Podcasts about hawaii tourism authority

Planning a Maui trip and not sure what you actually need to know before you book?

What if the best Hawaii travel advice is the stuff most visitors hear after they've already planned too much?For Hawaii travelers and people who love Hawaii, this episode is about building a trip that respects the place, avoids avoidable problems, and still leaves room for the moments you can't plan.

Are you spending your one day at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park hoping for the best and just winging it?

Are you making Hawaii travel mistakes that could cost you time, money, or your safety before you even leave home?Most visitors head to Hawaii with the best intentions but fall into the same traps that turn a dream trip into an exhausting, expensive mess.

Thinking about Kauai but not sure where to start or what could go wrong before you even land?

Feeling overwhelmed by where to eat on Oahu?Oahu has no shortage of restaurants, but Hawaii travelers don't need another endless food list when they're trying to plan a simple, better trip.

Are you already stressed about your Oahu trip and you haven't even packed yet?Oahu is one of the most visited islands in Hawaii for a reason. But all those options, where to stay, what to skip, how to get around, can quietly turn your dream vacation into a giant to-do list.FREE Oahu Travel Guide

Did you know Lei Day in Hawaii is about more than wearing a beautiful lei?For Hawaii visitors and people who love Hawaii, Lei Day is a chance to understand the deeper meaning behind one of the islands' most recognized traditions.

You finally booked time off for Hawaii and now you're losing sleep over which island to pick?Maui vs Big Island Decision GuideThe right island depends entirely on your travel style, budget, and what kind of experience you want to bring home.

Are you planning a Big Island trip but not sure what's actually worth your time and what's just hype?Most Hawaii travelers spend hours researching the Big Island only to show up with expectations that don't match reality.

Did you know one of Hawaii's islands has been off limits to visitors for over 150 years?For Hawaii travelers, Ni'ihau isn't just a curiosity on the map. It's a living example of what intentional cultural preservation actually looks like, and understanding it changes how you see the rest of Hawaii.

Is Hawaii actually cheaper at certain times of the year, or does it just feel that way until you check the prices?Most travelers assume Hawaii is expensive no matter when you go, and that assumption ends up costing them real money.

Which 5 experiences on Kauai are actually worth your time, and which ones will you forget by the time you land back home?Choosing what to do on Kauai isn't hard. Choosing what will actually stay with you is.FREE GUIDE: 20 Things to do on Kauai

Want to help Hawaii after the floods but not sure if what you're doing is actually making a difference?Most people have the heart to help but end up lost in outdated Instagram posts, unverified GoFundMe pages, and scattered information that wastes time and misses the people who need it most.

Is April actually one of the best times to visit Hawaii, or are you walking into a crowd and cost trap without knowing it?April sits in Hawaii's shoulder season, and most travelers either skip it entirely or accidentally book the one week they should avoid.

Duke Kahanamoku's story isn't just about swimming fast or riding waves. It's about resilience, humility, and carrying the spirit of Hawaii to every shore he touched.

Oahu and Kauai couldn't feel more different, and most travelers don't realize that until they've already booked.

Is the vacation rental you're booking in Hawaii actually legal, and what happens to your money if it isn't?Most Hawaii travelers assume Airbnb or VRBO has them covered when something goes wrong. In 2026, that assumption is costing people real money.

It’s time for an update on Hawaii travel. On this episode, our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt, talks about overall stats, Maui updates, a falloff in travel from Canada and Japan -- plus our favorite island destinations and the changes at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. This episode was recorded Oct. 16 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com Related reports Christine Hitt's Hawaii travel Insights: https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights Maui's message: The comeback is on, so come back https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Maui-message-The-comeback-is-on-so-come-back Inside the $6 million marketing campaign aimed at Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-tourism-recovery-marketing-campaign-details Cruise lines sue Hawaii over new tax https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-sue-Hawaii-over-new-tax Rebecca Tobin's home away from home in Hawaii https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/House-Without-a-Key-my-home-away-from-home-in-Waikiki See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After more than six months of debate and negotiations, the "One, Big, Beautiful, Bill Act" has now been passed by Congress and will soon be on its way to the president's desk. One person was hurt after a small plane crash-landed on the Big Island this morning. News on the governor's plan to reshape the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The entire 12-member board of the HTA has now resigned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A search is on this morning for an inmate on the run. What he was in for and what you need to be on the lookout for. The Hawaii Tourism Authority could potentially face an overhaul. We the governor is calling for board members to step down. A new Hawaiian name for a monk seal pup! What is it and what does it mean?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An accident sends a moped rider to the hospital in serious condition, plus a bill for a wildfire recovery fund sparks tensions between two Hawaii labor unions and Hawaiian Electric. Meanwhile, concerns over the future of the Hawaii Tourism Authority after its leader stepped down, and board chair resigned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode of “Spotlight Now” features the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Tourism officials have a preview their spring tourism update, which will be released Wednesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been one year since the announcement by Hawaiian and Alaska airlines to merge together as one entity. Today, CEO Joe Sprague says the airlines will be announcing some new routes to and from Hawaii, and hiring and firings will occur in the months ahead. We also caught up with Hawaii Tourism Authority chair Mufi Hannemann, who spoke about the importance of the upcoming legislative session and how the agency will be asking lawmakers for more money this legislative session.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us as we dive into the magic of the Hawaiian Islands with our guest Ilihia Gionson, Public Affairs Officer at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Learn about the rich cultural heritage that connects the land and its people. Discover the beauty of each island—from the lush landscapes of Kauai to the vibrant city life of Oahu. From hiking trails to culinary delights, regenerative tourism, and unforgettable experiences with local marine life, there's something for everyone in Hawaii.

The tourism industry is lowering expectations for spring break. Hotels have seen a boost in occupancy — between 70% to 80% — but that's still below the 90% mark that was typical for spring break before the pandemic. In March 2019, the Hawaii Tourism Authority says 927,000 people traveled to Hawaii. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest on this episode is Healani Sonoda-Pale, a Kanaka Maoli Human Rights advocate for Self-Determination and a Water Protector who has been organizing at the intersection of the indigenous struggle for liberation and environmental protection in Hawai'i. She is a member of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative and the spokesperson of the Ka Lahui Hawaii Political Action Committee. Healani was born and raised on the island of O'ahu where she resides with her family.Show Notes:The Beauty of the Pandemic Shutdown in Hawai'iThe Fallout of the Lahaina Fires in West MauiNo ControlsManufacturing the AuthenticReopening for Tourism in the Midst of CatastropheLocal Schism: Those in Favour and Those AgainstThe Tourism at the Heart of the Housing CrisisKa Lahui Hawai'i Political Action CommitteeThe Water Crisis in OahuDecolonizing Tourism is an OxymoronSolidarity with Kanaka MaoliHomework:Healani Sonoda-Pale InstagramKa Lahui Hawai'i | TwitterOahu Water Protectors | Red Hill Community Representation InitiativeTranscript:Chris: [00:00:00] In the first season of the podcast I spoke to Hokulani Aikau and Vernadette Gonzalez about the attempts to decolonize tourism in the Hawaiian islands. And following that Kaleo Patterson. Who offered a deeper historical and cultural background into the ongoing us occupation of Hawaii. The military industrial tourism complex, and some of the traditional forms of hospitality that Hawaiians have engaged in. Since then, and especially because of the wildfires that spread through west Maui this past summer. Listeners have asked again and again, to return to the islands, to host the voices of those. They're now struggling with another catastrophe. Who are offering resilience and resistance. In the face of these enduring consequences. And as such, I welcome.Healani Sonoda-Pale to the pod. Thank you for joining me today, Healani.Healani: It's my pleasure to be joining this podcast and to help [00:01:00] spread the message about tourism in Hawai'i. Chris: Healani, could you do us the favor of elaborating a bit on where you're speaking from today and how the world looks like for you?Healani: Okay. So I'm a Kanaka Maoli woman, born and raised in Hawai'i on the island of O'ahu. I have been in the Hawaiian movement for liberation and self determination for nearly 30 years. I am a student of Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask, and I am on the front lines of many, many issues. The issues that we face today are, many of them are a consequence of tourism.The desecration of cultural sites. The degradation of our beautiful beaches pollution, traffic, overcrowding, the high cost of living in Hawai'i, the extremely high cost of housing in Hawai'i. These are all because of tourism. This is happening to Hawai'i. [00:02:00] As a result, direct result of the tourist industry, which Hawaii relies on.And in Hawaii, we have two businesses. We have the military industrial complex and the tourist industry. Those are the two worst industries to rely on, number one. And they are the most exploitive and extractive industries to have. They do not enhance our way of life here on, on these islands in Hawaii.They do the opposite. They have brought many of us to the brink where we are now, most of us living paycheck to paycheck. The average cost of a house in Hawaii is a million dollars.I believe Honolulu is the number one or at least the top three most expensive cities in the United States to live in. So tourism is a plague in Hawaii. It is a plague upon this place and it has caused us to [00:03:00] struggle on a daily basis, not just financially and not just socially, mentally as well. Having to deal with tourists on a daily basis in Hawaii is frustrating, so that's kind of like the space I'm coming from. I am involved with the water issue, protecting our water, which is now something that is a huge issue. I'm very much involved in the Red Hill issue. I'm involved with protecting Iwi Kūpuna, which is our traditional Hawaiian burials. I'm involved with the repatriation of our land. Again, another big issue. It never ends because the, the economic, social pressure to take and take and take until there's nothing left is relentless. So that's the space we're coming from. So you talked about COVID, right? You started this podcast in the beginning of COVID and COVID was an eye opener for a lot of people in Hawai'i. When COVID happened, [00:04:00] the state of Hawai'i shut down and tourists weren't allowed here during our shutdown.I believe it was like a year and a half. It was beautiful. Even though we were living in the middle of a pandemic, our beaches were empty. There were no lines at the stores. There was no traffic. Even the air we breathed seemed cleaner. The water we swam in, in the ocean, didn't have this sliminess on it, from tourists with suntan lotion swimming in it all day, right?So the fish came back. Even the plants and the land was happy. I mean, it was a beautiful time. Even though it was sad because we were living through a pandemic, it was a beautiful time for us as Kanaka because we got to see Hawai'i without tourists. And that really opened the eyes for people who usually are not as [00:05:00] critical of tourism, as many of us have been so more people in Hawaii started saying, especially Kanaka Mali, well, how do we move forward without tourism?But when the state opened up again, tourism came back and it came back with a vengeance.When you look at what was happening on social media and, you know, what people were posting and across all the islands, we saw some frustration. We saw people posting about interactions they were having with tourists at sacred sites and beaches. People were more aware that tourists were there after COVID because we were able to enjoy our beaches, enjoy our islands without them.And then when they came back, it was not only dangerous because we live 2, 000 miles away from the nearest continent. So, they were bringing in the COVID. I mean, from the time of [00:06:00] Captain Cook, tourists, visitors, explorers, missionaries, they have been bringing in diseases when, when Captain Coke arrived in 1778. We didn't have any immunity to these diseases, and so now, I think for a lot of residents here in Hawai'i, our eyes have been opened on what we have to give up for tourism.We have to sacrifice not only our beautiful island life, but a way forward that doesn't include commodifying who we are as a people, our culture, everything. The state's been talking about diversifying the industry here in Hawai'i, right? They wanted to look into agriculture was one. They've never seriously taken that up. And they always fall back on tourism.Chris: And why do you think that is? Because it's just so easy.Healani: Because they've invested. It's a multi billion dollar business. There's hotels. Waikiki [00:07:00] is loaded with hotels. It's business interests. It's those that have been in control of the tourist industry, wanting to keep control of that and wanting to keep their financial interests protected and keep going.So that is, that has been a problem. And of course we have strong lobbyists here in Hawai'i for the tourist industry. It is an industry that is supported by taxpayer dollars. It's one of the few industries we give millions of dollars of our money. It's a private industry supported by taxpayer dollars.So it's a private industry that we support that exploits not just our resources, our culture, but they have really degraded our way of life here. They've made everything so expensive that most of our people, most of the indigenous people of Hawai'i have moved away because they can't afford to live here.Chris: And you know, I'm curious [00:08:00] in this regard, to what extent do you think that this Government money and government decisions played a part in these wildfires that passed through West Maui in August, you know, like reading and researching for this interview and seeing what's been shared online and social media, the term management and mismanagement continues to arise in and among social movement activists.And I'm curious to what extent you think that either government action or inaction or the tourism industry had a part to play in what happened this past summer.Healani: The Lahaina Fires. was so tragic and the tragedy continues months after. The suicide rates are on the rise in Lahaina. Families are still displaced, thousands of them. They were just [00:09:00] a few days ago, I had posted about it. They were just given again, eviction letters. The last time I was in Maui was there.The first set of eviction letters that went out. So they're being housed in hotels, 7,00-8,000 of them; families that have lost everything, in hotels. And now they're being told to leave to make way for tourism, to make way for tourists. That's the enormity of the pressure that tourists, tourism brings with it. The pressure to a piece and to serve and to put tourism first.Just going back to my childhood in school. We were basically brainwashed into thinking we need tourism. Without tourism, we wouldn't have jobs. There would be no money, you know? So it's been kind of ingrained in us. And that's why I think COVID was super important because it was an eye opener for a lot of us.Because they saw really [00:10:00] what was possible, a world without tourism. And so the pressure to support, to push tourism, to... "they always say, we want to support small businesses," but it's really not about small businesses. It's about those huge, multinational corporations that have invested millions.into this industry and have supported and lobbied for their industry, for the tourist industry. That's what it's really about, to a point where they really don't care about the people, the residents of Lahaina. They're literally traumatizing these families again and pushing them around to make room for an industry that we all pay to support.And the Lahaina fires is a result of corporations, land grabbing by corporations of [00:11:00] tourism gone wild, literally. The whole culture of Hawaii is about making sure tourism is going to be okay in the future. We're one big resort. That's what we are.Hawaii is one big resort. Everything is catered for tourists first. It's always tourists first, residents last. And kanaka maoli not even considered, like we're not even in the equation, except when they want us to dance hula, and when they want us to chant, and when they want us to teach tourists how to make leis. So the whole Lahaina situation is very complicated.Tragic, and it continues to be tragic. Over a hundred people died in those fires. And Lahaina is like a real big hub for tourists, and has been. It's like the Waikiki of Maui. So having that burned down, I think, was a big loss for the tourist industry on Maui. [00:12:00] So they are trying every which way to bring that back. In fact, today they're going to unveil the strategic plan for the next few years for Maui, which again, is just a slap in the face. It's insulting to the people of Lahaina. They're actually having it in West Maui. It's insulting to the people of Lahaina to have now a discussion about how to move forward with tourism while they're still displaced. There's thousands of families that don't know where they're going to be next month.There are thousands more that don't have access to clean water, don't have jobs, that have multiple families living in their homes and they're going to have a big presentation on tourism today. That's what we have to deal with.There is a mythology that's been built around the tourist industry that basically tells us, you know, [00:13:00] we need tourism. We need tourism. For some reason, we won't be able to survive without tourism. So that's the culture of Hawaii. And that's what I've grown up in. One of the things that is concerning about tourism is the fact that there's never been an environmental assessment or environmental impact study done on the effects tourism has on Hawaii .There are no controls. There's no control of how many people will be allowed in, how many people will be allowed at a certain beach, how many people will be allowed to swim and hike up to a sacred pond.There's nothing like that. It's like a free for all here in Hawaii when it comes to tourism.With tourism comes a thriving sex trade. So we have a number of brothels that, of course, are illegal, here in O'ahu. And a real epidemic with a [00:14:00] high number of missing and murdered Native Hawaiian women and girls. Hmm. This is the average characteristics of a victim of a missing girl is 15 years old native Hawaiian.And that's you know, that's the reality here in in Hawaii. So tourism is one of those industries that has a lot of low paying jobs. People have to work two to three, sometimes four jobs to survive here in Hawaii because Hawaii has the highest cost of living and one of the highest in the United States and it's really a struggle to make a living off of the tourist industry.Once tourism gets a foothold in your community, then it's very difficult to get tourism out. And right now, I'm in the midst of a struggle with keeping tourism out of East Maui.[00:15:00] They're expanding tourism into rural areas because they want to make these real authentic experiences for tourists.And they want to provide cultural experiences for tourists now. And the last couple years, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has done something called destination management, which is where they give money to non profits to host tourists in these real authentic settings, where they get to work in the taro patch or they get real cultural experience hiking or storytelling or something like that and in exchange these non profits get paid.The reality of this Destination Management Program that they always give Hawaiian names to -Aloha Aina, Kahu Aina -the reality of these programs [00:16:00] is that they're actually community bribes.Residents are less tolerant of tourism these days, especially post COVID. And so these programs, like the Destination Management Programs that they're now doing, and have been doing for a couple years are community bribes that help residents swallow the bitter pill of tourism. And that is pretty much how this whole thing kind of plays out.Whatever financial benefits we get out of tourism, they're short lived and they aren't sustainable. And in fact, they threaten a sustainable and livable future for residents here, especially Kanaka Maoli.Chris: Do you see any parallels between the quote return of tourism following the COVID-19 lockdowns and later after the fires? Was anything learned by the inundation of [00:17:00] COVID carrying tourists?Healani: Yeah, so I see parallels between what's happening with tourism post COVID and what's happening with tourism post-Lahaina fires. And what's very clear with the government here, the local government has made very clear is that tourism, no matter the cost, in terms of our health and safety, comes first.And that has been shown over and over. While, when they opened up tourism, the COVID numbers went up. And because, of course, people are bringing COVID in. And that put the numbers of people in the emergency rooms and in our hospitals that went way up. We don't have the capacity and we still don't have the capacity to serve thousands and thousands of residents and tourists at the same time.In terms [00:18:00] of medical health care. And so we, you know, we're in a really tight spot for that, you know. So we were really struggling because our hospital and our medical system was overrun.We had sick tourists and we had sick residents. And when you look at the numbers, it was the Native Hawaiians and the Pacific Islanders who were not just catching COVID more, but also dying from COVID more often than others. And with Lahaina, same thing. Instead of waiting, holding off on reopening Lahaina and Maui for tourists, they opened it up super early.In fact, they opened it up a month ago, for tourism. They opened up line up for tourism and families are still suffering. Families don't know what's going to happen next month, where they're going to be living next week. There's [00:19:00] thousands of displaced families still in Lahaina, yet the pressure to open up to tourism is so immense that they did it anyway. So what happened with COVID and the Lahaina fires is that they really show that what they're prioritizing.They're not prioritizing the health and safety of, of the residents, let alone Kanaka Maoli residents. They're prioritizing business interest.Chris: Mm. Hmm. Really just showing the true face, the true nature of the industry. Right. And then not in any way surprising why locals, both residents and Kanaka Maoli would be so upset and so angry, not just with the industry, but with tourists as well when they arrive having no understanding of this. Right. And so my next question kind of centers around locals there, workers, especially. And in this particular article, It says that, "as tourists returned to the [00:20:00] island, displaced residents are still in need of long-term solutions for their future, most notably in terms of long-term affordable housing. Currently. Quote, "a coalition of 28 community groups have staged what's being called a 'fish-in' on Kaanapali beach to help raise awareness of the ongoing impacts of the Malai wildfires. Wearing bright red and yellow shirts, the protesters have pledged to fish along kind of poly beach. An area usually crowded with sunbathers in swimmers, around the clock 24 7, in order to bring awareness to these issues. And so in terms of strategy and solidarity, How have local people and organizations responded in the context of these last few months.Healani: Yeah. Many locals work in tourism. So a lot of people in Hawaii felt that the reopening was too fast, too early. There were other ways they could have dealt with. They always use the term 'affordable housing,' they always use that to [00:21:00] develop. Here they use small businesses to justify prioritizing tourism. So, their whole justification for opening up to tourism early, in Lahaina, was to support small businesses. But there are other solutions. We all know that. They give billions of dollars to Israel and to Ukraine for a war that has nothing to do with us, to other countries who are doing whatever they want with it. But when it comes to this whole issue of tourism and the displaced families, they could have supported these families and for at least a year supported these small businesses like they did during the pandemic, but they chose not to.There's other solutions they could've used, but for them, opening it up was more important than making sure families were okay.So, there is a split between some residents who feel they need tourism and some [00:22:00] who don't. And it's usually, again, business owners who rely on tourists for their livelihood. And like I said before, any kind of benefit we get from tourism is really short lived and the effects of tourism, not just on our environment, but on our society and on our economic system is more detrimental than beneficial.I'll give you an example tourism fuels people from other places wanting to buy a second home here. Tourists come to Hawaii, they see how beautiful it is, they love the beaches, of course. We have like really good weather on a daily basis. So when they come here to visit, they wanna buy a second home here.⌘ Chris Christou ⌘ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Right now we have a housing crisis in Hawaii, and the reason for this housing crisis is because we have [00:23:00] tens of thousands of empty homes. In fact, we could put all the houseless people that are in Hawaii right now into these empty homes. And we would still have thousands of homes left over. And that is one of the reasons why number one, we have one of the, like the highest housing costs. The average house right now sells for a million dollars.It could literally be a shack on a piece of land. It'll sell for a million dollars in Hawaii. It's because of the demand for housing here in Hawaii. And it's because of the fact that a lot of the housing that we do have are usually second homes. And lots of times they use it for short term housing rentals as well. And I just want to clarify the numbers for the short term housing rentals. There's about 30, 000 residential housing units that are being rented to tourists, instead of residents, instead of locals, instead [00:24:00] of Kanaka Maoli, so that's part of the problem here. We don't have a housing shortage.We have a shortage of housing rentals or landlords that want to rent to residents.So, what we gain from tourism doesn't even come close to what we are losing from tourism, from the tourist industry.Chris: Uh, Wow. . It's just a. It's incredible. How so much of this, this desire to vacation, escape, have fun, rest, make money "passive income" lead so much to the detriment of neighbors, of what might otherwise be neighbors in our midst. And I know that, I think I've read the other day that there's this group Lahaina Strong, that was asking for government intervention. Is that right? Healani: Yeah. So they've asked. Yeah, that's a, that's a good point. [00:25:00] Lahaina Strong, one of the lead groups in Lahaina, have asked for the mayor and the governor to intervene and to ask short term housing rental owners to provide long term housing solutions for those, the displaced families. And that hasn't happened yet.It's been months. It's been September, October, November, over three months. And these families, their future is still up in the air. They don't even have reliable housing. So again, it just tells you what the priorities of the state is. Honestly, I don't think they're going to get what they want.Chris: Thank you, Healani and for being a witness to all this and proceeding accordingly. I'd like to, if I can ask you a little bit more about your political work. If I'm not mistaken you're a spokesperson for Ka Lahui Hawai'i Political Action Committee. Could you explain a little bit about [00:26:00] this organization? What the name means, how it was formed its principles, goals, and actions, perhaps. Healani: Okay, so yes, I am the spokesperson for Ka Lahui Hawai'i, and I am part of the Komike Kalai'aina Political Action Committee, which is a national committee of Ka Lahui Hawai'i, which means the Hawaiian Nation.We are a native initiative for self determination and self governance. We were formed in 1987 by Kanaka Maoli, Indigenous Peoples of Hawaii, as a response to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and as a way forward for our people to seek out justice and to create our own way forward by creating our own nation.I have been with Kalahui Hawaii since 1993. And I [00:27:00] joined after watching Dr. Haulani-Kay Trask do her speech on the grounds of Iolani Palace, where she proclaimed that we are not American. And that was an eye opener to me. And I joined Ka Lahui and I transferred to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, became her student. A lot of the work that we've done has been nation building. We are a nation in exile, literally. We take stances on issues a lot of times. And the issues we've been doing has been from water issues to intellectual property rights, to land rights, to tourism. The issues we cover is literally anything that affects us as a, as a people and as a nation. So we cover a wide [00:28:00] spread of issues. Most recently it's been the water issue that we've been really focused on. And when you look at the water issue, again, you see the disparity there. We are in a water crisis on the island of Oahu. We are encouraged to practice conservation measures. However, the tourist industry, hotels with pools and fountains and large golf courses, which have to be watered daily, are not being told the same thing. They are the exception. They continue to waste water while on O ahu are concerned about the future.Of our children and grandchildren because we're not sure if number one, there will be clean water and number two, if there is clean water, there'll be enough clean water for everyone in the future, but the hotels in the tourist industry, they don't care. They have swimming pools and[00:29:00] golf courses.Tourists are not told to come here and conserve water. You know, in fact, they waste water in the tourist industry and you can see it. Are you seeing how they waste it? It's pretty visual and obvious. So Ka Lahui Hawaii has been active On the front lines with Mauna Kea issue, and we have treaties with other Native American nations. We've gone to the U. N., our past Keaāina, our governor, Merilani Trask helped to draft UNDRIP, which is the U. N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which is one of the most important documents that have come out from the U. N. for Indigenous Peoples and has reasserted all of our rights to self determination.There's about 400 million indigenous peoples around the world, and UNDRIP [00:30:00] is important to every single one of us.Chris: Well, thank you for, for that and the work that you do with Ka Lahui, Healani. I'll make sure that the requisite websites and links are up on the homework section and the end of tourism podcasts for our listeners. Now, in my interview withHokulani Aikau and Vernadette Gonzalez, they spoke of various projects within the tourism sector, undertaken by indigenous Hawaiians to uncover and share with tourists or visitors, the histories of the people and place so often ignored by the industry. Now in order to do this, to educate, many people work within the confines of the structures and the systems we already have, that is to decolonize tourism, for example. Now if we weren't limited by those current structures and systems. How would you personally want to proceed hosting the other, the foreigner? How would you want them [00:31:00] to proceed towards you and your people? How might you imagine such relationship to unfold? Healani: Yeah. Yeah. Decolonize tourism. That's an oxymoron. I don't believe in decolonizing tourism. The nature of tourism, it's like colonization. The nature of tourism is to exploit, is to extract everything it can from a place and from a people and it commodifies, things that to us are spiritual, to us are sacred, tourism commodifies it all. To decolonize something that was not created from indigenous peoples is impossible.We can decolonize our world. But we cannot decolonize systems of [00:32:00] oppression because they're set up to oppress us. And so that is, I don't know what to say. It's like I said before. You know, they keep changing the name, you know, Hawai'i Tourism Authority even though they have leadership that is Kanaka and they're trying to be culturally sensitive and they are doing, you know, destination management practices kind of thing and working with nonprofits and cultural groups.It's still tourism. It's still a business that wants to benefit from our land, from our water, from our culture, from our people. And when we talk about decolonization, when we talk about working against systems of oppression, it's really about us rebuilding our own systems that counter their systems.So it's all systemic, right? It's like a system of power that benefits one group [00:33:00] over the other. It stems from colonization, which is a system of power that is working against us. So to counter that, we have to create our own systems. We actually have to reconnect and recreate our old systems. So Franz Fanon talks about this. When colonization happens, what they do is they compartmentalize our world.So, you know, where we see the world as living, as where we see ourselves as part of nature, and part of this living system where there's balance. We give and take from the land. We take care of the land, the land takes care of us. In our cosmogonic genealogies as Kanaka, it tells us basically our universal perspective on all life, which is basically we are related to all the animals and plants and to the islands itself, because what it does is it recites the birth of every [00:34:00] living thing in Hawaii that was here during the time we were here, before Captain Cook arrived, but it connects us to this world and it tells us our place in it. And when colonization came, what they did was they ripped our world apart.And they separated us from nature. They separated us from our ancient beliefs. They separated us even from our belief in ourself. And many Native people, I'm sure can relate to this, but it's like living in two worlds. We live in a Hawaiian world, and we live in the Western world. We act a certain way in the Western world because of the way it's organized. And in our world, it's different. So, it's important to understand that we cannot infiltrate a system. Without the system infiltrating us. We're going to change before the system changes because these systems have been in place [00:35:00] for centuries.So I don't even want to answer the question about hosting foreigners or others because that's not even something that's on my radar. I don't imagine tourism in my future or in the future of our Lāhui, or in the future of our people. Kalahui, Hawai'i has taken stances against tourists and tourism. It's not worth what we have to give up to host foreigners. And I could go on for hours with stories of our people, putting themselves at risk, saving tourists in the ocean, and not even getting a word of thanks. Having tourists pee on our sacred sites, having tourists throw rubbish on our beaches. It never ends. So I think it's cute that they want to decolonize tourism. It's a multi billion dollar business. You cannot decolonize tourism unless you take [00:36:00] the aspect of capitalism out of it. It's like decolonizing money. How are you going to do that? It's like you need to build systems where you can sustain yourself and your people outside of these capitalist and outside of these corporate systems of power. Healani: Yeah, so what I would want to say to those who want to stand in solidarity with Kanaka Maoli, with the Native people of Hawai'i, I would say stay home. Help us spread the message that we do not want or need visitors to come to our islands. As the Native people of Hawai'i we're building our own food systems, we're bartering. We're trying to move forward as a people away from these other systems, away from tourism, away and out from under military occupation.It's a struggle that we're in. I think for those that are listening, it's important for you to[00:37:00] spread the word about the struggle that Native Hawaiians are going through in our own homeland and our struggle for liberation and to support us in whatever way you can. So I think it's important to support us from afar, I would say.And if you're here anyway, like if you end up coming anyway, then support. Don't just come here. Give back. Help out a Hawaiian organization. Help out a Hawaiian on the street. 40 percent of all houseless in Hawaii are Indigenous Hawaiians. And we only make up 20 percent of the population in our own homeland. 50 percent of the population in Hawaii's prisons and jails are Hawaiians.We have low educational attainment. We die from diseases that other people usually don't die from. We have probably the highest suicide rates in Hawaii. High infant mortality rates. So this isn't our paradise. But we have to make it a paradise for tourists. And that's something we can't continue to do.The reality of the [00:38:00] situation is that it's destroying our future right now. And you look at what happened to Lahaina, and that's all because of unsustainable development, high cost of living, corporations running amok, diverting the rivers, water being diverted to hotels and golf courses, instead of letting water just flow freely from the ocean, from the mountains to the sea.So that's what we're dealing with, and if you are thinking about coming to Hawaii, please, please think again and just support a Hawaiian organization in their struggle to reclaim what we lost. We did something around tourism. It's a survey that we gave to tourists who are here anyway, right? So that is our pledge for tourists if they are gonna come here. And we've had it out for a few years. We've tried to get like the airlines to push it out and stuff like that to raise awareness. Now they're doing more of that, which is good. [00:39:00] And I appreciate that. But ultimately, we don't want people to come here.Healani: That would be the end goal because Hawai'ians are displaced on our own land.This is our mutual aid that we set up to help families of Red Hill who still don't have clean drinking water, which is nuts. And this is two years after, right? So if they want to help with that, we appreciate that. Chris: I'll make sure that our listeners have all of those available to them when the episode launches.Healani: Because we're basically providing services to the residents, but Yeah, that's pretty much it. I can't believe people think they can decolonize tourism. It's freaking nuts.Chris: Yeah. I keep coming back to this notion that, you know, [00:40:00] part of colonization of our minds and the wars against us tend to stem from a war against the imagination and a war against us being able to imagine other worlds and just things completely differently. And I also think that when people don't have examples to follow of what that might be like to, to imagine things differently, and then also to not have the time to do that.You know, people tend to fall back on kind of simple alternatives, I guess.Healani: I think it could be useful for a little while, but it's like, we've got to work towards not sustaining it, but dismantling it, somehow getting rid of it.I mean, look at what everything that's happened to Hawaii, COVID, Lahaina fires. Our wildfires are like happening more and more. We have more on this island now than we've had before. It's just a matter of time before we have our own huge fire that's going to be devastating on this island.Chris: [00:41:00] I'm very grateful for your time, and I can tell very clearly that you're one of those people that's offering an example for younger people on how things might be different. So, I'd like to thank you for your time, your consideration. And I'll make sure, as I said, that all of these links are up on the End of Tourism website when the episode launches and and on social media as well.Healani: Awesome. Thank you so much. You have a good day. Get full access to ⌘ Chris Christou ⌘ at chrischristou.substack.com/subscribe

The Big West along with the Hawaii Tourism Authority announced Friday a new multi-year deal for the University of Hawaii to host post-season volleyball tournaments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In August, deadly wildfires swept through parts of Hawaii, specifically Maui and the Big Island. On Maui, the wildfires spread to the historical town of Lahaina. Around 100 people died, homes, businesses and hotels were destroyed, and that section of the island had been shut off to visitors.  But the rebuilding and recovery process has been ongoing, and Gov. Josh Green proclaimed those sections of West Maui “open” again to tourism as of Oct. 8. And today we've brought together three Hawaii tourism experts: Our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt; Kathy Takushi, the owner of Maui-based travel agency Captivating Journeys; and Ilihia Gionson, the public affairs office at the Hawaii Tourism Authority, to talk about the island's approach to reopening and whether travelers should go to West Maui. In this informative and emotional episode, we talk about responsible tourism -- the right way for people to approach travel to those impacted areas. What to say to visitors who may feel apprehensive about going. The aloha spirit that's so unique to Hawaii. And concerns about overtourism: Could Lahaina's closure mean crowds in other parts of the island? Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz Stay on after this episode for a bonus interview with Charlotte Bowman, sales development director for Air France/KLM, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and partnerships for Travel Weekly and the Northstar Travel Group. Additional links and coverage: Support for Maui wildfire relief: https://www.mauinuistrong.info/ Hawaii Tourism: https://gohawaii.com Captivating Journeys: https://captivatingjourneys.com/ Reports by contributing editor Christine Hitt: In the aftermath of Maui fires, an agency owner looks ahead https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/In-aftermath-of-fires-Maui-agency-owner-looks-ahead?ct=hawaii West Maui's phased reopening takes place https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/West-Maui-phased-reopening A new plan for Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-travel-recovery-plan Understanding the economic impact of the Maui fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Understanding-the-economic-impact-of-the-Maui-fires Additional Travel Weekly reports on Maui fires: A visit to Maui, a month after the fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Aloha-and-welcoming-hospitality-for-visitors-on-Maui Reopening Maui hotels focus on locals https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Reopening-Maui-hotels-focus-on-supporting-locals Maui hotels launch promotions to stimulate tourism recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Maui-hotels-launch-promotions-stimulate-tourism-recovery    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I first discuss the the latest trending news in travel, including the tragic situation in Israel and how it has impacted travel, the safest places to travel this fall, cruise pricing on the rise, and much more.  Later, I interview Ilihia Gionson, Public Affairs Officer for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Gionson provides updates on the phases of West Maui's reopening for tourism, as well as what travelers can expect and how they can help.  The interview around West Maui begins just after the 12-minute mark.  Today's episode sponsor: Palladium Hotel Group.  Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa stands as a luxurious haven nestled on the captivating northern coast of Jamaica. The recent refurbishment includes  the 537 recently renovated suites, 48 of which include a private pool and terrace, an ideal ambiance for relaxation. The Infinity Saloon Bar, the focal point of Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa was also redesigned. This bar offers breathtaking 180º views of the Caribbean Sea and hosts live music and entertaining shows. Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa is an enchanting destination nestled along the shores of Mexico's Riviera Maya. Guests at the Grand Palladium Kantenah are treated to a wide array of amenities and activities. Grand Palladium Kantenah, whose reopening is scheduled for December 2023, will debut Family Selection in Riviera Maya. These unique spaces were designed with traveling families in mind, where guests can enjoy special amenities and personalized attention, ideal for those seeking a premium experience with activities for adults and children. Have any feedback or questions? Want to sponsor the show? Contact us at Podcast@TravelPulse.com and follow us on social media @TravelPulse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of the initial response to the wildfires on Maui was to ask visitors to leave. But now, they're not coming back — and they're also canceling future plans, which businesses and tourism officials say will hurt the recovery efforts. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, there were just under 3,500 visitors a day to the Valley Isle this month. That's just half the number seen in August 2022.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Notes Maui's tourism industry faces an uncertain future as the island recovers from the massive devastation caused by recent wildfires. Maui's hotels have suffered enormously in the aftermath of the destruction, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Habtemariam reports that nearly half of all hotel rooms in Maui were unfilled last week. The island's hotel occupancy rates were 49% for the week ending August 19, according to commercial real estate information provider CoStar.  Although the Hawaii Tourism Authority is encouraging travelers to visit areas of Maui away from the destruction, Habtemariam writes the state's tourism leaders are facing a messaging challenge regarding the island. Three major U.S. airlines have cut their number of scheduled flights to Maui over the past week. The wildfires have claimed more than 110 lives in addition to causing billions of dollars of damage. Next, U.S. hotel companies have viewed China's economic boom as a vehicle to boost hotel development. However, China's economic turmoil could derail their plans, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill.  Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott are companies that have unveiled major expansion plans for China. Although O'Neill lists several reasons why hotel executives find China enticing, including the potential to expand quickly, he notes the country's current economic woes are complicating growth plans. Hotel development in China recorded an 8% year-over-year drop in the second quarter.  In addition, Bloomberg Economics Chief Economist Tom Orlik said China's biggest challenge is that's working-age population is decreasing. The country population's fell last year, with O'Neill writing that an aging population will create multi-year problems economically.  Finally, Wynn Resorts expects to obtain a gaming license soon for the United Arab Emirates' first casino, reports Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.  Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings said recently the company has everything it needs to operate gaming at the Wynn Al Marjan property. Billings added that construction on the casino has already started. Skift reported last November that Wynn had confirmed the property would house a casino. However, Bhutia notes that questions about the casino have lingered to the country's strict Islamic laws that typically don't permit activities like gambling.    The Wynn Marjan is scheduled to open in 2027

What up people, today we got the UFC legend Max Holloway in the building. Today he shares what Conor told him while they were fighting, why he DC I'd a fraud, and how he feels about his fight this weekend with Korean Zombie. **NOTE: This episode was filmed before the tragic wildfires fires in Maui. If you're interested in contributing to the relief effort, you can support the people of Maui by clicking the link below. https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong -- 00:00 Intro 00:49 Waianae can throw down 03:17 Most stars will leave their home 05:30 Matt finding out he could fight 06:55 Hawaiians are kind, sweet and fisty 09:30 Rather fight than pay $35 12:54 The one time Max got ROCKED 16:40 Assessing in the fight 19:04 "Keep fighting, mate" - hurting Conor McGregor 20:47 Teaching Ortega, MID-FIGHT 21:38 Daniel Cormier is a sell-out! 25:25 Commission stopped Max-Khabib due to weight cut 27:21 Max would fight DC in an alley + fighting friends 30:52 Not sparring anymore + Zoom training + LOUDEST Tesla 34:30 Video Games is training + Hawaii is home 38:56 The world doesn't owe you a thing 41:58 Bum friends + Iowa SUCKS + Thiccies 46:35 Filipino gambling + c0ckf1ghting + clout chasers 49:26 Iam Tongi is phenomenal 54:39 Max fighting Korean Zombie + Motivation 58:26 Fighting Volk again + mental strength makes you elite 01:04:02 Pre-fight rituals + venue makes no difference 01:07:29 Hawaii Tourism Authority refusing UFC 01:12:26 Hawaiian v Local + Pidgin Bible 01:15:54 Surfing is MORE dangerous + d1ckdragg3r 01:21:04 Max's true love + Greece & Japan

Discussing recent Maui devastation from fires specifically in Lahaina, HI. Ilihia Gionson brings more than a decade of experience to HTA developing and executing strategies for federal, state and municipal government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations. He most recently was the founder and principal of Hiehie Communications, where he provided strategic integrated communications and community outreach services to a range of clients across Hawaii in hospitality, renewable energy, and sustainable development. He has also served as field representative and Hawai‘i communications director for U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard from 2018-2020, as well as executive assistant and communications director for the late Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi from 2011-2016.In this newly created position developed through the recent restructuring of HTA, Gionson will be responsible for anticipating, gathering, analyzing, and interpreting opinions, attitudes, and issues that may affect the organization and its mission, Malama Kuu Home (caring for my beloved home) through the principles of regenerative tourism. He will also work with the HTA Board of Directors, executives, and staff to formulate communications and disseminate information to HTA stakeholders and the public about how the organization's activities will enhance community well-being. In addition, he will be responsible for HTA's government relations, media communications, issue management, corporate and social responsibility programs, information dissemination, and strategic communications.“Ilihia brings a strong background in community building and government relations to our HTA leadership team and we are excited to have him join as we continue to execute on our strategic plan,” said John De Fries, HTA president and CEO. “Effective communication and engagement is a key part of building greater collaboration between tourism and the community. His working knowledge of the unique tapestry of Hawaii, as well as the Hawaiian culture, has made him an effective strategist and communicator throughout his career.”With a strong history of guiding clients from within and outside Hawaii in sensitive and challenging situations, Gionson is well-versed in geographic and socioeconomic nuances across the islands. A kamaaina of Oahu and Hawaii Island, he is fully bilingual, trained in Hawaiian language and culture.“The visitor industry is a part of the fabric of Hawaii's society, amplifying our potential to help heal the world with the values that have guided us for generations,” said Gionson. “The industry has grown in ways that call upon us today to rebalance, realign and reprioritize. My hope is to continue the important work already taking place at HTA to build trust between the industry, the community, and our elected leaders through clear and responsive communication. At the end of the day, we are all neighbors and ohana in this home we love.”

In this special episode of Trade Secrets, co-host Jamie Biesiada gets an update on the wildfires in Hawaii from Ilihia Gionson, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's public affairs officer. Gionson talks about what's happening on Maui, thanks those visitors who have left the island and asks for patience in the weeks ahead as damage is assessed and recovery begins. This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations. https://www.vaxvacationaccess.com/suppliers/apple-leisure-group/pages/algv-gives-you-more/ Further resources: For visitor-specific information, visit the Hawaii Tourism Authority on its website or gohawaii.com For general disaster information, visit the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency To lend a hand, consider donations to the American Red Cross or one of the organizations identified by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Notes People who want knowledge about the travel industry on Wednesday got a valuable new resource to obtain critical information. Skift unveiled Ask Skift, an artificial intelligence chatbot that will answer your questions focused on the travel sector, says Skift founder and CEO Rafat Ali. Ali writes that a user can ask questions on Skift's website such as “How is Airbnb planning to leverage AI?” or “Who is IHG's CEO?” Ask Skift has been trained on the entirety of Skift archives over the last 11 years, including daily stories and research reports. The chatbot will also provide other specialized travel industry content and data in weeks to come. Ali said the emergence of generative AI is enabling Skift to have a question and answer-based relationship with readers that wasn't feasible before.  Next, JetBlue Airways believes it's taken a big step to boosting revenue. The company has made major updates effective Wednesday to its already lucrative loyalty program, reports Edward Russell, editor of Airline Weekly, a Skift publication.  JetBlue's updated loyalty program includes new elite Mosaic tiers and perks, including free business class upgrades and free helicopter transfers between JFK Airport and Manhattan. Russell writes that the driving force behind JetBlue's loyalty updates is the opportunity to earn more revenue. The New York-based carrier generated $100 million in loyalty-related revenue in the first quarter. That's a 14 percent year-over-year increase.  Finally, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is continuing to market the Aloha State despite not being allocated funding from the state legislature for the next two years. The agency is planning to award a huge contract to market Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Habtemariam reports Hawaii Tourism Authority executives decided at a recent board meeting to award a marketing contract worth up to $51 million. The organization also plans to move forward with a $34 million contract for destination management as well as a nearly $3 million contract to market the state to Canadian travelers. Habtemariam adds the contact winners will be selected on May 22. 

Episode Notes Social media influencers have become more powerful in marketing in recent years, with a growing number of companies looking to tap into their sometimes-enormous reach. That list includes destination marketing organizations, or tourism boards, that are developing more sophisticated marketing strategies for influencers as part of their plans to attract tourists, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Habtemariam writes what influencers say about travel can have more clout than other types of advertising. San Francisco Travel CEO Joe D'Alessandro said the words of an influencer are more trustworthy for many people than an ad the organization may air. A 2022 Pew Research survey found 53 percent of social media users purchased something after seeing an influencer they follow post about it.  Habtemariam notes destinations are increasingly shopping for suitable influencers instead of just waiting to receive pitches from them. Discover Puerto is launching a request for proposal for an agency to assist with its influencer marketing strategy. Chief Marketing Officer Leah Chandler said the quality of influencers is much higher than compared to five or 10 years ago. Meanwhile, the U.S. national tourism marketing agency Brand USA has a program that loans out trusted international influencers to partner destinations.  Next, InterContinental Hotels Group CEO Keith Barr announced on Friday he's stepping down after six years at the helm, Skift co-founder Jason Clampet and Travel Experiences Reporter Selene Brophy report. Barr cited family as the reason why he's leaving his post at the UK-based company. He said during IHG's first-quarter earnings call that the time was right to return to the U.S. considering his daughters will be studying in the country. Barr, who joined IHG in 2000, added he has been living outside the U.S. for roughly 20 years. IHG's Americas CEO Elie Maalouf will succeed Barr effective June 30.  IHG reported that its first-quarter revenue per available room, an important industry metric, was up nearly 7 percent from 2019 levels. The company received a boost from its average daily rates rising 10 percent from pre-Covid levels. Finally, the Hawaii Tourism Authority will have fewer resources for its marketing effortsamid widespread frustration in the state with the industry. The agency has been excluded from the state budget, writes Global Tourism Reporter Habtemariam.  Habtemariam reports the Hawaii Tourism Authority now has to request funds from the state's budgeting and finance department. The governor and legislature will have to approve any funding requests. Habtemariam adds the state government will ensure the agency focuses more on destination management instead of marketing. Lawmakers in the Aloha State recently came close to passing a bill that would have dissolved the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Deadly drugs. The fentanyl epidemic in our state has claimed dozens of lives. We dig into the disturbing trend.  Phone spoofing. How scammers are making their phone numbers look like they belong to the Honolulu police department in an attempt to trick us.  Tourism trouble. The Hawaii Tourism Authority could be shut down soon. Howard Dicus has a status update including where the tourism industry appears to stand on the issue based on its actions, or lack thereof, so far. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hiker falls 100 feet from a trail. Where this happened and how rescue crews were able to save him. A new bill could shut down the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Howard is tracking the progress of the proposal as it moves through the legislature. There's a new way to help struggling families put food on the table. It's a partnership between Foodland and the Salvation Army. Our Casey Lund will tell us what "Meals of Aloha" is all about.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Need It, Want It, Hate it. The hosts for this show are Jay Fidell and Tom Yamachika. Here in Hawaii, we officially have a love-hate relationship with tourism. How do we love it? Look no further than the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which has been awarding lucrative marketing contracts – tens of millions of dollars per year. How do we hate it? We have been taxing the bejeebers out of tourists. Tourists looking at their hotel folios are greeted with a state TAT of 10.25%, a county TAT of 3%, a state general excise tax of 4%, and, for most counties, a county surcharge on state tax of 0.5%. That's a whopping combined tax rate of close to 18% under current law. With all of these mixed messages going out to what is, happily or unhappily, our No. 1 economic driver, the possibility of economic waste looms large. The ThinkTech YouTube Playlist for this show is https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQpkwcNJny6lmEllOKP493URXssFT4N7G Please visit our ThinkTech website at https://thinktechhawaii.com and see our Think Tech Advisories at https://thinktechadvisories.blogspot.com.

When most people think of traveling to Hawaii, they think of lying on the beach or walking around Waikiki, but in this program, visitors are getting their hands dirty and learning about Hawaiian culture. It's all part of what the Hawaii Tourism Authority calls "voluntourism" -- a new movement to change the type of visitor that is coming to Hawaii and reimagine what tourism looks like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John DeFries, HTA President joins the Spotlight Hawaii LIVE conversation to talk about the current state of tourism in Hawaii. More from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://808ne.ws/2Ww2WXN Website: https://staradvertiser.com Coronavirus coverage: https://staradvertiser.com/coronavirus Email newsletters: https://808ne.ws/newsletters Facebook: https://facebook.com/staradvertiser Twitter: https://twitter.com/staradvertiser Instagram: https://instagram.com/staradvertiser LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/honolulu-star-advertiser #Hawaii #HINews #StarAdvertiser

Leslie Jordan, the beloved comedian and actor known for "Will and Grace," has died at 67. The Navy is expected to discuss its Red Hill "unpacking" plan that's set to start this week. The Hawaii Tourism Authority reports September hotel occupancy was under 74%.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2021 Nā Hōkū Hano Hano Award winning MANA MUSIC QUARTET presents, The Music of QUEEN LILI`UOKALANI and BRAHMS with special guest violinist Kisa Uradomo. Saturday July 30th  7:30 PM at the McCoy Studio Theater. There will be Pre show featuring the Maui String Trio 6:00. Supported by Hawaii Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment program and Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau. Tickets at MauiArts.org or call 242- SHOW  

Aloha Bruce is back in the home studio after a two-week hiatus to talk about the pressing topic of overtourism in Hawaii and some recent developments at the Hawaii Tourism Authority on this latest episode of the Hawaii Vacation Podcast. Bruce starts with some recent news and details about his recent trip to California, including… The post Overtourism in Hawaii | Will you be welcome with open arms on your Hawaii Vacation? appeared first on Hawaii Aloha Travel.

Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO John De Fries joined the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's “Spotlight Hawaii” livestream show today and answered viewer questions. This series shines a spotlight on issues affecting the Hawaiian Islands.

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Kimberly Flook of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.  In this podcast Kimberly talks about the purpose of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the history of the organization, the challenges of adapting older significant buildings, the Lahaina Quest Keiki Programs that are offered, what it was like to receive a Community Enrichment Award from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, how that award will allow the program to grow, and how people can learn more or get involved with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.  

Welcome back for Season 2 of The Better Travel Podcast! What does “thoughtful travel” look like? What are some concrete things that we can do to ensure that we make the most of our travels while also remaining sensitive to the impact of our presence as visitors? Two guests offer their expert insight: Amanda Kendle, a travel writer and host of the Thoughtful Travel Podcast, and Emily Thomas, an associate professor of philosophy at Durham University and the author of a fascinating book on the philosophy of travel. We also have a new installment in our language lessons series! Ilihia Gionson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority joins the show to teach Paige some beautiful words in the Hawaiian language. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Amanda Kendle's blog, Not a Ballerina: https://www.notaballerina.com/ Amanda's podcast, The Thoughtful Travel Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thoughtful-travel-podcast/id1269489189 RISE Travel Institute: https://www.risetravelinstitute.org/ Website of Emily Thomas: https://emilythomaswrites.co.uk/ Emily's book: https://bookshop.org/books/the-meaning-of-travel-philosophers-abroad/9780198835400

Hawaii had a record-breaking number of visitors in 2019, and now the Islands are thinking about how they want to manage tourism in the years ahead. John De Fries is the President and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and he's the first Native Hawaiian to hold the position. John joins the podcast to talk about what it was like growing up in Waikiki in the 1950s, what was so hard about the summer of 2021, and what he wants all visitors to the Islands to think about before they arrive. Also, listen up for a special bonus segment in which Paige embarrasses herself while trying to learn a foreign phrase… Have you been to Hawaii recently? What was it like? Or if you live in Hawaii, how do you feel about tourism in the state? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you'll share by sending me a voice message. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Hawaii Tourism Authority website Links to Hawaii's Destination Management Plans Honolulu Star-Advertiser article, “Native Hawaiian leaders call new Oahu tourism plan ‘step in the right direction,' but execution is key”