It
has been a strange Spring on the Big Island. Usually by this time of year
it is very warm, the tourists are gone, and the residents that live full
time on the island have the beaches and roads to themselves. This year the
weather has been unusually cool, far cooler than it was this winter, and the
tourists never left. The island is the most crowded we have seen at
this time of year. The Mauna Kea Hotel is having a job fair this weekend,
which is very surprising for this time of year.
In
addition, new home construction seems to be booming on the island. On a drive to
Kona yesterday, there was bumper to bumper traffic both directions with about
half of the traffic construction trucks and construction workers.
Everywhere we look we see huge new projects being started. We are also seeing a
lot of older, presumably retired couples who appear to be setting up new
households on the island. They are in Targets and K-Mart shopping for household
supplies instead of souvenirs.
Our
best guess is that what we are seeing is the result of lower oil prices which
makes a Hawaii vacation more affordable than it has been in years by reducing
gasoline expenses and air fares. We may also be seeing the first wave of
the 77 million boomers starting to retire this year.
It
is an interesting and exciting time ahead for Hawaii Island.
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