Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 3, 1 March 1994 — Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund profile [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund profile

Wet and wild: Kona Jet Ski makes a splash

by Jeff Clark Imagine riding a motorcycle across the water, or a surfboard that doesn't depend on waves. That's the feel of the jet ski. Halfway between boating and surfing, jet skiing is one of the newer sports on the scene, having been popular for only the past 10 years or so, according to Kay Brooks. She's the owner of Kawaihae Water Sports, whieh under the name of Kona Jet Ski rents the machines to visitors and others at Kailua Bay. Known generically apMk craft," these vehicles am subjecti to a host of regulationfflmposed by the state to ensure 9k safety of others using the oSyt for recreation and to protect nlknie mammals.

Brooks had originally mrchased a fleet of new madflM|h| but they lasted only a vcapBhe's now leasing four fWR-new Yamaha WaveRunners that stay new: "Every thousand hours we get new ones," she says. They're high-maintenance machines^ so leasing has its advantagiSr'i'"i used to pay $150 for steerin?H cables - no more." In fact, she doesn't have to store them, just puts in gas and oil. Brooks' 5 aaiabs4>an hurtle across thej»^fer at up"1l|50 milesj per \\omr ^^9 business opāa^^iami 2, 1992. For six years prior, Brooks worked at Oeean Sports Waikoloa, a concession within

the Royal Waikoloan hotel, ending up as general manager. It was there that she was struck with the idea for her own business. "So many people wanted to rent jet skis," she recalls. "I called up all the bellmen and concierges, the first contact hotels have with the tourists, and asked them how often people ask about renting jet skis. I totalled it up and divided by the days of . the month and eame up ■yit.h about 13 per day." ^BVith the idea to open av ski rental planted in hJBhead, she went to ■ JH \ to help that idea l*rminate. OHA eame

l*)ugh witlwi $50,000 loan for ^S|rup, andlR year Brooks got "mHūi. loan 1j|at provided her witn®fl^^Jfctal. KoAlei SkWPup and running. but it iKn'l been easy. "I've faced bJfe-uptcy three times in the last ^ky|ffiHi6rfrooks, "so I kno^p'nM ī! s1lke®LStrug■de." Jr Rtu"t i|le struggle has b& the do^^lt|ĪWi in tourism. "To«jism does fTuctuate and our nurSer^ aragpn§Biible. We're j<yM pHH| #wer here®the summj$irbut it's not lik^RWd Witlrsy^itny activities avail% able to the visitor, "The pie's only so big," says Brooks. Another factor that's eating up

her share of the pie is a competitor who Brooks contends is operating illegally. Brooks has the only commercial thrillcraft permit for Kailua Bay, but another company is renting thrillcraft there too. In addition, it's not using a platform, as required by law. As a result, Brooks is losing business, and for a time was forced to engage in a costly price war. The whole situation has ■ meant rough sailing. "Ifs been a ^war for two ī>he says, 3c*cause sjj#fs obeving"%e law ^nd h^lTOrnpetitor ijn^\nd||ie ■wSf!rte isn't enforcing Still, Brooks is optimistic that the situation will be resolved in her favor. "It's been two rough

years, but OHA has offered support in the form of legal counsel to try and get the state lo do their job" and enforce the law, she says.

in tne meantime, tsrooKs eontinues to establish her business as a good corporate neighbor. "We try to do community things," she says, including sponsoring a eanoe team and lending the eompany boat as the official starter boat for eanoe races. The boat has also helped the people of Kona in emergency situations. "We rescue everybody else. We have rescued our competition's skis, we have rescued two parasail boats, we've assisted in a reseue of a fishing boat at Kealakekua Bay. ...," Brooks says proudly. In addition, as part of "Day on the Bay," Kawaihae Water Sports / Kona Jet Ski occasionally lets community groups jet ski for no charge. "It's all community kids, whose parents could never afford

it. So we're trymg to do good by them," Brooks says, offering her philosophy: "Do good and hopefully the business will thrive because of it."

Kona Jet Ski owner Kay Brooks, left, and employee Amber Pajimola. photo by Jeff Clark