I pointed out Tuesday that Hawaii now has intense tourism competition. Even so, we remain particularly well endowed with great climate, great natural beauty, the world's most successful mixed ethnic community and a significant mid-Pacific location. How to build on these assets was the focus of the forum. They could interact to make Honolulu one of the great cities of the world. I don't think so.
Geneva does it.
McClain related a story about Purdue University training of business executives for Asia service. The executives initially resisted gathering in Hawaii before going to Asia. Tiknis boasted about the only symphony in the world that plays in aloha shirts and offered eye-popping figures on the the growth of spending for culture and the arts. Why not make Hawaii the arts center of the Pacific, he asked. WE never will win multi-stars for our business, culture and educational offerings without a community purpose to do so.