State needs to fix
parks, survey says
Visitors to Hawaii could come away with negative impressions of some of the state's natural attractions if they are not improved, according to a recent statewide survey commissioned by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Results of the survey indicated many of the state's most frequently visited environmental sites were not up to par with visitor industry standards due to aging facilities, deferred maintenance, vandalism, lack of parking and difficulty finding and accessing the site.
Of the 110 natural resource sites analyzed, the survey recommended that 23 sites should get funding first, including Diamond Head State Park on Oahu, Waianapanapa State Park on Maui and Haena State Park on Kauai.
The HTA hired Honolulu planning firm PBR Hawaii last year to assess the sites in response to state legislation that required that $1 million of the state's $61 million annual tourism budget be spent on natural resources, said Lloyd Unebasami, chief administrative officer for HTA.
"The assessment will provide us with a foundation to determine how best to spend the money," said Unebasami. The study is the first of its kind for the HTA.
The Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club hopes that the study will show state tourism officials that there is aÊlink between natural resources and visitor experience, said director Jeff Mikulina.
Over the past decade the budget of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has been cut and areas where visitors could experience Hawaii's beauty have deteriorated into miserable condition, Mikulina said.
"This study is crucialÊbecause itÊshows them that we can't divorce tourism promotion and natural resources," Mikulina said. "Visitors envison Hawaii as a pristine place, but once that perception is changed no amount of marketing will get it back. "
As part of the tourism authority's Natural Resources Assessment Report, PBR Hawaii prepared a strategic plan with project descriptions, including recommendations for physical improvements and management, as well as cost estimates, for each of the state's natural resource sites, Unebasami said.
Copies of the report can be obtained by calling 973-2258.
www.hawaii.gov/tourism
www.ehawaiigov.org
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