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Hawaii's economy depends overwhelmingly on tourism, yet the industry remained contentious within the community at the time of this broadcast. Richard Kelley, chief executive of Outrigger Hotels, argued that tourism provides diverse employment across a broad range of skills and wages, and he supported a free-market approach to the industry — including open competition from mainland carriers and hotel operators. He was critical of the absence of any coherent, long-term public-private vision for tourism's development. William Speicher described how United Airlines, in 1991, had sought to expand inter-island and mainland routes to Hawaii but was informally turned away by state officials concerned about the financial condition of local carriers. He contended that protectionist instincts had cost Hawaii growth it could not afford to sacrifice. Both guests argued that government must take the lead in coordinating a strategic plan for tourism, in genuine partnership with the private sector. The standing question is whether the state can produce such a plan before competitive pressures or community opposition further weaken an industry that underpins most employment in Hawaii.
Transcript
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Companion newspaper commentaries
Commentaries by the guests, published in The Honolulu Advertiser around the broadcast.
