Tourism nominee calls for freer hand

By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer

The second gubernatorial nominee for the Hawai'i Tourism Authority board of directors said she believes that the authority's incoming board should choose a new executive director for the agency, or have the power to select someone new — even if the director is under contract.

In a Senate hearing yesterday, Nadine Nakamura said the new board's ability to select the next leader — someone who "really knows and understands Hawai'i's assets" — is essential.

"I really feel that we need to start this off on the right foot," she said in testimony before the Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.

Nakamura, owner of NKN Project Planning on Kaua'i and vice chairwoman of the Housing and Community Development Corp. of Hawai'i, will represent Kaua'i on the board. Several letters of commendation noted her experience with business, government, land-use planning, strategic planning and nonprofit organizations.

Seven of the 11 voting authority members' terms expire June 30, beginning the most significant shift in membership since the authority was created in 1998.

Nakamura's questioning yesterday was the second of an authority nominee. Mike McCartney was the first to begin the process of legislative hearings and Senate confirmation that is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Hearings for nominees Steve Yamashiro, Larry Johnson and Sharon Weiner have not yet been scheduled. Nakamura's term would expire in 2006.

Nakamura also said she would like to see each county develop a visitor industry plan that specifically addresses community assets, infrastructure needs and product development opportunities to more effectively distribute the authority's grant money through the communities.

In a series of pointed questions, Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, D-15th (Kalihi Valley, 'Aiea), asked Nakamura whether she thought the authority lacked credibility.

Nakamura acknowledged that a recent state audit "raises a lot of issues," but she said she thought many of the problems could be solved.

Nakamura said she thought one of most important issues raised by the audit was analyzing the work of the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau, whose contract with the authority expires at the end of the year.