Economist: Opponents trying
to curb Big Island growth

The isle's job rate is up 4.5%
over last year

By Rod Thompson
Star-Bulletin

HILO -- The Big Island has the highest rate of job formation in the state and a fairly good growth rate, but those good points are jeopardized by vocal minorities who oppose even clean new industries, says economist Leroy Laney.

During yesterday's presentation to the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce on behalf of First Hawaiian Bank, Laney urged "those who have a stake in the economy" to make their opinions known in response to growth opponents.

Big Island jobs are up 4.5 percent over last years' figures even as the number of jobs in the rest of the state decreased slightly, Laney said. Overall Big Island growth was 5.5 percent in the first quarter, dropping to 1.6 percent in the second quarter, he said. A 2-3 percent growth rate is considered good.

"Some of you don't think you're doing that well, but the numbers do show a good record," Laney said.

But he warned, "Despite harder than usual economic times, persistent vocal minorities often oppose almost any kind of new job creation and economic stimulation."

"In Hawaii it only takes five hippies and a pro bono lawyer to throw a spike into everything," he added.

"Potential investors outside the county economy are likely to wonder about a community that consistently says 'no' to things such as relatively clean industries like forestry, a prison, geothermal energy generation, fruit irradiation, tourism development in west Hawaii, large scale agriculture -- the list goes on."

There was even opposition filming of the new NBC television show "Wind on Water" at a state park, he said. The program will provide a lot of publicity for the island, he said.

"If you're an investor, you've got to wonder, would you put your money here," he said.

The anti-growth sentiments probably result in a Big Island growth rate about 1 percent lower than it would otherwise be, he said.

Among the reasons for Big Island job creation are a 17 percent increase in Japanese tourists visiting the Big Island, which he called "phenomenal."

Tourists from the mainland also have increased 5 percent, he said.