Saying goodbye to Sears retail stores
The retail giant Sears is closing its stores in Pearl Ridge and Hilo, and there are signs the retailer may close the Maui and Kona stores as well. Kay Day, a longtime leasing agent for Ala Moana Shopping Center, spoke with us about the history of Sears on the islands and the changing retail climate. We also spoke to people shopping at the Pearl Ridge store who remember Sears as their reliable one-stop shop.
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Americans fly in record numbers to Hawaii Resorts and Beaches again
5 days ago
The Hawaii Tourism Authority remains quiet. Hotel executives do not want to talk, Hawaii must remain a secret jewel.
Competing destinations did not yet notice, but Hawaii is recording record numbers of arrivals this month and it may become a lot bigger.
Hawaii’s travel and tourism industry is experiencing an unexpected rebound
With international borders closed, Hawaii heavily relies now on a US domestic market, but this may change soon.
Hawaii becomes a serious competitor to the Caribbean for American visitors
Hula dancers are starting to smile again, beach bars reopened, many shops are busy, more and more hotels and resorts in Waikiki and elsewhere in Hawaii are re-opening. It can take an hour or more to get a table at popular restaurants like OIive Tree in the Ala Moana Shopping Center or the Turkish Restaurant Istanbul in Kakaako.
Jeffsetter Travel
To help balance the state budget and provide funds to combat the effects of climate change, the Hawaii Legislature proposes a new car rental fee. This fee, should it pass, would be in addition to the two existing fees.
Currently, Hawaii has among the highest rental car fees in the nation. Right now, anyone that rents a car here must pay a $4.50 per day vehicle customer facility charge plus a $5 per day rental motor vehicle surcharge. But, as Hawaii’s legislature eyes ways to “balance tourism” and raise funds to offset climate change, they’re looking at new fees and taxes to do so.