The economy of Hawaii is often said to be based on tourism, and while tourism is important, there are also other important aspects. Forty to fifty thousand military salaries are significant. Astronomy employs a few thousand more, especially during construction and deconstruction. A sound stage would attract more movie makers and could have other uses, like an indoor shooting range. It seems like half the people I know are retirees spending their pension or savings here, some with two homes. The latest building codes imposed by the state legislature may make moving here prohibitive for
the foreseeable future.
Coffee export is certainly significant with Hawaiian regional varieties considered premium brands. If only the legislature would protect them. For whom does the legislature work? Other agricultural products could be significant exports if the USDA did not have a two-faced inspection policy. Hawaii imports about 60,000 pounds of avocados yearly, while a similar amount rot on the ground. Dozens of varieties thrive here, but exports are insignificant.
Historically, post contact Hawaii exported many different commodities. We don’t know if pre-contact Hawaii exported, outside the chain, but Hawaii Island sent salt and adze head basalt to the other islands. European ships consumed supplies right from the first contact, food and shall we call it, entertainment from the women. Sailing ships needed rope by the mile and charcoal by the ton. Sailors’ diet at sea was very limited and anything that would keep was in demand, including meat, at first pork, on the hoof or salted in barrels. Later, beef. The juice of citrus fruit was in demand once its prevention of scurvy was discovered. Wooden ships needed repair lumber, especially for spars, butnone of the native trees were suitable. The Royal Navy transplanted Norfolk and Cook pine all over the pacific hoping to establish a supply, but the wood turned out to be useful for everything except the greatest need, masts.
Captain Vancouver brought cattle to Hawaii, hoping to add variety to the diet. Kamehameha put his kapu (protection) on them for years to increase the herd size. Beef became a major economic industry, the largest by land use. Forests were burned down to increase pasturage. Beef was first sold to ships to feed the crews. In the late 19 th century, the value was mostly in the hides, then tallow. Much of the meat was left to rot and may account for the past proliferation of the alala, Hawaiian crows. Crows are opportunistic omnivores.
One of the surprising exports was sailors, adventurous young men signed on to ships for an adventure. So many that it created a shortage of husbands and many wahine married immigrants.
Sandalwood was so valuable that it wrecked the original Hawaii economy. Originally only the King exported it, but the Alii demanded a share and soon the Kananka (people) were so busy cutting and loading sandalwood to benefit the Alii that the farms were untended, creating a food crisis.
Steven Dole brought pineapple here and planted Lanai from shore to shore. Most of America thinks of Hawaii when they see a pineapple even though most pineapples are grown elsewhere and were not indigenous to Hawaii.
Sugar was the largest product by tonnage, a million tons, two billion pounds a year. Some say sugar could not support US wages, yet it’s still produced in Florida, Texas and Louisiana. Land owners saw more profit in luxury hotels.
Hawaii was self-sustaining for more than a thousand years. The people had the world’s most advanced stone-age culture. They made everything they needed from available natural materials. Instead of metal they had wood, stone and bone.
Hawaii has also exported Polynesian culture to the world. Hula, Surfing and the Portuguese-introduced ukulele, the Hawaiian name of which translates as ‘jumping flea’.
Tourism has become by some measures the world’s largest industry. Unfortunately. It is very volatile. When money is tight, it’s the first thing to be abandoned. Hawaii needs more revenue generators. Located halfway between San Francisco and Tokyo, Hawaii can be an attractive location for a financial center. An economy based on one commodity is fragile, but Hawaii has many potentials, some of which have been abandoned or minimized without good reason.
Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer, now safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. He writes a biweekly column
for West Hawaii Today. Send feedback to obenskik@gmail.com
