Posted on: Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Isle wave ad pulled following tsunami
| • | Visitor plan targets Japanese travelers |
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
Images of kids surfing may not be the best way to promote Hawai'i to Japan in the aftermath of the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami.
That appears to be the thinking of Hawai'i Tourism Japan, the ad agency with a $7.3 million state contract to market the Islands in Japan. The agency decided to delay use of a television commercial featuring surfers until later this year.
Other commercials, with images of Hawai'i's hula and paniolo culture, were given the OK and are already running in Japan, said ad agency manager Yumi Ozaki.
But a spot depicting a father and his two sons catching waves on a longboard and other children surfing has been put on hold.
Ozaki said that for people affected by the tsunami, the wave image "might hurt their feelings."
"It's just we don't want to interfere with the people affected by the tsunami and we care for them," she said.
As of yesterday, the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami had claimed about 150,000 lives, including 24 Japanese nationals.
The surfing commercial features 'ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro saying: "Not to be feared. Not to be neglected. Love it. Respect it. The ocean teaches important lessons. Discover aloha, Hawai'i."
"It says don't be afraid," said Takashi Ichikura, executive director of Hawai'i Tourism Japan. "I'm afraid we're going to have a negative comment from consumers."
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.
