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Kamaaina might think that worrying is the last thing Hawaii needs to do about tourism. Maybe it’s time to think again. The tourist count is going up, but not the spending, according to a new report. Arrivals were up 3 percent in January, but spending for the month fell by nearly 4 percent. Occupancy declined at hotels.
One reason, surely, is that more budget-minded visitors are part of the tourism influx, staying in B&Bs, legal or otherwise. Vendors will need to get more creative for tourists’ dollars — outside of residential areas, of course.
A rare rental opportunity
Hurry: A new midrise rental apartment building in Kakaako reserving 128 units for households earning no more than 60 percent of Honolulu’s annual median income (AMI) — $49,020 for a singleton, and $69,960 for a family of four — is accepting applications through Friday. Forms may be filled out online (www.halekewalo.com), a better option than waiting in line.
A recent study estimated that by 2026, nearly 12,000 units will needed for this income bracket and below.
