The State of Hawai`i is heavily dependent on tourism. It's essentially our entire economy. And for more than a year, we've been struggling through our worse visitor decline in anyone's memory. These are headlines from just the past couple of weeks:
Hawaii hotels post weakest summer ever
Hawaii's recovery years away, report says
Tourists dropping fewer dollars in Hawaii
As a state, we've collectively made the choice to invest in our future by spending a lot of money to attract new visitors, even as we're forced to cut back on schools and libraries.
Yet, for petty political satisfaction, this effort is being undermined.
One of the marketing campaigns has focused on Europe. The Hawai`i Tourism Authority has been making significant inroads to a tourism market that historically hasn't been big for us. Take a look at this .pdf of an impressive PowerPoint showcasing the HTA's innovations throughout Europe:
http://is.gd/...
We are positioning ourselves as the welcoming, multi-cultural Islands of Aloha. Yet today, in a rash display of bitterness, the Hawai`i Republican Party may have wasted much of that time, effort, and taxpayer money.
Did the Hawai`i GOP simply congratulate the President of the United States - Aloha State's native son for his amazing accomplishment - in winning a Nobel Peace Prize? No, although that would've been the normal reaction for most decent people.
The Hawai`i Republican Party attacked "star-struck Norwegians."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 9, 2009
WHAT’S NEXT? THE OSCAR?
President Obama’s star power continues to earn him praise without merit. What significant shift has taken place on the international front since he has taken office?
North Korea and Iran continue to demonstrate their unwillingness to disclose nuclear capabilities or negotiate real disarmament. American troops are still risking their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq to protect the country from those who wish to do us harm.
American leaders such as President Ronald Reagan, who ushered America to the end of the Cold War, were not honored for their actual achievements, while President Obama, nominated after only two weeks in office, was recognized for his rhetoric by a committee of star‐struck Norwegians.
Following on the heels of a similar Hollywood‐fueled Nobel win by Al Gore, one can only hope that the Prize will someday regain its credibility.
Jonah Ka'auwai
State Chairman
Hawai'i Republican Party
Is that shameless - or just shameful? Whatever it is, it isn't Aloha. Some might say it's even xenophobic.
Most people in Hawai`i are proud of the President. He received a higher percentage of the vote here than in any other state. And tours of his boyhood hangouts are providing some niche tourism opportunities.
Will childish, some mean-spirited insults tarnish our state's image in Europe? That's the same image we're using taxpayer money to burnish. I hope the answer is no. But it certainly doesn't help - and it's frankly infuriating at a time when we're supposed to all be pulling together. In face, we're told by some officials that we're all in the same canoe - just like the Polynesian voyagers of ancient times. We're supposed to row in the same direction. But some choose to take us way off course.
Please, European friends, know that the Aloha Spirit is alive - and that Jonah Ka'auwai doesn't speak for the vast majority of residents, taxpayers, and tourism workers in Hawai`i.
Here's a link to the .pdf of the full Hawai`i GOP statement (which helpfully includes contact information).