Hawaii's Earthquake--The Impact On Travel

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

21 Oct 2006 02:31 PM

It's been nearly a week since a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Hawaiian Islands. The quake's epicenter was located just off the Leeward coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, near a string of luxury hotels. It caused more than $100 million dollars worth of damage throughout the state and some residents are still without power and water.

However, remarkably, according to initial reports, the major earthquake appears to have only caused a minor ripple through Hawaii's visitor industry so far. In fact, according to information from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, "domestic arrivals from last Saturday through Wednesday are actually running ahead of the same period in 2005."

The report went on to say that air travel from the mainland United States to the Hawaiian Islands returned to normal just one day after last Sunday's earthquakes (though I am a bit reluctant to believe the high gloss shine of the report since I personally know people who were trying to return to Hawaii from California on Sunday and didn't get back to the Islands until Tuesday). Interestingly, the state reports that international arrivals between last Saturday and Wednesday were 4.1 percent below the same period last year, but that is in keeping with an ongoing slowdown in the Japanese visitor market.

Meanwhile, my friends at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau were working overtime this week sending out two press releases and video footage to TV stations across the country, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Workers at various Honolulu public relations firms say they have spent the better part of the week handling media inquiries at a pretty furious pace (on Monday workers say they fielded hundreds of phone calls from around the world). Their goal was to get the message out that Hawaii is back on track.

In fact, the state is reporting that only about 100 of Hawaii's 72,000 visitor accommodation units are officially out of commission. Amazingly, despite receiving a nasty jolt, Big Island hotels remain open and Kona is overflowing with visitors in town for the annual Ironman World Championship this weekend.

Related Articles:

Paradise On A Roll

Waikiki Beach Makeover

Hawaii--A Honeymooner's Paradise

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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