| HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) invites Hawai‘i Island residents to take part in next week’s community input sessions, which will provide space for community members to share their insights, experiences and ideas on the future of tourism on their island.
“These sessions are a chance for residents to share their mana‘o on tourism so that the Island of Hawai‘i’s destination management plans prioritize the areas that matter the most to its residents,” said Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of HTA. “It’s about listening to the community and ensuring that our destination management plans reflect what matters most to the people who call Hawai‘i Island home.”
The community’s input will help inform the development of Hawai‘i Island’s Destination Management Plan. The plan aims to balance the benefits of tourism with the needs of residents, preserve natural and cultural resources, and enhance residents’ quality of life while also enhancing the visitor experience on the island of Hawai‘i.
Meetings on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 mark the second of three rounds of sessions with Hawai‘i Island residents. These two meetings will continue conversations started at the August meetings, where residents shared their thoughts on how tourism affects their lives. The third round will take place in December.
“At these two meetings, we will ask Hawai‘i Island residents more about specific places, the issues they experience and their ideas to address them,” Anderson said.
Meeting details:
Registration is required. Participants must live on the island of Hawai‘i to register, as the meetings will focus on island-specific topics. All sessions are free and will be conducted in person from 6 to 8 p.m. Residents can RSVP using the links below.
· Kailua-Kona, West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Oct. 1. Register here by Sept. 28.
· Hilo, County of Hawai‘i Aupuni Center Conference Room, Oct. 2. Register here by Sept. 29.
Similar in-person community meetings will take place across the state in October from 6 to 8 p.m., including sessions on Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Maui.
· Oct. 7, Moloka‘i, Mitchell Pauole Community Center. Register here by Oct. 6.
· Oct. 9, Lāna‘i Youth Center. Register here by Oct. 8.
· Oct. 14, Hāna, Helene Hall. Register here by Oct. 12.
· Oct. 15, Kahului Community Center. Register here by Oct. 14.
· Oct. 16, Lahaina Intermediate School. Register here by Oct. 15.
Last night in Wahiawā, O‘ahu residents shared concerns about tourism-related issues, particularly on the North Shore. They called for actionable solutions to address the high volume of traffic to beaches and parks, which they said leads to parking shortages, strain on natural resources and park facilities, as well as safety concerns both on land and in the ocean. Residents noted that increased traffic slows emergency response times and adds to the workload of ocean safety personnel.
Earlier this month, more than 150 Kaua‘i residents attended the island’s community meetings and shared their concerns and recommended solutions, such as pre- and post-arrival messaging to visitors at hotels and through concierges, property managers, ride-share services, and community-aligned influencers.
Community input from the 2020 meetings has already driven tangible action across the islands. This includes funding support for land stewardship organizations on O‘ahu, the removal of up to 200 illegally operating rental vehicles each day from the Līhu‘e Airport public parking lot, the establishment of an East Maui advisory group to manage hotspots along the Road to Hāna, and the launch of a stewardship program at Pololū Valley on Hawai‘i Island.
To learn more about how community feedback informed HTA programs and initiatives, visit hawaiitourismauthority.org. |
