HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0852.008 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Donn Takahashi [D.Takahashi @princehawaii.com]
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 3:14 PM
To: counciltestimony @ co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us; ann.botticelli @hawaiianair.com; David McNeil ..! -
Subject: Mauna Kea Resort Testimony for Hawai'i County Council Resolution 307-12
Attachments: 20120928145615973.pdf
Dear Office of County Clerk: �.2
NJ
Please find attached, our testimony from Mauna Kea Resort in favor of Council Resolution 307-12 for -
the upcoming Hawai'i County Council meeting on October 3, 2012.
Thank you for your consideration.
Aloha,
Donn J. Takahashi I President
Prince Resorts Hawaii, inc.
100 Holomoana Street I Honolulu, HI 96815
Direct: 808.944.4415
Main: 808.956.1111 x4078 I Fax: 808.943.4157
Email: d.takahashi@irincehawaii.com
website: www.PrinceResortsHawaii.com
ei v ci
You
byPlease consider the environment before printing this e-mail
This electronic message transmission contains information from the Company that may be proprietary,confidential and/or privileged.The
information is intended only for the use of the individual(s)or entity named above.If you are not the intended recipient,be aware that any
disclosure,copying or distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited.If you have received this electronic transmission in
error,please notify the sender immediately by replying to the address listed in the"From:"field.
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
C 1-nri`!. N J . ?n
RE.ri. To: 7 !/ �
,
041 V1.GLY____.
Rcf. Dote OCT 0 3 z012
9/28/2012
Prince Resorts Hawaii
September 28, 2012
The Honorable Dominic Yagong
Chairperson and Presiding Officer
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
Subject: Hawai'i County Council Resolution 307-12
Dear Chairperson Yagong:
On behalf of our Mauna Kea Resort which includes the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and over 1,100 employess; we strongly urge the Hawai'i
County Council to approve Resolution 307-12 which urges the United States
Department of Transportation to approve Hawaiian Airline's application for Kona/Haneda
direct service.
This flight is critical and essential to support the very fragile economy on the Island of
Hawai'i. Our two hotels and resort have been major employers on the Island of Hawai'i
since 1965 for Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and since 1994 for Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.
While demand remains strong for Japanese tourists to our island, without a direct flight,
it is very difficult and more costly for those visitors to travel to our island.
Please kindly consider the following critical factors:
Current Situation
• The popularity of the Island of Hawai'i for Japanese visitors is at a peak as
evidenced by reports and studies of the Hawaii State Department of Business
and Economic Development
• Hawaiian Airline's current direct flights from Fukuoka, Kansai, and Haneda to
Oahu are proving to be very successful as evidenced by the high hotel
occupancies in Waikiki
• The existing synergies that Hawaiian Air has with Its current Japan routes,
business partners, and quality experience are very significant success factors
• Direct lift is essential to the Island of Hawai'i economy
• Tourism represents the majority revenue segment of our island's economy
Airlift
• While JAL operated the Kona/Narita direct for 14 years, it was a very popular
flight for Island of Hawai'i repeaters
• When the JAL flight was terminated, it resulted in immediate loss of critical
visitors to the Island of Hawai'i and loss of an important market segment for our
hotels
• By adding a new direct route from Haneda, it is estimated that it will result in
$74 million in revenues to the Island of Hawai'i
• Oahu is having a huge resurgence in Japanese visitor traffic this year, followed
closely by Maui. This is a direct result of new direct flights added from key
destinations
• Hawaiian Airlines has the infrastructure to make this route popular and
successful
Demand
• It is proven that Japanese visitors want to visit the Island of Hawai'i. In the
past, this represented 18% of our entire market share of our two hotels
• The Japanese visitors are strong repeaters to the Big Island and enjoy the
upscale resorts, the uniqueness of the island, and the natural sites offered only
on the Island of Hawal'i
• Hawaiian Airline's track record, new daily routes, and their network offer success
factors that will make this route profitable and popular
• Haneda Airport has proven to be a huge success to Oahu by current airlift and
seat capacity
• JAL dropped this important route due to their bankruptcy situation at the time;
not because the route was not doing well or lack of demand
• Japanese visitors are seeking what the Island of Hawaii has to offer— beautiful
resort locations, golf, beautiful beaches, and so many natural attractions
(Kilauea Volcano, Mauna Kea observatory, coffee farms, macadamia nut growers,
and majestic waterfalls -just to name a few)
Other Factors
• The economy of Hawaii as a state will continue to grow for the next 2-3 years
• Average length of stay on the Island of Hawaii is 4.5 days which is the highest in
the state
We humbly but enthusiastically endorse Hawaiian Airlines efforts to acquire the Haneda
to Kona direct service. We commend Councilmember Onishi for the introduction of this
important resolution and we kindly ask for your support of this resolution. Our deep
appreciation to you and the Hawai'i County Council for your continued support of our
industry.
Aloha,
4•nn J. aka ashi
President
Cc: The Honorable William P. Kenoi, Mayor, Hawai'i County
Mark Dunkerley, President/CEO, Hawaiian Airlines