Posted on: Thursday, June 28, 2001

Tourism Authority OKs $1.2 million in grants

By Michele Kayal
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fifty-one groups and companies will receive $1.2 million from the Hawaii Tourism Authority for projects that enhance or establish new tourism products for the state.

The board yesterday approved grants ranging from $5,000 for a renewable energy fair in Pahoa, to $100,000 for Kaua'i festivals and Big Island educational tourism efforts.

The projects mostly focused on cultural events, but also covered educational, agricultural, ecological and sporting endeavors. The money often will be used for marketing efforts, authority staff said, or for efforts to create entrepreneurial opportunity for Hawai'i residents.

The board awarded $385,000 to 16 projects on the Big Island, $270,000 to seven projects on Kaua'i, $240,000 to 12 projects on Maui, $262,000 to 14 projects on O'ahu, and $40,000 to two projects that are considered statewide.

Last fiscal year, the authority granted $1.9 million to developing tourism products.

The authority also awarded a $75,000 business destination marketing grant to Pacific Marketing Corp. for its PRIME 2001 trade show. The two-day event will bring about 100 meeting planners together with Hawai'i industry suppliers. The business destination marketing program is aimed at financing events or products that further Hawai'i's image as a business destination.

The committee handling those awards granted the money to PRIME because it is scheduled to take place in three months, but it deferred action on other proposals pending an evaluation of previous grantees who have asked for funding again this year.

The board also voted to commission a survey from Market Trends Pacific to measure resident sentiment toward tourism. The information will update a survey done in 1999. The board approved a maximum of $24,000 for the report.