Hawaii Hospitality - March/April 2013 - (Page 3)
TALK STORYwith George Szigeti
radio.foxnews.com
Tip of the Hat to Climate
Change Research,
Champions of Tourism
Aloha,
I’m sure that by now we are
all well aware of the concerns
regarding global climate change.
Hawaii is by no means excluded
from this discussion, nor is our
tourism industry.
As such, it’s good to know that qualified researchers are
already at work addressing this issue in the Islands. The
University of Hawaii Sea Grant’s Center for Sustainable Coastal
Tourism (CSCT) is studying the impacts of climate change to
Hawaii’s tourism sector and exploring strategies for adaptation.
The project is funded by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and
includes research, outreach and educational components.
The research element requires compiling and analyzing
published literature and data on the climate-related processes
impacting Hawaii’s environment as well the economic value of
our resources at risk. As part of this process, priority sectors for
adaptation and the most vulnerable areas are being identified.
The outreach component of the project aims to disseminate
the results of the research and to assess our tourism
stakeholders’ understanding of risk and preparedness
as it relates to climate change, as well as their needs and
priorities in terms of research and policy. A series of outreach
workshops engaging community representatives, tourism
executives and other interested parties have already been
conducted on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island.
We appreciate that this project is moving forward and
trust that HLTA members will take an interest in supporting
its efforts. Visionary thinking on innovative ways to adapt
to anticipated climate change may well be the key to a
sustainable tourism future for us and could well establish
Hawaii as a model for other destinations.
…
Since this is my first column since the passing of Sen.
Daniel K. Inouye, I wanted to take a moment to pay tribute to
the senator’s legacy and his many contributions to our state.
It was said on many occasions that Hawaii’s three major
economic generators were tourism, the military and Daniel
Inouye. That’s no exaggeration.
As the senior member of the Senate and chairman of the
powerful Appropriations Committee, Sen. Inouye directed
billions of federal dollars to programs and initiatives
beneficial to our state’s economy and quality of life. There’s no
question that the senator immeasurably helped Hawaii evolve
from statehood into its present modern-day standing as an
international center for commerce, technology and innovation.
A major beneficiary of the growth facilitated upon our state
as a result of Sen. Inouye’s efforts is our tourism industry.
Directly and indirectly his many initiatives in support of
Hawaii’s economy helped tourism evolve and prosper.
For example, Sen. Inouye helped establish the Brand USA
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye
campaign, and was instrumental in initiatives to modernize
our airports and expand the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
The senator also was an advocate for interisland cruising in
Hawaii; in 2003 he inserted a provision in an appropriations
bill that enabled Norwegian Cruise Line to sail up to three
foreign-built ships in Hawaii without having to call at a
foreign port. Norwegian’s Pride of America continues to
operate seven-day Hawaii voyages.
More recently, he was a driving force in bringing the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting to
Hawaii in 2011.
On behalf of HLTA, I
also want to acknowledge
Sen. Daniel Akaka for his
decades of service to Hawaii
in Washington, first in the U.S.
House of Representatives and
then in the Senate since 1990.
Mahalo Sen. Akaka for your
aloha and support for Hawaii
and its people.
Hawaii’s visitor industry
will continue to have
champions in the U.S.
Congress in Sen. Brian Schatz,
Sen. Daniel Akaka
Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep.
Colleen Hanabusa and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
Our new congressional delegation is united in its commitment
to supporting Hawaii’s tourism and the economic benefits that
our industry generates for our Islands and our people.
Mahalo!
George D. Szigeti is president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging &
Tourism Association (HLTA).
www.hawaiihospitalityonline.com
3
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hawaii Hospitality - March/April 2013
Talk Story with George Szigeti
Point-of-Sale Software
Farm to Table
Outstanding Food & Beverage Professionals
News Briefs
Associations
New Restaurants
Clean Talk with Rose
Hawaii Hospitality - March/April 2013
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