Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 18

STAR8ULLETiN.COM WEDNESDAY 112509 18JUSINESS Sprinkle leaving KITV; wife Young clearing plate -WW. It Sgf ei ante KITV news anchor Gary Sprinkle will leave television news at the end of the year, and his wife and co-anchor, Pamela Young, will scale back her schedule to become weekend anchor in the new year. "Quality of life is going to take priority," the two said in a jointly written statement. fit WifoikHjf ERIKA Englc TheBuzz A tit Visitor arrivals from the western part of the United States and Japan climbed in October. State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert said despite the rise, the outlook is weak for November and December.

Above, visitors enjoy the beach and water near the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikikl. Brief respite for tourism "A couple years ago, we said, 'In two years we are not going to work full time anymore," Sprinkle told "TheBuzz." He will focus on his company, Sprinkle Communications, which does video production, including for company Web sites. "Gary has been a valued member of the KITV family and news team for the past 18 years," said Mike Rosenberg, president and general manager. "Though we will miss him, we respect his decision to step away at this time." The couple's contracts were to expire at the end of the year. "For me, I just know in my heart of hearts that it's time to step away," Sprinkle said.

KITV "has been wonderful," Young said. "We have so much that we have wanted to do that we couldn't because we're working more than a full-time job. We're really looking forward to this next period. We're celebrating," she said. This year has marked the 25th anniversary of "Mixed Plate," her signature feature on topics of interest to and involving island folk.

"I have another special coming up, and then I've got to finish this Damien special before I can relax into the weekend position," Young said. Sprinkle has worked in TV news for 32 years, beginning in Tucson, Ariz. A little-known fact is that his father, Art Sprinkle hired the late, legendary news anchor Bob Sevey at then-KULA-TV (now KITV) in the 1950s as a production manager. After his transition to news, Sevey hired Sprinkle's son Gary at KGMB in 1978 as a weekend sports anchor. Sprinkle'and Young, then the "Mixed Plate" reporter at KHON-TV, got married in 1985, and by 1991 both were anchoring the new 5 p.m.

newscast at KITV, a slot in which they were top-rated for most of the years since. KITV has launched a search for a weeknight anchor and announced that 10 p.m. anchor Paula Akana will expand her role at 5 and 6 p.m. during the transition. Regular weekend anchor Jill Kuramoto has been filling in for morning anchor Mahealani Richardson, who is on maternity leave.

Weekend newscasts will feature various anchors through the end of the year, Rosenberg said. ON THE NET: www.kitv.com ,1 14 TREADING WATER The monthly total arrivals and to Hawaii: 2008 MONTH December November October September August July June May April March February January Year total ARRIVALS 563,542 496,877 511,518 461,052 608,392 614,207 580,862 554,399 548,792 666,167 603,689 597,126 6,806,622 CHANGE 5.9 4.1 10.8 VISITOR ARRIVALS The number of visitors arriving in Hawaii by air in October with the percentage change from the same month last year VISITORS Domestic 350,645 International 144,187 PCT. 2.1 Total Grand total 494,832 505,676 BY ISLAND Oahu 316,361 0.1 Kauai 73,616 Lanal 4,383 Maui 142,956 Molokai 3,778 Big Island 92,753 4.6 Includes arrivals by ship Source: Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism who arrived stayed fewer days and spent less than those who visited before. "The decreases in visitor spending and arrivals in Oc- AQUINO JAQUINOSTARBULLETIN.COM creases, too, she said. The average length of stay by visitors fell to 8.95 days from the year prior's 9.10 days.

Total October visitor spending fell by 5.2 percent to $792.7 million. On average, October visitors spent $6 less per day. Marketing and value-added packages generated short-term business in October, but the results might not last, Wienert said. As long as unemployment remains high, many American households will lack the confidence to take long trips to places like Hawaii, said Byron Gangnes, director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization's Hawaii Economy Group. "It will take some time for Hawaii's visitor industry to get back to peak 2006 and 2007 levels," Gangnes said.

"So many people have been shell-shocked by the financial crisis and the recession that we could see a rebound in the coming year, but at this point it's hard to be optimistic about that." Even with the Jehovah's Witness conference, November is going to be flat, Wienert said. A lack of major group business In December will pose significant market challenges, she said. "If ever there was a time to visit Hawaii during the holidays, this would be the time," she said. "There will be plenty of room and plenty of specials." JAMM percentage change in visitors 2009 MONTH October September August July June May April March February January YTD total ARRIVALS 494,376 608,420 624,140 550,421 516,204 541,610 555,902 CHANGE 7.2 0.0 1.5 16.6 12.7 12.5 Source: Hawaii Tourism Authority tober were anticipated due to the continued global and national economic challenges," Wienert said, adding that the loss was not as severe as last October's double-digit decreases. Visitors from the U.S.

West, Hawaii's top market, rose 2.5 percent in October, which was the sixth consecutive monthly increase. Arrivals from Japan increased by 2.6 percent, and Canada rose a scant 0.5 percent. However, arrivals from the U.S. East fell 2.9 percent, and all other markets declined by 9 percent. Even the struggling neighbor islands saw October recovery, Wienert said.

Total expenditures and per-person-per-day spending on Kauai increased for the second consecutive month, with Maui and the Big Island posting per-person-per-day spending in Visitor numbers from some regions were up in October, but future months appear bleak BY ALLISON SCHAEFERS aschaefersstarbulletin.com The rise in visitor arrivals from key markets last month was a bright spot for Hawaii's struggling visitor industry; however, it is not strong enough to guide the state to a robust holiday period. Arrivals from the U.S. West and Japan rose in October, but the outlook for November and December is weak, said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert. In plentiful times, holiday travel to Hawaii is usually sold out by July or August. Last year as the state grappled with the global economic crisis, there was plenty of room at the inn, and visitors to Hawaii were gifted with discounts and perks.

Sadly, there will be room again this holiday season, Wienert said. "November numbers don't look good, and the first few weeks of December are terrible," she said. "And without the Pro Bowl, January isn't looking so hot, either." The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported yesterday that total October arrivals fell 1.7 percent. Some 505,676 visitors came to Hawaii last month, but those Erika Engle is a reporter with Reach her by e-mail at erikastarbulletin.coni. 1 1 mm.

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