The cruise ship Pride of Aloha docked at the Port of Hilo yesterday. It is the first U.S.-flagged cruise ship in nearly 50 years.
‘Pride of Aloha’
docks in HiloNorwegian Cruise Lines expects
to pump $500 million annually
into the state's economy
HILO >> More than 77,000 tons of aloha reached its new home yesterday.
Norwegian Cruise Lines' Pride of Aloha, the first U.S.-flagged cruise ship in almost 50 years, docked before dawn at the Port of Hilo, bringing with it a welcome boost to the state's economy.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye pushed legislation last year exempting NCL ships from a federal law that prohibits foreign-built ships from operating between U.S. ports.
Inouye's wife, Margaret, is to christen the Pride of Aloha, which previously flew the Bahamian flag, in a Fourth of July ceremony in Honolulu.
The same day, the ship begins its regular seven-day cruises with port calls on four islands, including overnight stays on Kauai and Maui. Full-day stops will be made at Kailua-Kona and Hilo on the Big Island.
The inaugural cruise of the 12-deck ship from San Francisco, where the ship was redesigned and refurbished, to Honolulu ushers in a new era of cruising, said Robert Kritzman, NCL executive vice president and managing director of Hawaii operations.
The company plans to station two more ships in the islands by the end of 2007, all offering interisland cruises.
The three ships are forecast to attract 500,000 passengers annually.
Between the crews, vendors and other business opportunities, NCL will support 10,000 jobs and pour $500 million into the state's economy each year, Kritzman said.
That projection includes more than $275 million in expenditures, as well as $199 million in direct and indirect wages and salaries.
Passengers enjoyed the pool aboard the Pride of Aloha yesterday. The ship was scheduled to call in Kailua-Kona today, and make overnight stops in Kahului, Maui, and Nawiliwili, Kauai, before it arrives in Honolulu on Friday.
The Big Island community welcomes the cruise ship, said Andy Levin, special assistant to Mayor Harry Kim.NCL offers employment and education opportunities to the local workforce, as well as some $300,000 in passenger spending for each port call, he said.
A group of several dozen native Hawaiian activists protested the ship's arrival in Hilo and police were called when traffic was impeded. Police said no arrests were made and the activists dispersed after a couple of hours.
NCL also is sensitive to the Hawaiian culture, Kritzman said.
For example, he said, the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association is helping train crews in Hawaiiana, and Bishop Museum also is involved.
The ship was built in 1999 as the Norwegian Sky. Following its multimillion-dollar refurbishment in San Francisco, it can carry 2,002 passengers in 983 cabins.
The ship replaces the Pride of America, which was to have kicked off the interisland service but was damaged in a storm earlier this year in a German shipyard.
The Pride of Aloha left San Francisco on June 20.
It was scheduled to call in Kailua-Kona today, and to make overnight stops in Kahului, Maui, and Nawiliwili, Kauai, before arriving Friday in Honolulu.
The white ship sports a colorful painted lei streaming along two-thirds of its 853-foot length. It features six restaurants, 13 lounges and bars, a full spa, conference facilities, a wedding chapel and a golf shop.
The towering eight-deck-high glass-domed atrium is adorned with 50-foot-high sculptures and murals painted by island artists.
Donna and Reggie Harrison, New York City residents enjoying their honeymoon, said they were delighted by the Hawaii decor and the cheerful crew, nearly half of whom are from Hawaii.
"It's beautiful. It's not overdone or gaudy. It's bright, and colors are so lively," Donna Harrison said. "It put you in the Hawaii mood before you even got here. I really liked the dancers."
Experienced cruiser David Ernstan of Yuba City, Calif., said he most appreciated the variety of activities, good food and the emphasis on Hawaiiana. He and his family often vacation on Maui and were to disembark there tomorrow.
"They've done a good job on the ship," he said. "It's a blessing to see they've embraced so many Hawaiians. They've got the aloha spirit going pretty well."
Norwegian Cruise Lines
www.ncl.com
