Money for tourism czar salary sought
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
While the tourism industry eagerly awaits the appointment of the state's Cabinet-level tourism liaison, Gov. Linda Lingle said she has delayed the announcement while she searches for private financing from business associations to help pay for the appointee's salary.
"I have someone who I'd like to offer it to if I had the money to do it," Lingle said this week. "We're looking for private-sector funding because we really can't get someone of the caliber we're looking for to walk out of industry, and all the people we're considering right now will have to come out of industry."
Lingle didn't reveal how much she would like to pay the tourism liaison, but department directors draw an annual salary of $85,302.
She also pointed to others in state agencies who are paid more than $100,000 a year, including Hawai'i Tourism Authority executive director Rex Johnson, who is paid $240,000, and University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle, who makes almost $450,000.
In explaining why the liaison position should draw a high salary, Lingle said: "I think it's because long ago it was recognized that to attract a broader pool of people it's going to take pay. It's just a fairness issue from our point of view as well."
The state, facing a $167 million budget shortfall, is not in a position to pay top dollar for the crucial tourism position.
"We don't have the funds to do that, nor are we allowed to pay at the level I think we have to," Lingle said.
Lingle said she does not think it is appropriate to take money from private companies, although some businesses talked to her about money for the job. Instead, Lingle said she is seeking private financing from associations and industry groups. She did not name the organizations.
"It's just the industry saying, 'We believe in this concept and we want to be supportive,'" Lingle said. "I'm not going to take any private company money in order to fund this position."
Lingle has not said what the duties and responsibilities of the tourism liaison will be, and she has put a priority on appointing people to existing Cabinet positions before turning her attention to the tourism liaison appointment.
But some in the tourism industry are already proposing lists of projects for the soon-to-be-named tourism czar.
Most recently, Outrigger Enterprises Inc. chairman Richard Kelley told employees at a company meeting yesterday that he thinks a minister of tourism should be an "activist" who advocates for additional flights to Hawai'i and changes in laws that affect tourism.
"Decisions about flights and capacity are not made by the free market you've heard of," Kelley said. "In the real world, decisions about routes and capacity are made based on another principle, and that's the squeaky wheel."
Kelley said he also thinks visas should not be required for foreign travel to Hawai'i and that the tourism liaison should "make this an issue" in Washington. Hawai'i should be a "free port" for air travel, he said, one that is exempt from cabotage laws that prohibit foreign airlines such as Japan Airlines from flying to Hawai'i and then on to the Mainland without first stopping in a foreign port.
Advertiser staff writers Gordon Pang and Lynda Arakawa contributed to this report. Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.
