You Think?
I think ...
Was reading the front page story in today's PBN ... it said that now experts are BEGINNING to discuss whether Hawaii has reached its carrying capacity for sustainable tourism and sustainable growth
Some of the points ... at what point does Hawaii get so congested, that visitors decide to go elsewhere ... we don't have enough McJobbers to fill the service industry McJobs so service is beginning to suffer terribly (our note: service is totally crucial with Japanese tourists and the complain-a-lot mainlander market)
The mayor of the BI has been holding meetings with developers to urge them to screen out speculators and NON-RESIDENT buyers in favor of local buyers ... I now see why the D party wants him to come over and run against Zia Zifle, the guy has always had common sense ideas
The final point is just BRUTAL ... and it makes one wonder why it is only now the PTB want to "strategically" plan ... it makes note of a pattern that visitors, visit, invest and then stay -- which leads to GROWTH, but at the expense of the quality of life here and local culture (or the character of the way of life here)
Comments
Here's a funny point ... the governor's party cries all day long about the death of small business here, yet schmoozed the hell out of all these big boxes who contribute substantially to their campaigns ... this is bizarro Hawaii
Tax more, charge more ... well, I'm sure the PTB thought of that one ... hey, let's tax the out of staters more ... well the only problem with that is a document called the Constitution that prevents American citizens from being treated differently on any basis ... well except gay marriage, which is one of those red herring side issues that everyone loves to beat to death while real issues boil over
Posted by: owner | June 17, 2005 3:57 PM
It seems to always take someone dying before government takes action. Either that or government is too invested in protecting us from ourselves as so often is the case with silly laws.
As far as growth goes.. Ummmm DOH! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that ummm investors come in and slaughter whats left. Take a gander at ala moana. How many local shops are left? Krammers, Ritz, Carol and Mary, McInerney, Ethels, Ed and Don's, Honolulu Bookshops are just an example of how big box and mainland retailers have killed local business here.
There really is no difference between shopping in Hawaii vs. the mainland (well almost... we still dont have a Bath and Body Works here, no?) But then again is our economy and future better for it? I just wonder.
Unless the governor is somehow going to make this island a national park, I see no way to slow it all down unless the govt. taxes the heck out of mainland investors or out of staters that plan to live here.
Posted by: janitor | June 17, 2005 3:45 PM