Cayetano signs off
on HTA restructuring

---

Star-Bulletin Staff

Gov. Ben Cayetano has signed a bill aimed at broadening the outlook of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

It puts 12 voting members on the board to represent public interests, up from 10 public members, and requires six of them to represent specific sections of the Hawaii economy such as transportation, retailing, entertainment, visitor attractions and local cultural interests. No more than three members of the board will be allowed to work for any sector of the tourist industry that comes before the board.

Legislative committee reports say the bill was intended to increase the number of HTA board members and at the same time broaden the board's expertise.

Cayetano has said he feels the hotel industry dominated the board in the past and it needs a broader outlook. Act 143, as signed by the governor, also limits the salary that can be paid to the HTA executive director to a percentage of what the Legislature allows as administrative expenses. The private sector will not be allowed to contribute to the salary of the executive director, a post that is currently empty.

And the new law says the HTA cannot write contracts for more than $25,000 without notifying the Legislature.