FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dylan Nonaka, Director of Communications
Phone: 808.937.8382
Date: March 30, 2008
HILO, HAWAII. I thought I would never see the day when Aloha Airlines would shut down. I still remember riding an Aloha Airlines propeller plane to Hilo and landing at the old airport in Hilo to spend summers with my Grandmother in Mountain View. I was shocked to learn how suddenly Aloha Airlines demise came about and what that means to my friends and family working for Aloha Airlines. I wish I could do more for them.
This is not just about Aloha Airlines, what this really means, in a very visible and personal way is that the economic recession that we hoped would stay on the mainland has landed firmly on our shores.
On the campaign trail, I have heard concerned my friends in construction, retailing and service related businesses talk about the downturn in the construction, service and retail industries and rapidly declining occupancy at the hotels along the Kohala and Kona coasts. It’s been quiet but spreading. With Aloha’s demise, it’s not a dirty little secret anymore.
The economic and emotional impact on my friends and family who work for Aloha can’t even be measured. Imagine working for a company for 20 or more years and now having your retirement and medical benefits disappear. Imagine losing your job as of the next day without any severance or career plan. Imagine how helpless they feel and concerned they must be about their families. Now imagine that happening to you. I fear that this is the wake up call that tough times are ahead for all of us.
Unfortunately, there is little we can do for our friends and families with Aloha Airlines or in any other business and industry affected by this recession. The ruling party in the Legislature has not been accommodating to businesses and industry in this State. Through high fuel and business targeted taxes, they have intentionally made doing business in this State harder and harder. In extracting huge corporate taxes, they have ignored the help that business, all businesses, need to keep people employed, keep our economy growing and keep families and communities together.
It is alarming that so little has been done to help businesses over the past twenty years, yet the Democrats continue to pass legislation, like the recent Union Card Certification Bill, that actually makes it more difficult for businesses and small businesses to survive in tough economic times. The Democrats took for granted that the State can only operate off the success of businesses and the economy. Now let them look at the faces of our friend and families who used to work for Aloha Airlines and apologize for their lack of vision, their lack of understanding how important businesses are not just to economy, but to our families.
My sympathy and best wishes go out to all my friends at Aloha Airlines. My only wish is that I could help them in the Legislature today. I hope to do so in the 2009 Legislature.