President's Message

Times are challenging, times are tough but I think that’s when the tough get going. Anyone who is still in business today has survived the worst of it in my opinion.

There was a recent article in a professional publication entitled, “How Successful Does Your Building Look?” The article’s focus was not on the cash flow of the building but whether or not it provided the right “first impression” for the businesses within.

I thought of that article again when I read the Honolulu Magazines’ article about the refurbishment of the Pipeline Nightclub in the Kakaako district on Oahu. What really struck me was the owner’s explanation that he knew he needed to improve the average behavior of his patrons. What was the very first thing he did to accomplish this shift in attitude? He remodeled the bathroom!!! Yahoo! This is a man who really gets it.

Do you remember how excited everyone was when Restaurant Kaikoda first opened? I was there at dinner and two gentlemen I knew asked me to come to the ladies room with them to make sure there were no ladies using the facilities. They wanted to look at what all the ladies in the respective businesses they ran were talking about. They were surprised. One said to the other, “I guess we’ll have to clean up our act.” I know that Kaikoda is no longer a restaurant we get to choose from but it’s still a measure of bathroom design and cleanliness. I see clues in recently opened or remodeled facilities attempting to emulate that image.

There are a number of businesses, but especially restaurants, that I can’t take clients to because I am ashamed of the impression they will have of our community. Times might be tough but paint doesn’t cost as much as building a new building. A bucket of soapy water doesn’t cost as much as a paint job. It’s easy to get caught up in the fact that Hilo has a generous annual rainfall. That doesn’t mean we have to let the mildew take control. Not only does a building look better when it’s washed clean but it’s better for the longevity of the materials the facility is built from. Mildew and mold are living organisms. Let’s wash them away. We’ll never be able to kill them completely but we can sure get the upper hand on these critters on the surfaces of our buildings, especially our bathrooms.

May I respectfully request that whether you are the building owner or a responsible tenant, each day ask yourself, “What can I do to make my building, thus my business appear more successful?” Remember activity begets activity!

Mary Begier