Transportation and Hawaiian Neighbor Island Economic Growth

I wish to thank Washington Char, Honolulu, Hawaii, for much assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

Of the seven neighbor islands four are relatively unimportant for economic growth: Niihau is privately owned, with livestock grazing as its principal industry; Kahoolawe was used as a target for vessels and bombers in World War II, and no one is permitted to go ashore now because of the large number of unexploded shells; and Molokai and Lanai have a combined population of less than 10,000 and are used chiefly as pineapple plantations. The real economic potential, therefore, is found on Kauai, Maui and Hawaii—the last the largest island of the group but also the farthest from Oahu.

For a good summary of the economic achievements of the Territory, see Hawaii , 1959 Midyear Report (Bank of Hawaii, Department of Business Research, July, 1959). See also Ten Years of Growth in Hawaii's Economy, 1948–1958 (Honolulu: Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations, March, 1959).

Progress Report on State Transportation and General Plan (Honolulu: State Planning Office, March 1, 1960), pp. 6–11.

Leong Y. S. Kamins Robert M. , “Property Taxation in the 50th State,” National Tax Journal, XIV (March, 1961), 59–69.

Mund Vernon A. Hung Fred C. , Interlocking Relationships in Hawaii and Public Regulation of Ocean Transportation (Honolulu: University of Hawaii, Economic Research Center, 1961), p. 13.

See the testimony of Brown Roy E. , Tax Foundation of Hawaii, at Joint Hearings before the Senate and House Committees on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Alaskan and Hawaiian Transportation, 86th Cong., 1st Sess., Nov. 18, 1959.

Visitor Destination Areas in Hawaii, Part 1, “Summary of Recommendations” (Honolulu: State Planning Office, Feb., 1960), p. 16.

Alaskan and Hawaiian Transportation, p. 508.

Progress Report on State Transportation and General Plan, pp. 19–22.

Alaskan and Hawaiian Transportation, pp. 468–473.

For the development of hydrofoils in the United States, see House Committee on Science and Astronautics, Hearings, May 23, 1960, 86th Cong., 2nd Sess., No. 10. For the history and commercial applications of hydrofoils, see “Hydrofoils Could Revolutionize Canada's Water Transport,” Canadian Business, XXXIV (June, 1961), 50–54.

Statement of Hon. Jack Suwa, Chairman, House Transportation Committee, House of Representatives of Hawaii, before Joint Committee, Alaskan and Hawaiian Transportation, p. 458.