HTA, HVCB Announce Kuleana Campaign

HTA, HVCB introduce Kuleana Campaign.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) and the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) have started a campaign to share the unwritten rules of visitor etiquette with tourists traveling to the state.

It’s called the Kuleana Campaign. Kuleana means responsibility, and it’s the personal and collective commitment to the people of Hawai‘i, an HTA press release said.

The campaign includes videos 15, 30 and 60 seconds in length that are aimed at curbing some of the challenges each county is facing. Videos were created for O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island. Topics include ocean safety, ocean conservation, culture, land safety, astute renting and pono tourism.

“Many travelers visiting the Hawaiian Islands don’t necessarily understand why we stay on the trail when we hike, why we care about protecting our reefs and many of the dangers they need to be mindful of,” said Jay Talwar, HVCB’s chief marketing officer. “Rather than scold them, we felt that if our residents shared the ‘whys’ behind appropriate behavior then most visitors would follow along. In other words, if we don’t show them the trail, how can we expect them to stay on it? That’s what our new Kuleana Campaign aims to do.”

Some of the messages include:

• Swim, surf and snorkel only when a lifeguard is on duty and be aware of ocean conditions before entering the water.
• Be mindful of the impact plastics and sunscreens have on coral reefs.
• Research legal vacation rentals thoroughly online before booking to avoid scams.
• Respect nature by taking only photos as mementos and leaving only the smallest of footprints behind.

The videos feature 15 Hawai‘i residents. They are:

• On Hawai‘i Island, Iko Balanga, water safety expert; Jason Cohn, trail safety expert; Soni Pomaski, local business owner; and Earl Regidor, cultural advisor.
• On O‘ahu, Marques Marzan, cultural advisor; Ocean Ramsey, ocean conservationist; and Ulalia Woodside, nature conservationist.
• On Maui, Lauren Blickley, marine biologist; Malika Dudley, resident and journalist; Kainoa Horcajo, cultural educator; Archie Kalepa, master waterman; and Zane Schweitzer, world champion waterman.
• On Kaua‘i, Sabra Kauka, cultural practitioner; Kawika Smith, land safety expert; and Kalani Vierra, ocean safety expert.

Several airlines including Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines are showing these videos to passengers before they arrive in the islands. Some hotels across the state are also showing the videos in their rooms. HTA and HVCB are working to expand the reach of these videos to more airlines and hotels. The videos have also been translated into Japanese, Chinese and Korean.

In addition, when visitors log onto their Facebook and Instagram accounts, they will see the Kuleana videos pop up on their feeds while they’re in Hawaii, thanks to geo-targeting technology.

Tourism dollars through the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) are being used to pay for the creation and distribution of the videos.

The Kuleana Campaign is one part of a multi-pronged approach to share the beauty of the culture of Hawai‘i while educating visitors on how to travel respectfully while visiting.