Hawaii

Hawaii visitors, tourism spending up

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2022

(The Middle Sq.) – Vacationers are returning to Hawaii and the state is seeing numbers near pre-pandemic counts, in response to the most recent report from the Division of Enterprise, Financial Growth and Tourism.

Vacationers spent $1.6 million whereas visiting the islands in April, a 21% improve over the $1.32 billion spent in April 2019, in response to the report. Spending by U.S. guests was even larger and elevated 24.5%.

Vacationer spending through the first 4 months of 2022 can be barely larger than in 2019, in response to the report. Customer spending is $5.83 billion year-to-date, in comparison with $5.81 billion throughout the identical time interval in 2019.

Spending is up however customer counts haven’t totally recovered. The report exhibits 818,268 guests got here to the state, which is a 96.3% restoration from April 2019 numbers.

April was the primary month guests didn’t need to abide by the state’s Secure Travels program, which required guests to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 or have a adverse take a look at. This system ended March 25.

Nearly all of the visits had been from the U.S. The report exhibits 514,878 flew into the islands from the U.S. West. One other 188,868 guests flew in from the U.S. East.

“The month of April introduced the very best restoration charge of customer spending and arrivals since February 2020,” mentioned Mike McCartney, DBEDT director. “It was additionally the 12th consecutive month through which customer arrivals from the continental U.S. surpassed the identical month’s degree in 2019.”

The variety of Japanese vacationers remains to be down considerably when in comparison with 2019, in response to the report.

The report exhibits 6,749 guests got here to the islands from Japan in April, a 94.4% lower from 2019 when 119,487 guests got here to the state throughout April.

Gov. David Ige visited Japan earlier this month in hopes of encouraging extra vacationer to go to from the nation.

“As our state focuses extra on vacation spot administration over getting extra guests to the islands, we acknowledge that Japanese guests are a precedence for us as a result of they have an inclination to have interaction locally, they’re respectful of the Hawaiian tradition and of the environment,” Ige mentioned on the time.

Tourism officers mentioned they’re anticipating extra guests from Japan within the subsequent few months.

“Elements taking part in into vacationers’ selections on the place to go to embrace competitors from different locations worldwide, inflation and foreign money change challenges, gasoline costs, labor and provide chain points, and aggressive service and high quality ranges,” McCartney mentioned.

Source link

Related Topics:economics Featured tourism transports visitor

Click to comment

Hawaii

Father of missing Hawaii photographer Hannah Kobayashi found dead near LAX while searching for daughter

Published

39 mins ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Father of missing Hawaii photographer Hannah Kobayashi found dead near LAX while searching for daughter

The father of the missing Hawaii woman who vanished while heading to New York City for a vacation was found dead near LAX early Sunday morning.

Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was in Los Angeles to search for his 30-year-old daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, after she missed a connecting flight to New York from Los Angeles International Airport over two weeks ago.

Police confirmed that Kobayashi died after he jumped off from a parking structure near LAX sometime around 4 a.m. on Sunday, according to NBC Los Angeles.

A nonprofit believed to be aiding in the search for Hannah also provided a statement on behalf of the family.

“The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today,” wrote the RAD Movement.

“After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”

The nonprofit requested privacy for the grieving family and urged the public to focus on the search for Hannah, particularly after the tragic news about her father.

The Post has contacted the Los Angeles Police Department for comment.

On Monday, Kobayashi spoke with KTLA while in the Golden State, hoping to reach his daughter.

“I miss her,” he said. “Just want her to know that, and just want her to reach out – anything.”

Hannah flew from Maui to Los Angeles on Nov. 8, where she was supposed to hop on a connecting flight to New York for a “bucket list” trip and to visit her aunt.

However, she missed that flight 42 minutes later despite surveillance footage indicating she landed at LAX.

Her loved ones initially became worried after she sent odd texts to her family and friends before she vanished, including messaging a friend that she “got tricked into pretty much giving away all my funds.”

In another message, she claimed she was supposedly fooled by “someone I thought I loved.”

“Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f–k since Friday,” another message read.

The family previously said the texts supposedly from Hannah were not like her.

“She mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, said.

“Strange, cryptic messages – things about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication.”

Other footage showed Kobayashi at the Grove shopping center in the Fairfax District of LA on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, as well as video of her returning to LAX but not getting on a flight on Nov. 11 before she was seen near the metro station, USA Today reported.

Her phone has been off since Nov. 11, the family said.

The family filed a police report with the LAPD, LAX authorities, and the FBI.

Hannah Kobayashi is 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 140 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes and is fair-skinned with freckles.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.

Source link

Hawaii

Hawaii sees more snow than New York City this fall

Published

9 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Hawaii sees more snow than New York City this fall

The first snow of the season covered Hawaii’s Mauna Kea Summit on Monday. Footage captured by Derek Petrowski shows snow falling as crews cleared the roads surrounding the summit.

MAUNA KEA, HI—An early-season snowstorm blasted the Northeast this week, dropping a foot of snow in some areas. This was the Northeast region’s first snowstorm of the season, but Hawaii has already had a few encounters with fresh powder this fall.

Winter weather arrived right on time at Hawaii’s Mauna Kea summit, home to astronomy observatory facilities from around the world. According to the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, this year, the first snow of the season fell at the 14,000-foot summit on Oct. 28.

WHICH IS THE SNOWIEST MONTH OF THE YEAR?

Unlike the tropical climate at lower elevations on the Big Island, Mauna Kea’s elevation means it experiences a different climate, including freezing temperatures and significant snowfall.

The first snow of the season covered Hawaii’s Mauna Kea Summit on Monday, October 28, footage shows.

(Maunakea Visitor Information Station / FOX Weather)

Hawaii’s wet season runs from October through April, during which snow is a familiar sight at the summit of Mauna Kea.

Back on the mainland, a winter storm arrived a week ahead of Thanksgiving and, according to the FOX Forecast Center, dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of Upstate New York and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Steady snowfall swept across parts of central Pennsylvania on Friday amid a winter storm warning in the region. This footage was taken by meteorology student Matthew Howard in State College. Multiple Winter Storm Warnings were issued in the region until Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, New York City has yet to see snow. But it’s still early for the Big Apple. The first measurable snow of one inch or more in New York City happens on average around Dec. 13.⁠

Source link

Hawaii

Deadspin | No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State test mettle in Hawaii

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Deadspin | No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State test mettle in Hawaii

Nov 9, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) celebrates with head coach Bruce Pearl after the game against the Houston Cougars at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

No. 4 Auburn and No. 5 Iowa State will meet Monday in the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii, in a clash of college basketball powers that has more the look of a tournament championship game than that of a first-round contest.

While the high-level matchup is unusual for the opening round, it does give the Tigers and Cyclones a chance to see how they stack up among the NCAA elite.

And although Iowa State (3-0) has hammered three mid-major teams, Auburn (4-0) already owns a measuring-stick victory at then-No. 4 Houston on Nov. 9.

Now comes more challenging competition as the tournament includes No. 2 UConn and No. 10 North Carolina, as well as three other teams that arrive in Maui with undefeated records — Memphis, Colorado and Dayton.

“The next four games are against Elite 8-caliber teams,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said, referring to the tournament games as well as including a Dec. 4 date at Duke. “It’ll be a true test and a true measure of where we’re at.”

The Tigers are currently at a good place. In addition to their win over Houston, they’ve beaten up on three mid-majors.

Johni Broome made 13 of 17 shots to finish with 30 points in Auburn’s 102-69 victory over North Alabama on Monday. He also pulled down 17 rebounds, while Dylan Cardwell made 5 of 6 shots to finish with 12 points.

“Our bigs shot an incredible percentage,” Pearl said. “Johni and Dylan are two of the best centers in college basketball and we’ve got both of them.”

Meanwhile, the rest of the Tigers’ starters scored in double figures. Denver Jones delivered 13 points and nine assists in the win.

Playing three games in three days will be a big change for Iowa State, which has been one of the least active teams in Division I. Its only three games have come on the three Mondays in November.

“We’ve had these experiences in years past. Last year it didn’t go as well,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said, referring to last November when the Cyclones lost two of three games in the ESPN Events Invitational.

“Yes, you want to win every game, but last year we had a great season and we weren’t as good at this point,” Otzelberger said of his team, which went 29-8 and reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

With five double-digit scorers, the Cyclones have shown balance, led by backcourt players Curtis Jones (15 points per game), Tamin Lipsey (13.7) and Keshon Gilbert (12.3).

St. Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson recorded his first double-double for his new team by collecting 16 points and 10 rebounds in Iowa State’s 87-52 victory over IU Indianapolis last Monday. He made all seven of his shots from the floor.

On Monday night, the Cyclones face a team that is “playing as well or better than anyone in the country,” Otzelberger said.

“They’re a tremendous team. They pressure defensively, really get after you. They’ve got tremendous depth. They try to wear you down,” Otzelberger said. “In the Houston game, Houston had the lead early and that’s what happened.”

–Field Level Media

Source link