Posted on: Saturday, February 26, 2005
Tourism Authority aids six sites
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
Diamond Head State Monument and Pupukea Beach Park are among the areas that will receive money from the Hawai'i Tourism Authority's Natural Resource Program.
Advertiser library photo • October 2003 Of the $1 million earmarked for the program, 80 percent will support priority projects identified by an HTA assessment of about 100 environmental sites popular with visitors. The projects, managed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, include: Diamond Head State Monument and La'ie Point State Wayside on O'ahu, Ha'ena State Park on Kaua'i, and Akaka Falls State Park, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area and Kekaha Kai on the Big Island. It also includes money for statewide signage and a Web site.
The remaining 20 percent of the earmarked money supports community-based environmental programs, including: the Waimea Valley Audubon Center's efforts at Waimea Valley Pond, the city's Diamond Head Lighthouse and Pupukea Beach Park, DLNR's statewide Alien Algae Clean-Ups and Marine Outreach Coordinator Program, and Hui o Laka Inc.'s Banana Poka Roundup on Kaua'i.
The HTA's Natural Resource Program is in its third year, said Lloyd Unebasami, HTA chief administrative officer.
"This just helps (visitors') total nature experience when they come to Hawai'i," he said. "It's really part of our product."
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.
The HTA is mandated by the Legislature to provide up to $1 million of its $61 million budget to support efforts to manage, improve and protect Hawai'i's natural environment and areas frequented by visitors.
Diamond Head State Monument will get money from the state Tourism Authority as part of the authority's mandate to improve areas popular with visitors. In addition to sites on three islands, the authority also will help community-based environmental programs.
