Editorials
Friday, August 22, 1997BIG Island tourism is getting a boost with direct flights from the Far East. Japan Airlines began direct flights to Kona from Tokyo in June 1996 with two flights a week and soon began increasing them. Now it plans to go from four flights a week to daily flights. The Big Island experienced an 18 percent increase in its visitors from Asia and the Pacific in the first half of 1997. It hopes to increase its Japanese visitors to 100,000 in 1998 from the current 50,000. Direct flights boost
Big Island tourismWhen the flights began, some Japanese visitors complained that the Big Island lacked the retail establishments they expected. Many Japanese tourists are interested primarily in shopping. Presumably those people have been steered to Honolulu, which has the shops they are looking for, and the Kona visitors are coming for the Big Island's many attractions.
First Hawaiian Bank economist Leroy Laney credits expansion of the Keahole airport for the direct flights from Japan as well as flights from Canada and the U.S. West Coast. As a result, Laney says, the Big Island has taken market share away from Maui. From a statewide perspective, a more satisfactory result would be a net increase in visitor traffic, not an increase at another island's expense. Maui, of course, has its own direct flights, but not from Japan -- yet. All the neighbor islands could benefit from the trend to direct flights.
FIJI took a big step back toward political respectability when its parliament accepted a revised constitution endorsed by the Indian community. It replaced an anti-Indian charter installed after the overthrow of an Indian-led elected government a decade ago that resulted in the expulsion of Fiji from the British Commonwealth. Australia's OK for Fiji
Australia's endorsement should ensure Fiji's readmittance to the Commonwealth and close an unfortunate chapter in South Pacific history. Fiji's Melanesian natives and its Indian community must strive to overcome strains in their relationship if the nation is to prosper.
WHEN Congress approved the balanced-budget agreement last month, many members were unaware that the legislation had been amended in the final hours to produce a $50 billion tax break for the tobacco industry. Congressional leaders say it was included to offset the industry's proposed settlement of lawsuits brought by state attorneys general. The settlement is far from final. When and if it becomes final, it should not be offset by tax breaks. Tobacco tax break
THE resignation of Lien Chan as prime minister of the Republic of China could open the way to improvement of the frosty relations between Taipei and Beijing. His probable successor, Vincent Siew, is a former diplomat who once directed China policy for the Taiwan government. Siew's appointment could be perceived by Beijing as a sign of the government's interest in making a fresh start. Change in Taiwan
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
