People are asking what they can do to make things better. The worldwide financial meltdown is overwhelming to the point of helplessness. If everybody is suffering, then who is going to come and rescue us? The only answer in situations like this is we have to do it ourselves.

So come on, Tita. Put your Herbal Essence in your overnight bag and yeah, pack your swimsuit and while you're at it, bring some heels, too. Let's go Waikiki. Come, we go.

There are 1.2 million people living in Hawai'i. There are 900,000 residents on O'ahu alone. If everyone spent just one night in a hotel, we could make a difference in our local economy.

One night isn't going to break the budget for most people and a change of scenery can do much to lift the spirits. Admit it, you're a bit weary looking at the same old walls, the same old dishes to wash, the same old beds to make day in and day out. Sleeping in an air-conditioned room on a bed you don't even have to make in the morning, that's some happy medicine right there.

Hawai'i's reliance on tourism is a dangerous thing. Every time there's something that keeps people from packing their bags and getting on airplanes, we suffer. Hawai'i needs to get around to diversifying the economy one of these days. But for now, tourism is pretty much all we have, and to keep all of us going, we have to keep those hotel workers working.

It's not like most people have piles of money for vacations at the moment, and even spending the night down the road at Waikiki without the added cost of plane fare seems a bit extravagant, but — OK, this verges on blasphemy — maybe local folks could take just one fewer trip to Vegas this year and Waikiki could feel the love.

Ala Moana hotel has a "Kama'aina Stimulus Package" for $99 a night. Aston has kama'aina special rates that are even below its "vacation bailout summer specials." Even the ritzy stuff is discounted. On Maui, the Grand Wailea has a $299 kama'aina package. The deals abound.

And, as an added bonus, if the state raises the hotel room tax, we would not only be supporting the tourism industry, we'd be helping our cousin who works for the DOT or our aunty who teaches public school.

Just one night. Just for fun. For the economy. We go.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.