A week ago I told you it's a good time to ask a hotel for its kama'aina specials. This morning I'm telling you again. Hospitality Advisors says overall occupancy statewide averages out to 73% with flat rates, but the story is, as usual, quite different depending on the island.

Howard Dicus is here with a new segment we're calling "Ask Howard." Ask him anything. Ask everything. "Ask Howard." He may not always have the answer, but he always has something to say.

President Bush called on Congress to allow offshore oil drilling and admonished Americans not to expect economic problems to be fixed quickly. The president said he saw no immediate need for a second stimulus package and suggested he would wait until the first one kicked in. Economists think it has already come and gone, citing flat retail sales in June.

Hawaii hotels were 73% full last week, compared to almost 80% full in the same week last year. But the real story is that Oahu was fuller while the other operating counties saw hotel occupancy down in double digit percentages. Take a look... Kauai, 75% full, down 11 points from last year. Oahu, 78% full, three points better than last summer. Maui, down 16 points to 69% full. Big Island, also down 16 points, to 64%.

It's time for another extremity-tingling edition of, Crisis at a Glance! In which we give the mainland economic news a proper airing while gently teasing those who would panic over every little thing.