Connecting With & Within the Kauaʻi Visitor Industry

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Kauaʻi Community College

This workshop focuses on helping businesses and organizations who either want to work in- or currently work in Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry establish connections between to broader visitor industry throughout Kauaʻi. The panel featured experts and success stories from within the industry and offers businesses and organizations who want to grow in the industry the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by those who have paved the road to a regenerative tourism model for Hawaiʻi.

This workshop was initially held in-person on Kauaʻi and invited attendees to take advantage of opportunities beyond this panel discussion to network with and build relationships with partners and others throughout the visitor industry.

The topics covered in this workshop included:

  • Having the community be the north star for what to put first, what to prioritize

  • Prioritizing kamaʻāina in the visitor industry

  • Balance - between: kamaʻāina, malihini, ʻāina, community, industry, economy, sustainability, etc.

  • Connecting visitors to community, culture, and place-based immersive experiences that educate

Speakers Profiles

Jennifer Luck

CEO, Common Ground Kauaʻi

Committed to driving lasting community impact, Jennifer Luck brings more than 20 years of operations experience in budget oversight and operations management, including multi-million- dollar capital projects, multi-stakeholder negotiations, fundraising and land management to Common Ground. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer from 2021-2023. She sits on the boards of the Kauaʻi Land Trust, Namahana Charter School and Kipuka Kuleana and holds a master’s in business administration from the University of Southern California.

Joel Guy

Executive Director, Hanalei Initiative

Joel has been the Executive Director of The Hanalei Initiative since its inception in 2018. As a lifelong resident of Hanalei, Joel has seen firsthand the transformations that have occurred on the north shore over the past forty years and the new challenges that have arisen as a result. Most recently, Joel has led The Hanalei Initiative to implement key components of the Haena State Park Master Plan, including the development and operation of a comprehensive park access system to manage visitation for a more sustainable high quality experience.

Sue Kanoho

Executive Director, Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau

Sue Kanoho has been Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau (KVB) since 1997 and is charged with overseeing the marketing, as well as management of Kaua‘i as a visitor destination. Sue’s work includes advertising, public relations, TV productions, travel trade promotions and community efforts toward improving the Kaua‘i Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP). Ms. Kanoho was recently promoted to Managing Director of the Island Chapters overseeing the visitors bureaus on O‘ahu, Maui Nui and Island of Hawai‘i. Sue was also the Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board for 10 years.

Fred Atkins

Managing Partner, Kilohana Plantation

Fred Atkins’ career In the visitor industry has spanned over 4 decades in the food & beverage and hotel operations on Kauai. His knowledge and expertise in the incentive group market led him to open one of the most successful visitor attractions on the island, Kilohana Plantation. He has been a representative of Kauai to the Board of both the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Kauai Visitors Bureau. His insight and firsthand experience has been an asset in helping not only the visitor industry, but community members, move forward in Kauai’s progress, while maintaining its focus on the people, place and culture of our islands.

Chucky Boy Chock

Executive Director, Kauaʻi Museum

Charles “Chucky Boy” Chock, originally from Oʻahu and is now a Kauaʻi resident for over 30 years, is a musician, minister and small business owner. Chucky Boy began volunteering at the Kauaʻi Museum more than eight years ago, and took on the role of Executive Director in early 2017. One of his greatest honors is sharing the rich history of Hawaiian culture, particularly the story of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau’s last reigning aliʻi nui (independent king), King Kaumuali‘i, to both kamaʻāina and malihini.

Moderator Profile

Ilihia Gionson

Public Affairs Officer, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority

Gionson brings more than a decade of experience to Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA), developing and executing strategies for federal, state and municipal government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations. He is responsible for anticipating, gathering, analyzing, and interpreting opinions, attitudes, and issues that may affect the organization and its mission, Mālama Kuʻu Home (caring for my beloved home) through the principles of regenerative tourism.

Resources

Kauaʻi Workshop Informational Packet

What is the FTA program?

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