Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority holding meetings seeking ideas from Big Island residents

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is holding public meetings on the Big Island on Wednesday and Thursday to gather input from residents about their insights, experiences and ideas on the future of tourism on their island.

The information gathered from these sessions will be used to help prioritize the areas that matter most to residents in Hawai‘i Island’s destination management plan.

“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,” said Caroline Anderson, acting CEO of the authority, in a news release.

The Hawai‘i Island’s Destination Management 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 Big Island.

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.

Registration is required. Participants must live on the Big Island to register. 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.

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 Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority programs and initiatives, visit hawaiitourismauthority.org.