How Much Tourism Is Too Much, and Who Decides?
HAWAII HAS A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH TOURISM. WHILE THE INDUSTRY GENERATES THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND PUMPS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO OUR ECONOMY IT ALSO COMES WITH TRAFFIC, CROWDS AND INTENSE FRUSTRATION AMONGST RESIDENTS. TONIGHT, WE ASK, HOW DO WE FIND BALANCE? KAKOU: HAWAII’S TOWN HALL IS NEXT. “THE NORTH SHORE IS CRUSHED BY TOURISM.” VISITORS HAVE RETURNED TO HAWAII AT AN UNEXPECTED, ALMOST FRANTIC PACE.
AT WHAT COST? “I’M NOT AGAINST TOURISM, I’M ALL FOR TOURISM. I’M JUST AGAINST UNCHECKED, UNREGULATED TOURISM.” TOURISM CRITICAL FOR LOCAL ECONOMY. IS IT DESTROYING ASSOCIATION FABRIC OF COMMUNITIES OVERRUN VACATIONERS. LEARNING OUR CULTURE.
FOR YEARS TALK ABOUT MANAGING TOURISM. >> SOMETHING TOO MUCH TOURISM. ALSO A THING CALLED BALANCE. SO, WE ASK THE QUESTION, ‘HOW MUCH TOURISM IS TOO MUCH, AND WHO DECIDES?’ PBS HAWAII’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF KAKOU: HAWAII’S TOWN HALL, STARTS NOW. >>Ron: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO KAKOU HAWAII'S TOWN HALL HAWAII’S TOWN HALL, LIVE FROM THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG MULTI MEDIA STUDIO. I’M RON MIZUTANI.
THE CLEAR PACIFIC OCEAN, OUR PRISTINE SANDY BEACHES AND FAMOUS ALOHA SPIRIT LURE MILLIONS TO OUR SHORES EVERY YEAR. DID YOU KNOW THE ALOHA SPIRIT IS AN EXISTING LAW ON THE BOOKS IN HAWAII? FROM CHAPTER 5 OF THE HAWAII REVISED STATUTES: “ALOHA SPIRIT IS THE COORDINATION OF MIND AND HEART WITHIN EACH PERSON. IT BRINGS EACH PERSON TO SELF. EACH PERSON MUST THINK AND EMOTE GOOD FEELINGS TO OTHERS.” IS ALOHA RUNNING THIN FOR OUR VISITORS? ARE SOME OF US BREAKING A STATE LAW? IN 2019, THE STATE HIT A NEW RECORD WHEN MORE THAN 10.4 MILLION VISITORS TRAVELED TO HAWAII.
THAT MEANT ON AVERAGE, THERE WERE NEARLY A QUARTER MILLION TOURISTS IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS ON ANY GIVEN DAY AND THAT NUMBER MAY HAVE KEPT CLIMBING, IF NOT FOR THE PANDEMIC WHICH CRUSHED TOURISM. THE VISITOR SHUTDOWN ALLOWED ISLAND RESIDENTS TO HAVE THEIR BEAUTIFUL STATE TO THEMSELVES. IT ALSO GAVE NATURE TIME TO HEAL AND THRIVE.
YET, FOR OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHOSE LIVELIHOODS DEPEND ON TOURISM, THE EFFECTS OF RESTRICTIONS WERE DEVASTATING…AND IT IS NOT OVER. KAKOU MEANS ALL OF US, AS IN – WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. SO, CAN WE FIND A TOURISM STRATEGY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS? TONIGHT, WE ARE TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO WE THINK CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS. WE ARE ALSO STREAMING LIVE AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND ON PBS HAWAII’S FACEBOOK PAGE.
TONIGHT OUR TOWN HALL GROUP IS APPEARING IN STUDIO AND VIA THE INTERNET. WE HAVE STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE INVITED ALL FOUR COUNTY MAYORS BUT KAUAI MAYOR DEREK KAWAKAMI AND HONOLULU MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALL OF OUR IN STUDIO GUESTS ARE (FULLY VACCINATED) AND HAVE THE OPTION OF LEAVING THEIR MASKS ON OR TAKING THEM OFF WHEN THEY SPEAK. I WANT TOO START WITH YOU MAHINA.
FROM THE AINA ALOHA ECONOMIC FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> MAHALO FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.
YEARS TALKING ABOUT GRASSROOTS EFFORTS. AND GRASSROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE. ARE THEY AT THE TABLE? ARE YOUR VOICES BEING HEARD? >> WE DON'T THINK SO. I THINK WE THINK THAT MORE EFFORTS WILL BEING HAD. TO WELCOME VOICE.
ABSOLUTELY NOT. PART OF REASON WHY WE FORMED AS A GROUP WAS WHEN OUR STATE OFFICIALS HAD CALLED FOR ECONOMIC NAVIGATOR AND ECONOMY NAVIGATOR, WHEN WE LOOKED AROUND THE TABLE, WE DIDN'T SEE THE EVERY DAY WORKING CLASS PERSON REPRESENTED. TEACHERS, WHERE WERE THE NURSES? WHERE WERE THE REGULAR HARD WORKING FOLKS? SO I AINA ALOHA REALLY IS CALLING FOR KULIOUOU OR TRANSFORMATION. TRANSFORMATION IS FIRST GROUNDED IN A COLLECTIVE VISION. YOU STATED ALOHA AND PART ALSO PART OF OUR STATE MOTTO.
(HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE). WE BELIEVE WITH THE COLLECTIVE VISION GROUNDED IN A DEEP AND ABIDING LOVE AND LOYALTY FOR OUR HOMELAND, WE CAN COME TOGETHER MORE COLLABORATIVELY. WE CERTAINLY DO NOT THINK THAT COMMUNITY IS WELCOMED.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF, WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF MISTRUST AMONG BIG BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REBUILD TRUST. >>Ron: THAT'S WHY WE ASSEMBLED THIS GROUP TONIGHT. I DO BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS VERY MUCH POSSIBLE.
SHAME ON US IF WE DON'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOVERNMENT BUY IN. TURN TO YOU JOE. FROM HANALEI INITIATIVE. IMPETUS OF YOUR INITIATIVE WAS A STORM. OF APRIL, 2018 BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY SHUTDOWN. FOLKS SEEING THIS VIDEO, PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY. MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE WITH US HOW THAT ALL CAME ABOUT. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. SHARING THAT.
I AGREE WITH YOU. COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE AT THE TABLE. WHEN YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS THAT IS, LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES, SO SPECIAL, HAENA. REALLY LOVED TO DEATH OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES.
WHEN THE STORM CAME IN 2018, WENT FROM THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DOWN TO NONE. WE REALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESET THE ENVIRONMENT. AND WORK TOGETHER COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE. >>Ron: WITHOUT COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE COMMUNITY BORNE. YOU REALLY NEED TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
>> YEAH. COMMUNITY GUIDED. BUT I MEAN, COMMUNITY LED, GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED OUR MOTTO. COMMUNITY HAS TO LEAD. IN HAENA, THERE'S A VERY VOCAL COMMUNITY. THE PLACE IS SO SPECIAL, IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE PLACE FIRST, MAKE THAT THE PRIORITY, FROM THE PEOPLE FROM THE PLACE, VISITOR WHEN THEY COME BACK IN, REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
>>Ron: I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE DEEPER ABOUT FEES AND HOW THIS COME TO FRUITION IN HANALEI AND HAENA. VALLEY ISLE, HANA HIGHWAY REGULATION. YOU'RE A LIFER IF YOU WILL, OF THAT AREA. ALSO HAVE SEEN TRANSFORMATION AN INCREDIBLE VOLUME, WHEN IT COMES TO TO HANA HIGHWAY. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THAT IS ALL COME TO FRUITION. ALSO HOW SOCIAL MEDIA HAS REALLY IMPACTED ISLANDS AND ESPECIALLY THE VOLUME TO YOUR SIDE OF THE ISLAND.
>> ALOHA! THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. ALOHA. 2016, OUR ORGANIZATION WAS BORNE BECAUSE WE FELT QUANTITY OF THE VISITOR INDUSTRY BEARED DOWN ON US IN EAST MAUI. RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER HAS DEFINITE BEEN DETRAMENT UPON OUR COMMUNITY. ACTUALLY HAD TO FORM WEB SURVEILLANCE TO MONITOR THE CHANNELS ONLINE.
AND DO A LOT OF ADVOCACY, HELPING INFLUENCERS, CONVINCING THEM TO BRING DOWN THE CONTENT THAT SHOWS VISITORS HOW TO GET TO PLACES THAT ARE LOCATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT BRING SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS TO HAWAII MAKE IT A PART OF THEIR POLICY TO ENSURE THAT THESE INFLUENCERS ARE NOT VIOLATING COMMUNITY POLICIES THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS. >>Ron: WELL SAID. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING. >> CINDY, YOU'VE BEEN ADVOCATE FOR THIS EFFORT FOR SO VERY LONG. KAHALUU BAY EDUCATION CENTER, ACTUALLY AIMED TO CREATE THIS CONNECTION AND THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HAWAII COUNTY OFFICIALS. YOU FOUND STRATEGIES MAKING FOLKS MORE AWARE OF EDUCATION AS FAR AS AS OPPOSED ENFORCEMENT. HOW DID THAT ALL COME TO FRUITION FOR YOURSELVES? >> I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT OUR VISITORS TO AND THIS I'M TALKING ABOUT KAHALUU BEACH PARK ON HAWAII ISLAND. ALSO, ON OTHER VERY IMPORTANT LOCATIONS ON HAWAII ISLAND.
VISITORS WHEN THEY APPROACH US, OR VISIT OUR BAY, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT OUR FOUNDATION AND ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE ALOHA AMBASSADORS. THAT IS THE FOUNDATION TO EDUCATION, AND WELCOMING OUR VISITORS. AND WHEN I STARTED THIS PROGRAM, BACK IN 2006, I REALIZED THAT IF YOU WERE TO APPROACH SOMEONE IN A LOVING WAY, THEY WILL EMBRACE YOU AND THEY WILL TRY THEIR VERY BEST TO HELP PROTECT THE BAY. UNFORTUNATELY, KAHALUU IS 4.2 ACRE PARK. RECEIVED PROCOVID, OVER 400,000 VISITORS A YEAR.
AND THAT IS A LOT OF VISITORS. THEY WERE LOVING THE BAY TO DEATH. SO I AM SO FORTUNATE AND GLAD THAT MAYOR ROTH IS IN OFFICE NOW. AND WE'RE ABLE TO TALK WITH EACH OTHER, TALK WITH HIS OFFICIALS AND LOOK AT SOME PROJECTS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED NOW.
NOT JUST TALK ABOUT, BUT IMPLEMENTED, THAT CAN HELP MANAGE CARRYING CAPACITY. AND CARRYING CAPACITY SHOULD BE LIMITED TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, RATHER THAN FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. >>Ron: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT.
MAYOR ROTH JOINING VIA ZOOM. YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE BUILT AND HOW EFFECTIVE THAT CAN BE IN FINDING SOLUTIONS. >> YOU KNOW, PRIORY TO BEING MAYOR, I WAS PROSECUTOR. MUCH OF MY CAREER WAS COMMUNITY OR ENTERED PROSECUTOR.
>> MEANT BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. FIRST 100 DAYS, HAD A PLEDGE TO PUT ON SUSTAINABLE SUMMIT. WE DID DO THAT. WE HAD ABOUT 2,300 PEOPLE JOIN US FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS ONLINE.
FOR 2 DAYS. COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. TOURISM WAS ONE OF THEM. AND WE'RE WORKING ON OUR MAP PLAN, DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN.
WITH THE HAWAII VISITORS, HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY. AS WELL AS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. DMAP PLAN. GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IS A HUGE PART OF SOLVING PROBLEM. HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH TOURISM. >>Ron: TRANSITION RIGHT INTO YOU, JOHN.
JOHN DE FRIES JOINING US. HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY. IT'S ABOUT MANAGEMENT PLANS. BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT EXECUTION. GET BUY IN FROM COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL.
HAS TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE. >> I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. I THINK IMPORTANT KEY WORD HERE IS TRUST. MOST IMPORTANT CURRENCY IN OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE AND LEARN FROM COMMUNITY. MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN PROVIDED FRAMEWORK FOR EACH ISLAND, FOR HTA WAS ABLE TO CONVENE CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR VERY DIVERSE GROUPS ON EACH ISLAND TO BE ABLE TO DEBATE AND DISCUSS WHAT THE FUTURE OF TOURISM WOULD LOOK LIKE SHOULD LOOK LIKE, ON EACH OF THEIR ISLANDS. YOU'LL FIND THOSE PLANS ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THERE ARE ACTIONABLE ITEMS AND SUBACTIONS EACH OF YEAR FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS. AND THE PLANS BELONG TO EACH COMMUNITY. WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION TAKES PLACE. AND RESOURCES ARE DIRECTED WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. >>Ron: I WANT TO GET BACK TO OUR VISITOR OFFICIALS ON ZOOM. I WANT TO TURN TO YOU.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ALREADY. FOLKS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO PHONE IN YOUR QUESTIONS. QUESTION FROM MIKE FROM MAKIKI.
IF THE GOVERNOR TELLING VISITORS NOT COME HOW DOES HE EXPECT US TO SURVIVE THIS IS ONGOING TO CONTINUE FOREVER. TO SURVIVE. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT SURGE THAT WE SAW IN THE SUMMER IS PAU. >> YES. I MEAN, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN IS THAT FOR VISITORS IN U.S., WHO ARE USED TO TRAVELING TO CANADA, NUMBER 2 DESTINATION THAT THEY TRAVEL TO WAS CLOSED.
ASIA IS CLOSED. PARTS OF MEXICO WAS CLOSED. VIEW WAS VIEWED SAFE, DESIRABLE, EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME HERE.
INCREDIBLE RUSH IN JUNE AND JULY. ALREADY TAPERED OFF. CANADA REOPENED, PEOPLE HAVE FOR BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOL. THAT HAS SETTLED DOWN. CHALLENGE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE IS CONFUSING. EITHER PUT RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO PUT TESTING AND WHATEVER IT IS, IS THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE RULES.
IF YOU TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND CANNOT DO, THEY'LL FOLLOW. BUT IF YOU GIVE THEM MESSAGES THAT ARE VERY HARD TO INTERPRET, THEY MAY NOT COME OR YOU'LL GET THE WRONG VISITORS COMING WHICH IS THE LAST THING WE WANT. >>Ron: A LOT OF FOLKS SAID THAT SOON A DIFFERENT VISITOR IF YOU WILL, IF WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER WITH SOME COLLABORATION, FIND STRATEGIES MANY INCLUDING FEES THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY. I WANT TO TURN TO YOU. ASK YOU THE QUESTION.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT KAHULUI AIRPORT, THAT PROMPTED YOU TO SAY THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MADE NATIONAL NEWS. TO PAUSE TOURISM. MAYBE THAT WAS NOT THE RIGHT WORDS BUT THAT WAS THE MESSAGE AT THE TIME. JUST YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU RON. AND EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. FIRST OF ALL, AT THAT TIME, THE AIRPORT WAS BEING TAXED TREMENDOUSLY, PRETEST AND POST ARRIVAL TEST THAT ALL CHECK INS AND SYSTEMS THAT WERE IN PLACE. OUR AIRPORT HAS NOT EXPANDED FOR OVER 25 YEARS. IT IS STILL THE BASIC AIRPORT THAT KAHULUI. NOT LIKE OAHU, JUST HAD A BIG EXPANSION.
FIRST TIME I THINK IN 20 OR 25 YEARS. THAT I SAW YOU PETER ON THE NEWS TONIGHT. AND WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT EXPANSION.
WE HAVEN'T. SO WE WERE BEING PRESSURED. TOO MANY PEOPLE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. SO THE PAUSE WAS REALLY BASED UPON THESE AIRLINES OFFERING VERY INEXPENSIVE BARGAIN RATE TRAVEL AND OTHER INCENTIVES THAT WERE REALLY HURTING US.
BUT I HAVE SEEN THE SAME THING AS MANY MENTIONED EARLIER. BIG SURGE, BIG PENT UP DEMAND HAS FALLEN OFF AND WITH THE ALSO THE PANDEMIC AND THE DELTA VARIANT MOVING QUICKLY, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW CHANGING THEIR PLANS OR NOT COMING AT ALL. SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE A MORE LEVELING OFF. GIVE US MORE TIME TO WORK ON OUR PLANS THAT WE ORIGINALLY INITIATED TO GET UNDERWAY. SO WE CAN MAKE A MANAGED VERY, VERY SUSTAINABLE VISITOR INDUSTRY.
>>Ron: MAYOR VICTORINO, THANK YOU. MUFI HANNEMANN, I WANT TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION. WE'VE SEEN WHAT KEITH TALKED ABOUT. SOME PEOPLE ALREADY CANCELING. SOME PEOPLE CHANGING.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN OUR INTERNATIONAL OF TRAVELERS WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN THEN. >> THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT STRIKING A BALANCE. CERTAINLY, WE WANT TO HAVE A SITUATION WHEREBY PEOPLE CAN COME TO HAWAII. IT IS NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.
THOSE SAYING TOO MANY TOURISTS AND THE LIKE. ALSO BEEN WEARING A HAT THAT HAS BEEN IN GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN BANDIED ABOUT THROUGH THE YEAR. TOURISM. WHAT WE'VE SEEN THAT SURGE, WE'RE NOW HITTING A SHOULDER SEASONING IF YOU WILL. TOURISM WILL SLOW DOWN.
AND THE NUMBERS WILL BEAR THAT OUT. SO AS LONG AS WE KNOW THAT THAT BALANCE CAN BE MAINTAINED, BETWEEN HAVING A SAFE AND AT THE SAME TIME, LOOK TO TOURISM, TO BRING TOURISTS HERE, WITH THE AIRLINES, THE HOTELS, ACCOMMODATING THEM, AND THEN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS THE BOARD. IT CAN'T BE JUST ONE TYPE OF TOURISTS COMES HERE.
>> WE WANT TO SEE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM RECOVERY. WE WANT TO SEE TOURISTS COME HERE AND RESPECT THE LAND. RESPECT US WHAT WE ARE. AND NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THINGS. SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SAY BALANCE. WHERE HTLA COMES IN.
ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE WE WILL HAVE THIS BALANCE, PUT PEOPLE AND THEN NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TOURISM SITUATION. >>Ron: THANK YOU. I WANT TO TURN TO PETER, HAWAIIAN AIRLINES. CEO AND PRESIDENT JOINING US TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. YOU ARE THE VESSEL BRINGS OUR VISITORS HERE AND GIVES US ECONOMY. GIVES US REVENUE. ALSO YOU'RE VERY INTERESTING PLAYER WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY. YOU HEAR THE MAYOR, YOU FOLKS WERE WORKING WITH HIM TO FIND SOLUTIONS. STARTS THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE OKOLE TO COME IN THE SEES TO GET TO THE ISLANDS.
YOUR THOUGHTS? >> I WOULD ECHO THE WORD THAT MUFI USED. WHICH IS BALANCE. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I HEARD THE WORD BALANCE EARLIER TONIGHT. FROM THE COMMUNITY LEADERS.
I THINK WE, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR US SPEAKING VERY MUCH THE SAME LANGUAGE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS PLACE. THAT WE THINK ABOUT PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SO PRECIOUS. THE OCEAN THAT IS SO PRECIOUS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK ABOUT SUSTAINING CULTURE THAT'S SO PRECIOUS. BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE SUSTAIN HAWAII ECONOMICALLY WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WHEN TOURISM WAS SHUTDOWN VERY QUICKLY AND ABRUPTLY.
WENT FROM LESS THAN 5% UNEMPLOYMENT TO 35% UNEMPLOYMENT. VIRTUALLY OVERNIGHT. IT'S NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WORKING FOR COMPANIES LIKE HAWAIIAN AIRLINES OR THE HOTELS. THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED US FROM MASSIVE REDUCTIONS IN REVENUE TO STATE GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT WAS A FEDERAL BAILOUT THAT WAS UNPRECEDENTED IN SIZE AND SCALE. SO WE'VE GOT IT FIGURE OUT HOW IT MAKE ALL OF THAT WORK.
BALANCE I THINK KEY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COME UP WITH GOOD LONG TERM SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES. >>Ron: BALANCE BUT ALSO EDUCATION. KAMAHOY ON INSTAGRAM. ASKS.
WHAT IF INBOUND FLIGHTS HERE MANDATED TO SCREEN FILMS ABOUT RESPONSIBLE VISITING? HEARD THAT CRY BEFORE. IT SEEMS LIKE AN EASY FIX. YOUR THOUGHTS? >> IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE MESSAGING THAT WE HAVE ON AIRPLANES. WE DON'T HAVE SCREENS ON ALL OFF YOU ARE AIRPLANES. WE HAVE BEAMED SOME MESSAGES TO PEOPLE'S IPADS.
WE CAN'T COMPEL THEM TO LOOK AT IT. BUT WE HAVE PROMOTED AND STARTED THIS LAST YEARS, SOMETHING THAT WE REFER TO AS TRAVEL PONO. ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY THEY'RE VISITING AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD VISITOR. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN GET THAT MESSAGE TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON WOULD GETS ON THE AIRPLANE.
I THINK WE'RE ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN CARRYING THOSE MESSAGES FORWARD. >>Ron: THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.
SHEILA HAS ASKED TONIGHT, HOW DO YOU INFORM TOURISTS TO BE RESPECTFUL? PEOPLE DON'T PACK A BOTTLE OF RESPECT PILL WHEN IS THEY TRAVEL. EITHER RAISED TO BE RESPECTFUL OR THEY'RE NOT. IF YOU DON'T MIND ANSWERING THAT. YOU SEE IT IN YOUR PARKS.
SEEN IT IN YOUR TRAILS. OLD CAPACITY. WE DEFINITELY HAVE SEEN IT ONCE THAT BOOM CAME BACK IN THE SUMMER. >> YEAH. INTERESTING IDEA. TERM BALANCE IS CRITICAL.
BUT COMING AT IT FROM A GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, I'M A LITTLE JADED IN THAT I'VE SEEN BEHAVIOR ESSENTIALLY DETERIORATE OVER THE YEARS. AND THE DIFFERENT MARKETS BRING IN DIFFERENT BEHAVIOR. I LIKE THE IDEA OF MESSAGING ON AIRCRAFT. IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CAN MESSAGE, WE HAVE SIGNS AT OUR STATE PARKS WITH A WHOLE PLETHORA OF BE RESPECTFUL, HERE IS THE INTERPRETER INFORMATION, A LOT PEOPLE JUST DO THAT'S. THEY KIND OF CHECK THEIR MORALS I THINK SOMETIMES AT THE HOTEL AND THEY GO OUT AND THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
IT'S UPHILL BATTLE BECAUSE STATE PARKS, WE ARE THE BEST NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES THAT ARE THE ATTRACTERS. AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF LET'S REDUCE PATRONAGE AND TRY TO RESTORE THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE RECREATIONAL ELEMENT AND A LOT OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS KEALAKEKUA OR HAENA REALLY IMPORTANT CULTURAL SITES. AND WE'VE GONE SO FAR OVER THE PROMOTING RECREATION OVER SANCTITY OF CULTURAL SITES. GIVES US REBOOT TO FIND BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN TOURISM AND RECREATION AND RESPECT OF HOST CULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED. >>Ron: THANK YOU.
VERY WELL SAID. KURT AND I GO WAY BACK. BOY, WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD TIMES TOGETHER APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. HOW DO WE INCREASE THE QUALITY OF TOURISM? THEME TONIGHT.
INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE NUMBERS QUALITY OF TOURISM. WENDY JOIN US FROM KAILUA KONA. HOW DO YOU THAT? EVEN IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE LIKE KONA, OR EVEN HILO OR ANY PARTS OF HAWAII ISLAND. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THAT? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE? >> POSSIBLE TO DO WHAT? >>Ron: TO INCREASE THE QUALITY. >> SORRY. OKAY.
THANK YOU. >>Ron: ALMOST A DEFINED, EVERYBODY HAS THAT LOOSELY DEFINED. >> YEAH.
WELL, I THINK EDUCATION. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND WHERE THAT COMES FROM, CAN COME FROM MULTIPLE DIFFERENT VENUES. COME ON THE AIRPLANE. IT CAN COME FROM THE HOTEL LODGING, SERVERS AT THE RESTAURANTS.
IT CAN COME FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES. SOCIAL MEDIA CERTAINLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY HARD TO MANAGE. I THINK IT'S STARTS WITH THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY. AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE HAWAII ISLAND STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN.
AND WE WORK REALLY HARD ON THOSE PLANS. AND THEY TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED MANY MANY DIFFERENT VOICES. I THINK IT REALLY STARTS WITH SEEING WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY WANTS, GETTING THE COMMUNITY BUY IN, AND THEN EDUCATING ACTUALLY YOUR RESIDENT AND THOSE INTERFACE WITH VISITORS BECAUSE THE VISITORS ARE LEARNING FROM THEM. >>Ron: I WANT TO TURN OUR SERVICE INDUSTRY NOW. YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? >> COMES FROM MARKETING.
GOING AFTER YOUR TARGET CUSTOMER. WHY I WAS SO CONCERNING WHEN HTA BUDGETS MONEY WAS REMOVED. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WE DON'T NEED. MARKETING.
WE NEED MORE MARKETING THAN EVER BECAUSE WE WANT THE RIGHT VISITORS. IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO SPEND, BE RESPECTFUL. YOU FIND THOSE PEOPLE. PARTNERSHIPS WITH AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDS OR DIFFERENT KIND OF TRAVEL PARTNERS HAWAIIAN AIR. WILL HELP YOU FIND THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO ARE EDUCATED, SOMEWHAT SOPHISTICATED RESPECTFUL COME HERE AND LEARN MORE THE CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE. >> YOU HAVE TO MARKET.
YOU CANNOT GO LIKE OUR LEGISLATORS CURRENTLY SAYING WE DON'T NEED MARKETING. WE'RE SO BUSY. THAT'S JUST DUMB.
THANK YOU. TINA FROM THE RETAIL MERCHANTS. YOUR LENS ON THIS. AS WE TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION.
TALK ABOUT STRATEGIES. IN THE MEANTIME FOLKS NOT GOTTEN JOBS BACK. STORES CLOSED. WE'LL TALK ABOUT RESTAURANTS.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE IN OUR MERCHANTS, RETAIL AND EVERY PLACE ELSE? >> FOR US, REALLY LOOKING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COME IN AND APPLY FOR JOBS. THERE ARE SOME JOB OPENINGS. RETAIL RIGHT NOW A LOT OF RETAILERS ARE MAKING 40% WHAT THEY DID IN 2019. THE MONEY ISN'T THERE.
PEOPLE ARE NOT SPENDING. WE HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENT CUSTOMER LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID HERE. CALL THEM THE MCVISITORS. THEY COME HERE ON A BUDGET. IT'S NOT OUR NORMAL VISITORS.
THEY COME IN, THEY REC OUR STORES. THEY DON'T EVEN HANG THE CLOTHES BACK UP ON THE RACKS. NOT SPENDING THE MONEY.
WE THINK WE NEED TO FIND THE CORRECT VISITORS LIKE KEITH HAS SAID. THAT ARE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY. SO WE CAN BRING BACK MORE PEOPLE. TO GET MORE JOBS. AN OPEN IT UP MORE. WE ALSO GOT TO WAIT TOO BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF IT IS DEPENDENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR.
LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS, STORY OF THE $20 BILL. VISITOR COMES. PAYS FOR THE HOTEL ROOM WITH THE $20 BILL. HOTEL PAYS THE FRONT DESK CLERK. FRONT DESK CLERK BUYS A PLATE LUNCH.
PLATE LUNCH PERSON BUYS A VEGETABLE. VEGETABLE PERSON GOES AND PAYS THE DELIVERY GUY TO BRING THE VEGETABLES. DELIVERY GUYS TAKES THE TWENTY DOLLARS, BUYS SHOES FOR HIS KID. ALL INTERTWINED IN SOME WAY. WE NEED TO FIND A GREAT BALANCE. GETTING MORE BETTER VISITORS.
>>Ron: GET TO YOU. GREG, MAYBE YOU CAN WEIGH IN FROM THE RESTAURANT POINT OF VIEW. HOW THAT IS IMPACTING YOU AND WHAT TINA HAD TO SAY AS WELL AS TALKING ABOUT LOCAL RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OUR OWN HAWAII. A LOT OF FOLKS CAN'T GET A RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS. WE REALLY HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN OUR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS YET. >> YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY WAS DEVASTATED DURING THE HEAT OF THE PANDEMIC. LEARNED VERY MUCH AS A RESTAURANT INDUSTRY HOW MUCH WE RELIED ON TOURISM. ESPECIALLY OFF IN RURAL AREA.
WE SAW 30, 40% OF THE RESTAURANTS CLOSE AND WE ANTICIPATE THOSE RESTAURANTS CONTINUING TO CLOSE. REMEMBER, THESE FOLKS THAT ONLY 2/3, I'M SORRY, ONLY 1 WILL 3 OF ALL THE RESTAURANTS IN HAWAII RECEIVE ANY KIND OF MONEY IN PPP OR IDLE OR ANYTHING. 2/3 RECEIVE NOTHING. THEY'RE STILL MOUNDS OF DEBT, MOUND OF RENT THAT NEEDS TO BE PAID.
AND WE HAVE A STAFFING SHORTAGE. WE HAVE CAPACITY ISSUES. ND SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS. WE DID SEE A SURGE WITH THE TOURISM AND DID SEE RESTAURANTS, THEY WERE PACKED. COULDN'T GET A RESERVATIONS.
BUT IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF THOSE THREE THINGS. CAPACITY, BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND BECAUSE OF OUR STAFFING AND CAPACITY. SO GOING FORWARD, WE KNOW WE'RE RELIANT ON TOURISM. AND WE, OTHER THING I WANT TO BACK UP AND SAY, SO MANY OF OUR RESTAURANTS IN THE CULINARY WORLD RELY ON LOCAL FARMS FOR THEIR FOOD. AS TINA SAID, WHEN TOURISM GOES DOWN, OR IS AFFECTED IN ANY WAY, IT JUST BACKS RIGHT UP THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
RIGHT BACK UP THE SUPPLY CHAIN. >>Ron: YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS YOU WANTED TO SHARE? >> YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO CAUTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT READING TOO MUCH IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE VISITOR OF THE SUMMER OF 2021.
AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS BACK. >> INTERNATIONAL VISITORS WILL COME BACK. THAT WILL CHANGE OUR DEMOGRAPHICS. IF YOU LOOKED AT WHO WAS BOOKING TRAVEL EARLIER THIS YEAR, STARTED TO CHANGE AS WE GOT TOWARDS SUMMER, IT WAS A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE.
AND FEWER OLDER PEOPLE. BEFORE VACCINES BECAME WIDELY AVAILABLE, THESE 60 YEAR OLD, 50 YEAR OLDS WERE MORE HESITANT TO TRAVEL THAN PEOPLE IN THEIR 20'S AND 30'S. THAT STARTED TO NORMALIZE AGAIN.
AS KEITH TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WE HAD DIFFERENCES IN DESTINATIONS THAT WERE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM THE U.S. MAINLAND. SO I THINK TRYING TO EXTRAPOLATE FROM THE SUMMER OF 2021 IS A DANGEROUS GAME BECAUSE IT IS UNUSUAL YEAR. FRANKLY, ONE I HOPE NONE OF US HAVE GO THROUGH AGAIN. >>Ron: TEEN TEAM, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF VISITOR ARRIVING WE SEE TRAFFIC ON THE NORTH SHORE UNPRECEDENTED. SOLUTIONS IS I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. ESPECIALLY AT LANIAKEA BEACH.
SEE EVERYBODY THERE TO SEE A YOU TURTLE. SOME OF THEM COULD BE IN OUR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. HOW DO YOU FIND THAT BALANCE? >> NOT SURE SHOUT! OUT TO JOHN AT HTA.
COMING TO OUR BOARD IN NOVEMBER. TALK ABOUT THEIR DMAP FOR OAHU AND HOW WE ON NORTH SHORE CAN BE A PART OF THAT. IN THAT EXECUTION. IT'S BEEN HORRENDOUS FOR US ON THE NORTH SHORE. >> REALLY BAD. BIG SHOUT OUT TO JOEL AND NAPUA FOR THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
LOOK TO YOU AS MODELS. OF HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. ON THE NORTH SHORE. IT WAS JUST LANIAKEA IS THE WORSE.
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST BOTTLENECK AND WE HAVE SOME REALLY BAD ISSUES WITH GOVERNMENT NOT, WE DON'T FEEL SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT. ON THAT ISSUE. NOAA AND SORRY, KURT, DON'T MEAN TO THROW DLNR UNDER THE BUS. BUT WE'RE NOT SUPPORTED BY EITHER ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW. I FEEL FOR KURT. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE TRESPASS AND NOT BE RESPECTFUL AND WE DID SEE THE VISITORS THIS YEAR.
WAS NOT RESPECTFUL. AND NAPUA YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. THE GUIDE BOOK STARTED IT YEARS AGO. SOCIAL MEDIA JUST TOOK THAT NEXT LEVEL.
SO HOPEFULLY, OUR WORK WITH HTA WILL HELP UNDO SOME OF THAT CRAZINESS. NAPUA, AND JOEL, WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU GUYS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>>Ron: THANK YOU. SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN MIRROR. YOU'RE ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT.
AT THE END OF DAY, SEEN JOBS DISAPPEAR AT HOTEL. AND NEVER TO RETURN. AGAIN, HOW DO YOU FIGHT FOR YOUR FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING DECENT LIVING WITHOUT LOSING THEIR JOBS? AGAIN, INTERNATIONAL VISITORS HAVEN'T EVEN COME BACK YET. ASKING OUR STAFF TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS. HAVING TO ASK FOR A HOUSEKEEPER CLEAN YOUR ROOM. WHERE HAS THE ALOHA GONE? >> ALOHA LEFT HOME.
WITH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BALANCE, SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC BALANCE THAT EXISTS. TRUTH IS PEOPLE JUDGE TOURISM BY PERCEPTION OF THE BENEFIT VERSUS THE IMPACT ON US. OBVIOUSLY, IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN SEVERE. THE TRUTH IS THE BENEFITS OF TOURISM HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE SCARCE.
SINCE BETWEEN THE LAST 20 YEARS LEADING UP TO 2019, THE VISITOR ARRIVALS INCREASED ABOUT 52%. AND THE TOURISM EMPLOYMENT INCREASED ONLY BY 10%. SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS INCREASING DISPARITY BETWEEN NUMBER OF TOURISTS AND THE BENEFIT THAT IS GENERATED TO HAWAII.
IT WAS JUST POINTED OUT. PEOPLE GOT TO MAKE THE FRONT DESK CLERK GOT TO GET SOME OF THAT 20 BUCKS OR DOESN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OR ANY OTHER PLACES. FACT OF THE MATTER IS, TOURISM HAS BROUGHT IN MORE AND MORE TOURISTS AND FEWER AND FEWER JOBS.
THAT TREND HAS GOTTEN A LOT, LOT WORSE IN 2021. WE'VE SEEN MAJOR CORPORATE HOTEL EMPLOYERS OWNERS AND OPERATORS ELIMINATING DAILY ROOM CLEANING, BASICALLY REDUCING THE VALUE OF THE PACKAGE THAT TOURISM IS BUYING. AND WHY WOULD PAY FOR A HOTEL ROOM. IF I GOT TO CLEAN A ROOM. WHY DON'T GO A VACATION RENTAL.
MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT. SEEING HIGH NUMBER OF TOURISTS. YET HOTEL OCCUPANCY IS DROPPING OFF PRECIPITOUSLY. LEADERS OF OUR INDUSTRY ARE NOT ACTING RESPONSIBLY.
TO THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII. IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TOURISM, WE HAVE TO THE JOBS THAT MAKE IT WORTHWHILE FOR US. ABSOLUTELY IMPROPER FOR TOURISTS BOSSES TO ELIMINATE JOBS AND ELIMINATE SERVICES HOTEL. HOTEL SAID WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE THIS. LOCK THESE IN LONGTERM TO GET BENEFITS FOR OUR INVESTORS. NO SURPISE.
TALKING ABOUT FOR A YEAR. PLAYING OUT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES. THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN BROUGHT BACK AND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAILY HOUSEKEEPING NONDAILY HOUSEKEEPING IS ABOUT 20%. OF THE WORKFORCE. >>Ron: ALL SCREAMING DIVERSITY. AND CORAL, I WANT TO TURN TO YOU.
TALKING ABOUT MY LIFETIME. IF YOU WILL. IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE? CONSIDER THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE GENERATED BY THE VISITOR INDUSTRY. HOW DO WE DIVERSIFY? DO WE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDST OF COVID IN.
>> MAHALO FOR TOUGH QUESTION. >> TALKING ABOUT DIVERSIFYING ECONOMY. NOT WE, BUT PEOPLE IN HAWAII. FOR LONGER MUCH LONGER THAN YOU AND I HAVE BEEN ALIVE.
ALL THE BACK WHEN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT DIVERSIFYING FROM BIG AG. SUGAR AND PINEAPPLE. TOURISM WAS THE SOLUTION AT THE TIME. AND SO ONE THING REALLY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IS DIVERSIFICATION IS SOMETHING THAT TAKES AN EXTREMELY LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THERE ARE NO MAGIC WANDS.
CAN'T FLIP A LIGHT SWITCH AND SUDDENLY, DIVERSIFY AWAY FROM INDUSTRY AS IMPORTANT AND AS LARGE AS TOURISM IS. IF I CAN, I WONDER IF YOU COULD COME BACK TO THE TITLE OF THE SHOW. HOW MUCH TOURISM IS TOO MUCH? AND THE SIZE.
I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN, A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT.ABOUT BALANCE, AND ABOUT COMMUNITY. AND THOSE ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. NOT THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD.
HISTORICALLY. COMMUNITY HASN'T BEEN IN THE TABLE IN MUCH. DECISION MAKING.
AND HOW MUCH IS TOO MANY. I THINK THAT'S REALLY NOT THE RIGHT QUESTION. I THINK THE RIGHT QUESTION IS HOW DO WE MANAGE NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS THAT COME WITH ANY NUMBER OF TOURISTS BECAUSE ANY TIME YOU ADD MORE PEOPLE TO OUR HIKING TRAILS OR TO OUR BEACHES, THERE WILL BE IMPACTS. IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1988, WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY, 40% OF THE RESIDENTS WERE FELT LIKE TOURISM WAS REALLY NOT BETTER FOR THEM THAN ALTERNATIVES.
SO EVEN BACK IN 1988, WHEN WE HAD AROUND 6 MILLION VISITORS, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD FELT LIKE THEY REALLY WEREN'T BEING SERVED. WHAT IS MISSING IS OVERARCHING JUST A PLAN, BUT EXECUTION. SO AND I THROW OUT A CLICHE. YOU MANAGE WHAT YOU MEASURE.
IT WOULD BE AS PART OF THESE MANAGEMENT PLANS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC LOCATION. HEARD A LOT OF STORIES TONIGHT, WE SHOULD BE MEASURING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS AT EVERY ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS WHERE WE HAVE HOT SPOTS. TRACKING IT. WHETHER IT'S KAHALUU BAY. TRACK THAT OVER TIME.
IF YOU DON'T MEASURE AND TRACK IT, YOU CAN'T SEE WHETHER YOU'RE MAKING ANY PROGRESS. >> WE HAVE TRACKED IT. TRACKED FOR YEARS. >> WE HAVEN'T TRACK ALL OF THE IMPACTS. RIGHT? I'M TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING. >> I HAVE.
WATER QUALITY. TESTING. I MEAN ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE. >> THE STATE, I AGREE.
KAHALUU, I THINK YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS VERY IMPORTANT. WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW CAN WE BALANCE THIS BY DIVERSITY WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY, WE NEED TO FIND AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE REALISTIC ON THE GROUND, TODAY. NOT TEN YEARS FROM NOW. TWO YEARS FROM NOW. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, WORKING WITH NATURAL PARK SERVICE, DAR AND ALSO OCCL, IS SNORKLE TRAIL.
WHERE VISITORS CAN ACTUALLY BE GUIDED INTO AN AREA SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A REWARDING EXPERIENCE AT THE END OF THE SNORKEL TRAIL BUT NOT TRAMPLING ALL OVER THE BAIL. WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THESE. ALL OVER THE BAY. WE TALKED ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS FOR YEARS.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD THEM ALL IN PLACE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOT SPOTS. THOSE PLANS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACE BEFORE WE OPENED UP ON OCTOBER 15. I THINK PEOPLE AGREE WITH YOU. BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE SAY, WE MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY. OTHERS SAY WE CAPITALIZED ON IT.
MADE THE MOST OF IT. I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO THIS ONE. YOU TALK ABOUT DIVERSIFICATION AS WELL.
IMPETUS OF WHAT YOU INTRODUCED VETOED BY THE MAYOR. YOUR GOAL WAS TO BUILD HOMES FOR RESIDENTS. DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY.
AND NOT SO MUCH FOCUS ON THE HOTELS. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. >> YOU'RE RIGHT.
I WANT TO AGREE WITH PETER. >> CONFLATING A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH TOURISM WITH COVID. A LOT OF UNUSUAL THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THAT AREN'T NORMAL. THIS ISSUE OF OVERTOURISM STARTED BACK IN BECOME VOCAL ON MAUI 2018 2019. >> IT'S NOT A NEW ISSUE THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COVID.
COVID MADE US REALIZE WHAT WE COULD HAVE IF WE GOT BACK TO NORMAL NUMBERS. SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING ON DIVERSIFYING ECONOMY FOR A LONG TIME. I STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT WHEN I GOT ON THE COUNCIL 2017.
I DIDN'T GET MUCH SUPPORT FOR IT BACK THEN. I'M SEEING A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES ESPECIALLY WITH GROUPS LIKE AINA ALOHA FUTURES. AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT RIGHT NOW. SO THAT WE'RE NOT SO DEPENDENT ON TOURISM. BUT THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, RON, IS THAT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND WHAT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET SOLUTIONS UNLESS WE AGREE ON WHAT THE GOALS ARE. EVERYWHERE I TURN, PEOPLE WANT LESS TOURISTS ON THE ISLAND. REDUCE THE NUMBERS. WHAT I HEAR WHEN I TALK TO THE TOURISM PEOPLE, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE TOURISTS.
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANAGE THEM ONCE THEY GET HERE. I THINK WE HAVE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT. THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE HIGH. VALUATE OUR HAWAII ISLAND PLAN. WE HAVE A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF TOURISTS TO RESIDENTS.
WE WERE OVER THAT BACK IN 2019. SO WE NEED TO COME TO THAT AGREEMENT FIRST OF ALL, THAT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. REASONABLE NUMBER OF TOURISTS. PROPOSED MORATORIUM BOON TO THE HOTELS. >> CAN'T BUILD MORE HOTELS WHEN WE CAN'T FILL UP ONES WE ALREADY HAVE. FARTHER OF BALANCE WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR.
WHAT NUMBERS DO WE WANT HERE. IF YOU'RE ASKING WHO DECIDES IT'S THE PEOPLE WOULD DECIDE. WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT THE TABLE. >>Ron: HAVE A VOICE.
THIS QUESTION, JULIA FROM KAILUA, YOU MIGHT BE THE PERFECT PERSON. ADDRESS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE LOCAL PEOPLE. ALL WE'RE HEARING TONIGHT IS ABOUT BUSINESS. >> YEAH.
WELL, YOU KNOW, TOURISM HAS PROFITED FROM THE BEAUTY OFF BEACHES, PERFECT BALMY WEATHER, AND THE GRACE OF OUR CULTURE. SO YOU OPEN UP THIS TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION WITH ALOHA. AND WHAT THAT IS. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER UP LET'S TRANSITION FROM BEING, KNOWN AS STATE OF ALOHA TO STATE OF KULEANA. BECAUSE WE FORGET, PART OF THE ALOHA, DEFINITION OF ALOHA IS RECIPROCAL.
IT'S A MUTUAL TRANSACTION. MUTUAL EXCHANGES. WHAT WE'RE NOT SEEING HERE. NEED TO REBRAND OURSELVES AND WE NEED TO REBRAND AROUND COMMITMENT TO CARING FOR OUR HOMELAND FIRST, FOR THE AINA, THAT CONTINUES TO NOURISH US, AND TO CARE FOR ONE MORE.
AGAIN, SOME OF OUR PEERS HERE HAVE SPOKE ELOQUENTLY. ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER IN TIMES OF DISPAIR AND ADVERSITY. WE NEED COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF DECISION MAKING. BECAUSE NOT ONE SECTOR, NOT ONE INDUSTRY, NOT EVEN ONE COMMUNITY GROUP, HAVE ALL THE SOLUTIONS. NEED TO COME TOGETHER. AGREE WITH YOU.
AROUND COMMON VISION AND SET OF VALUES GOING TO DRIVE US AND PROPEL US TO BETTER FUTURE. >>Ron: I WANT TO GO TO YOU. YOU FOLKS HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS.
YOU FOLKS HAVE SEEN THAT FOR EXAMPLE, FEES. PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S SO MUCH I WANT TO JUMP IN ON THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT GREAT CONVERSATION. I WANT TO CAUTION, I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR'S DESIRE TO HAVE EVERYBODY ON BOARD. BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL GOING TO BE ON BOARD.
THAT HAS TO BE OKAY. WE HAVE TO LOOK LIKE DON'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD. DON'T NOT DO IT. I KNOW THE BIG ISLAND WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TIRED. WE GOT TO DO IT ALREADY.
>> I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT WE START IMPLEMENT THOSE THINGS. IT'S LIKE WE WANT THE RIGHT VISITOR. BUT WE FOUND THAT IN 2019, WE OPERATED SHUTTLE INTO THIS PARK. AND WE SOLD OUT COUPLE OF 280 SEATS A DAY $15 A PERSON. REOPENED JULY OF THIS YEAR. PRICE MORE THAN DOUBLED.
WE COULD HAVE SOLD THOUSANDS OF SEATS. NOBODY EVEN BLINKED AN EYE AT THAT PRICE POINT. WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT HOW THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE SUSTAINABLE. BUT IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT, THE VALUE OF HAVING THOSE PEOPLE KIND OF PUT THROUGH A SHUTTLE SYSTEMS, WE MOVED ABOUT 70,000 PEOPLE IN 2019. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE MESSAGE FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S STUCK ON A SHUTTLE FOR 20 MINUTES. ABLE TO HAVE SCHOOL LAST WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WRITE MESSAGING FOR ON BOARD.
ABLE TO PLAY. THESE ARE LIKE LOCAL KIDS FROM OUR AREA THAT WROTE AMAZING STORIES ABOUT THESE AREAS. ALL WAY OUT TO HAENA. EVERYBODY HAD TO LISTEN TO THAT. IT WASN'T ABOUT SELLING CHEESE BURGERS.
IT WAS ABOUT THE PLACE. PEOPLE HAD TO REALLY FEEL THAT. TO SPEAK TO NAPUA POINT EARLIER, I WANT TO GIVE SOMEBODY ELSE A CHANCE TO TALK.
BECAUSE OF BRIDGE CAPACITY AT 8 TON, ONLY HAVE 25 PASSENGER VEHICLES. LAYERS IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HIT THE AREA AT A TIME. >> YOU DON'T HAVE THE HUNDRED PEOPLE TRYING TO HIT KIHEI AT 9:00.
YOU HAVE TO GO AT 7. 7:30, TO 11:30. REALLY SPACE OUT THE IMPACT TO THE AREA. IT REALLY DOES A NICE JOB OF CREATING THAT BALANCE.
>>Ron: I'VE SEEN IT WORK. I'VE SEEN IT WORK. IT CAN WORK OF THE WITH THE PROPER EDUCATION. BUY IN. SUPPORT. MAYOR VICTORINO, I WANT TO ASK YOU, I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING DEAR TO YOU.
YOU TALK ABOUT MAUI BEING DISTINCTION. FIRST AND FOREMOST IT'S A COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY FIRST, VACATION DESTINATION SECOND. HOW DO YOU STRIKE THAT BALANCE? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. IT'S NOT AN EASY BALANCE TO STRIKE. I GUESS ALL OF US, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO EMULATE WHAT HAENA HAS BEEN DOING.
WAIANAPANAPA DONE A RESERVATIONS SYSTEM TURNED OUT TO BE VERY SELF SUSTAINING. LOOK AT OTHER AREAS, EAST MAUI, SOUTH MAUI, WEST MAUI CAN DO THE SAME. BALANCING THE VISITOR WITH OUR RESIDENT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR RESIDENT. PARKING IS THERE FOR THEM.
ANOTHER MODEL THAT I LIKE USING IS HANAUMA BAY. RIGHT NOW, WORKING ON OUR PLAN, ALONG WITH THE STATE PLAN, TO START CLOSING SOME OF OUR PARKS WEEKLY SO THAT WE CAN REJUVENATE AND RENOVATE AND MAINTAIN QUALITY AND NOT HAVE IT TRAMPLED EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT. VERY IMPORTANT. FREE PARKING AND OUR VISITORS LIKE THAT GENTLEMAN IS SAYING, THEY'LL PAY FOR IT. OKAY.
LET THEM PAY FOR IT. I THINK THAT IS FINE WITH ME. LET OUR RESIDENTS BE THE BENEFACTORS.
OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS ONE. THAT IS THE BALANCE THAT SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO STRIKE. OVERALL. WORKING AND WITH SOMETIMESES I KNOW COUNCIL AIDEN DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND DO OUR BEST TO THAT. >>Ron: AMEN TO THAT.
NOT EVERYBODY WILL AGREE. THAT'S OKAY. RICK FROM OAHU ASKS, HOW AVES AIRB&BS AFFECTING TOURISM? HOW CAN THEY BETTER MANAGERS AND ALSO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS, THE IMPACT THEY'RE HAVING ON COMMUNITIES.
>> LEAVE THAT. >> I THINK REAL IMPORTANT UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS. 2,009, 43,000 HOTEL ROOMS. 6.5 MILLION VISITORS. 2019, 33,000 HOTEL ROOMS. NO CHANGE.
10 MILLION VISITORS. BASICALLY, 3.5 MILLION VISITORS WENT TO ACCOMMODATIONS ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS, MOST OF THEM ILLEGAL. FULLY AGREE WITH ERICK. WE DON'T USUALLY AGREE. THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO THINGS THAT CREATE EMPLOYMENT.
AND CREATE TAXES AND DRIVE REVENUES INTO THE COMMUNITY. BAILU THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO STAY IN A HOUSE. WONDERFUL. WE ALL PROBABLY DO IT. OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE CONSULTED IF IT THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT. SHOULD BE LEGAL.
PAYING THE SAME TAXES THAT HOTELS PAY. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT, WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY'RE HERE? GO TO COSTCO AND THEY GO HIKING. BIKING.
AND THEY'RE IN THE RESOURCE. LOVING IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE VISITOR WE WANT TO TARGET FOR GROWTH. WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE SOME. I THINK THERE ARE 1700 LEGAL UNITS AND JUST IN JULY, THERE WERE 22,000 ILLEGAL UNITS. THAT IF WE GET A HOLD OF THAT, AND MANAGE THAT PROCESS, THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE USE OF ALL OF OUR RESOURCES. BECAUSE ISSUE IS NOT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ARRIVE. WE HAVE JAPANESE STAY FIVE NIGHTS.
IF THEY ARRIVE, ALL VISITORS WE WOULD BE EMPTY. CANADIANS, WE WOULD BE FULL AND BARS WOULD BE FULL. GOT TO DO THINGS (LAUGHTER). >> WE'VE GOT TO DO THINGS TO ATTRACT THAT RIGHT VISITOR. WHILE THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH AIRB&B AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, FACT ILLEGAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NOT PAYING TAXES AND DRIVING VISITORS THAT AREN'T LOOKING FOR, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WE FACE.
>>Ron: MY FRIEND, CAESAR WOULD SAY, WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT? TRUE. >> RON FROM THE HAWAII STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. LOOKING AT THIS AS PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE. WE NEED AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE, COUNCILS NEED AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THE HOSTING PLATFORMS. >>Ron: ABSOLUTELY. >> HUGE PART OF IT.
ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING BECAUSE OUR DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB ENFORCING AGAINST ILLEGALS. PUT MONEY IN. HIRED A CONSULTANT. DROPPED THAT LIST FROM THE THOUSANDS DOWN TO THEM US BETWEEN 150 AND 200. ILLEGALS.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE BULK OF THE PROBLEM. ON MAUI. I THINK IT'S TOO MANY ARRIVALS.
>>Ron: NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. 20,000 OF THOSE ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS ARE RIGHT HERE ON OAHU. I KNOW MAYOR BLANGIARDI AND HIS TEAM ARE WORK ON IT.
I WISH HE WAS HERE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> RON, COULD I SAY ON THAT A SHOUT OUT TO MAYOR BLANGIARDI AND DPP, COME UP WITH EXCELLENT BILL AND OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS MUFI, HOTELS NEED TO DO A BETTER STORY, JOB TELLING THEIR STORY. PEOPLE LIKE IT SAY ALL MONEY GOES OUT OF ISLAND. THAT IT'S NOT TRUE. GOES BACK TO WHAT ERICK SAID EARLIER. THAT TWENTY DOLLARS SO MUCH OF MONEY HOTELS BRING IN GOES BACK INTO OUR ECONOMY.
AND GOES TO OUR PEOPLE. SO I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN REALLY TIGHTEN UP THAT STORY. THANK YOU. >>Ron: A LOT OF ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS SMACK DAB IN OUR COMMUNITY.
REALLY USING OUR RESOURCES CERTAINLY SPENDING MONEY. WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THIS IS BEING APPROACHED IN ALL THE COUNTIES ESPECIALLY HERE ON OAHU? >> I THINK WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY NOW TO SEIZE CONTROL. AND CHANGED WHOLE ASPECT OF VACATION RENTALS THAT ARE ILLEGAL. CERTAINLY, I WAS TRY DOING IT, WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS, IF YOUR VACATION RENTALS COMPETE WITH US, YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN THE AREAS OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
BECAUSE YOU DRIVE UP THE COST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THINK ALL THE COUNTIES, WE SAY, WELL, WE WANT TO WAIT TILL THE STATE. COUNTIES CAN DO IT.
RIGHT NOW. AND LET'S ACCEPT THE BAR WHEREBY IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN RESORT AREAS AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THE TAXES. PAY THE T.A.T.
GOING TO PAY THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES. AND THE LIKE. YOU SHOULD NOT BE EXISTING IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ILLEGAL.
GOING TO COMPOUND OF PROBLEM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING OUR STORY OUT, OUR STORY IS THIS. OUR STORY IS THAT RESORT AREAS, IT SHOULD BE LEGAL. SO I REALLY WANT TO IMPLORE ALL THE COUNTIES, HONOLULU NOW, HAS A CHANCE WITH THE INITIATIVE COMING OUT FROM ADMINISTRATION, THAT TO ME MAKES A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I SAID FOR YEARS. THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS IF YOU'RE NOT LEGAL. LET ME ALSO TOUCH UPON HANAUMA BAY.
HANAUMA BAY MODEL THAT I TALKED ABOUT, IS I WAS THE GUY THAT ON THE COUNCIL WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL THEN, TO SET UP THAT MODEL. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FEES GO BACK IT THAT PARTICULAR ATTRACTION. DO NOT TEMPT GOVERNMENT BY PUTTING IN THE GENERAL FUND. THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING IN THE PAST.
SO THESE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT WE AT HLT, VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE WITH. MODEL AND WE WANT, LET'S NOT HEAR ABOUT THESE THINGS, WELL, YOU KNOW, OTHER PLACES ON OAHU THEY SHOULD BE LOOK. DONE AT HANAUMA BAY. MAUNAWILI FALLS.
MANOA FALLS. KOKO HEAD. KAENA POINT. ALL OF THESE THINGS WILL CREATE THE BALANCE I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. SECONDLY, ON THAT VACATION RENTAL STUFF, THIS IS THE TIME BECAUSE AS KEITH POINTED OUT, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HOTEL INVENTORY HOTEL ROOMS REMAIN THE SAME.
I'M SORRY, KELLY, BUT I DON'T THINK MORATORIUMS ARE GOING TO DO IT. WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN HAVE, THAT ARE LEGAL, AND ONCE AGAIN, BE ABLE TO CREATE THE BALANCE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. >>Ron: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING. >>Ron: ERICK BY ALL MEANS.
>> KEITH IS RIGHT. MUFI IS RIGHT. WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER WITH MANAGEMENT. PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND TIME INTO GETTING RESTRICTIONS ON VACATION RENTALS. WE WERE ABLE FINALLY TO PASS SOMETHING THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE ENFORCEMENT HASN'T BEEN SUFFICIENT TO MAKE USE OF THAT. BUT WE FIRST HAVE TO ADDRESS MORE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION. WHY WOULD PEOPLE CHOOSE TO GO THERE? AND THE FACT IS, IF YOU GO TO A HOTEL, AND YOU GET YOUR ROOM CLEANED AND YOU CAN GET A MEAL ON PROPERTY, AND YOU HAVE RESORT AMENITIES, THAT IS A REASON FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN A HOTEL.
TAKE AWAY THE ROOM CLEANING CLOSE THE RESTAURANTS, YOU TAKE AWAY THE VALET SERVICE. .WHAT ADVANTAGE IS GOING TO A HOTEL? REIN IN SELF. GOOD COMMITMENT TO GOOD SERVICE FOR GUESTS. NEVER GOING TO GET THE QUALITY OF GUESTS WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
NEVER HAVE THE JOBS JUSTIFY WHATEVER IMPACT THERE IS. INDUSTRY HAS TO TAKE CHANGE NOW ABANDON WHOLE THING. PANDEMIC WILL END. IT'S COMING. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO COME BACK.
HILTON ALREADY SAID IT'S PERMANENT. >> NO. >>Ron: CLEAR, THIS HEARING FROM EVERYBODY, THAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS NOW. AND I WANT TO GO TO FAITH ASKED THIS QUESTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL CALLS WE'RE GETTING. ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION.
I DO THINK IMPACTS ALL THAT'S BEING SAID. I WANT TO HEAR FROM WHAT THE RETAILERS ARE THINKING ABOUT. WITH ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS.
HOW THEY IMPACT YOU FOLKS AS WELL AS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEING SAID TONIGHT. FIRST, IDEAL IF COUNTIES WOULD RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE PUT IN THE STEWARD SWEAT EQUITY. AND HONOR FUNDING MEANT FOR OVERCAST INSTEAD OF HAVING POSERS AND PROMOTERS IMPEDE ON FUNDS DO THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD.
IN OTHER WORDS, RIGHT BACK INTO EXACTLY IS SAYING RIGHT BACK INTO COMMUNITY. FOR THE RETAIL SIDE, HOW DOES IMPACT YOU? >> ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS OR ANY TYPE OF VACATION RENTALS, I MEAN, THEY COME INTO OUR STORES AND THEY BUY THINGS. PERSONALLY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S RIGHT. I MEAN, THEY NEED TO PLAY ON A FAIR GAME LEGAL RENTALS ARE PAYING TAXES, ILLEGAL ONES SHOULD BE TOO. THEY SHOULD BE REGISTERED.
I MEAN, THEY'RE THE ONES ALSO, WE'RE ALWAYS HEARING FROM OUR WORKERS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO RENT A HOUSE HERE. IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE HERE IN HAWAII. WE'VE SEEN THAT A LOT OF THE RENTALS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO THE ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS POOL.
BECAUSE THOSE OWNERS THINK THAT THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY OFF OF IT. WE'RE ALSO SEEING I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT INFLUENCERS TOO. SOME OF THESE ILLEGAL RENTALS ARE A LOT CHEAPER TO STAY IN THAN A HOTEL. BUNCH OF THEM COME OVER. WHAT WE FOUND OUT TOO IS A LOT OF THESE INFLUENCERS WERE COMING TO HAWAII, BEGINNING YOUNGER CROWD, LIKE PETER HAD MENTIONED, AND THEY WERE ASKING EVERYTHING FOR FREE.
I'M AN INFLUENCER. SO YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME THIS CLOTHES FOR FREE. I'M AN INFLUENCER. YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME THIS ICE CREAM OR FOOD FOR FREE. I'M GOING TAKE A PICTURE.
>> PUT IT UP AND EVERYONE IS GOING TO COME ON. NOBODY KNOWS WHO THESE INFLUENCERS ARE. DON'T GET ME WRONG.
SOMEEN LEGITIMATE ONES OUT THERE TRUE TRYING TO HELP US. A LOT THEM JUST TRYING TO HAVE A FREE VACATION HERE. TOO.
THAT'S THE SAD PART ABOUT IT. WHEN WE'RE SEEING RETAILERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT. IT'S NOT RIGHT. >>Ron: IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING THOUGHTS FROM RESTAURANT PERSPECTIVE. HOW THIS IMPACTS YOU.
SOME MAY SAY, WHY WOULD IT IMPACT RESTAURANTS? DON'T THEY GET THE BUSINESS FROM VISITOR WHETHER STAYING IN ILLEGAL VACATION RENTAL? DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THAT WANTS TO HAVE SUPPER AS WELL. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE COVID RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE. HOW IS THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY LOOKING POST COVID? THERE WILL BE A POST COVID. >> HOW IS IT LOOKING NOW.
>>Ron: LOOK FORWARD. THINK NEED TO ALL LOOK FORWARD BEYOND WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY COMES TO ALL THIS TALKING ABOUT ILLEGAL VACATION RENTALS AND IMPACT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES? >> FIRST PLACE IMPACTS RESTAURANTS THE MOST IS OUR POOR PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE TWO JOBS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANYPLACE TO LIVE. BECAUSE WE'RE A LOT OF OUR FOLKS ARE VERY $15 AND ABOVE LEVEL, IT TAKES TWO FULL TIME JOBS FOR SOME OF OUR FOLKS TO AFFORD THINGS. THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE. SO WE'RE WEARING OUR OWN LOCAL PEOPLE OUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD OR THEY'RE LIVING MULTIGENERATIONAL IN HOMES AND WHAT IS HAPPENED IS BECAUSE THAT IS HAPPENING, WE'VE LOST A LOT OF OUR YOUTH.
A LOT OF OUR INCREDIBLE TALENT AND WORKERS HAVE GONE TO THE MAINLAND TO GO GET GET JOBS THAT NOT ONLY PAY BETTER BUT COST OF LIVING IS LOWER. SO AS WE REEL THIS IN, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY. NOW, WHETHER SOMEBODY STAYS IN A HOTEL OR A AIRB&B, CERTAINLY, IN YOU'RE AIRB&B, FAMILY, GOING TO COOK AT HOME MORE. THAN IF YOU WERE AT A HOTEL. WE WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO BE A HOTEL WHERE THEY DO, MEALS ARE PART OF IT.
THE HAWAII HAS SUCH A RICH CULTURE IN FOOD. PART OF FABRIC. WE WANTED TO TELL STORY.
SO MANY CULINARY EXPERTS ON THE ISLANDS TELLING THAT STORY. FACT WE HAVE ILLEGAL RENTALS ANYWHERE, IT'S JUST A SLAP IN THE FACE TO EVERYBODY WOULD LIVES HERE. AN IT'S JUST DEPLORABLE. I'M NOT SAYING GUESTS COME HERE KNOW THEY'RE STAYING IN THOSE PLACE. PEOPLE WHO OWN THOSE, YOU BETTER BELIEVE THEY KNOW. AND IT'S KILLING OUR PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST KILLING OUR PEOPLE. >>Ron: THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> MAY I RESPOND. IN REGARDS TO ILLEGAL OPERATORS, THERE'S WHOLE INDUSTRY OF ILLEGAL TOUR OPERATORS, HANA HIGHWAY REGULATION WAS ACTUALLY FORMED BECAUSE ALL OF OUR LEGAL TOUR PROVIDERS BEING PUT AT SIGNIFICANT DISADVANTAGE BY THE ILLEGAL TOUR OPERATORS WHICH IS ISSUE AT THE PUC AND THEIR LACK OF ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO COME INTERISLAND AND BE ABLE TO TICKET THESE ILLEGAL OPERATORS. BUT ASIDE FROM THE ILLEGAL ACCOMMODATIONS, THERE'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH ILLEGAL OPERATORS.
IN THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY. I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT STATEWIDE. EVERYONE THIS IS FROM KAUAI ASKS. JOHNNY WANT TO YOU GIVE SOME THOUGHTS TO THIS QUESTION. EVERYONE ON THIS SHOW IS TALKING ABOUT TOURISM AS THE ONLY VIABLE ECONOMIC DRIVER. WHILE WE'RE LOSING OUR KEIKI TO HIGH PAYING TECH JOBS, AND MOVING OUT OF THE STATE.
AS LEADER OF THE HTA, HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT AND CARL, I WANT TO YOU FOLLOW UP AS WELL. WE ARE LOSING SOME OF OUR MOST TALENTED KEIKI. TO DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERSIFY. YET A LOT OF FOCUS IS ON THE VISITOR INDUSTRY. TOPIC OF TONIGHT'S SHOW.
JOHN, JUST YOUR THOUGHTS? >> SURE. YOU KNOW, RON, I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT TOURISM AS A DRIVER OF DIVERSIFICATION. AS OPPOSED TO THE ANTITHESIS OF IT.
CASE IN POINT, YOU GO BACK 30 YEARS, WHEN THE CULINARY CHEFS IN OUR INDUSTRY MADE A COMMITMENT TO PUT HAWAII ON THE CULINARY MAP GLOBALLY AND COMMIT TO A REGIONAL CUISINE PROGRAM. THE MINUTE THEY DID THAT, MERRIMAN, PETER, THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ALTERED COTTAGE FARMING ON EACH ISLAND. ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW, MY TOMATOES HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN QUALITY STANDARD AND I NEED IT TO MEET THE MARKET DEMAND.
SO ALTERED THAT ASPECT. THAT INDUSTRY. ALTERED BEEF PRODUCER LOOKED AT THE OPPORTUNITY IN RESTAURANTS. AS WELL AS LOCAL FISHERMEN. ONE EXAMPLE, IN WHICH TOURISM, WHICH IN ITSELF IS A COMPOSITE OF DIVERSE SKILLS AND DIVERSE INDUSTRIES.
SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AT DOING THAT AND I.T. AND TECH JOBS ARE PART OF OUR INDUSTRY. SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD.
>> RON, QUICKLY. YOU KNOW, MAUI, WE ARE TRYING TO NOW, NOT ONLY AGRICULTURE AS A SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGH TECH. SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING ON LANAI.
I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THAT WITH WHAT'S HIS NAME. JEFF CHOY. ALSO COMMITTED TO MANY OF OUR RESTAURANTS AND MAJOR CHEFS LIKE ROY YAMAGUCHI. TO PRODUCE CROPS TO MEET THEIR STANDARDS. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS, WHEN THIS PANDEMIC STARTED MANY OF OUR FARMERS WANT TO PLOW FIELDS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MAINLAND.
IMMEDIATELY TURNED WITH THE HELP OF THE COUNCIL, PUT MONIES AND BOUGHT UP ALL OF THESE CROPS TO FEED MANY OF THE UNEMPLOYED HOTEL WORKS AND OTHER INDUSTRY LAID OFF. AND THAT WAS WITH THIS PROMISE FROM ALL OF THE FARMERS THAT WHEN THIS PANDEMIC WAS OVER, AND TOURISTS COME BACK, OR VISITOR COME BACK, THEY WERE ALWAYS REMEMBER TO KEEP SELLING AND PROVIDING TO OUR FARMERS MARKETS AND TO OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS. MANY OF THEM HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THAT WELLNESS. ANOTHER AREA HERE IN MAUI, MOVING. WE HAVE A LOT OF KUPUNA THAT NOT ONLY BORN AND RAISED HERE, BUT ARE MOVING HERE AND WE HAVE TSUNAMI OF GRAY THAT IS COMING AND WE NEED AND WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN PROVIDE MANY SERVICES FOR THAT PARTICULAR GROUP. I HAVE BECOME A KUPUNA LIKE MANY OTHERS ON YOUR SHOW.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. BECAUSE THAT IS SUSTAINABLE BUT THAT IS WELLNESS. WELLNESS THAT CAN PROMOTE GOOD HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR OUR PEOPLE. THIS WILL BE CITY AND DIABETES ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS DOWN AND CHANGED AND MADE BETTER PLACE. LIKE ANCIENT HAWAIIAN DID.
WE WERE ALL HEALTHY PEOPLE. CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. >>Ron: WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THAT FOR MANY YEARS. BRAIN DRAIN. CONTRIBUTES TO WITH THE VISITOR INDUSTRY STRUGGLES.
>> CAN IT BE STOPPED? HOW DO YOU KEEP THE TALENT HOME AND REALLY ADDRESS THE QUESTION ABOUT THAT AND CAN THE VISITOR INDUSTRY BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION? >> LET ME FIRST START WITH FOLLOWING UP ON JOHN'S COMMENTS WHICH WERE JUST RIGHT ON THE MONEY. ABOUT THINKING ABOUT DIVERSIFYING HAWAII'S ECONOMY BY LOOKING AT AREAS OF STRENGTH REALLY PART OF TOURISM. WHETHER IT'S RESTAURANTS, FARMING, CULINARY, FILM, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT ARE IN SOME WAY, RELATED TO TOURISM AND WE ALREADY DO THEM VERY, VERY WELL. RESORT MANAGEMENT. ARCHITECTURE. BUILDING OF RESORTS MUCH THINGS THAT WE EXPORT TO THE REST OF THE WORLD WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT BECAUSE WE DID IT FIRST IN HAWAII.
ONE OF THINGS THAT IS REALLY TECH IS EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A SILICON SOMETHING. PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THE REASON SILICON VALLEY EXISTS IS BASICALLY A MAGNET. DRAW. BUSINESSES WANT TO BE THERE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY INNOVATORS THERE ALREADY. AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM OF SCALE.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM OF DISTANCE. AND SO REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ALREADY DO REALLY WELL AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXPAND ON THAT RATHER THAN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW. AND FOCUS ON THINGS WHERE YOU REALLY IS TO BE IN HAWAII TO DO IT.
WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION, MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC, OR BECAUSE WE CAN DO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AROUND ENERGY, FOR EXAMPLE, AROUND CLEAN ENERGY, CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO DO BE HERE TO DO THEM. THOSE ARE THE AREAS TO FOCUS ON RATHER THAN JUST MORE BROADLY ON TECH. FINALLY, BRAIN DRAIN THING, IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND COST OF LIVING AND PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES ABOUT WHERE TO LIVE BASED ON ALL KINDS OF FACTORS.
FROM COST OF LIVE, JOB AVAILABILITY, CLOSE TO FAMILY, AND THE FACT OF MATTER IS MANY OF OUR KEIKI END UP RELOCATING GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE, NOT COMING BACK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND A JOB. FOR SOME OF THOSE JOBS WILL NEVER BE AVAILABLE. AS THE ECONOMY DOES DIVERSIFY, OPPORTUNITIES WILL EXIST. MOVERS AND SHAKAS, I THINK COULD BE BENEFICIAL IN HELPING TO BRING SOME KAMA'AINA HOME. THANK YOU CARL. WENDY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
>> LET ME ADD ONE THING. I THINK AREAS THAT TO BUILD ON WHAT CARL JUST SAID, WE'VE GOT TO PLAY SOME EMPHASIS ON NATIVE INTELLIGENCE, INDIGENOUS WISDOM. MERGING WITH MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. LOOK AT THE WORK GOING ON IN KAHALUU BAY. IN KONA. THIS IS BRINGING TOGETHER THE WISDOM OF OUR ANCESTORS, TOGETHER WITH THE BEST OF MODERN SCIENCE, AND HAWAII WILL BECOME THE PIKO, REALLY, THE PLACE ON EARTH WHERE THIS LEVEL OF INTEGRATION BETWEEN MODERN KNOWLEDGE AND WHAT IS ANCESTRAL WILL GO ON DEFINE HAWAII BRAND GOING FORWARD.
>>Ron: I LOVE THAT. >> AS A COMMUNITY. >>Ron: I LOVE THAT, JOHN. I WANT TO TURN THANK YOU. WHEN I LOOK AT COMMUNITY THAT CAN DIVERSIFY, AND HAS AN AG AND TECH AND DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, I THINK OF KAILUA KONA.
FOR YOURSELF AS WELL, HOW DO YOU GET THOSE BUSINESSES TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT AND REALLY, IT'S A PART OF DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY. WHICH ADDRESSES THE VISITOR INDUSTRY QUESTIONS AS WELL. >> WELL, WE HAVE THE NATURAL ENERGY LAB OF HAWAII AUTHORITY. AND SO THAT IS ON THE POINT OF KEAHOLE. AND THERE IS PIPES THAT GO DOWN REALLY DEEP. THOUSAND OF FEET DEEP.
AND THEY BRING UP COLD SEA WATER. GETS PUMPED TO BUSINESSES. AND IT'S CALLED THE HAWAII OCEAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK.
IT'S REBRANDED TO THAT NOW. BUT THE BUSINESSES THAT USE THAT COLD WATER. SO ABALONE, SHRIMP, OCTOPUS, THOSE KINDS, ALL KINDS OF INNOVATION THAT IS GOING ON. RIGHT THERE. RIGHT ON THE KONA COAST AND THE STATE INVESTS IN THAT.
THERE IS ALSO ASTRONOMY. WE HAVE ASTRONOMY ON TOP OF MAUNA KEA. AND THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT CAME ABOUT TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY. 50, 60 YEARS AGO. THERE ARE SOME THINGS ON HAWAII ISLAND THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE UNIQUE. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS UNIQUE.
WITH THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, THAT'S ALSO A VISITOR ATTRACTION. TIES INTO TOURISM AS WELL. >>Ron: I WANT TO TURN TO YOU. I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD IN AFFIRMATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN COMMUNITIES. WITHIN COLLABORATION OF BUSINESSES, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK TONIGHT, WITHIN OUR DEEP COMMUNITY VOICES. AGAIN, WHOLE THEME OF THIS EVENING IS WHO NEEDS TO BE AT THE TABLE. WHO DECIDES THAT QUESTION. >> I REALLY THINK IT'S EVERYBODY.
AND GOING BACK TO THE LAST QUESTION, THE WAY YOU MAKES THESE THINGS HAPPEN. >> DIVERSIFY, GET TECHNOLOGY AND TOURISM ALL OF THESE THINGS WORKING TOGETHER YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT INTENT. YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING. ONE OF THINGS THAT IS HAPPENING, ON THE BIG ISLAND, IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY AMAZING PEOPLE, AMAZING BUSINESSES, AMAZING THINGS THAT GO INTO SUSTAINABILITY.
WE HAVE ALSO, SOME OF BIGGEST CORPORATIONS EXECUTIVES HERE. AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THE WAY YOU MAKE THIS WORK YOU START INVITING THESE PEOPLE AND START CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE. TO EACH OTHER, TO THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU START THESE CONVERSATIONS LIKE WE'RE HAVING TONIGHT.
BUT YOU FOCUS ON DIFFERENT AREAS. BY DOING THAT, YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. KEEP OUR KEIKI HERE.
ALLOW THEM TO RAISE THEIR KEIKI ON THIS ISLAND. OR IN THIS STATE. ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN NOW ARE LIVING OFF ISLAND. OUT OF STATE. ACTUALLY.
SO WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL AND WE HAVE TO NOT EXCLUDE BUT INCLUDE PEOPLE. >>Ron: I FEEL YOU, MAYOR. TWO OF MY THREE ARE AS WELL. LIVING OFF ISLAND. I WANT TO TURN TO YOU. A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT, I THINK I'M FEELING WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS IN 90 MINUTES.
BUT THERE'S LOT OF COLLABORATION. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING. FOR YOURSELF, IN YOUR POSITION, THAT'S HOPEFUL.
DON'T YOU THINK? >> IT IS. QUITE A PRIVILEGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. STATE PARK MANAGER. WE'RE JUST PART OF THE QUILT THE ATTRACTION. THEME RESONATING WITH ME AND I THINK JOHN DE FRIES COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDS IT, THERE'S BEEN MANY ELEMENTS BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT BRANDING, WE TALKED ABOUT HTA LOSING FUNDING. OR HAVING IT REDUCED.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO MARKETING. I THINK WE NEED TO REBRAND FOR VISITOR WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE. YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATED, KULEANA. VERSUS ALOHA. I THINK WE'VE, TO BE KIND OF CRAFTY, PIMPED OUT A HAWAIIAN CULTURE BECAUSE IT'S ATTRACTIVE BUT I DON'T THINK WE DOVE INTO THE CORE OF FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF HAWAIIAN CULTURE. STATE PARKS IN TERMS REBRANDING, TRYING TO TEACH THE VISITOR THAT THERE'S LIMITS.
>> WE DID IT AT HAENA. TOOK US 20 YEARS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY. TO COME UP WITH A MASTER PLAN AND WE WERE BLESSED IN SOME WAY BY A FLOOD THAT WAVED PROCUREMENT, COULD REPURPOSE DOLLARS AND RECORD TIME, WE REBUILT HAENA AND WE TOOK A 2,000 A DAY FEATURE AND WE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO 100 LOTS AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMUNITY. THOSE 100 LOTS NOW EMPOWER THE SHUTTLE BECAUSE WHEN THOSE SPACES ARE FULL, THEY HAVE TO USE THE SHUTTLE. THEN AS MAYOR VICTORINO MENTIONED, WE'RE DOING IT AT WAIANAPANAPA. SET UP RESERVATIONS SYSTEM THERE.
TURNING AWAY VISITORS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE RESERVATIONS. PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT WE'RE NOT REDUCING TOURISM. WE'RE REDISTRIBUTING IT. SO AT STATE PARKS, WE'RE JUST ONE OF THE PIECES BUT I THINK IF WE LOOKED AT IT HOLISTICALLY, AND WE START LOOKING AT LIMITS AND THROUGH HTA AND MARKETING, AND EVEN THE QUALITY OF THE HOTEL, BRING BACK THE QUALITY, WE REBRAND THE IMAGE THAT WE EXPECT KULEANA AND RECIPROCITY AND IT'S NO LONGER A KOMO MAI UNLIMITED. MAY BE ABLE TO GET ON A AIRPLANE AND FIND A HOTEL.
PLACE YOU WANT TO GO HAS LIMITS. THEY MAY RETUNE THEIR VACATION PLANS GOING, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S FULL UP THIS YEAR. KALALAU GREAT EXAMPLE. WE DO 60 PERMITS A DAY. AND WHEN IT'S FULL, THERE IS PEOPLE IN GERMANY
AND WHEREVER THAT JUST WANT TO COME AND HIKE KALALAU. BUT THEY'LL DELAY UNTIL THEY CAN GET A PERMIT. THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE STATE HOLISTICALLY AND IT'S COMPLICATED. BUT WE START LOOKING AT WHERE WE PUT IN THOSE LIMITS GET THE WORD OUT, REBRAND OURSELVES AS WE'RE HIGHER QUALITY AND HIGHER PRICE, BUT BETTER QUALITY FOR THE LESS PEOPLE. >>Ron: MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
IT BRINGS BACK KULEANA. RESPONSIBILITY BACK INTO THE VISITOR. >> YES. >>Ron: THE SAME TIME.
GIVES LOCAL PEOPLE VALUE THAT THEY'RE BEING RESPECTED AND VOICES ARE BEING HEARD. YOUR THOUGHTS ON TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION. BECAUSE I'M FEELING VERY POSITIVE. AGAIN, NOT NAIVE. NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS TONIGHT.
BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTERESTING IDEAS. SHARED, SOME SUCCESS STORIES ALREADY MADE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF COVID. >> I AGREE.
WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DISRUPTION, I LIKE THE KIND OF REPIVOTING OR REFRAMING. SO INSTEAD OF SEEING TOURISM AS QUALITY OF LIFE, KIND OF SINK, IT SHOULD BE A QUALITY OF LIFE DRIVER. SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE DO THAT IN COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER AND CREATE PLACE BASED SOLUTIONS. I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO BE VERY AWARE, CAUTIOUS, WE SHOULD CAUTIOUS, CAUTION OURSELVES AROUND LIKE, ONE SIZE FIT ALL BLANKET SOLUTION BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WE LEARNED, IN THIS TIME, COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER. PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY.
IT'S WE KNOW THIS. WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES NOW THROUGH COVID. SO WE JUST NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND TACKLE THE RIGHT INTERVENTIONS. KEY INTERVENTION. AND TO IT COLLECTIVELY.
AND WE KNOW THIS. WE KNOW, ALL THE FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, THEY WANT THIS. THEY WANT WE KNOW THAT TOURISM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. BUT WE NEED TO BETTER MANAGE TOURISM.
AND WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING, IS THAT THERE WAS LOCALS WANT TO BE A PART OF THE COLLABORATIVE SOLUTION MAKE. WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE TO HELP SET LIMITS, HELP SUPPORT
2021-09-01 11:30
