While NASA paid the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility over a half-million dollars for services the base provided during the Helios Prototype flights this summer, as much economic impact of the visit on the island came from the 30
While NASA paid the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility over a half-million dollars for services the base provided during the Helios Prototype flights this summer, as much economic impact of the visit on the island came from the 30 crew members who stayed on Kaua’i around four months.
The $590,000 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration paid to PMRF was for labor, contractor, public works and range instrumentation support, said Vida Mossman, base spokesperson.
And although the 30 or so Helios crew members who stayed on Kaua’i for around four months (many flew back to the mainland around once a month to visit family and friends) weren’t tourists in the normal sense – they were here to work full-time jobs – they did rent cars, buy meals, stay in hotels and condominiums, and otherwise pump money into the local economy.
While many of the crew members who were working long hours at the base didn’t have much of a chance to partake in island activities typical visitors enjoy, some did bring their families, who were tourists in the true sense of the word, for portions of the workers’ stays.
Since state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism data for visitor spending last year shows the average U.S. west visitor (nearly the entire crew is from California) spent $160 a day in Hawai’i, with nearly 43 percent of that for lodging expenses, it could be calculated that the average crew member spent nearly the same amount, on rental vehicles, meals and accommodations.
If that was the case, then the Helios pumped another $576,000 into the local economy, based on $160 a day times 30 crew members times 120 days on Kaua’i.
The crew began arriving in May, the aircraft blessing ceremony was mid-May, and the crew stayed on Kaua’i through the end of August.
During their time on Kaua’i, crew members were given weeks off for badly needed rest. Many went home during those breaks, but those who stayed instantly turned into traditional tourists – going to lu’au, taking helicopter tours, discovering the island by car or kayak, and enjoying the island via other activities and attractions.
The two Helios flights drew media coverage and technology-buff attention from around the world, showcasing the island via TV and newspaper aerial and ground images of the July and August flights.
That is some international free advertising for the island, with an economic impact tough to estimate.
Business Editor Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224)
