Big convention
brings in $27 mil

Star-Bulletin staff

The 6,500 people who came to Hawaii for last week's national convention of government workers spent $27 million while they were here and about $2 million of that went into state tax coffers, according to the Ha-waii Visitors & Convention Bureau.

The convention of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, with about 5,000 delegates and 1,500 family members, spent money in hotels, restaurants, shops and on entertainment. The convention also generated business for local security firms, tour companies, bus and taxi operators, food wholesalers, entertainers and others, the HVCB said yesterday.

The convention provided a good example of how the new Hawaii Convention Center can generate income for Hawaii, said Dick Walsh, center general manager.

Businesses that got work from the convention included Kamaaina Kids Daycare, which entertained conventioneers' children, and Maui entertainer Uncle Wayne Watkins.