HONOLULU -
The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, the state’s largest private sector tourism organization with 700 members representing more than 50,000 hotel rooms and nearly 40,000 lodging workers, announced on Saturday its endorsements of state and county candidates running in the Primary Election on August 11.
The selections were made after what HLTA President & CEO Mufi Hannemann described as an “exhaustive and comprehensive” month long endorsement process. It involved invited candidates completing a tourism-centric questionnaire soliciting their views on issues of importance to the hospitality industry; scrutiny of those responses by the association’s state endorsement committee; similar review meetings by the HLTA’s county chapters on Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui, and Kauai; and final approval of the slate by the HLTA’s statewide board of directors. Hannemann said the “endorsement decisions were based largely on island-by-island grassroots input and feedback from those most familiar with the candidates and their records.”
Governor
In the Democratic race for the state’s chief executive, the HLTA endorsed incumbent Governor David Ige, spurred by what Hannemann reports as a unanimous vote from all four HLTA county chapters and the statewide endorsement committee.
Hannemann said, “Governor Ige and his administration have been very supportive of the hospitality industry, and always accessible to our members. His leadership on tourism was reflected on how he heard our views on a potentially harmful resort fee bill and subsequently vetoed it. His administration’s stand on the as-yet-unresolved transient vacation rentals issue, which is a top priority for HLTA, closely mirrors ours. Moving forward, we anticipate collaborating more with the governor on ways in which we can continue to provide jobs for the 200,000-plus people who are dependent on tourism for their livelihoods and healthy quality of life.”
“While we are endorsing the governor, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa is certainly a worthy candidate. Her work as a senator, for example, in making the Ko Olina resort development a reality added a welcome new dimension for the visitor industry which continues to expand and flourish today.”
Lieutenant Governor
The HLTA recommended support for Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., also in the Democratic primary.
Hannemann said, “In a crowded lieutenant governor’s field, we believe the people of Hawai‘i would be well-served by Mayor Bernard Carvalho. The mayor has been a staunch supporter and ally of the visitor industry during his 10 years in office. He has been there for us through thick and thin, an important quality given the challenges Garden Island tourism has experienced over that time. His passion and support for tourism was also very much welcome and appreciated throughout the state, as he was an active participant in our HLTA events and activities.
“Hawai’i Island Senator Josh Green also received acknowledgement and support because he was a vocal opponent of raising the transient accommodations tax to pay for Honolulu’s rail project and was helpful in supporting the homeless repatriation program and backing the appropriation of matching state funds to address homelessness in tourism-impacted areas.”
Mayor, County of Kauai
Derek Kawakami won the endorsement of the HLTA in the race for mayor of the Garden Island.
Denise Wardlow, chair of HLTA’s Kauai Chapter endorsement committee and general manager of The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, said, “We faced a difficult choice in this race but ultimately decided that Derek Kawakami would be the best candidate for mayor. One of the candidates, Council Chairman Mel Rapozo, has been a strong advocate for tourism and led the charge in fighting the Legislature’s attempt to raid the TAT. But we felt that Derek Kawakami, with his experience on the County Council and House of Representatives, will provide the best meld of government and industry perspectives and priorities. He has shown that he is a collaborative leader who will have the unique ability to bring elected officials together from the state and counties to work in the best interests of the Garden Island.”
Mayor, County of Maui
The HLTA endorsed Mike Victorino in the mayor’s race.
Gregg Nelson, HLTA chairman of the board and general manager of the Napili Kai Beach Resort, said, “Tourism has experienced unprecedented growth in the county. We want to sustain the hospitality industry but recognize the need to balance industry needs with the preservation of our natural resources, demands on our infrastructure, and other concerns. Former Councilmember Mike Victorino will bring steady, experienced leadership to the helm of county government. The industry knows we can count on Mike to guide Maui, Molokai, and Lanai in the right direction."
Endorsements for other races are listed below.
Hannemann noted, “A few of the candidates we’ve endorsed will stand for election in the general election. However, we wanted to endorse them now as an expression of our appreciation for their outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry and tourism.”
Senate
Kaialii Kahele
Lorraine Rodero Inouye
J. Kalani English
Brickwood Galuteria
Ken Ito
House of Representatives
Christopher L.T. Todd
Richard H.K. Onishi
Cindy Evans
Troy Hashimoto
Justin Woodson
Don Couch
Kyle Yamashita
Lynn DeCoite
James Kunane Tokioka
Stephanie N. Iona
Gene Ward
Calvin K.Y. Say
Tom Brower
Daniel Holt
Romy M. Cachola
Sam Satoru Kong
Bob McDermott
Sharon Har
Lei Uemura Learmont
Kika G. Bukoski
Scot Matayoshi
County of Hawaii
Valerie T. Poindexter
Ashley Kierkiewicz
Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder
Maile David
Herbert “Tim” Richards III
City and County of Honolulu
Robert “Bobby” Bunda
Trevor Ozawa
Carol Fukunaga
County of Kauai
Derek Kawakami
Arthur Brun
Mason K. Chock
Ross Kagawa
Arryl Kaneshiro
County of Maui
Mike Victorino
Kanamu Balinbin
Alice Lee
Alan M. Arakawa
Kelly Takaya King
Mike Molina
Yuki Lei Kashiwa Sugimura
Riki Hokama
Stacy Helm Crivello