James Mak
Charging Higher User Fees to Tourists at Hawaii’s State Parks
By James Mak “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” [1] In May 2000 the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks began to charge $1 entrance fee per adult—tourist and local—who walked into the park to hike the iconic Diamond Head trail. A $5 entrance fee per […]
Read MoreThe Future of Travel and Tourism After the COVID-19 Pandemic And Implications for Hawaiʻi
Shortly after the start of the coronavirus epidemic in the U.S., CNN Business ran a story with the provocative headline: “The travel industry is suffering its worst shock since 9/11 because of coronavirus.” As the virus raced across the country though, COVID-19’s impact on the travel industry has turned out to be far worse than […]
Read MoreHow Many Visitors Are Coming to Hawaii During this Pandemic? Making Sense of Hawaii’s Visitor Arrival Data
By James Mak To curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Hawaii imposed a 14-day travel quarantine requirement for trans-Pacific passengers arriving in Hawaii; the new rule went into effect on March 26. Some visitors are still arriving in Hawaii, apparently in increasing numbers. How many manage to come to Hawaii is unclear to me as […]
Read MoreAloha ‘Oe: Population Migration Between Hawaii and the U.S. Mainland
By James Mak and Justin Tyndall The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that, between July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019, Hawaii’s population decreased by 4,721. Hawaii was one of ten states to lose population. Hawaii has been losing population for three consecutive years beginning in 2017. Persistent decline in the state’s population may be an […]
Read MoreUnemployment and Underemployment in Hawaii: A Troubling Picture
By James Mak, Justin Tyndall and Carl Bonham In 2019 Hawaii recorded one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 2.8%. Only five states—Colorado (2.6%), New Hampshire (2.6%), Utah (2.6%), Vermont (2.3%) and North Dakota (2.3%)—had lower unemployment rates. The U.S. average was 3.7%. Hawaii’s annual average unemployment had been below 3% every […]
Read MoreHow Can the State Government Restore Fiscal Balance?
The impact of COVID-19 and the efforts taken to contain it have led to a rapid deterioration in the state’s short- and medium-term fiscal outlooks. At its May 28 meeting, the State Council on Revenue (COR) cut its general fund tax revenue forecast for FY2020-FY2026 by almost $10 billion. The Hawaii Constitution requires the Legislature […]
Read MoreSaving the Class of 2020 From the COVID-19 Economic Crisis
By Sumner La Croix and James Mak At Hawai‘i’s high schools, 11,000+ students at public schools and 3,000+ students at private schools are about to graduate. Sadly, because of COVID-19, graduating seniors from the Class of 2020 are forced to forego festive ceremonies and celebrations that mark their transition to adulthood. Until COVID-19, graduation meant […]
Read MoreCan Hawai‘i Rise from the Ashes of COVID-19 as a Smart Destination?
By Frank Haas and James Mak A recent headline in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser said it all: TOURISM MELTDOWN. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic Hawai‘i hotels and attractions have closed, incoming passengers are quarantined, unemployment claims have skyrocketed, and daily passenger counts went from 30,000 plus to a few hundred. In a matter of […]
Read MoreTap Fed Lending Facilities to Support Local Economy
By Carl Bonham, Byron Gangnes, Sumner LaCroix, and James Mak The State and counties are facing unprecedented budget shortfalls in this fiscal year and the next. While a combination of carry-over funds and monies from various special funds could tide the State over in the very short run, tax revenue declines that could easily top […]
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