Kealii Pang, president of the Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, said, “As a Steering Committee member, I was humbled by the thoughtful discussions on how tourism has impacted our communities on Oahu and the many diverse solutions that looked towards a future that is pono. The regenerative framework we developed should allow our local communities to maintain, perpetuate, and enhance Hawaiian values and traditions like kapu and malama, and can provide visitors an experience that is unique and distinct to Hawaii, incorporating its culture, and traditions. We anticipate this plan will meet the needs of the local community, the visitors, and the businesses that support the visitor experience, while honoring the host culture and caring for the aina.”
The Oahu DMAP process began in March 2021 and continued with a series of virtual steering committee meetings, as well as two virtual community presentations in May.
The members of the Oahu steering committee are:
- Paula Akana (Executive Director, Iolani Palace)
- Jamie Barut (Vice President of Operations, Polynesian Adventure Tours)
- Adam Borrello (Executive Director, North Shore Community Land Trust)
- Kevin Chang (Co-Director, Kuaaina Ulu Auamo (KUA))
- Walea Constantinau (Oahu Film Commissioner, City and County of Honolulu Film Office)
- Amanda Corby Noguchi (Co-Founder, Pili Group)
- Rick Egged (Executive Director, Waikiki Improvement Association (BID))
- Chenoa Farnsworth (Managing Partner, Blue Startups)
- Joe Ibarra (General Manager, The Kahala Hotel & Resort)
- Joseph Lapilio (President and CEO, Waianae Economic Development Council)
- Elissa Lines (Executive Director, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum)
- Bob Masuda (Deputy Director, State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources)
- June Matsumoto (Vice President, Sales, Pacific Island Institute)
- Sherry Menor-McNamara (HTA Board member and President & CEO, Chamber of Commerce)
- Maile Meyer (Founder, Na Mea Hawaii)
- John Morgan (President, Kualoa Ranch)
- Sweetie Nelson (Director of Destination Marketing, Ko Olina Resort Association)
- Kealii Pang, President (Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs)
- Benjamin Rafter (HTA Board member and President & CEO, Springboard Hospitality (OLS Hotels & Resorts))
- Noelani Schilling-Wheeler (Executive Director, Oahu Visitors Bureau)
- Laura Thielen (Director, City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation)
- Sunshine Topping (Workforce Development Council Member and Vice President of Human Resources, Hawaii Pacific Health)
- Ulalia Woodside (Executive Director, Nature Conservancy of Hawaii)
Noelani Schilling-Wheeler, executive director of the Oahu Visitors Bureau, said, “The process, hard work and heart of every stakeholder in pulling together the Oahu DMAP actions has been humbling and very important. This has been a collaborative effort in an important step of bringing communities, government and industry to stewarding tourism the way our people know it should be steered. Now the hard work begins and we look to everyone to helping us push tourism forward in a sustainable manner for this place we love and our communities.”
HTA’s Board of Directors approved the DMAP actions during the July 29 board meeting.
The Oahu DMAP is available on HTA’s website:
https://hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7785/hta-oahu-dmap.pdf
The Summer 2021 Progress reports on the Kauai, Maui Nui and Hawaii Island DMAPs were recently published and are available on HTA’s website:
Kauai –61% of Phase 1 sub-actions in progress
www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7681/kauai-dmap-progress-report_summer-2021_final.pdf
Maui –70% of Phase 1 sub-actions in progress; 1 sub-action completed www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7679/maui-dmap-progress-report_summer-2021_final.pdf
Lanai –63% of Phase 1 sub-actions in progress; 1 sub-action completed www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7709/lanai-dmap-progress-report_summer-2021_final.pdf
Molokai –60% of Phase 1 sub-actions in progress www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7680/molokai-dmap-progress-report_summer-2021_final.pdf
Hawaii Island –73% of Phase 1 sub-actions in progress
www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7678/hawaii-island-dmap-progress-report_summer-2021_final.pdf
To learn more visit: www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/what-we-do/hta-programs/community-based-tourism/
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