HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority — in partnership with the counties of Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, Maui and Honolulu — have selected more than 100 community and cultural events and programs to receive funding under its County Product Enrichment Program this year. Nineteen Kaua‘i County programs are among them.
“The wide range of events selected this year showcase what makes Hawai‘i a special place to visit and live, while also helping to draw visitors during the slower shoulder spring and fall season,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the tourism authority.
“In working with the counties, we were also able to select programs that are unique to each of the Hawaiian Islands and highlight our diverse and rich culture and heritage,” he said in a news release.
Among the 19 Kaua‘i County programs and events selected for funding are the Festival of Lights, Waimea Town Celebration, Koloa Plantation Days Rodeo, the Red Clay Jazz Festival, the Polynesian Festival, the Coconut Festival and the Banana Polka Roundup.
The County Product Enrichment Program supports the tourism authority’s efforts to contribute to Hawai‘i’s community programs and events, the tourism authority news release states.
The tourism authority, along with county visitors bureaus, are working with the funding recipients to better align themselves with the branding of their respective islands, the release states.
The County Product Enrichment Program was created in 2002 as a partnership between the tourism authority and the four counties to strengthen and diversify state tourism and provide a quality visitor experience, the release states.
Through the program, the four counties receive funding and other resources in the niche areas of agri-tourism, cultural tourism, eco-tourism, edu-tourism, health and wellness tourism, sports and techno-tourism.
