take care of itself...infrastructure, research, wealth/jobs, medical, more modern shops/stores, hotels, resturants, warehousing, expanded port/shipping, etc.

Won't happen over night, much like Tunica, probably take about 7yrs, but get the ball rolling before another area beat you to it. I wouldn't wait on the Tourism authority either. Become a member or rub elbows and make suggestions, or move forward without them, and they would eventually get on board....however in that case, never let them take over, cause they will screw it up, when under the table money starts to flow.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Eco tourism has a lot to do with the number of people who would really like to see a genuine jungle.

I'm really talking about a different flavor of eco-tourism, with the emphasis on the Eco.

It was more than 20 years ago, while living in the Pacific NW, that I first encountered the Permaculture concepts of Bill Mollison et al. But it wasn't until a couple of years ago, when I moved to the Big Island, that I actually got to meet people who were successfully living by its principles.

Creating an integrated biological system which pulls together an entire closed cycle of vegetable hydroponics and fish culture, and possibly poultry as well, with total waste recycling on site is kind of an El Dorado vision for eco-geeks. But on the Big Island, people are actually making it happen.

It could happen anywhere, but it is happening already on the Island of Hawai'i so why not promote it as a form of niche tourism?

[Serengeti]

What are the type of Business and/or Jobs that many of you on the BI desire and/or would like to see?

Please Explain:

[deegeemaree]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Since the housing downturn in late 2005, there really haven't been more than two dozen job postings in the local newspaper. Sometimes it's been half that amount. I'm sure some of the lack of job listings could be from jobs being posted online somewhere, but this isn't a really computer oriented island so more than likely there just aren't that many to be posted.

Construction is still flat lined. There have been a few more building permits pulled this year than last, but they are now requiring solar installations to get permits so the increase in permits is probably from that.

It may not be all that good, but it doesn't seem to be getting much worse lately, if that's any consolation.

After reading through all the posts, I am very curious...There seem to be "plenty" of employment ads on Craigslist - even after weeding through the ones that even look like they could be a scam. Does anyone have any ideas on this? I've been "blue collar" my whole life - currently have my first admin. job (the money is nice, but....) and I am the sort of person to do what it takes to pay my way - lived in Alaska for three years and did just fine. Am I crazy to think that I should be able to find some sort of work and make this move work?

Thanks everyone....