Although we are fortunate to enjoy the long awaited political change, it appears that no real change has yet occurred. At least not what I had anticipated. We read a lot about it — still — in the media but where is it? Or should I ask what is it?

Tourism is Hawaii’s most important industry to generate revenues. Tourism is down and what are we doing about it? First it was 09/11; now it’s the war. What exactly is Hawaii doing with $61 million per year to support the Tourism Industry? No one asks that the state is doing it alone. The industry works hard and takes enormous risks and is diligently trying to bring travelers to Hawaii.

The industry expects to be supported by the budget that the state has set aside to support them. But that doesn’t really happen. Or does it? In times when business is good the state’s marketing seed should be planted that can be harvested in down times. To just point to negative results and analyzing them with excuses but without being able to influence the outcome in the first place should tell us that Hawaii is lacking the experts that are so badly needed

What exactly have those state authorities done — in advance of the war — to implement strategies to offset traveler’s fears? The Japanese Market is down for some time. Not because of the war but because of changing traveler’s expectations and Japan’s own sluggish economy.

Groups running behind, flag-waving Japanese tour guides seem unpopular and individualism and activities are in. Have we — Hawaii — noticed? May be but I can’t see it. Are we willing or able to notice? Do we need more attractions? How are visitors greeted at first sight, at the airport? Do they feel our most valuable marketing tool we have, the ALOHA spirit? What do other competing travel destinations do differently that they have record arrival numbers, also from Japan, compared with previous years and despite the war?

Shouldn’t Hawaii have the experts who know what to do? On Sunday, April 6, 2003, I read in the ”’Honolulu Advertiser”’ a statement that puzzles me. Frank Haas, the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Marketing Director, said this: “Well, there’s a very large segment of the (Japanese) industry here that as a state agency we have an obligation to. To just abandon a market, I think, would be ill-advised.”

No one recommended abandoning the Japanese market. Instead to focus on priorities, on strategies that work and to focus on more promising markets such as the U.S. mainland and Europe. We pay outrageously high salaries to the officials of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. For example there is Rex Johnson, its chair, who makes $240,000 per year.

This is mind boggling because the Hawaii Tourism Authority, HTA, is part of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, DBEDT, and its director, Theodore Liu, makes only $85,000 per year. And the chief of the state, Gov. Lingle only makes around $95,000 per year. I am confused.

Sixty-five percent of our arrivals come from the U.S. mainland. That number should justify tremendous efforts to increase and maintain powerful marketing. Even more since world travel for U.S. citizen has been limited because of our engagement in the Middle East. Let’s not just sit there and enjoy increasing arrivals without our input. What would be the arrival numbers if we had powerful strategies in place that address the war and travel fears.

We should divert part of our marketing efforts and budget to countries that would visit Hawaii if we can assure them that Hawaii is ”’safe.”’ And to emphatically point out that no incidents have occurred since the saddening 09/11 events that should prevent travelers from visiting Hawaii as one of the last true remaining tropical paradises.

Does Hawaii have intelligent strategies that could address Europe and the U.S. mainland? I am sorry but I can’t see that.

Marketing and public relations seem so easy that almost everyone likes to talk about it and to offer own ideas, strategies and advise. However this is a profession that takes skills, knowledge, expertise and specific training and continued education. And it is categorized in different fields. There is a ”’big”’ difference if I address marketing issues for certain industries or tourism, especially Hawaii’s.

A Mercedes engineer is lost working on a BMW. However both are highly skilled experts in their fields. Does Hawaii have skilled and knowledgeable experts who understand the diversified mentalities, cultural differences and most of all the expectations of our target markets?

Let’s be honest, in times when revenues are down and the main revenue maker of our precious state is behind, we should expect tremendous efforts by our industry support team. That is just not there.

So what exactly and how is the Hawaii Tourism Authority using its expertise and budget to support Tourism? After all it is still, and will remain, for some time to come the state’s number one income producer.

”’Dieter Thate is owner of Dieter’s Tours (est. 1993) and Kimapa Marketing (est. 1982). He can be reached by email at:”’ mailto:mail@kimapa.com ”’or visit his Web site at:”’ https://www.kimapa.com

“Galen Fox Image”

The Executive Director of the Campaign Spending Commission defended himself today against Democrats’ allegations that his evaluation of a Democrat sponsored campaign spending bill is not accurate.

After hearing the Democrats’ charge, Campaign Spending Commission Director Bob Watada reiterated his position that Senate Bill 459 House Draft 1 does not in fact conform to federal law because it contains exceptions not allowed under federal law. “I am willing to sit down and read it word for word with them. Nowhere in the federal regulations does it mention these exceptions,” Mr. Watada says.

In an attempt to defend a campaign spending bill that has been described as an April Fool’s joke and fake campaign reform, House Democrats challenged the state’s most respected campaign reformer.

During Friday’s floor debate, Rep. Blake Oshirio questioned Mr. Watada’s view on SB 459 HD 1.

“He is wrong,” Oshiro told other House members on the floor, insisting the bill conforms to federal regulations. Mr. Watada, for his part, has extensive experience fighting Hawaii’s corrupt “old-boy-network” and has offered outspoken support of the kind legislation that such reform demands.

Democrats, who have benefited from the status quo for decades, disputed Mr. Watada’s negative evaluation of their campaign spending bill after House Republicans offered an amendment they said would allow the bill to fulfill its promise as a true campaign reform bill.

House Republicans offered their amendment to SB 459 not only because it has too many loopholes to stop corruption, but also because the bill unfairly aids Democrat fundraising efforts. Rep. David Pendleton, R-Kailua, says to be more accurate, the bill as is should be called the “Democrat Incumbent Protection Act.”

Mr. Watada, Executive Director of Hawaii’s Campaign Spending Commission since 1998, has been lauded as “the definition of persistence” in a time when politicians’ wrong doings are forgotten all too quickly by the public and in the media.

I have seen firsthand Mr. Watada’s many years of dedication to honest campaign reform in Hawaii. I would be hesitant to challenge his judgment about what needs to be done to break the cycle of corruption in Hawaii’s politics.

”’To reach legislators, see:”’ “Representatives at a Glance” and “Senators at a Glance”

”’Rep. Galen Fox is the House Minority Leader in the Hawaii State Legislature and represents the Waikiki district.”’

“Barbara Marumoto Image”

I have a few choice words about the possible tax increases pending before the Legislature.

There are more ways than one to skin a cat — and they are all painful. Whether the majority raises the 4 percent general excise tax (GET) or allows the counties to enact a sales tax, or worse yet, both, it’s going to hurt the consumer, the small businessperson, the economy and the entire State. The sales tax is a major headache. The mechanic will charge you 4 percent for the service on your car. Then he will charge you 5 percent on the parts. A whole lot of extra paperwork. Technically the GET is a tax on him. The sales tax is a tax on the consumer. Headache Number 2003.

The long-term care tax and the conveyance tax increase proposals further compounds the pain.

This session I had high hopes that we could enact a short retail tax holiday for our beleaguered retail industry. I would have been happy with a mere three day holiday on clothing under $100. Some small relief would have demonstrated that the government understands the plight of small business. But, alas, the bill moved out of one committee only to die in House Finance.

Rather than helping retailers, the sales tax does the opposite. It hurts the industry — maybe fatally. The GET increase won’t help anyone either.

”’State Rep. Barbara Marumoto, is a Republican in the state House of Representatives, who represents the Kahala and Kaimuki districts.”’

”’To reach legislators, see:”’ “Representatives at a Glance” and “Senators at a Glance”

The Democrats have done it again. They are trying to sneak one under the peoples’ noses once more by amending bills that are still alive just because their own bills seem to be dying. I urge you all to continue to call your legislators. And most of all give, House Speaker Calvin Say (586-6100) and Rep. Scott Saiki (586-8485) a call to let them know that you are on to them and their phony attempts to bring integrity back to government.

Remember that infamous ”’fake”’ campaign finance reform bill (HB 284)? Well, it seems to be dying or at least on its last breath. The House Democrats are well aware of this so they gutted a bill from the Senate that is currently in their hands and inserted all of their offensive language that would continue to allow contractors to donate to the Democrats and increase the financial influence of unions and special interest groups and make it tougher for the Republicans to raise any kind of revenues to help elect more Republicans to office.

The new bill, called Senate Bill 459, Senate Draft 1, House Draft 1, says that it makes it illegal for companies to donate to campaigns. However, this bill would allow all the officers and board members of these companies to donate to campaigns whereas current law prohibits these individuals from donating because they are considered a part of the corporation. For example, if 30 people owned a company and the company gave $6,000 to a gubernatorial campaign, then all 30 people would not be allowed to donate anymore money to that candidate. However, under this new law, the company would not be allowed to donate but all 30 owners of the company would. In a time when we are trying to control the increasing costs of running campaigns, this is surely one way to keep the upward trend to continue.

Second, this bill excludes the cost for services and goods such as property rental, food, and invitations up to $1,000 for a candidate and $2,000 for a Party. What this means is that the Democrats can have 10 unions throw a fundraiser or a rally and pitch in $1,000 each for a candidate to pay for the $10,000 cost to throw the fundraiser and none of this would count as a contribution by the unions or to the candidate. This is just dirty politics.

Third, SB 459 increases the amount a candidate can donate to community organizations. This may seem nice and helpful to charities that are currently hurting for money, but this basically comes down to buying votes. This favors rich incumbents who have money to burn. Shame on Sen. Cal Kawamoto (586-6970). He is currently under investigation for excessive donations to these groups and he is the one who proposed this bill in the first place to get himself out of trouble.

Finally, this new law removes reporting requirements of fundraisers and allows for an unlimited number of fundraisers for candidates. Currently, any fundraiser with donation requests of over $25 must be reported to the Campaign Spending Commission and candidates are limited to 2 fundraisers.

The Democrats do not to provide full and open disclosure of their fundraising activities and they want to be allowed to have as many fundraisers as they want. This clouds the whole fundraising issue by not being open and honest with the public and by allowing multiple fundraisers, this will again increase the cost of running a campaign because now candidates will continue to ask you for more and more money. This is simply not the direction we want to go.

I cannot stress how important it is to call your legislators. Again, you can find your Senator’s and Representative’s contact information by logging on to www.capitol.hawaii.gov and clicking on to Senate or House and then to Members. This site will also allow you to check on the status of these bill and many others.

I hope that you will continue to work hard for our Governor and our Republicans in the legislature. I know it has been a lot of work to stay on top of these Democrats but it is a very necessary step.

”’To reach legislators, see:”’ “Representatives at a Glance” and “Senators at a Glance”

”’Brennon T. Morioka is the Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party. He can be reached via email at:”’ mailto:headquarters@gophawaii.com

Shame on Hawaii.

In the past I have been amazed at some of the foolish things our legislators do.

They were laughable, and sometimes even forgivable in their ignorance.

Many of my mainland friends refer to our legislators as poor imitations of the Three Stooges.

However, they have crossed the line by passing an “Aloha to Saddam” resolution.

They are no longer funny, they can no longer plead ignorance, and they can no longer be forgiven.

By passing this despicable resolution, they have shown me that they are not fit to hold public office.

They are a slap in the face to our military. They are a slap in the face to Hawaii. They are a slap in the face to our President.

I am embarrassed by their actions.

I am ashamed to have them represent me.

Comes the next election cycle, I will do my utmost to make sure that all Hawaiians remember this dastardly deed perpetuated by all (except two) of our Democratic Legislators.

See related story: “Hawaii Makes National News Again – For Sending ‘Aloha’ to Saddam”

”’Jack Schneider is a resident of Honolulu and can be reached via email at:”’ mailto:jschn@lava.net