Asheville News

The Aloha Report: Asheville airport board enjoying Maui as snow falls in mountains

Jason Sandford January 12, 2010

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

In light of all the hoopla over the Asheville airport board members’ trip this week to Hawaii, I thought it would be a good idea to keep everyone up to date on how things are going down there. Just a little reminder, so to speak. Thus, you’ll be seeing ocassional “Aloha Reports,” and we’ll all get to share in the beauty that board members David Gantt, Susan Fisher and David Hillier are enjoying.

Just a little background about the trip, again from the Asheville Citizen-Times:

The conference, sponsored by American Association of Airport Executives, will feature discussions of airport security procedures, the future of the airline industry and funding for airport improvements.

It is being held this week through midday Thursday at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali, on the island of Maui.

Board members attending are Asheville attorney and airport board Chairman Dave Hillier; David Ganntt, who is also chairman of Buncombe County commissioners and state Rep. Susan Fisher.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

As airport board travel story unfolds, a question: Have other boards been good stewards of taxpayers’ money?

Freeborn defends his trips on behalf of Asheville airport board

6 Comments

Dad January 13, 2010

Ha, Ha, just messin’ with ya, Ka’ anapali is actually Kannapolis, NC.

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Christopher C NC January 12, 2010

Nit pick alert. That photograph of warm tropical waters and coconut shadows is not of or from Maui.

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joey flash January 12, 2010

i’ve stayed at that resort: very very classy – and i did it on someone else’s dime too.

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Theodore January 12, 2010

I’m guessin 4 people wouldn’t have gone to MT. That’s the point; Do we really need 3 or 4 people going to Hawaii on our dime for this small of an airport. Common sense should have prevailed.

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Biff Smeed January 12, 2010

I would be interested to read reports from the Aloha Trippers on:
(1) what they learn in Hawaii
(2) what members learn that the other two attendees didn’t
(3) how that information can be applied to Asheville Regional Airport
(4) what convention information in the past has been applied
(5) why they didn’t fly out of Greenville or Charlotte to save money

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Been there January 12, 2010

Oooh. Westins are nice. Glad the local boys are enjoying it.

Here’s to hoping they learn something and bring it home.

A lot of the gripe and moaning about his is just muck racking. Hey, they didn’t schedule or set up the conference. Would anyone raise a peep if it was in Helena, MT? That would cost more than Hawaii and would probably cost more too.

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