New HTA advisory board under pressure to regain public trust

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority advisory board — composed of eight new members and four returning ones — met Thursday with the hope of achieving a paradigm shift that proves its trustworthiness to manage state tourism and the tens of millions of dollars of public money that funds it.

The meeting began with an opening cultural protocol from one of Gov. Josh Green’s new advisory board picks, Troy Lazaro, a kumu hula and Native Hawaiian cultural steward, who spoke about huliau — which means to turn.

Lazaro said, “We’re taking what was done in the past and giving it a new light and a new life.”

The new board has a lot to prove following the scandals of earlier this year, some of which remain unresolved. HTA has undergone dramatic leadership shake-ups as it has struggled to address significant