A progress report on the Kaua‘i Tourism Strategic Plan was released this week. It’s the first annual report on the plan that was adopted in 2006 to help us better manage tourism and to increase its benefits for the people
A progress report on the Kaua‘i Tourism Strategic Plan was released this week. It’s the first annual report on the plan that was adopted in 2006 to help us better manage tourism and to increase its benefits for the people of Kaua‘i.
The central goal is making tourism more sustainable and insuring that it truly benefits our residents. The document focuses on seven objectives, which have corresponding strategies and more than 120 action plans. The objectives are:
• To make positive contributions to the quality of life for residents.
• To increase the economic contribution of the visitor industry to Kaua‘i.
• To increase communications, interactions, and understanding between stakeholder groups, especially between residents and the visitor industry.
• To maintain and improve visitor satisfaction with their experience on Kaua‘i.
• To reinforce authentic Hawaiian culture ensuring the foundation of our unique sense of place and appropriate recognition of this culture.
• To contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the natural resources on Kaua‘i, including land and ocean.
• To establish a process for ensuring the plan’s implementation and coordination with other county and state plans; to develop a mechanism to track the plan’s objectives, regularly review scorecards and make revisions as necessary.
Sustainability is a big word and it means different things to different people. But there are good things happening on Kaua‘i that are no doubt taking us closer to true sustainability. Here are a couple of examples:
• International acclaim: Islands Magazine recently released its “Blue List” of 100 of the most sustainable tourism practices around the globe. Kaua‘i landed two spots in this exclusive list: Limahuli Garden and the county’s Kaua‘i Made program. In the words of Islands Magazine, “The 100 people, places and things that made our list are the very best of the world of islands responsible tourism. They are models that are working. And they are role models that should be followed and venerated.”
• Investing in our future: For the past decade, visitor industry businesses have proudly supported the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism at Kaua‘i High School, an exceptional program that readies our juniors and seniors for productive careers. Under the leadership of a team of teachers led by Director Leah Aiwohi, these students are literally shining throughout our state and beyond. In January, five Academy of Hospitality and Tourism students traveled to O‘ahu to compete in a business-planning competition. The Kaua‘i High School team came back with the top award for its business plan for the Bus Stop Snack Shop, which the group operates on campus throughout the year. Visitor industry leaders such as Sue Kanoho, Freckles Smith, Leesha Kawamura and Cheryl Michioka mentor these students throughout the year, and the results are outstanding. Wherever they go, the academy kids impress with their poise and professionalism.
The Tourism Strategic Plan will keep us focused on efforts like these that will benefit Kaua‘i in the long run. This is a long-range plan and, of course, nothing will happen overnight. However, movement is occurring and you can view the full progress report, along with the plan, at www.kauai.gov/OED
• Beth Tokioka is director of Kaua‘i County’s Office of Economic Development. She can be reached at btokioka@kauai.gov
