Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, July 26, 2021

WITH TOURISM REVIVED TO PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS across the state, and accommodations 84 percent occupied on Hawai'i island, visitor support organizations are speaking out on the quality of tourism. Mufi Hanneman, President of the Hawai'i Tourism & Lodging Association, told Hawai'i News Now this morning that a war should be declared on illegal vacation rentals that don't pay the required Transient Accommodations Tax and also on those illegal accommodations that displace affordable housing. He also called for the implementation of user fees for publicly owned visitor destinations and impact fees for the use of public facilities. He said planning for tourism should be about all about quality, not quantity.

Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā , new HTA chief brand officer. Photo from Hawai'i Tourism Authority

    Hawai‘i Tourism Authority announced today its pivot to become a more effective destination management organization and the promotions of two key executives "who will help guide the initiatives outlined in HTA’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan." 

    HTA announced that it has "comprehensively reorganized its structure and operations to support the goal of Mālama Ku‘u Home (caring for my beloved home) through the principles of regenerative tourism. HTA is committed to empowering the community to have a greater voice in tourism’s future, with an emphasis on restoring the environment, perpetuating the Hawaiian culture, recognizing Hawai‘i’s multiethnic cultures, and supporting responsible economic outcomes."

     John De Fries, HTA President and CEO, said, “Hawaiʻi, the visitor industry, and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority are all in a time of huliau, or transformative change, in which an accelerated shift toward destination management is necessary in order for tourism to properly support the revitalization of our communities and economy in a more meaningful and reciprocal way. Our heightened focus on destination management allows us to be more nimble, able to quickly adapt to changing market conditions, and more effectively address tourism’s impacts in key areas across the state.” 

    In restructuring HTA, Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā has been promoted to chief brand officer and Caroline Anderson has been promoted to director of planning. "Both are newly created positions instrumental to HTA’s focus on supporting four integrated pillars for the Hawaiian Islands – Natural Resources, Hawaiian Culture, Community and Brand Marketing," said the HTA statement

Caroline Anderson, HTA Director of Planning. Photo from Hawai'i Tourism Authority

     As chief brand officer, Ka‘anā‘anā is responsible for overseeing HTA initiatives outlined in its 2020-2025 Strategic Plan in the areas of community empowerment, perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture, preservation of natural resources, and brand management. He joined HTA in 2016 and most recently served as its director of Hawaiian cultural affairs and natural resources. 

    Born and raised in Kailua on O‘ahu and fluent in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian language, Ka‘anā‘anā is involved in a multitude of community activities. He is one of the 14 collaborative Native Hawaiian authors of the ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures declaration and is an active member of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and 2019 Omidyar Fellow. His ‘ohana comes from Ka‘aihe‘e, Kailua, O‘ahu. An alumnus of Kailua High School, Ka‘anā‘anā graduated with distinction from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies. 

    As director of planning, Anderson oversees development and monitoring of HTA’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and 2021-2023 Destination Management Action Plans for each county, including program evaluation and addressing identified hotspot issues in key areas across the state. In her previous HTA position as director of community enrichment, she managed the Community Enrichment program, which fosters community-based tourism projects that improve and enrich Hawai‘i’s product offerings and visitor experiences, and the Workforce Development program. Since joining HTA in 2000, she has held various roles in brand management and tourism planning.

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IN RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF MISMANAGEMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LAND FUNDS from the legislature, Hawaiian Homelands Commission Chair William Ailā, Jr. has issued a statement. In pushing back on on the opinion of state Sen. Kurt Fevella, Ailā announced today,

Hawaiian Homelands Commission Chair William Ailā, Jr.

"The Hawaiian Homes Commission has followed the authorizations outlined in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature's 1995 Act 14 settlement to establish an endowment to serve the Trust. At the time, the legislature was very deliberate in wanting DHHL to seek out a steady availability of capital to fund the program. It's the Department's intention to fully implement this authorization and continue to work with the State to complete Act 14 outstanding land transfers."
    Ailā said that in 1995, DHHL started using "Act 14's financial settlement to develop over 4,000 new homestead lots and now has over a half a billion dollars in private lending contingent liability that it is responsible for. It is our fiduciary kuleana to be sure the trust has enough money in its reserve to mitigate this risk against the State. This Commission, as well as previous Commissions, has acted prudently in its fiduciary responsibility of this trust to ensure that homestead lots are developed in perpetuity."
    At the close of the 2021 legislative session, DHHL was allocated $78 million for Capital Improvement Projects. While short of the $460 million requested, "the allocation represents the largest legislative budget for Capital Improvement in the history of the program," noted Ailā.

    Kawela held a press conference recently, questioning the use of funding. He also opposed Ailā's endorsement of allowing a casino on Hawaiian Home Lands on O'ahu to raise money for affordable housing.

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