Gambling Is Illegal In Hawaii. But Las Vegas Is Only A Plane Ride Away … Hawaii residents pump millions of dollars a year into southern Nevada’s economy. Would any of that money come home if Hawaii legalizes gambling?
Oahu resident Sandra Okihara has vacationed multiple times a year in Las Vegas for decades.
Okihara says she would fly there about six times a year before the pandemic and stay five nights each time. On Sunday, Okihara and her friends Susan Akana and her husband Moses had just returned from a weeklong stay at the California Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas.
The Akanas like the Cal because it’s one of the few places in the tourist district that serves food from home. Susan Akana — who describes Las Vegas as an “adult Disneyland” — said it’s more comfortable staying downtown because they are surrounded by other Hawaii residents.
But the main draw for the trio is the gambling. They all recall the hours drifting by while on the casino floor or seated in front of a slot machine.
“Well, yeah. What else is there to do?” Okihara said.
