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Funding the Hawaii Tourism Authority: TAT vs General Fund…Or?

  • June 28, 2021
  • James Mak , Blogs , Economy

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By James Mak

A majority of the states in the U.S. have a government tourism office (also known as Destination Marketing Organization, DMO) that markets their state. The National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) notes that the most common way for states to fund their tourism offices is by appropriation from their general fund. [1] According to the U.S. Travel Association, fourteen state tourism offices are funded either partly or entirely by a statewide lodging tax. The Hawaii Tourism Authority gets virtually all of its funding from the state’s transient accommodation tax (TAT).

In the recently-concluded thirty-first legislature (2021), Hawaii state lawmakers passed HB 862 CD1 which would change the way the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is funded. [2] Since its creation in 1998, HTA has been receiving “dedicated funding” from a portion of the revenues generated by the state’s transient accommodation tax (TAT). [3] If the bill becomes law HTA would no longer receive money from the TAT. Instead, HTA would have to go to the Legislature to compete for appropriations from the general fund against all other state programs. The purpose of this proposed change is to make HTA more accountable to Hawaii taxpayers. [4] Star-Advertiser editors argue that if the change in HTA’s funding source is enacted, it “will impede its ability to respond nimbly to industry challenges.” [5]

The president and CEO of the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii disagrees, arguing that subsidizing tourism is not fair to other industries, and it has contributed to overtourism and lack of economic diversity; hence, “now is the perfect time for the state to save money while allowing Hawaii’s tourism industry to make it on its own.” [6] This implies disbanding the HTA model and creating a new one funded by the industry. However, studies show that destinations that have tried to rely solely on visitor industry efforts to raise revenue to fund their tourism offices are likely to fail. [7] In 1993, Colorado became the first state to eliminate public funding of tourism marketing; funding has since been restored. [8]

Why Is Government Funding Tourism Promotion?

Before Hawaii enacted its transient accommodation tax in 1986, money for the Hawaii Visitors Bureau (HVB) (subsequently renamed the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB)—a private destination marketing organization contracted to promote the state—was raised through membership subscriptions and legislative appropriations. HVB was essentially a voluntary trade association. Soliciting contributions was difficult work and did not produce the desired results. While there were many who wanted to see more money spent on tourism promotion, there weren’t enough of them who were willing to dip into their own pockets to pay for it. The incentive is to let someone else pay and the non-contributor still benefits as a free-rider. In 1985, 78% of the airlines serving Hawaii, 66% of the hotels, 32% of the lending institutions, and 24% of the restaurants belonged to HVB. [9] It is a classic example in economics of “market failure”. Citing the need for more money to market Hawaii, the industry turned to the State for help. Over time, the State’s share of HVB/HVCB’s annual budgets grew. By the early 1990s, legislative appropriations comprised more than 90% of the bureau’s annual income compared to less than 50% in 1959. [10]

One way to overcome free-riding is to tax every business in the industry that stands to benefit directly and use the revenue to pay for travel bureau expenses. That’s not easy because the tourism industry is a heterogenous industry made up of businesses from a variety of industries such as hospitality, transportation, souvenir and clothing stores, visitor attractions, food and drink that don’t always share the same interests/goals. [11] Thus, figuring out how to get the businesses to pay their fair share of taxes is complicated. For example, California and Hawaii use different approaches to fund their DMOs.

California’s Private-Public Partnership in Tourism Promotion 

Until 1994, California’s destination marketing budget was entirely funded by appropriations from the general fund. In 1995, the California legislature passed SB158, the California Tourism Marketing Act, which directed the state’s tourism industry to come up with a scheme to require tourism businesses to assess themselves to fund marketing. To carry out marketing, a new 501(c) nonprofit corporation, the California Travel & Tourism Commission, doing business as “Visit California”, was created; its board members comprised of travel industry leaders. [12] The self-assessment scheme, overseen by the state government’s Office of Tourism, adapts a model (commonly referred to as a “marketing order”) that’s widely used in the agriculture industry. For example, the Florida citrus industry employs self-assessment to raise money from producers to pay for generic product promotion. [13] A key feature of a marketing order is that it is backed by legislation enabling grower associations to levy assessments on every grower in the industry. Under the tourism marketing order, a California business that has been identified as potentially assessable is sent the Tourism Assessment Form by the Office of Tourism. To complete the form, the business needs to have information on the gross revenue for each physical address for the most recently completed tax year and the percentage of that revenue derived from travel and tourism. [14] Currently, there are more than 21,000 assessed business locations. [15] Every six years, participating businesses take a vote on whether or not to continue these assessments. Since July 1, 2015 assessment rates in California have been as follows: (a) accommodations (.00195% of California gross receipts), (b) restaurants & retail (.000975%), (c) attractions & recreation (.000975%), (d) transportation & travel services (.000975%), and passenger car rental (3.5% of monthly revenue). [16] Payments are made to the California Travel & Tourism Commission (i.e. Visit California). In FY2018/19, accommodations accounted for 38% of its budget; rental cars, 52%; retail, 4%; restaurants, 3%; attractions, 2%; transportation, 1%; and state funding accounted for 0.2%. [17] Thus, in California, money for tourism promotion is raised by the industry and controlled by the industry. There is no question about who is paying for tourism marketing. And the revenues collected cannot be redirected to fund state programs by lawmakers. But assessing 21,000+ business locations annually is costly especially since it is difficult to verify what percent of each business location’s gross receipts is derived from tourism. [18]

Funding the Hawaii Tourism Authority

Hawaii currently employs a different funding model. The public has been told that HTA gets “dedicated” funding from the TAT. A more accurate word is “earmarked”; i.e. where some specific revenue source is earmarked for specific expenditures/funds. [19] TAT revenues are not only allocated to HTA. Besides HTA, TAT revenues also fund other state functions as well as provide unrestricted grant-in-aid to Hawaii’s four county governments. Since FY2016, over half of the TAT annual revenues have been allocated to the general fund that can be spent on any state service. Today, most of the TAT revenues are not earmarked “for specific expenditures”. [20]

Since only visitor accommodations are taxed under the TAT, the tax base is narrower than if all the businesses in the tourism industry are taxed. That may seem unfair to lodging suppliers. But it is not a serious problem because the lodging tax is largely passed on to consumers as are sales taxes on other vacation goods, and lodging and other vacation goods are jointly consumed. Hence, whether we tax lodging only or lodging and other vacation goods consumed by visitors, it is the tourist (the ultimate beneficiary) who pays.  

Hawaii’s tax approach is preferable to California’s self-assessment approach for several reasons. First, TAT tax base is easy to verify since gross receipts from rental of accommodations are directly observable. Second, tax administration is less costly than if all tourism businesses were taxed. Tourism marketer Frank Haas argues that the most important reason for public funding of DMOs is that “the private sector players would market the destination on their own terms without regard to what the destination [residents] necessarily values.  That’s the key argument in support of state-funded marketing.” [21] Residents may prefer spending more money on destination management and less on tourism marketing while the industry may prefer more dollars for marketing.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Earmarking Versus General Fund Financing [22]

There is concern that a shift from TAT financing to general fund financing will make it more complicated to secure funds for long range planning. [23] Governor Ige noted that HTA had developed destination management plans that are supported by residents, but “How do you create programs if you’ve got to come back for money every year?” [24]

Economists explain that the most important economic advantage of earmarking is that it represents a benefit system of taxation where those who benefit from a public service is matched to the taxes they pay. For example, it is the rationale for earmarking highway fuel taxes.  In strict earmarking, money earmarked for highways can’t be transferred to pay for other unrelated public services. In theory, earmarking provides revenue certainty to the recipient. The main disadvantage of earmarking is that it potentially reduces budget flexibility for the state government, since revenues from the earmarked tax are tied up for specific uses. As well, a tax that is earmarked to fund a program can either generate too little or too much revenue (and spending) desired by residents. In practice, neither the theoretical advantage nor its disadvantage of earmarking tax revenues applies to TAT financing of HTA. To explain, consider the following.

Each biennium HTA receives an appropriation from the TAT for the next two years (referred to as the Tourism Special Fund); the appropriation is a fixed dollar amount and not some percentage of total TAT revenues. Between FY2014 and FY2018, state lawmakers appropriated $82 million per year from the TAT to HTA and $79 million per year in FY2019 and FY2020. [25]  Appropriations can go up or down at the discretion of state lawmakers. Between FY2000 and FY2020, current year appropriation was less than in the previous year in 5 of the 20 years [26] and was unchanged in 6 of those years. [27]  After adjusting for inflation, HTA has had to operate with fewer financial resources over time. In FY2009, HTA received $72.03 million from TAT revenues; ten years later, the $79 million that was appropriated to HTA amounted to only $64.5 million in inflation-adjusted (2009) dollars. Since total TAT revenues have been rising because of tourism growth and tax rate increases, HTA’s annual appropriations have declined as a percentage of total TAT tax collections. In FY 2019,  HTA received 13.2% of total TAT revenues while 56.6% of total TAT revenues was distributed to the general fund. [28]  Ten years earlier HTA received 34.2% of total TAT revenues while the general fund received only 6.4%. [29]  Has the current model of funding served HTA so well that it is being touted as superior to general fund financing?

I would argue that it really doesn’t matter which pot of money HTA money comes from. If lawmakers are unhappy with HTA’s performance, they are likely to cut HTA’s budget by the same amount whether the money comes from TAT revenues or from the general fund. The claim that “dedicated funding” Hawaii-style makes it easier for HTA to secure funds for long-range planning is weak. It is noteworthy that research seems to suggest that earmarking taxes apparently has little effect on either the level or mix of spending than if the spending were financed with general fund revenues. [30]

Ultimately, for Hawaii, it is not about choosing between funding HTA using TAT revenues or general fund revenues. After several negative audits by the State Auditor and continued displeasure of key state lawmakers over its performance, [31] HTA may do itself and its funding the most good by gaining the confidence and support of Hawaii’s state leaders and the public.

Looking to the Future

A recent report on how DMOs should be funded in the future offers the following advice: “a review of funding starts with a review of your role, responsibilities and structure as a DMO.” [32] Across North America, many DMOs are looking to play a bigger role in destination management. Destination Marketing Organizations are becoming Destination Management Organizations with the same acronym, DMO. Count HTA among them. In his recent (June 18) Honolulu Civil Beat op-ed, Frank Haas asks whether HTA, in its current form, is the best governance structure to take-on the responsibility of managing the destination. [33]  Should HTA be replaced with a new model of governance with broader authority? Or, should it be “scaled back and refocused?” [34] Other destinations have created new, and separate (from their existing DMOs), institutions with broader resident representation to steer and manage desired changes. Depending on what we decide, it could well be that a better funding model for Hawaii is one that doesn’t depend on revenues from a single tax but a more diverse portfolio of taxes, user charges and fees.

[1] Erica MacKellar, “State Tourism Office Budgets,” NCSL, Vol. 27, No. 31, August 2019 at https://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/state-tourism-office-budgets.aspx (visited June 17, 2021)

[2] https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2021/bills/HB862_CD1_.pdf (visited June 9, 2021)

[3] Paul Brewbaker, Frank Haas, and James Mak, Hawaii Tourism Authority and Sustainable Destination Management in Hawaii, UHERO Brief, April 7, 2020, p.8 at https://uhero.hawaii.edu/hawaii-tourism-authority-and-sustainable-destination-management-in-hawaii/ (visited June 15, 2021)

[4] Interview with State Senator Glenn Wakai (chairman of the tourism committee) on the Hawaii Public Radio program, The Conversation, May 5, 2021 at https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/show/the-conversation/2021-05-05/the-conversation-revamping-hawaii-tourism-authority-monk-seal-pup-in-waikiki (visited June 18, 2021)

[5] “Take longer view of visitor industry,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 27, 2021, p. A14.  On June 21, Governor David Ige announced his intention to veto the bill (he has until July 6th to do so), triggering possibly a special session later in the year.

[6] Allison Schaefers, “Bill cuts off Hawaii Tourism Authority’s funding source,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 10, 2021, p. B6.

[7] Carl Bonham and James Mak, “Private versus Public Financing of State Destination Promotion,” Journal of Travel Research, Vol. XXXV, No. 2, Fall, 1996, pp. 3-10.

[8] https://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/state-tourism-office-budgets.aspx (visited June 17, 2021). For additional details on why funding was ended, see Bill Siegel, What Happens When You Stop Marketing? The Rise and Fall of Colorado Tourism, Longwoods International, April 2020 at https://longwoods-intl.com/sites/default/files/2020-04/The%20Rise%20and%20Fall%20of%20Colorado%20Tourismv4_0.pdf (visited June 17, 2021)

[9] Bonham and Mak (1996), p. 5.

[10] Bonham and Mak, (1996); also James Mak, Developing a Dream Destination, Tourism and Tourism Policy Planning in Hawaii, University of Hawaii Press, 2008, Chapter 5.

[11] Officially, tourism isn’t even an industry.  It is considered a “sector” comprising of parts of various industries.

[12] https://tourism.ca.gov/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=0152T000002UOb1 (visited June 17, 2021)

[13] https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/title-10/chapter-7-65 (visited June 17, 2021)

[14] For more detail, see https://tourism.ca.gov/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=0152T000002UOaw (visited June 17, 2021).

[15] https://industry.visitcalifornia.com/marketing-communications/year-in-review-fy1819 (visited June 17, 2021)

[16] https://tourism.ca.gov/s/calculate-assessment?language=en_US (visited June 17, 2021) These rates were set with the objective of raising around $100 million per year in revenues.

[17] https://industry.visitcalifornia.com/marketing-communications/year-in-review-fy1819 (visited June 17, 2021). I have been unable to find data on the amount of revenues actually raised.

[18] Local versions of this self-assessment model called “Tourism Improvement Districts” (TID) have been established in cities especially in California but also in other states.  See James Mak, Creating Tourism Improvement Districts to Raise Stable Funding for Destination Marketing and Promotion, UHERO Working Paper No. 2016-2, March 23, 2016 at https://uhero.hawaii.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WP_2016-2.pdf (visited June 20, 2021)

[19] Ronald C. Fisher, State & Local Public Finance, 3rd edition, Thomson Southwestern, 2007, p.279.

[20] Thus, the focus of the TAT has changed over time from finding an efficient way to raise money for destination marketing and a world class convention center to, now, extracting economic rent (surplus) from tourism.

[21] Email from Frank Haas to this author on June 15, 2021.

[22] Fisher, 2007, pp.280-282.

[23] “Ways to better handle tourism,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, June 6, 2021, p. E2. (visited June 20, 2021)

[24] Kevin Dayton and Blaze Lovell,  “Hawaii Gov Intends To Veto Dozens Of Bills, Likely Triggering A Special Session,” Civil Beat, June 21, 2021 at https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/06/hawaii-gov-intends-to-veto-dozens-of-bills-likely-triggering-a-special-session/ (visited June 21, 2021).

[25] Governor Ige’s emergency proclamation due to the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the distribution of TAT revenues to the various special funds in May and June of 2020.  Thus, not all of the $79 million appropriated to the Tourism Special Fund for FY2020 was actually distributed.

[26] FYs 02, 09, 10, 12, and 19.

[27] FYs 04, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20

[28] https://files.hawaii.gov/tax/stats/stats/annual/19annrpt.pdf (visited June 15, 2021).  Other special funds receiving TAT distributions include: Counties ($103 million), Convention Center Enterprise Special Fund ($16.5 million), Turtle Bay Conservation Easement Special Fund ($1.5 million), Special Land and Development Fund ($3.0 million), and the Mass Transit Fund ($57.4 million).

[29] https://files.hawaii.gov/tax/stats/stats/annual/10annrpt.pdf (visited June 20, 2021)

[30] Fisher, 2007, p. 282.

[31] Brewbaker, Haas and Mak (2020); also https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/show/the-conversation/2021-05-05/the-conversation-revamping-hawaii-tourism-authority-monk-seal-pup-in-waikiki (visited June 18, 2021)

[32] Miles Partnership, Civitas and Tourism Economics, Funding Futures: Executive Summary & Recommendations at  https://covid19.milespartnership.com/dmofunding/ (visited June 18, 2021).

[33] See, also, Brewbaker, Haas and Mak (2020).

[34] Frank Haas, “It’s Time For Hawaii To Get Serious About Managing Tourism,” Honolulu Civil Beat, June 18, 2021 at https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/06/its-time-for-hawaii-to-get-serious-about-managing-tourism/ (visited June 21, 2021).

1 thought on “Funding the Hawaii Tourism Authority: TAT vs General Fund…Or?”

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Mahalos for this analysis and explainer. Although the funding issue was recently effectively decided, I think that I have a question/comment that is still worth discussing if you have the time.

I don’t see the market failure; can you flesh this out? I ask because it seems like HI tourism promotion in the 80s may have been non-rival/non-excludable to justify treating it as a quasi-public good, but those figures indicate that the most direct beneficiaries were actually willing to pay despite free-riders. 80% of airlines and 70% of hotels determined that their payments would generate positive ROI and voluntarily joined the then-HVB. The remaining airlines/hotels assumed to be free-riding may just be revealing preferences if they were larger firms with more diversified operations that could market themselves vs. the destination (but I fully admit I couldn’t easily find any data on who operated in HI at this time so this point may be entirely wrong). The same sort of logic probably applies to the restaurant figure since it seems plausible that a quarter of the industry directly benefited from tourism at that time (same caveat here that I didn’t find info on this in my quick Googling). This all struck me as sufficient to question the example unless the market failure is liberally defined as the existence of any free-riding and/or less funding than industry/residents say they want (as oppose to the amount revealed by actions).

Ultimately I’m prone to question the vast majority of market failure calls because of the last point in paragraph four. The industry then turning to the state is a classic example of concentrated beneficiaries extracting rents from diffused payers who bear the burden. And if we define cost as opportunity cost per Buchanan and others, then the diffuse population has paid in 1) foregone tax cuts/subsidies/programs/investments the state could have provided, 2) capital/labor competed into the subsidized tourism industry vs other (maybe more) productive ventures, and 3) lost non-monetary welfare gains (insert standard overcrowded beaches grumbling). Unfortunately, citing a market failure is nearly always followed by public solution that often falls short and/or creates more problematic distortions when viewed through different frameworks.

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Destination Management Action Plans Mobile Logo

HTA's Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ‘Āina Funding Opportunities Open

hawaii tourism authority funding

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) has announced funding opportunities for its Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs. HTA will provide funding support to qualified organizations and programs that will perpetuate Hawaiian culture and preserve Hawaiʻi’s natural resources in fiscal year 2023-2024 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024).   The Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs are a part of HTA’s commitment toward Mālama Kuʻu Home (caring for my beloved home) and the interacting pillars of its 2025 Strategic Plan.   “The Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs are direct ways to reinvest in our people and place by supporting the work of various community organizations across the Hawaiian Islands,” said Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā, HTA’s Chief Brand Officer. “Investments in a thriving, living Hawaiian culture and the protection of our precious natural environment are investments worth making.” The Kūkulu Ola program provides support to awardees that enhance, strengthen and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture through genuine experiences for residents and visitors alike. The Aloha ʻĀina program provides support to community entities with an emphasis on ʻāina-kānaka (land-human) relationships and knowledge that manage, preserve and regenerate Hawaiʻi’s natural resources and environment.   HTA is grateful for the partnership of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) to administer its 2023 Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs.   “HCF is pleased to continue its administration of HTA’s award programs and its direct alignment with our CHANGE Framework sectors of Arts and Culture and Natural Environment,” said Michelle Kaʻuhane, HCF’s Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer. “This partnership to administer HTA’s programs helps to bolster the pivotal work happening in our communities to improve the well-being of our people and place.”   Each of the six letters of the HCF CHANGE Framework represents a sector, or area, that affects the community and its ability to thrive—from economy to education. Under each sector, HCF has assembled a curated set of data to track progress on where disparities exist; the organization is also making deep investments into the community with the support of donors and working with partners across the state from government to nonprofits to find solutions together—all for its vision to see an equitable Hawaiʻi.   The deadline for applicants to submit proposals to HCF seeking funding support from either of the two programs is May 24, 2023 at 4 p.m. HST. Interested applicants should visit hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/HTA .   All inquiries about the funding opportunities should be directed to Kehau Meyer at [email protected] .   Funding Opportunity Applicant Information Sessions HTA and HCF staff will be conducting virtual information sessions on Zoom to help interested applicants with their understanding of HTA’s strategic direction and vision, the funding opportunity applications, and award process. Community members are encouraged to attend and have their questions answered. A session recording will be posted at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/HTA for those who are unable to join live.

  • Session #1: April 20, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m. Register Here
  • Session #2: May 1, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to noon Register Here  

hawaii tourism authority funding

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority awards $3 million in cultural, environmental grants

hawaii tourism authority funding

HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority has awarded grants to several local environmental and cultural organizations in a bid to preserve natural areas and enhance the role of Native Hawaiians in the industry.

After eliminating grants last year because of pandemic budget constraints, the agency recently awarded more than $3 million through its Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina grants.

In partnership with the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation , the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority distributed money to more than a dozen organizations.

Some of the projects being launched through the funding include the building of a Hawaiian hale on trust lands on Oʻahu, the restoration of a traditional fishpond and water system on Maui, and the commissioning of a mural depicting powerful Native Hawaiian wahine on Kauaʻi.

The tourism authority is marketing Hawaiʻi as a place where people can come for more sustainable forms of tourism that put an emphasis on local and Indigenous cultures and the restoration or preservation of natural areas

hawaii tourism authority funding

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Bill cuts off Hawaii Tourism Authority's funding source

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May 10—It's game on.

The state Legislature has thrown Gov. David Ige a gambit that puts funding of the Hawaii Tourism Authority in jeopardy.

What happens next will determine HTA's fate. The agency had broad support when it was created in 1998 to help the tourism industry overcome a seven-year slump after the Japan bubble burst. But over the years the agency and the work it does have become increasingly politicized.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 862, which takes away the dedicated funding HTA has had since its founding. If the governor signs HB 862, HTA's fiscal year 2023 budget starts at zero, and the agency would have to justify to legislators why it should receive general funds. HTA also would lose its procurement exemption, a move that would require state approval for all future contracts and purchases.

Ige met in executive session Wednesday with the HTA board for about four hours. The outcome of that talk has not been made public, though Ige recently pledged support for the agency.

"I am disappointed at what happened with HTA. ... Losing dedicated funding is a big issue, " Ige told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser during an interview April 29.

Ige said the legislation leaves HTA with one year's funding, which makes it challenging to run multiyear efforts, like its Destination Management Action Plan program, which identifies hot spots where there is friction between residents and visitors and develops an action plan to resolve them.

"The visitor industry is the No. 1 industry in this state ; it creates 200, 000 jobs plus, and we are not going to have economic recovery until the visitor industry recovers, " Ige said.

Ige has until June 21 to release his intent-to-veto list. However, in this case his hands might be tied.

Legislators left HTA funding out of HB 200, the state's finance bill. If Ige vetoes HB 862, the federal funding that lawmakers allocated to HTA for fiscal year 2022 disappears, without any special funds to replace it.

Lawmakers also used the bill to eliminate the counties' $103 million share of transient accommodations taxes, while giving each county the right to raise their island's TAT by 3 percentage points.

HTA board member Fred Atkins said at the April 29 HTA board meeting that HTA's creators set it up to be autonomous from the Legislature "because they knew how brutal politics could be."

Former HTA board member Ku 'uipo Kumukahi, whose term ended in April, said she fears that the current situation reduces HTA to a pawn in a high-stakes game where nobody wins. If HTA loses its special fund status, Kumukahi said, "In my heart, it would be a really big task " for HTA to get enough future funds to survive.

Keith Vieira, principal of KV &Associates, Hospitality Consulting, said that over the years, the agency and the transient accommodations tax, which has been its funding source from the beginning, have grown in influence, thereby moving higher on the state Legislature's radar.

TAT started as a 5 % tax to fund the Hawai 'i Convention Center. Over time it was increased to 10.25 % and in 2019 brought in more than $600 million, which Vieira said has been used to fund many agencies and projects, including rail.

"Agreements were made, and visitors paid primarily to fund endeavors relative to tourism, " Vieira said. "Now, through greed, they are just trying to take it all into the general fund. This is just wrong. It's almost like stealing."

Until the pandemic, HTA was part of the backbone of Hawaii's key industry. Visitor arrivals hit a record 10.4 million in 2019, closing out many years of record arrivals growth.

In recent years HTA has pivoted from a singular focus on marketing and branding to a mission that puts more emphasis on natural resources, the community and growing tourism through visitor spending rather than arrivals. But those actions still haven't been enough to appease lawmakers, who cut HTA's funding to $79 million from $82 million in 2018 and now want to reduce it to $60 million.

Resident sentiment toward tourism weakened throughout the pandemic, while hostility toward tourism has begun to increase as visitors have started coming back in greater numbers. The spread of illegal vacation rentals into neighborhoods—a trend HTA has fought in recent years—has only exacerbated the situation.

Frequent HTA leadership changes haven't helped, either.

Former HTA board Chairman Rick Fried, who presided over his last HTA board meeting April 29, worked with four HTA CEOs during his seven-year tenure, including George Szigeti, interim President and CEO Marc Togashi, Chris Tatumand current President and CEO John De Fries.

The HTA board in 2018 voted to oust President and CEO George Szigeti without cause following a critical state audit that said the agency suffered from "lax oversight (and ) deficient internal controls."

At the time of Szigeti's departure, Fried said, "One of the major reasons that we are doing this is the difficulty in the current political climate and the difficulty in keeping our budget through the Senate."

More recently, legislators have cast a critical eye on HTA's special funding and procurement exemptions. House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke (D, Punchbowl-Pauoa-Nuuanu ) said during an HB 862 conference hearing, "We know that this year we have really worked on transparency and accountability, and we believe this does that."

State Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point ) was the only dissenting vote when HB 862 came out of conference. The vast majority of state lawmakers also supported the measure during floor votes. If the Legislature returned to session, it would likely have the two-thirds vote needed for a veto override.

HTA hired De Fries last year to replace former Marriott executive Chris Tatum, who ran the agency for less than two years.

De Fries, the first Native Hawaiian to serve in HTA's top spot, said that in 2019, for every dollar HTA spent, the agency returned $20 to the state. Now, De Fries said, the agency's main focus is regenerative tourism, where the benefits of tourism outweigh the resources that it consumes.

"The governor, when he met with myself and the board, was very supportive and reemphasized the importance of HTA leading the visitor industry at a critical time in sustaining not only the relaunch of tourism, but the sustained relaunch of Hawaii's economy lead by tourism, " De Fries said. "At the same time, he expressed real concern about HB 862 and indicated that his team is still investigating what options they have. It's like trying to diffuse an explosive. It's not easy."

De Fries said despite the fact that HB 862 originated through gut-and-replace, more than 200 people testified against the measure. He said it's important that the visitor industry and the community continue to reinforce HTA's industry leadership and the work that it is doing in communities throughout the state.

Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging &Tourism Association, said if HTA lost its funding or was disbanded over time, the state would need to identify a new agency or department to effectively manage tourism in Hawaii.

But Keli 'i Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said the state shouldn't be using scarce tax resources to fund tourism, which the hospitality industry could support on its own.

"Subsidizing the tourism industry is not fair to other industries in Hawaii nor optimal for the economy generally. If anything, it has contributed to the 'overtourism' we hear so many people complaining about, and to our lack of economic diversity, " Akina said. "All things considered, perhaps now is a perfect time for the state to save money while allowing Hawaii's tourism industry to make it on its own."

State Rep. Richard Onishi (D, South Hilo-Keaau-Honuapo ), chairman of the House Labor and Tourism Committee, told HTA's marketing committee April 28 that there are "numerous people in the public that are calling for the reduction of HTA, even calls for the elimination of HTA and putting the requirement for marketing on the private sector."

Onishi said the "unfortunate cuts " proposed by the Senate are "somewhat of a little bit deeper issue than you know what you guys are currently doing. It goes back to this issue of what is HTA supposed to be doing, and that's a message I think that is not well communicated to the Legislature and also to the public."------Star-Advertiser reporter Dan Nakaso contributed to this report.

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  • Thursday, February 29, 2024
  • Today's Paper

hawaii tourism authority funding

Hawaii News | Top News

Bill cuts off hawaii tourism authority’s funding source.

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It’s game on.

The state Legislature has thrown Gov. David Ige a gambit that puts funding of the Hawaii Tourism Authority in jeopardy.

What happens next will determine HTA’s fate. The agency had broad support when it was created in 1998 to help the tourism industry overcome a seven-year slump after the Japan bubble burst. But over the years the agency and the work it does have become increasingly politicized.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 862, which takes away the dedicated funding HTA has had since its founding. If the governor signs HB 862, HTA’s fiscal year 2023 budget starts at zero, and the agency would have to justify to legislators why it should receive general funds. HTA also would lose its procurement exemption, a move that would require state approval for all future contracts and purchases.

Ige met in executive session Wednesday with the HTA board for about four hours. The outcome of that talk has not been made public, though Ige recently pledged support for the agency.

“I am disappointed at what happened with HTA. … Losing dedicated funding is a big issue,” Ige told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser during an interview April 29.

Ige said the legislation leaves HTA with one year’s funding, which makes it challenging to run multiyear efforts, like its Destination Management Action Plan program, which identifies hot spots where there is friction between residents and visitors and develops an action plan to resolve them.

“The visitor industry is the No. 1 industry in this state; it creates 200,000 jobs plus, and we are not going to have economic recovery until the visitor industry recovers,” Ige said.

Ige has until June 21 to release his intent-to-veto list. However, in this case his hands might be tied.

Legislators left HTA funding out of HB 200, the state’s finance bill. If Ige vetoes HB 862, the federal funding that lawmakers allocated to HTA for fiscal year 2022 disappears, without any special funds to replace it.

Lawmakers also used the bill to eliminate the counties’ $103 million share of transient accommodations taxes, while giving each county the right to raise their island’s TAT by 3 percentage points.

HTA board member Fred Atkins said at the April 29 HTA board meeting that HTA’s creators set it up to be autonomous from the Legislature “because they knew how brutal politics could be.”

Former HTA board member Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, whose term ended in April, said she fears that the current situation reduces HTA to a pawn in a high-stakes game where nobody wins. If HTA loses its special fund status, Kumukahi said, “In my heart, it would be a really big task” for HTA to get enough future funds to survive.

Keith Vieira, principal of KV & Associates, Hospitality Consulting, said that over the years, the agency and the transient accommodations tax, which has been its funding source from the beginning, have grown in influence, thereby moving higher on the state Legislature’s radar.

TAT started as a 5% tax to fund the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Over time it was increased to 10.25% and in 2019 brought in more than $600 million, which Vieira said has been used to fund many agencies and projects, including rail.

“Agreements were made, and visitors paid primarily to fund endeavors relative to tourism,” Vieira said. “Now, through greed, they are just trying to take it all into the general fund. This is just wrong. It’s almost like stealing.”

Until the pandemic, HTA was part of the backbone of Hawaii’s key industry. Visitor arrivals hit a record 10.4 million in 2019, closing out many years of record arrivals growth.

In recent years HTA has pivoted from a singular focus on marketing and branding to a mission that puts more emphasis on natural resources, the community and growing tourism through visitor spending rather than arrivals. But those actions still haven’t been enough to appease lawmakers, who cut HTA’s funding to $79 million from $82 million in 2018 and now want to reduce it to $60 million.

Resident sentiment toward tourism weakened throughout the pandemic, while hostility toward tourism has begun to increase as visitors have started coming back in greater numbers. The spread of illegal vacation rentals into neighborhoods —a trend HTA has fought in recent years — has only exacerbated the situation.

Frequent HTA leadership changes haven’t helped, either.

Former HTA board Chairman Rick Fried, who presided over his last HTA board meeting April 29, worked with four HTA CEOs during his seven-year tenure, including George Szigeti, interim President and CEO Marc Togashi, Chris Tatumand current President and CEO John De Fries.

The HTA board in 2018 voted to oust President and CEO George Szigeti without cause following a critical state audit that said the agency suffered from “lax oversight (and) deficient internal controls.”

At the time of Szigeti’s departure, Fried said, “One of the major reasons that we are doing this is the difficulty in the current political climate and the difficulty in keeping our budget through the Senate.”

More recently, legislators have cast a critical eye on HTA’s special funding and procurement exemptions. House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke (D, Punchbowl- Pauoa-Nuuanu) said during an HB 862 conference hearing, “We know that this year we have really worked on transparency and accountability, and we believe this does that.”

State Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) was the only dissenting vote when HB 862 came out of conference. The vast majority of state lawmakers also supported the measure during floor votes. If the Legislature returned to session, it would likely have the two-thirds vote needed for a veto override.

HTA hired De Fries last year to replace former Marriott executive Chris Tatum, who ran the agency for less than two years.

De Fries, the first Native Hawaiian to serve in HTA’s top spot, said that in 2019, for every dollar HTA spent, the agency returned $20 to the state. Now, De Fries said, the agency’s main focus is regenerative tourism, where the benefits of tourism outweigh the resources that it consumes.

“The governor, when he met with myself and the board, was very supportive and reemphasized the importance of HTA leading the visitor industry at a critical time in sustaining not only the relaunch of tourism, but the sustained relaunch of Hawaii’s economy lead by tourism,” De Fries said. “At the same time, he expressed real concern about HB 862 and indicated that his team is still investigating what options they have. It’s like trying to diffuse an explosive. It’s not easy.”

De Fries said despite the fact that HB 862 originated through gut-and-replace, more than 200 people testified against the measure. He said it’s important that the visitor industry and the community continue to reinforce HTA’s industry leadership and the work that it is doing in communities throughout the state.

Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, said if HTA lost its funding or was disbanded over time, the state would need to identify a new agency or department to effectively manage tourism in Hawaii.

But Keli‘i Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said the state shouldn’t be using scarce tax resources to fund tourism, which the hospitality industry could support on its own.

“Subsidizing the tourism industry is not fair to other industries in Hawaii nor optimal for the economy generally. If anything, it has contributed to the ‘overtourism’ we hear so many people complaining about, and to our lack of economic diversity,” Akina said. “All things considered, perhaps now is a perfect time for the state to save money while allowing Hawaii’s tourism industry to make it on its own.”

State Rep. Richard Onishi (D, South Hilo-Keaau-Honuapo), chairman of the House Labor and Tourism Committee, told HTA’s marketing committee April 28 that there are “numerous people in the public that are calling for the reduction of HTA, even calls for the elimination of HTA and putting the requirement for marketing on the private sector.”

Onishi said the “unfortunate cuts” proposed by the Senate are “somewhat of a little bit deeper issue than you know what you guys are currently doing. It goes back to this issue of what is HTA supposed to be doing, and that’s a message I think that is not well communicated to the Legislature and also to the public.”

———

Star-Advertiser reporter Dan Nakaso contributed to this report.

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Looking back.

hawaii tourism authority funding

March 1959: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs Hawaii statehood bill into law

Native Hawaiian leaders: Proposed tourism funding cuts would be a ‘disaster’

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Native Hawaiian groups are ramping up pressure to save funding for the Hawaii Tourism Authority as lawmakers consider a massive cut .

A bill, which was recently amended by the Senate, seeks to eliminates HTA funding for programs that support visitor assistance, local entrepreneurs, sustainability and cultural training.

“Help us ... prevent the turning back of the clock to the dark ages of Hawaii tourism,” said former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Peter Apo, a founding board member of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association.

“That could be truly a disaster.”

Added Mehana Hind, senior vice president for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement: “Now with what the Legislature is proposing to do is taking a step back, taking 10 steps back.”

Senators said the HTA should focus on marketing while other agencies can fund the cultural programs.

Critics said the bill slashed the HTA’s funding for nonprofits such as the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii and the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association.

“Organizations like VASH, organizations like NHHA that are on the front line, will be heavily impacts and could result in closing,” said John Aeto, president of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association.

The bill is headed to a Senate-House conference, where House members are less supportive of the cuts.

Copyright 2021 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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Hawaii Tourism Authority Logo

News Releases

Hawai‘i tourism authority partnering with community organizations on east maui tourism management pilot program.

For Immediate Release: February 27, 2024 HTA Release (24-04)

24-04 HTA Partnering with Community Organizations for East Maui Tourism Management Pilot Program.pdf

Mālama Maui Hikina collective mitigating tourism impacts at popular areas

KAHULUI, MAUI – The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) and Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau (MVCB) is partnering with three community-based organizations – Hōlani Hāna, Ke Ao Hāli‘i, and Na Mahi‘ai o Ke‘anae – to manage and implement the East Maui Tourism Management Pilot Program following an extensive request for proposals (RFP) solicitation process that began in April 2023. Supporting HTA’s mission to Mālama Hawai‘i (care for our beloved home), the organizations are collaborating under the banner of Mālama Maui Hikina, which translates to caring for East Maui.   “Uplifting community-based stewardship is essential to improving destination management as these solutions HTA is supporting have been created by the community, for the community, first and foremost,” said Mufi Hannemann, HTA Board Chair. “Providing opportunities for East Maui residents to educate visitors about the spaces they are entering, how to engage respectfully, and the cultural and historical significance these places bear will have significant impacts on preserving these areas and improving the overall experience for residents and visitors alike.”   HTA is funding this community-driven approach to destination management as guided by its Maui Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP). HTA and MVCB also organized the East Maui Advisory Group comprised of East Maui residents which provided important input on this program.   “The formation of Mālama Maui Hikina is precisely the type of destination management partnership HTA envisioned, comprising a team of community leaders who bring valuable knowledge and perspective to their approach in proactively managing tourism’s impacts for the benefit of the residents of East Maui,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, HTA’s interim president and CEO. “Our team is proud to work with these respected organizations to implement community-driven solutions aimed at improving the well-being of the community through our Mālama Hawai‘i efforts.”   MVCB issued a RFP in April 2023 seeking proposals from the East Maui community with innovative, community-driven management projects to address tourism’s impacts at heavily visited sites identified in the Maui Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP).   These sites are especially popular with visitors, which may result in overcrowding, congestion, degradation of resources, safety hazards, and a negative experience for both residents and visitors. Each of the Mālama Maui Hikina partners are responsible for working to restore balance in the following East Maui sites:

  • Hōlani Hāna – Honolewa (a.k.a. South Wailua Falls)
  • Ke Ao Hāli‘i – Kaihalulu (a.k.a. Red Sand Beach) and Waioka (a.k.a. Venus Pools)
  • Native Hawaiian Philanthropy d.b.a. Na Mahi‘ai o Ke‘anae – Nā‘ili‘ilihaele Stream (a.k.a. Bamboo Forest) and Waikamoi Falls

In addition to the Mālama Maui Hikina partners, this collaborative effort was made possible with the support of many others, including the East Maui Advisory Group, County of Maui, Maui Police Department, Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, State Department of Transportation, Mahi Pono and Alexander & Baldwin.

Meagan DeGaia, MVCB’s destination manager said, “We are thankful for this opportunity and are continuing to work closely with the East Maui community to ensure that tourism management continues to be driven by residents. The East Maui Advisory Group, which is comprised of community members from each moku (district) in East Maui, has been instrumental and resourceful in guiding us throughout this process.”   The purpose of the East Maui Tourism Management Pilot Program is to uplift community-based solutions that will be supported by HTA. It advances the Maui DMAP in which residents specifically called for managed tourism actions: initiate, fund and continue programs to protect the health of ocean, fresh water and land-based ecosystems and biosecurity; explore the capacity limits at heavily visited sites through science-based data; continue to offer cultural education and training programs to enhance and perpetuate aloha; implement a responsible communications program to educate visitors pre- and post-arrival about safe and respectful travel; amplify regenerative tourism on Maui; and develop and promote initiatives to improve the experience of transportation and ground travel.

Media Contacts:

T. Ilihia Gionson Public Affairs Officer Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (808) 973-2255 (o) [email protected]

Fox Business

Hawaii bound? Visitors could soon pay a climate tax

People visiting Hawaii could potentially face a $25 climate tax in the future.

That could become the case if state lawmakers pass a House bill that includes a provision creating an additional monthly $25 tax "on each furnishing of a transient accommodation" for tourists.

The monthly fee would include transient accommodations provided to visitors "for cash or charge, at no charge, on a complimentary or gratuitous basis, for a nominal charge, or in exchange for points, miles or other amounts provided through a membership, loyalty, or rewards program," per the latest version of the bill. Meanwhile, places like health care facilities, school dorms, military housing and nonprofits would have exemptions.

State lawmakers put forward the $25 tax as part of a piece of proposed legislation meant to tackle the "compelling and urgent need to increase funding to prevent climate crises and fully respond" to crises like the deadly Maui wildfires "when they occur."

DEADLY MAUI WILDFIRES INFLICT MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR BLOW TO HAWAII'S ECONOMY

Hawaii "faces significant pressure from climate change and the heavy use it receives from persons traveling to enjoy the State’s natural resources," putting it at "greater risk" for things like natural disasters and pollution, the bill said.

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

The bill was introduced in late January and directs funds toward wildfire prevention, shoreline restoration, infrastructure protection and other climate change-related efforts.

That came shortly after Democratic Gov. Josh Green proposed the addition of what he called a "climate impact fee" while giving his state of the state address. 

"I believe this is not too much to ask of visitors to our islands," he said at the time of the $25 charge. "Hawaii’s natural resources – our beaches, forests, and waterfalls – are an essential part of our culture and our way of life."

WAIKIKI BEACH HOTEL GETTING RID OF TRUMP NAME, TO HAVE NEW MANAGEMENT

The governor has said the island could see over $68 million from it on a yearly basis. His office also submitted testimony to the state legislature in support of the $25 tax last week.

Some have expressed opposition to it. Concerns have included possible added strain to the state’s recovering tourism sector and accommodation providers incurring costs to adjust to the new policy.

Other strategies have also been raised as options, including upping the existing hotel tax and charging for park licenses, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Tourism is an important part of Hawaii’s economy. Maui’s in particular took a serious blow due to August wildfires that left 115 people dead and many homes and businesses wrecked.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

In December, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said the state notched more than 9.4 million visitors over the course of last year. Those tourists spent $20.78 billion and generated $2.41 billion in tax revenues, according to the agency.

The house bill aiming to implement the additional $25 transient accommodations tax for future tourists most recently was referred on Friday to the committee on finance .

Original article source: Hawaii bound? Visitors could soon pay a climate tax

Beachwalk in Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii. Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

IMAGES

  1. Hawaii Tourism Authority secures state funding

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  2. Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Awards Contracts for Destination Stewardship

    hawaii tourism authority funding

  3. Hawaii Tourism Authority Publishes Community-Based Tourism Management

    hawaii tourism authority funding

  4. Office of the Auditor

    hawaii tourism authority funding

  5. Island of Hawai‘i

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  6. Registration Now Open for 2017 Global Tourism Summit in Honolulu, Sept

    hawaii tourism authority funding

COMMENTS

  1. Hawai'i Tourism Authority Announces Funding Opportunities to Support

    HONOLULU - The Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA) is encouraging the community to submit applications for funding support through its upcoming programs: Kahu 'Āina, Kūkulu Ola, the Resort Area Hawaiian Culture Initiative, Community Enrichment, and Signature Events. HTA, in partnership with Kilohana, today unveiled a digital portal ...

  2. Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii Community Foundation Awards Funding

    HONOLULU - In its accelerated destination management efforts to preserve and regenerate Hawaii's natural resources, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) have announced $1,575,000 in funding to support 31 community-based programs statewide through its Aloha Aina program for 2022.

  3. Hawaii Tourism Authority Awards Funding to Enrich Community Efforts in

    HONOLULU - Continuing its reinvestment in Hawaii's communities, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has announced it is awarding $2.9 million in funding to support 86 community-based projects, festivals and events through its Community Enrichment program for 2022.

  4. Hawaii Tourism Authority secures state funding

    Hawaii Tourism Authority secures state funding. By Allison Schaefers. May 6, 2022. Following an eleventh-­hour scramble, Hawaii Tourism Authority emerged from the 2022 legislative session with a ...

  5. Kukulu Ola & Aloha 'Āina Grants

    HTA: Kūkulu Ola & Aloha 'Āina Awards. The Hawai'i Community Foundation (HCF), on behalf of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA), is administering the Kūkulu Ola and Aloha 'Āina programs. The HTA is committed to reinvesting in Hawai'i's most cherished resources, its people and places, and for nearly two decades has successfully met that ...

  6. Hawai'i Tourism Authority Announces Community Enrichment and Signature

    HONOLULU - The Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA) is encouraging the community to submit proposals for its Community Enrichment and Signature Events programs. HTA will provide funding support to nonprofit organizations, projects and events occurring throughout the state from June 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

  7. Funding the Hawaii Tourism Authority: TAT vs General Fund…Or?

    The Hawaii Tourism Authority gets virtually all of its funding from the state's transient accommodation tax (TAT). In the recently-concluded thirty-first legislature (2021), Hawaii state lawmakers passed HB 862 CD1 which would change the way the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is funded. [2]

  8. Community Enrichment

    For the 2022 Community Enrichment Program, HTA is partnering with the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau and the Island Chapters to administer the program and has awarded $2.9 million in funding to support 86 community-based projects, festivals, and events. View Full Release and List of 2022 Community Enrichment Awardees.

  9. Hawaii Tourism Authority announces funding opportunities

    The Hawaii Tourism Authority recently announced that it will provide funding to organizations that will perpetuate Hawaiian culture and preserve Hawaii's natural resources within fiscal year 2023 ...

  10. State funding for Hawaii Tourism Authority up for debate

    March 23, 2022. CRAIG T. KOJIMA / [email protected]. The Hawaii Tourism Authority's annual budget was cut in 2021 to $60 million from $79 million. Waikiki Beach was bustling Monday ...

  11. Faced with 'use it or lose it' deadline, tourism authority allocates

    Published: May. 28, 2021 at 12:39 AM PDT | Updated: May. 28, 2021 at 1:14 AM PDT. HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Hawaii Tourism Authority's board has allocated more than $12 million that it ...

  12. Hawaii Tourism Authority to provide $2.9 million to 86 community

    The Hawaii Tourism Authority will provide $2.9 million in funding this year to 86 community-based projects, festivals and events throughout the state, the agency announced Wednesday.

  13. Lawmakers pass bill that would cut Hawaii Tourism Authority funding by

    Apr 28, 2021. A bill that will reduce funding for the Hawaii Tourism Authority passed final readings in the state Legislature this week. State House and Senate legislators approved on Tuesday the ...

  14. Editorial: Funding Hawaii Tourism Authority

    Editorial: Funding Hawaii Tourism Authority. March 26, 2022 ; Unlimited access to premium stories for as low as $12.95 /mo. Get It Now. With COVID-19 receding, restrictions lifting and summer ...

  15. Legislative conflicts put Hawaii Tourism Authority funding at risk

    The Hawaii Tourism Authority is in the legislative crosshairs again, and its funding has come down to the wire. Read more Mahalo for reading the Honolulu Star-Advertiser!

  16. | Holomua

    The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) has announced funding opportunities for its Kūkulu Ola and Aloha ʻĀina programs. HTA will provide funding support to qualified organizations and programs that will perpetuate Hawaiian culture and preserve Hawaiʻi's natural resources in fiscal year 2023-2024 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024).

  17. Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority awards $3 million in cultural, environmental

    Published January 25, 2022 at 10:58 AM HST. Listen • 0:48. HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority has awarded grants to several local environmental and cultural organizations in a bid to preserve natural areas and enhance the role of Native Hawaiians in the industry. After eliminating grants last year because of pandemic budget ...

  18. Bill cuts off Hawaii Tourism Authority's funding source

    May 10—It's game on. The state Legislature has thrown Gov. David Ige a gambit that puts funding of the Hawaii Tourism Authority in jeopardy. What happens next will determine HTA's fate. The agency had broad support when it was created in 1998 to help the tourism industry overcome a seven-year slump after the Japan bubble burst. But over the years the agency and the work it does have become ...

  19. Bill cuts off Hawaii Tourism Authority's funding source

    Bill cuts off Hawaii Tourism Authority's funding source. By Allison Schaefers [email protected]. May 10, 2021. Unlimited access to premium stories for as low as $12.95 /mo. Get It ...

  20. RFPs

    RFP 24-03. Hawai'i Tourism Destination Brand Management & Marketing Services for the Europe Major Market Area. 09/15/2023. $2,000,000.00. Emotive Travel Marketing Ltd. 24004. IFB 24-05. Planning Services for a Messaging Strategy and Tourism Recovery Plan.

  21. Native Hawaiian leaders: Proposed tourism funding ...

    Updated: Apr. 21, 2021 at 8:47 PM PDT. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Native Hawaiian groups are ramping up pressure to save funding for the Hawaii Tourism Authority as lawmakers consider a ...

  22. Home

    What We Do. We are responsible for protecting the iconic brand of the Hawaiian Islands. This includes perpetuating the Hawaiian culture, preserving Hawaii's natural environment, and strengthening communities by managing tourism in a way that helps improve the quality of life for residents, families and communities on all islands.

  23. PDF Sb 2406 Relating to The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority

    AND TOURISM Tuesday, February 13, 2024 1:20 p.m. In consideration of SB 2406 RELATING TO THE HAWAIʻI TOURISM AUTHORITY Aloha Chair DeCoite, Vice Chair Wakai, and Members of the Committee, The Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA) appreciates the opportunity to offer comments on SB2406,

  24. Hawai'i Tourism Authority Partnering with Community Organizations on

    KAHULUI, MAUI - The Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA) and Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau (MVCB) is partnering with three community-based organizations - Hōlani Hāna, Ke Ao Hāli'i, and Na Mahi'ai o Ke'anae - to manage and implement the East Maui Tourism Management Pilot Program following an extensive request for proposals ...

  25. Hawaii bound? Visitors could soon pay a climate tax

    In December, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said the state notched more than 9.4 million visitors over the course of last year. Those tourists spent $20.78 billion and generated $2.41 billion in tax ...

  26. PDF Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Hawaii Housing

    STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 677 QUEEN STREET, SUITE 300 HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813 FAX: (808) 587-0600 Statement of DEAN MINAKAMI Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Before the HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE February 26, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.