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Hawaii's best resource -
the PEOPLE of Waikiki, Ala Moana & Kakaako
www.tomBROWER.com Email:Tom
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Photos: Sunsets and rainbows in Waikiki, Ala Moana and Kakakako. ABOVE: Kakaako Waterfront State Park, Oahu.
Working to protect our environment and economy
ENVIRONMENT: Our State must continually work on entering into more partnership arrangements with private entities, environmental agencies and small businesses. One of our state’s best strength to increase our revenue base is to develop environmentally themed products, specialty food and consumer goods, and recreational activities.
For example, the Nature Conservancy and Dept. of Land and Natural Resources is working with 35 private landowners and 18 public agencies to protect the watershed on nearly a million acres, about a quarter of the entire land area of the state. This is becoming a prime model for taking care of our fragile ecosystem.
ECONOMY: We must work to reduce our income tax rates so that Hawaii can compete with other states for new jobs and investment. We also must reduce the pyramiding of our excise tax to lower business costs. We must set standards of evaluating government by how it serves the public, services need to be more accessible and require less confusion. If practical, we must consolidate departments. |
Overlooking Ala Moana Park from Waikiki.
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Photo: Yacht Harbor Towers, Ala Moana Blvd. at Atkinson Dr.
ECONOMY: Currently, Hawaii's 2006 economy is strong, employment and job growth means strong growth in income and tax revenues. The unemployment rate has been the lowest since 1990. Visitor arrival data suggests a healthy growth in the visitor industry for the year. Gains in construction jobs and continuing growth in permit levels indicate a robust construction sector.
Hawaii 's 2006 civilian labor force is about 645,400 people. The number of civilian unemployed is about 15,000. Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation for the 23rd consecutive month.
Total tax collections distributed to the state General Fund totaled more than $1.1B in the first quarter of 2006, about a 5 percent increase over the first quarter of last year. |
Waikiki Landmark condominium, Kalakaua Avenue.
Crowds gather along Waikiki Beach daily to see the sunset.
Kewalo Basin, Honolulu Harbor entrance,
Reef Runway with three planes in view. |
Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.
Container ship enters Honolulu Harbor.
Kakaako sunset, August 2006.
| In 2006 the Hawaii natural resources, mining and construction industry has added more than 4,000 jobs compared to last year. Private building authorizations increased by 10 percent since last year. The median sales price for single family resales was up 18 percent to $625,000 and the condominium median price was up 35 percent to $309,000 from last year. |
| Ala Moana Hotel, Yacht Harbor Towers, Ala Wai Canal entrance, Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, Hawaii Prince Hotel, Ilikai Hotel. |
Ala Moana Park, Kakaako, Honolulu Harbor.
Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor across from Magic Island.
Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.
Photo: Kakaako Waterfront Park.
While receiving over half of the state's 7 million visitors in 2004, with 40 percent of Oahu's visitors being international travelers, Waikiki accounted for 8 percent of our state's GDP, about $3.6 billion. According to the latest 2006 figures of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, 10 percent of all civilian jobs statewide and 12 percent of all state and county tax revenues can be attributed to Waikiki tourism. |
Ala Moana Beach Park.
Digital photos by Sony F828, DSC P9 or DSC T1.
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Honolulu's people around the world"
www.tomBROWER.com
Waikiki, Ala Moana & Kakaako's
people, pictures and issues
- Aloha -
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