The Hawai’i Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA), the state’s oldest and largest hospitality trade group, issued its endorsements this week for the August 13 primary. It wants Michael Victorino re-elected mayor.
The endorsement came about after members attended a June debate between Victorino and challenger Richard Bissen. It’s the only time so far that the two mayoral candidates have met face-to-face in an election forum. The event’s overall purpose was to evaluate and then select a candidate to endorse. That’s surely why other top mayoral candidates Kelly King and Mike Molina weren’t invited, as there’s no way they were ever going to get the HLTA’s support, not after both voted for the County Council’s hotel moratorium earlier this year.
I’ll talk about what that endorsement means in a bit, but let’s first see how the HLTA got there.
Contrasting resumes, styles
This was a significant occasion, seeing Victorino debate Bissen, as the two are competing for many of the same voters. The two answered questions from a panel of journalists and others, from the audience, and from each other. It was a fascinating piece of politics (watch here).
Starting with their self-introductions, the differences between the two couldn’t be greater. Bissen, 59, offered his resume: a college and law school graduate; a man with decades of public service, first as a Maui County prosecutor and later as a judge. He was named the state’s Jurist of the Year in 2021 for his efforts addressing Covid protocols in the Maui court system.
Victorino, 69, followed Bissen’s lead with his own folksy resume. Attended U of Hawaii in Hilo and later community college (though never graduated, a fact he didn’t mention), followed by managerial stints at Zale’s and McDonald’s (“my employees thought I was too strict”), and as a leader in groups like the Knights of Columbus.
Bissen exudes a powerful gravitas. He chooses his words carefully and his legal training often reveals itself in his answers, which are measured and deliberative. Incumbent Victorino, given his years as a politico, is an unabashed panderer, which was bountifully evident in his remarks to HLTA members.
‘Bent council’ or different viewpoints?
When the issue of Maui’s hotel moratorium was raised, Victorino made sure the HLTA knew that he had vetoed it (County Council overrode that veto). “I stood strong with the industry,” he told the audience, then took a pot shot at the Council, saying “They are bent on what they want done. And they’ve been led by certain people—I don’t have to mention names.” He added, “One of the big things is helping us change some of the members of the council and help us get some reasonable people. So we all work more closely together.”
Contrast this antipathy with Bissen’s view of the Council. When asked about getting along with people who disagreed with him, Bissen said, “I have spent a career of working with people who can be difficult, people who can disagree.” As he put it, “If four of you are standing at a corner watching a car accident, you’ll have four different renditions of what occurred. None of you are lying. You all just saw it from a different point of view. It’s the job of the [leader] to understand that, to bring those views together and explain why you disagree, or if we really do disagree.”
(By the way, Bissen didn’t think much of the moratorium either, but not because the council was “bent.” He was more pragmatic: “What was the purpose for the moratorium to begin with? I was not in favor of the moratorium because I don’t think it was made clear exactly what it was that they were trying to achieve from that. I do think there are ways for us to deal with the issue they were trying to deal with.”)
Bissen’s big issue is affordable housing, which he calls “Kama’aina Housing” because “there is no ‘affordable housing’ on Maui. There is ‘expensive’ and ‘out of reach.’” He wants to use the new Tourist Accommodation Tax to build housing for hotel workers. Victorino referenced “plans and proposals” that were in the works, then pivoted to the pander. “I’ve never shut down the (tourist) industry since October 2020. I’m committed to make sure we keep you prosperous and you are the cornerstone of our economy.”
Diversifying tourism
Later, the two were asked what role tourism should play in Maui’s economy.
Bissen emphasized that tourism will always remain a major player in Maui’s economy. “You can’t replace tourism unless you have something to replace it with.” He suggested (as have most other mayoral candidates) that agriculture and technology both would be fields to pursue.
Victorino’s suggestions for “diversifying” the tourist economy? “Eco tourism, agri-tourism, sports tourism, health and wellness tourism.”
To me, the most interesting exchange of the debate came at the end, and it wasn’t even related to tourism. The two were directed to ask each other one question. Victorino queried Bissen about his proposal for new doctor and nursing programs on Maui. Not really listening to Bissen’s answer, Victorino read from what looked to be a prepared rebuttal, which basically said, “Thanks for suggesting stuff we’re already doing.”
Bissen’s question to Victorino involved the current turmoil at the Maui Police Department. “What have you done specifically as the executive of our county to intervene and to assist with those issues at the Maui police department?”
Victorino’s answer was quick: “As you’re well aware, the mayor has very limited powers of intervention” and went on to discuss his favorite topic, “plans and programs.”
Bissen’s rebuttal was polite but pointed. “I respectfully disagree.” He said the mayor had the full ability to “go and speak to the police department. It’s time for the mayor to step in and let the troops know that they’re behind them. There’s lots that mayor can do and should do.”
“And I have,” Victorino shot back, no longer bothering to smile.
Was it tense? Well, the moderator wrapped up the debate by quipping, “We can all breathe now.”
The endorsement
As the old saying goes, “You dance with the one that brought you.” With that in mind, it was almost inconceivable that the HLTA would not endorse Victorino, who by his own admission, busted his butt for the hospitality industry during the pandemic. However, the formal endorsement release didn’t ignore Bissen.
Bissen “made a noteworthy impression during his first official debate,” the release stated. Even HLTA President and CEO Mufi Hannemann weighed in, describing Bissen as “a formidable candidate. He is articulate and has strong, well-formed ideas of how he would improve residents’ quality of life and the economic fortunes of Maui County.”
That said, given many Maui County residents’ antagonism toward tourism at present, does anybody really want the HLTA’s formal endorsement? Is it a badge of honor or a flashing red light?
As Bissen put it: “If your livelihood depends on tourists, you think there aren’t enough. If your livelihood does not, you think there are too many.”
Tourism is such a big part of the island economy it’s hard for me to see either agriculture or technology being anything other than sea foam to tourism’s deep tides. But, surely, there has to be some limit on the industry; otherwise, the crowds will grow and grow to the point where, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, “nobody goes there any more; it’s too crowded.”
I assume the Bissen quote at the end of the article was said by him in jest because if not it demonstrates little understanding of a complex issue, casting both sides of the debate as mindless lemmings. Even those economically dependent on tourism understand more is not necessarily better. There is a limit to the number of tourists the county and residents can support and tolerate. The county General Plan speaks directly to this in terms of a ratio of visitors to residents. And, by the way, not all tourists contribute equally to the economy. Our next mayor needs to understand these things, respect the General Plan and act accordingly, because the path we are on under the current administration is unsustainable.
I’m baffled by the position of HLTA after that forum. Their choice really didnt have anything to do with the forum. Its all formalities to keep their union intact. It was obvious Victorino was reading his answers from his phone and still found it difficult on staying with the topic of the question being asked. This article says a lot.
I do agree with Bissen. Tourism will always be here. We need to excel in others industries like agriculture and technology before capping an industry that serves 80% of our workforce and businesses.
Well Put…
It is painfully obvious that if given the opportunity, certain politicians will stop at nothing until Maui is a disaster like Honolulu. They wont be happy until this place looks like Hong Kong. I will not forget tourists coming in, but Victorino telling me I would get a ticket if I sat on the beach by my house. Its time for a change. Remember, voting has consequences.
It appears to me the HLTA went to this dance with pre-planned agenda
I can not vote for Bissen or Victorino.
Neither supports an investigation of the Maui County Planning Department for recent questionable permits, allegations of bribes, different rules for different applicatants, rudeness and bullying. 🌺