To outside entrepreneurs, aloha means 'go away'
Hawaii says it welcomes new business, but greets newcomers with distrust and suspicion
By Kerwin Fischer I am speaking as one who loves Hawaii. I am a mainlander and perhaps even more off-putting, a New Yorker. But I love Hawaii, nevertheless. That is why I must address an issue that deeply affects Hawaii. Hawaii says it wants to attract new, outside business, but as a partner in a company that has been trying for two years to relocate a large part of my business to Hawaii, it sounds like a lot of hooey. My company is a non-polluting service business that would provide sorely needed jobs in Hawaii to a variety of independent service providers and subcontractors. We have been totally stymied, and not just by loopholes and regulations. To its detriment, I have found Hawaii to be insular and exclusionary. The message to my company is loud and clear: Show me the money! Invest in Hawaii!
But, could you stay home?
Why? First, we've discovered the prevailing attitude in Hawaii is that mainland business should be viewed with distrust and suspicion. This belies Hawaii's famous spirit of aloha and, in fact, is a more discourteous attitude than that generally found in New York City. Would I, as a New Yorker, refuse to do business with someone with a good idea or the right qualifications if he came from Texas? Or Idaho? Or California? Of course not! Not if his expertise would benefit me or my company.
But in Hawaii, there's an unofficial roadblock in place: "You're a mainland firm? I don't think so." Do not get me wrong - on an individual basis, we've found islanders to be wonderful and genuinely welcoming. But, barring individual, personal encounters, there seems to be an expectation that I/my company will be cutthroat, pushy, cold and uncaring - in short, the way some islanders define mainlanders/the mainland.
Second, while Hawaii talks a good game about encouraging outside business, some local, existing businesses seem concerned about the possibility of competition from the outside. Is it that there is concern about enough business in Hawaii to warrant increased competition? Or do they fear that the new ideas brought in by competitive new business may show them up?
My New York City-based company succeeds in what is arguably the most competitive city in the country, perhaps even in the world. I have seen that competition helps create more business, and that business begets business. Competition also helps keep standards high. New ideas spur competition and produce better goods and services.
Recognizing the value of fresh thinking, the Hawaii Economic Revitalization Task Force made a great start in inviting outside specialists to come to Hawaii with new ideas and recommendations. Don't stop there! Mainlanders may occasionally have a good idea that might not have been thought of in Hawaii. Don't put up roadblocks to the infusion of capital or new ideas!
Before visiting as a tourist, I had said to my wife and partner, "Why go all the way to Hawaii, when the Caribbean is so close?" But, several years ago, we visited Hawaii on the way back from a project in the Philippines. We were stunned! Hawaii is indeed Paradise, and I understand why everyone wants to keep it pristine and unspoiled. We would very much like to join you in this lovely land, to bring our business and employment for your people.
But until the attitude changes, we will, unfortunately, be unable to do so.
Hawaii is the best paradigm of that characterization of America as an amalgam, in that as each culture strives to retain its own values and traditions, it comes together with other cultures for the betterment of society.
The history of these lovely islands is one of welcome. It is a mistake to shut your doors and throw up impediments to others who want to bring business in, who want to work with you. I urge all islanders to help bring about legislative changes to remove duplicative regulations, undue taxation and other bureaucratic speed bumps that actively discourage new business.
And, with a love of the islands in mind, I respectfully ask that some of that famous aloha be reflected in attitudes toward mainlanders who love Hawaii and want to help.
Kerwin Fischer, a former television news director, is vice president/partner of KingFischer Communications Inc., a New York-based communications firm whose clients include foreign governments, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. He is the author of "Green Places in Small Spaces" (The Taunton Press, 1997).
