Sorry, Ellen

With visitor arrivals at a record high this year, Hawaii has become "a victim of its own success," according to what state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin today. Unable to find 50 vacant airplane seats this month for show staff, the state lost the opportunity to host the season premiere of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Hawaii logged a record 3.6 million visitors during the first half of 2005 (up 7% from last year), the majority of which came this summer. So, a word to you producers thinking about shooting here: try to avoid June, July, and August, our busiest months for tourism.

>> Chance to host ‘Ellen’ missed [Hnl Star Bulletin, 8/3/05]