Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Kicks Off Community Input Sessions To Drive Sustainable Tourism Growth In North America

Published on September 26, 2025

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) has launched a bid of community input sessions aimed astatine shaping nan early of tourism connected Hawai‘i Island. These sessions, held passim October 2025, supply a level for residents to stock their insights, experiences, and ideas connected really tourism tin germinate to amended use some nan organization and visitors. The HTA’s inaugural is portion of its broader effort to create nan Destination Management Plan, ensuring that nan island’s tourism early is aligned pinch nan values and needs of its residents.

Engaging nan Community successful Tourism Planning

The community input sessions are designed to let Hawai‘i Island residents to straight power nan Destination Management Plan. By inviting locals to stock their thoughts, nan HTA ensures that nan scheme prioritizes nan issues that matter astir to those who unrecorded and activity connected nan island. According to Caroline Anderson, nan interim president and CEO of HTA, these sessions are a measurement to listen to nan community and guarantee nan scheme reflects what residents attraction astir about erstwhile it comes to tourism. The extremity is to create a scheme that balances nan benefits of tourism pinch nan needs of nan community, preserves natural and cultural resources, and enhances residents’ value of life.

Key Objectives of nan Destination Management Plan

The input from these community input sessions will thief nan HTA refine its strategies for sustainable tourism development. The Destination Management Plan will attraction on:

• Balancing nan benefits of tourism pinch section organization needs
• Preserving Hawai‘i Island’s earthy beauty and cultural heritage
• Supporting section businesses and promoting organization engagement
• Enhancing nan value of life for residents while improving nan visitor experience

Session Dates and Locations

The HTA’s organization input sessions will return spot crossed Hawai‘i Island successful early October. These sessions are nan 2nd information of discussions pursuing akin meetings held successful August 2025. The upcoming sessions will build connected nan feedback received earlier and activity much elaborate insights connected circumstantial tourism-related issues.

Session Details:

• Kailua-Kona, West Hawai‘i Civic Center
  • Date: October 1, 2025
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Registration Deadline: September 28, 2025
• Hilo, County of Hawai‘i Aupuni Center Conference Room
  • Date: October 2, 2025
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Registration Deadline: September 29, 2025

These sessions are free and in-person. Registration is required and only residents of Hawai‘i Island are eligible to attend, arsenic nan discussions will beryllium centered connected island-specific topics.

Building connected Past Success

This inaugural follows nan occurrence of akin sessions held connected different islands, specified arsenic Kaua‘i, wherever much than 150 residents shared their concerns and suggested solutions. These sessions person already led to actionable outcomes, specified arsenic pre- and post-arrival messaging to visitors, improvements successful tourism-related infrastructure, and amended guidance of local resources.

Earlier discussions held successful Wahiawā, O‘ahu focused connected traffic congestion and safety concerns successful celebrated tourer areas. The feedback resulted successful calls for much sustainable tourism practices, including amended guidance of visitant postulation and improvements to public services for illustration emergency consequence times.

The Future of Hawai‘i Island’s Tourism

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority remains committed to fostering a sustainable tourism model that supports local communities while ensuring that Hawai‘i Island remains an charismatic destination for visitors. By engaging pinch nan section community, nan HTA is striving to create a destination guidance plan that useful for everyone.

The feedback from these community input sessions will thief shape nan early of tourism connected Hawai‘i Island, pinch an accent connected environmental conservation, community empowerment, and a balanced tourism strategy. The sessions will proceed into December 2025 to guarantee that each sound is heard and considered successful nan decision-making process.