HTA Destination Management and Stewardship

I propose that Green Fee funds for visitor impact mitigation and experience flow primarily through the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA). (Disclaimer: I am an HTA employee, though my views do not reflect those of the agency nor the State) HTA is the State's lead organization for strategic tourism management, defined in HRS 201B. The agency has robust RFP, grant, and contract management processes in place for working directly with community groups and nonprofits to responsibly manage visitor experience and impact on natural resources. One example is HTA's Kahu ʻĀina program, which reinvested $500,000 in community groups from January-June 2025. Other programs support capacity building, cultural stewardship, and regenerative tourism development. HTA's Strategic Plan and Destination Management Action Plans (DMAPs) provide a resident-driven guiding framework and vision for these types of stewardship, ensuring alignment and ongoing engagement with community priorities.