Posted on: Saturday, September 22, 2001

The September 11th attack
Help on the way for Maui workers

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Bracing for continued economic fallout from last week's terrorist attacks, Maui Mayor James "Kimo'' Apana announced yesterday he will push to accelerate county construction projects and to create a work program for those who have been laid off or had work hours reduced.

Apana said he has asked his department directors to look at areas where spending can be cut and money redirected to these efforts.

"A few weeks ago, people were talking about buying a Mercedes and a brand new TV," he said. "Today, they are wondering if they have enough for rent.''

Apana, who offered few details on which projects would receive money or how much may be available, said that by financing needed construction sooner rather than later, more cash will be infused into the island's economy.

As for offering employment to residents hit hardest by the crisis, the mayor said he hopes to create a pool of cash that can be used to offer work such as picking up litter, painting, planting and cleaning. He said he would ask the nonprofit and private sectors to participate in the program.

Meanwhile, Maui tourism officials said that while the island's visitor industry has been battered by the crisis, it could be worse.

Maui is doing better than O'ahu, they said, largely because the Valley Isle doesn't rely as much on tourists from Japan.

While as many as half of O'ahu's tourists are Japanese, only 6 percent of those who stay on Maui are, said Marsha Wienert, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau.

Some O'ahu hotels are reporting occupancy rates as low as 15 percent. On Maui, Wienert said, the average is about 50 percent at a time when the island usually sees about 65 percent occupancy.

Cancellations have been as high as 15 percent at some hotels — up from the usual 5 percent — but new bookings are starting to outpace the rejections, Wienert said.

"We've been hit hard and we're bruised. But in no way are we down and out,'' said Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Hotel Association.

Vencl said that while hours have been slashed for many tourism workers, the hotel industry had already planned to furlough some employees because the economy was slowing even before the terrorist attacks.

Some properties are trying to fill the void by moving ahead with minor construction jobs and using their employees for the labor, Vencl said.

Other Maui industries, including real estate and retail, have suffered as well, said Lynne Woods, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

"They're very frightened,'' Woods said. "For the last two weeks, there's hardly been anyone in their stores.''

On the positive side, companies with defense-related missions at the Maui Research & Technology Park in Kihei are expected to receive a boost, said Jeanne Skog, president of the Maui Economic Development Board.

Some of these companies have 400 employees, and additional jobs may be created in the coming months, Skog added.

Officials said one of their biggest concerns is the number of rumors that have been flying across the island. They include everything from hotels shutting down to the discovery of terrorist cells on Moloka'i and Maui, none of which is true.

Apana pledged he would do anything he could to get the economy rolling again.

"We learned in the past week that everything is tied to the tourism industry," he said. "The same people who were saying there were too many tourists are now saying something has to be done to get them back.''