Number of visitors to Hawaii grows 4.3 percent in October ADVERTISING Number of visitors to Hawaii grows 4.3 percent in October HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Tourism Authority says the number of travelers to the islands increased 4.3 percent in
Number of visitors to Hawaii grows 4.3 percent in October
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Tourism Authority says the number of travelers to the islands increased 4.3 percent in October compared to the same month last year setting a record for the month.
The agency said Wednesday more than 700,000 visitors came to Hawaii in October.
Spending grew 6.8 percent to $1.2 billion.
Hawaii’s tourism industry has benefited from a growth in flights and airlines’ use of larger planes on routes to the islands.
The agency says visitors from the U.S. mainland and Japan increased. Travelers from Canada declined.
HTA CEO George Szigeti says the state is on track to set records for visitor arrivals and spending this year.
He says Maui, Kauai and the Big Island recorded double-digit increases in visitor spending for the past two months.
Korean Air passenger in beer fight gets 2-year prison term
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — A Guam judge has ordered more than two years prison time for a Korean Air passenger who pleaded guilty to fighting with a flight attendant who refused to serve him beer, but gave lawyers until Wednesday to assess whether he could serve it in home confinement instead of behind bars.
Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood on Tuesday gave Kwon Woo Sung a three-year sentence but gave him credit for the seven months he already served under house arrest and federal detention.
Kwon, a South Korean dentist, had pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew members and attendants on an April flight from Seoul to Guam.
He is accused of smoking a cigarette in the plane’s restroom and then fighting with the flight attendant who refused to serve him another beer.
Five passengers helped subdue Kwon and tied him up until the plane landed about an hour later.
Kwon and his mother fell to their knees in court on Monday, crying and pleading with the judge for leniency.
His lawyers also gave the judge apology letters from Kwon to passengers, flight crew members and the chief executive officer of Korean Air.
They had argued that Kwon suffers from anxiety, depression and anger issues.
Kwon must also pay a $10,500 fine, including $1,000 for smoking in the plane’s restroom. The money will be taken out of Kwon’s $100,000 cash bail.
Kwon still has the option of withdrawing the guilty plea if he does not accept the court’s sentence.
‘Hawaii Five-O’ actor Keo Woolford dies at 49 after stroke
HONOLULU (AP) — “Hawaii Five-O” actor Keo Woolford has died three days after suffering a stroke. He was 49.
Publicist Tracy Larrua announced Woolford’s death on social media . She said he had a severe stroke on Friday and died Monday at a hospital in Hawaii.
Woolford played detective James Chang in CBS’s reboot of “Hawaii Five-O.” Co-star Daniel Dae Kim paid tribute to Woolford on Twitter on Tuesday , writing, “As talented as you were, I will remember you most for your kindness. Thank you for sharing your light with us.”
Woolford had small roles in several films, including 2014’s “Godzilla” and “Act of Valor” in 2012. He also wrote and directed “The Haumana,” a 2013 independent film based on his one man show.
