KAUA‘I – On Monday, August 22, 2011, Senate Committee on Tourism Chair Senator Donna Mercado Kim joined Senate Committee on Tourism Vice Chair Senator Ronald D. Kouchi on Kauai to tour various visitor attractions. Both senators also met with visitor industry professionals in a roundtable discussion to talk about current issues and concerns relating to Kaua‘i.
Many issues were discussed, but one overriding message attendees raised was the appreciation for preserving Kauai county’s share of the transient accommodation tax (TAT).
In attendance of the roundtable discussion: George Costa (Office of Economic Development for the County of Kauai), Pat Griffin (Lihue Business Association), Rowena Cobb (Kauai Board of Realtors), Mattie Yoshioka (Kauai Economic Development Board), Sue Kanoho (Kauai Visitors Bureau), Kirk Nakamoto, Tom Shigemoto, and Randall Francisco (Kauai Chamber of Commerce), Mike Hough (Kapaa Business & Professional Association), and Sandi Kato-Klute (Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association).
On behalf of the Senate Tourism Committee and its chair, Senator Kim, Senator Kouchi would like to thank the attendees and Randall Franscisco for organizing the meeting.
For more information regarding the Hawaii State Senate Tourism Committee and the legislature, please visit the capitol website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.
Submitted by Caroline Julian for the Senate Majority Party