Letters to the Editor - Hawaii Editorials

The Legislature deserves our appreciation. They spared Hawaii's humble majority.

[willie]

"Taxing visitors right thing to do"

Sure it is. And when the economy tanks (like it is now) and the visitor numbers drop where does the revenue come from? Oh yeah, it DOESN'T. Stop relying so heavily on the tourists (and the military). The revenue is not always there. Better to keep spending in check than to rely on an unstable source of income.

[GetAClue]

Taxing visitors the right thing to do????

Let's take a look at the facts, shall we?

Tourist count is way down, hotels cutting staff and budgets. Business closing at a record rate just looking at the papered over storefronts and empty carts in international market. Since the hotels are dropping rates sharply even the increase in TAT and other "tourist" taxes still have declining tax revenue.

If you spent any time in Waikiki or any resort area in hawaii you would know the number one industry is in deep trouble.

So, go ahead, tax tourist, tax the rich all you want, the tourist will go elsewhere and the rich can always move to a friendlier enviroment. Hawaii will be left with nothing but misery.

You think you can ask the great OBAMA to help you?
Think again, he is wracking up multitrillion dollar deficits, he has no money to give hawaii and he already turned down california.

Live in your fantasy world of the rich tourist HAH!

by the way, IF you paid attention, some hotels have been offering %75 a night rates, they are NOT making money.

[Dave]

It is very simple, when your house budget starts to show strain, you don't burden your budget with more taxes, you tighten the belt and that is what we should do, before we lose it all. You cut expenses. Less for the groceries, drive less, eat out at less expensive restaurants and be really happy you can afford a fast food burger once in awhile. You may even downsize your vehicles. You become responsible for the success of your home.
You decrease the size on just about everything in your home to keep it running smoothly.

You don't expect someone else to take up the slack in your home except for yourself.
Too bad this bigger government can't do this to keep it's house running smoothly.

I think the time has come, to stand up and start screaming people.

[Local Boy]

Keep on taxing the visitors, if they are that stupid and can't see when people are playing them for a chump, they deserve what they get!

What will happen to all of the people on the taxpayer payroll in Hawaii if we don't soak the tourists?

Thanks for your money, just don't stay too long, we locals want to use the beaches to surf!

[GetAClue]

Local Boy wrote:

Keep on taxing the visitors, if they are that stupid and can't see when people are playing them for a chump, they deserve what they get!
What will happen to all of the people on the taxpayer payroll in Hawaii if we don't soak the tourists?
Thanks for your money, just don't stay too long, we locals want to use the beaches to surf!

YOU DON'T GET IT! Tourist are NOT coming!!! You can have your beaches, tourist will keep their money and the rich will flee. Enjoy your life when the economy colapses.

[Say What]

Eh, Local Boy: Did you really mean "surf the beaches", or is it "trash the beaches?"

[Pau]

GetAClue wrote:

Taxing visitors the right thing to do????
Let's take a look at the facts, shall we?
Tourist count is way down, hotels cutting staff and budgets. Business closing at a record rate just looking at the papered over storefronts and empty carts in international market. Since the hotels are dropping rates sharply even the increase in TAT and other "tourist" taxes still have declining tax revenue.
If you spent any time in Waikiki or any resort area in hawaii you would know the number one industry is in deep trouble.
So, go ahead, tax tourist, tax the rich all you want, the tourist will go elsewhere and the rich can always move to a friendlier enviroment. Hawaii will be left with nothing but misery.
You think you can ask the great OBAMA to help you?
Think again, he is wracking up multitrillion dollar deficits, he has no money to give hawaii and he already turned down california.
Live in your fantasy world of the rich tourist HAH!
by the way, IF you paid attention, some hotels have been offering %75 a night rates, they are NOT making money.

So one would assume with your comment that Bush bears no responsibility in the economic mess we are in? He's the one that gave billions to bankers with no strings attached to be paid as bonuses.

How many spending bills did Bush veto? What about the money they borrowed? Do you think being fiscally responsible is limited to a conservative administration?

During Bush's term real wages decreased, as did the stock market. Neither of this had occurred during the 3 administration preceding '43.

[informed]

Courtney, what if you were born with an anomoly that forced you to "overutilize" the system? Penalize them for something they hve NO control over?

You cannot keep throwing money at people and think you will "change" them. It is a person's own freewill and choice to keep eating certain foods or engaging in certain behaviors that put them at greater risk than the next person. This is a very bad idea and is SOCIALIZED C-R-A-P!! Forcing people to comply or else......people WAKE the heck up this is America not a soon to be communist-run/dictated society.

[informed]

Pau wrote:

<quoted text>
So one would assume with your comment that Bush bears no responsibility in the economic mess we are in? He's the one that gave billions to bankers with no strings attached to be paid as bonuses.
How many spending bills did Bush veto? What about the money they borrowed? Do you think being fiscally responsible is limited to a conservative administration?
During Bush's term real wages decreased, as did the stock market. Neither of this had occurred during the 3 administration preceding '43.

You always bring the topic back to Bush......He/she was poking fun at the fact (and it is FACT) that Obama said he would help with people's mortgages and toehr things. That lady who got on stage and cried about her situation...she got a house from his administration (actually a person close to his administration is allowing her to use their house). It was in reference to his EGO writing checks THIS country CANNOT afford.

Go to "howobamagotelected" and listen to some of his voters and the understanding THEY had about what Obama was going to do for them...aka the taxpayers.

[alice]

size of gvernment for such a tiny population is way too big. Build a real economy here

[Pau]

informed wrote:

<quoted text>
You always bring the topic back to Bush......He/she was poking fun at the fact (and it is FACT) that Obama said he would help with people's mortgages and toehr things. That lady who got on stage and cried about her situation...she got a house from his administration (actually a person close to his administration is allowing her to use their house). It was in reference to his EGO writing checks THIS country CANNOT afford.
Go to "howobamagotelected" and listen to some of his voters and the understanding THEY had about what Obama was going to do for them...aka the taxpayers.

When the letter writer brings Obama into the fray then they need to be reminded of how we ended up economically as a country. I'm not trying to be partisan here. Just merely pointing out the facts of 8 years of Republican rule.

The point I was conveying is that we have 8 years to judge and examine an administration of what their policies have done for America. It's good to see so many realizing where our country stands. But to judge an administration after 5 months of being in office is suspiciously odd.

[GetAClue]

Pau wrote:

<quoted text>
So one would assume with your comment that Bush bears no responsibility in the economic mess we are in? He's the one that gave billions to bankers with no strings attached to be paid as bonuses.
How many spending bills did Bush veto? What about the money they borrowed? Do you think being fiscally responsible is limited to a conservative administration?
During Bush's term real wages decreased, as did the stock market. Neither of this had occurred during the 3 administration preceding '43.

No, I am not absolving Dubya - BOTH parties helped create the mess. I am saying don't count on the federal government to bail hawaii out.

[Flexo]

re: taxing visitors
Susan Kay Wiess seems to think that everyone who visits Hawaii is wealthy. That's far from the case. It's more like the middle income group that is the bread and butter of the tourists industry. Hawaii is still a desirable and dream destination for many people from that income group. Sending them home with a bad taste in their mouth results in bad publicity that affects the travel decisions of their friends and family. The hotels also need to do their part to clean up the "nickle and dime you to death" image they have earned.

[Bruddah in Minnesota]

I agree, the Naditorium should not be torn down. If is torn down an important piece of history will be gone forever and the beach next to it San Souci will eventually be gone. Why not let it live on, everything else is being torn down.

Long Live the Naditorium...

[Bruddah in Minnesota]

Local Boy wrote:

Keep on taxing the visitors, if they are that stupid and can't see when people are playing them for a chump, they deserve what they get!
What will happen to all of the people on the taxpayer payroll in Hawaii if we don't soak the tourists?
Thanks for your money, just don't stay too long, we locals want to use the beaches to surf!

Eh local boy, where's your Aloha Spirit. All you can tink of is the $$. When I come home for vacation, I spend a lot of money. I also go to beaches that most tourists are not aware of eg: Ala Moana, Bellows, Waimanalo beach. These beach/parks never crowded. If you need to surf go to where us visitor's ex-kama'ainas come to enjoy ourselves when we are home.

Show da ALOHA SPIRIT BRAH!!!!!

[Right On Katarina]

Yeah, the Save Kaimana Beach gang and others who may advocate erasing an important and significant chapter in Hawaii's history,(including the sacrifices of our native Hawaiians made in WWI, and whose names are memorialized at the Natatorium site) forget their man-made Kaimana beach results from the presence of that Natatorium.

Excellent arguments are offered by you as well as to those icons like Duke Kahanamoku, who trained in our Natatorium.

In this modern day, drive-thru, fast-food "culture," covered with a thin veneer of "caring for the aina" or "malama o ke kai," together with trucks or hybrid vehicles that proudly display canoe racks and other symbols of the idle well to do, those wanting to erase an important chapter in Hawaii's history demonstrate a personal selfishness ignorant of any respect of those who have gone before us to insure we have these blessings of Freedom and Liberty in our Hawaii Nei.

Restore the Natatorium.

[wildman]

Bruddah in Minnesota wrote:

<quoted text>Eh local boy, where's your Aloha Spirit. All you can tink of is the $$. When I come home for vacation, I spend a lot of money. I also go to beaches that most tourists are not aware of eg: Ala Moana, Bellows, Waimanalo beach. These beach/parks never crowded. If you need to surf go to where us visitor's ex-kama'ainas come to enjoy ourselves when we are home.
Show da ALOHA SPIRIT BRAH!!!!!

Aloha bradda in MSP....got friends up there too!...
talk to em all the time!....I'd say, i gotta agree with you, best wishes to our locals out there!..
aloha wildman..........

[Bruddah in Minnesota]

GetAClue wrote:

Taxing visitors the right thing to do????
Let's take a look at the facts, shall we?
Tourist count is way down, hotels cutting staff and budgets. Business closing at a record rate just looking at the papered over storefronts and empty carts in international market. Since the hotels are dropping rates sharply even the increase in TAT and other "tourist" taxes still have declining tax revenue.
If you spent any time in Waikiki or any resort area in hawaii you would know the number one industry is in deep trouble.
So, go ahead, tax tourist, tax the rich all you want, the tourist will go elsewhere and the rich can always move to a friendlier enviroment. Hawaii will be left with nothing but misery.
You think you can ask the great OBAMA to help you?
Think again, he is wracking up multitrillion dollar deficits, he has no money to give hawaii and he already turned down california.
Live in your fantasy world of the rich tourist HAH!
by the way, IF you paid attention, some hotels have been offering %75 a night rates, they are NOT making money.

I agree with you, the state's most important industry is hurting, do want more bruddahs/sista's out of jobs. I don't think so. I would love to move home and work at one of the Sheraton Hotels but that's not a possibility. I will just have to keep coming home every year and be happy with that. If you keep increasing the hotel rooms, da Haole's will go somewhere else and spend da Kala and der goes all the jobs etc. Is that what you want!!!!

[bob]

If the Shockleys can afford to drive to Waikiki from Kapolei, they can afford to pay for the parking meter increase.

[Chuck]

Pau wrote:

<quoted text>
So one would assume with your comment that Bush bears no responsibility in the economic mess we are in? He's the one that gave billions to bankers with no strings attached to be paid as bonuses.
How many spending bills did Bush veto? What about the money they borrowed? Do you think being fiscally responsible is limited to a conservative administration?
During Bush's term real wages decreased, as did the stock market. Neither of this had occurred during the 3 administration preceding '43.

There is the old saying, "If you want to keep getting what you are getting, keep doing what you are doing."
And that is what this administration is doing.
repeat buisness, only worse. Just because Bush did it, doesn't make it right, remember he had a democratic house that okayed the money.
I thought Obama wanted change and the only change we have seen, is we are poorer now.