3 vying for state's tourism liaison position

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Three finalists are in the running to become Gov. Linda Lingle's new tourism liaison, one of the final Cabinet-level appointments to be made by the governor.

While the governor's office would not release the names of the top candidates, industry leaders hope the new tourism minister will raise the profile of their industry and accelerate discussions between business and government agencies, including the governor's office and the departments of land and natural resources, transportation and health.

"It probably elevates tourism in the hearts and minds of people in Hawai'i," said Rex Johnson, executive director of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority. "If it's a governor's special assistant type of situation, it just brings tourism right into the governor's office, which I think is a good thing because it's right there on the front burner all of the time."

The names on the candidate short list were submitted by a 16-member search committee headed by Maui Visitors Bureau executive director Marsha Wienert. Nearly 120 applied for the position.

"The mere fact that the governor is appointing somebody at the Cabinet level is really significant and positive and it really puts us on par with other destinations that have Cabinet-level positions," said Joseph Toy, president of Hospitality Advisors LLC.

Gilbert Kimura, sales director for Japan Airlines in Honolulu, said he hopes a tourism liaison can help visitor-dependent businesses like his to better communicate with the state.

In Japan Airlines' efforts to start flights to the Neighbor Islands, "there seems to be a lot of stumbling blocks," Kimura said. And he said he has had difficulty in the past finding out more about the state's environmental concerns regarding airport runway extensions.

"One person completely in charge of tourism as liaison, coordination and as a leader would be great," Kimura said.

Other changes in the way the state affects tourism may be in the works. Lingle is reviewing special funds, including $56 million designated for tourism in a special fund fueled by the hotel room tax. The Hawai'i Tourism Authority is also lobbying to be spun off from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to improve its efficiency.

Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470 or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.