Letters to the Editor

Excise tax holiday would give relief now

I think it is wonderful that so many people have come up with so many ideas on how the state can get the economy moving.

Most of the ideas have to do with well-needed construction projects. Construction projects will inject money into the economy, but they will not inject the money now.

The easiest and quickest way to get money into the economy now is to have an excise tax holiday. The money immediately remains in the hands of the consumer.

Another quick way to get money into the hands of the consumer is to refund the Hurricane Relief Fund monies to the people who paid into it. This is not only fair and equitable, it is a quick infusion of funds.

Jack Schneider

Give tourists vouchers to spend in Islands

Does anyone really believe (except politicians) that borrowing an extra $1 billion or even $250 million over the $500 million already budgeted for state construction will really help our devastated economy?

Sure, it'll make developers and construction happy, it'll fulfill porkbarrel "wish" lists, and it'll enhance campaign contributions and "out of office" retirement funds, but what's it going to do in the next six months? Construction is already $500 million good for next year. Tourism needs fixing now.

It should be more than obvious that our economy is driven and survives solely upon a strong tourism market. We need tourists on the beach, in hotels, in our stores and in restaurants. So, instead of brick and mortar, how about enticing them to return by giving every visitor who stays in a hotel longer than four days $250 or $500 in vouchers (like food stamps) to be used like money and redeemable in the state only by businesses with a state general excise license?

If the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau and others can get tax dollars by saying "every dollar spent promoting Hawai'i brings more in visitor spending," then surely the Legislature will really get its money's worth by going directly to the visitors' pocketbook. It'll be national news.

Charles F. Fasi

Legislators must not become do-nothings

Our Legislature must do one of two things: Either accept the governor's visionary plan to build a state-of-the-art Medical Research and Bio-Technology Center, along with extensive improvements to Hawai'i's schools, or come up with a plan of its own that will provide a meaningful, significant boost to Hawai'i's economy.

Building these important projects virtually guarantees that our construction trades will remainworking till 2004, helping Hawai'i weather this storm. Also, these contractors spend money in our local restaurants, clothing outlets and others to keep money in others' pockets. And after it's all over, Hawai'i ends up with great facilities.

I think we all agree that the worst thing to do is nothing. Let's hope that this is not the outcome of the special session.

Sandy Forest

Pay attention to airport, and visitors will return

Gov. Ben Cayetano has asked for residents to submit their ideas for stimulating the economy to his office. I hope he is reading The Advertiser, because nearly every issue over the past several weeks has had at least one, and usually several, great suggestions.

One key to tourism recovery is to make the airport experience a better, and perceived safer, one. It was recently stated in The Advertiser that Honolulu Airport is the safest in the country, as far as security concerns go. This should be prominently advertised everywhere. And then, some of the tourism budget should go toward improving security and services:

• Split the cost with airlines of placing an air marshal on each flight.
• Hire more baggage inspectors and establish a few more checkpoints so that the wait is not so long.
• Same for customs lines — make sure extra (and extra-polite) inspectors are on hand to improve service to foreign travelers. Then it could truthfully be claimed that air travel is safer, and the airport service is better, than ever before.

As a backup, have in place arrangements for hotels to extend visitors' stays at a very deep discount if there is ever another airport closure incident: 75 percent off would not be too steep. After all, the hotels would not have any incoming business and would at least break even in such an event. And the hospitality and accommodation benefits of this program would assist in traveler return.

A major Mainland campaign could be instituted touting the safety of a domestic, rather than an international, vacation destination.

Finally, consider what Las Vegas did to get occupancy back to the 90-percent-plus level: The whole town was offered at a deep discount.

Richard C. Stancliff

Gambling would lift economy from within

Our state legislators and government officials are trying to find ways to improve our nose-diving economy due to the recent terrorist, anthrax and dengue fever situations. We have to regenerate our economy from within, and the only way you can do this voluntarily is to allow gaming in Hawai'i.

Years ago, prior to the "pyramid" games being deemed illegal, cash flowed freely, the economy was at its highest level. Bankers' records showed a waiting list for safety-deposit boxes. For tax purposes, your winnings were "gifts." The pyramid was just another form of gambling and it did bring prosperity to Hawai'i while it lasted.

Legalized gaming, such as a lottery, bingo, horse racing, shipboard casinos, cockfighting and parimutuel betting, would definitely lift our economy from within. That popular movie cliche "If you build it, they (tourists) will come" holds true. There would be no need for arm-twisting tax raises or cutting back services.

If the politicians are politically afraid to pass gaming laws, then pass a law that would allow the citizenry of this state to have a referendum vote to allow gaming.

Steven T.K. Burke

'Same old people' are seeking results

"Same Bishop Street execs and Waikiki hacks offering the same old tired ideas on how to 'jump start' the economy by spending money we don't have or telling others how safe it is to visit Hawai'i ... " (Mike Leidemann column, Oct. 13).

I guess that's me, among others, in that "same old" category. The "same old people" are trying to help the economy because we find it hard to say no when our home is hurting. They are, by the way, the "same old people" who run the United Way campaign every year and spend time volunteering for other charities in town.

The "same old people" visited Tokyo because it takes years, even decades, to build relationships with the leaders there and the "same old people" are more likely to get past the front door.

I was willing to take a week away from my family to meet with Prime Minister Koizumi and other leaders in Japan because I don't like seeing the "same old people" in Hawai'i get laid off when the visitors stop coming. If reassuring an important source of visitors can help these secondary victims of Sept. 11 to get back to work, it was worth the trip.

Whether you're a Democrat, a Republican or even a columnist, you ought to want recessions to be as short as possible. Government spending in a recession (some people might consider that "spending money we don't have") is a classic way to minimize human hardship and "jump-start" an economy.

Roosevelt called it the New Deal. I call it common sense and caring.

I suppose it's easier to fill a column with cheap shots than to work for solutions.

Walter A. Dods Jr.

Time is ripe for hotel, business renovations

It seems that almost every day there is a story about hotel occupancy falling or a lack of customers for small businesses. And always, there is a bit in the story about how that particular hotel or business had planned on some major renovations but now it just can't do it.

Instead of waiting for some government-sponsored promotion, they could help in the struggle to create business. Now, with occupancy down, would be the ideal time for the major renovation projects.

Don Chambers

Offer visitors special deal

We are not "thinking outside of the box." Our advertising dollars and message are being lost in the media blitz that has hit each and every tourist market. Our message is the same tired message we have used to promote ourselves for years, with an added yet hollow promise of "safety" and healing.

Las Vegas is already enjoying high-occupancy levels, having instituted a public/private effort almost immediately following the Sept. 11 attack.

In an effort to be different and "think outside of the box," I feel we should institute the "Hawai'i Aloha Package." This would consist of each nonresident passenger receiving an envelope upon arrival at their particular island airport. In each envelope would be a prize for each passenger, such as a two-for-one luau, one free dinner cruise with one paid, a shopping center gift certificate for a percentage discount, a free Waikiki trolley ride with a paid fare, two-for-one dining at various restaurants, two-for-one admission to Sea Life Park, etc., etc.

To fill a need for some better prizes, some hotels may want to participate and donate their empty rooms for free one-week stays. The airlines can offer interisland fares utilizing their empty seats, and attractions can pitch in with unencumbered admissions. I would suggest that every 1,000th prize use these offerings to completely waive the costs of a traveler's vacation.

The beauty of this plan is that the money stays here in the Islands. The luau, restaurant, park, cruise, trolley and shopping center all generate additional revenues to go with the offer that they donated to the promotional effort.

If the state were to participate by helping to administer the program through The Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, we would at least all be heading in a positive direction through industry interaction. Just think how bold this program could be if the state promotional dollars were actually involved with it.

Brian K. Zinn
President, Copy Shop Inc.