5 March 2004
Mobile entertainment heats up in Hawaii
SUVs are hot items on Maui
KAHULUI, Hawaii -- On the morning of February 29, Paul Blatchley, a
52-year-old Haiku resident, drove his Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle
into the open-air ticket lobby of Kahului Airport, parked it about 20
feet from the United Airlines ticket counter, poured flammable liquid in
the back seat, then set it ablaze.
No one was hurt, damage was minimal, and Blatchley was arrested. The
incident closed the airport for several hours and inconvenienced
hundreds of passengers.
Initially,
Blatchley's behavior was thought to be that of a disgruntled employee,
but in court papers filed today in Honolulu by his attorney, Blatchley
claims that he was simply trying to promote his innovative mobile luau
business.
Speaking from his cell at the Wailuku Police Station, Blatchley told
Travel Fox that he got the idea for "Luaus on Wheels" in April of 2001
while watching television one evening. "Evidentially there was some
problem in the cable transmission," said Blatchley. "Martha Stewart
Living was being broadcast right over the top of Monster Garage.
All I could see was flambé and flared fenders."
Shortly thereafter Blatchley purchased his first SUV for the business.
He modified it to include a thatched roof, Tiki torches, lau hala mats,
a sand pit lined with river stones, and a stage for what he bills as
"Maui's Only Mobile Polynesian Experience."
At
first his business floundered. Blatchley claims that he was locked out
of the luau business on Maui by the major resorts. In 2002, he filed
suit against the Hyatt Regency, the Maui Marriott Resort, the Outrigger
Wailea Resort, and the Royal Lahaina Resort, claiming collusion among
their management to prevent his entry into the luau business. The suit
was subsequently dropped, and Blatchley was eventually able to build a
lucrative business.
Undaunted with his current setback, Blatchley sees growth in the mobile
catering/entertainment business. He told Travel Fox that when he is
released, he plans to expand into mobile golf and tavern centers.
Related Travel Fox scoops:
Related Err Travel columns:
© 2004 Applied Psychology
|
|
