Hawaii's earthquake hasn't affected vacationers

The state has launched a new marketing campaign aimed at keeping tourists coming following a 6.7-magnitude temblor shook the state last month.
Tourism is Hawaii's No. 1 industry, bringing 7.5 million people to the islands and generating $12 billion annually. Visitors during the earthquake found themselves in the dark -- frightened and inconvenienced like everyone else. Some travelers planning to arrive soon after wondered whether they should cancel their trips.
Gov. Linda Lingle said at the time that she was certain there would be cancellations, but that experts didn't expect a long-term impact "and I don't either."
Preliminary damage estimates from the earthquake hit $73 million and President George W. Bush declared a major disaster, ordering federal aid to help recovery efforts.
TV images and newspaper coverage of stranded tourists sleeping on airport floors, damaged houses and cracked roadways have made the tourist industry here cringe.
Tourism officials are countering with a new video of "good pictures of Hawaii," such as tourists in the surf and playing with dolphins, said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert.
The quake, which caused no deaths or serious injuries, resulted in power outages across Hawaii. Tourists attractions, restaurants and stores closed. Many departing flights were grounded. Hotels were evacuated.
Despite the quake, some tourists said they enjoyed their trip to paradise.
"I was very, very scared for my life. I wanted to run for the hills in case of a tsunami," said Australian Carrie Prior, 38, who was visiting the Big Island. "But the trip gets a 10 out of 10. It's been awesome."
The state has emphasized that all hotels are operational, roadways are clear and Hawaii is open for business. Lingle said it's important for tourists to realize that Hawaii is safe to visit.
"They're going to have a great time," Lingle said. "Even when a unique disaster occurs, like a once-in-25-years-earthquake, we're able to get up and running."
In the spring, 40 days of heavy rains pounded the islands, contributing to a dam break that killed seven people on Kauai. The rain also caused a major sewer line to rupture, closing Waikiki beaches, and causing heavy flooding throughout Oahu.
But Hawaii has not seen any falloff in visitor numbers from the events. Americans, especially from the West Coast, are coming to Hawaii in record numbers.
Wienert noted that Hawaii withstood the earlier events and there were no long-lasting effects on the economy or industry.
"We're hoping the same thing will happen with this one," she said.