Email Peter Sur at psur@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
By PETER SUR
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has approved spending more than $1 million this year for Big Island programs, sporting events and festivals.
The amount is comparable to past years, in which funds from the transient accommodations tax are funneled through the HTA budget and doled out to numerous foundations.
From the TAT’s 9.25 percent tax on hotel fares, a portion of that goes to the state general fund, the Hawaii Convention Center, the counties and the Tourism Special Fund. The tourism agency received $85 million from the TAT in fiscal year 2011 and expects to get $69 million in the current fiscal year.
Data released this week by Momi Akimseu, the HTA’s communications and tourism brand manager, show that the Big Island Visitors Bureau received $2.27 million for its budget, which comes out of the HTA’s portion of the tax.
In addition to that, about $1.1 million has been allocated to 31 programs in amounts ranging from the hundreds of thousands of dollars to $5,000.
Money from the 2011-2012 fiscal year is allocated to programs throughout the 2012 calendar year, Akimseu said.
Of these programs, the Ironman Championships and the Mitsubishi Electric Championship golf tournament at Hualalai received a combined $400,000.
An additional $105,000 was given to the Aloha Festivals, the Merrie Monarch Festival and the King Kamehameha Day celebrations in Hilo and Kona. And $63,500 went to the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.
Then there are the 22 smaller programs that have together received $357,083. A year prior, 31 programs received a total of $351,500, but that was before the HTA tightened its requirements and awarded grants to fewer programs.
“The wide range of events selected this year showcase what makes Hawaii 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 HTA, in a statement announcing the recipients last week. “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.”
The Big Island Film Festival and the Mealani’s A Taste of the Hawaiian Range festival each are receiving $30,000. Other winners, in smaller amounts, include the Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival, the Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Races, the Ka’u Coffee Festival and the 20th annual Panaewa Stampede Rodeo.
Puna’s Kalani Honua, also known as Kalani, is receiving two grants from HTA: $12,500 for a nine-day Puna Music Festival in late May and $15,000 for a Puna Chefs’ and Farmers’ Culinary Festival.
A portion of each grant is going toward marketing the respective festivals in Hawaii and abroad, said Drew Delaware, Kalani’s manager of marketing and charitable operations. The rest will help fund workshops and fees.
The second annual Puna Music Festival is running from May 19 through May 28 and will feature concerts, including one by an unnamed “big headliner” and workshops. The culinary festival in late October will feature cooking classes and events that highlight the foods of Puna.
“We’ve grown to be the largest charity in Puna,” Delaware said, charged with “providing recreation and educational opportunities from a Hawaiian cultural perspective.”
Email Peter Sur at psur@hawaiitribune-herald.com.