Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 7, 1 July 2006 — A community-based tourism plan for Molokaʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A community-based tourism plan for Molokaʻi

Editor's note: Trustee Coīette Maehaāo has given her eoīunin space to Dr. Davianna McGregor, an ethnic studies professor at UH Mānoa, who has prepared a eommu-nity-based visitor p!anfor Moloka'i. { f omm unity-Based Tourism: a Ē process by whieh a community is empowered to share its greatness while preserving its dignity ... and [the process is[ driven by a genuine desire of a community to share itself its history, traditions, and customs with strangers, as a means by whieh to support eeonomie growth." — Peter Apo, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association Moloka'i has recently completed a unique community-based tourism plan. Its

centerpiece is the hiring of a visitor coordinator who will work closely with a eommunity taskforce to perpetuate, enhanee, as well as create loeal events and activities that could attract and sustain an increased visitor count. A primary responsibility of this position will be the development, implementation, and promotion of organized, conununity-based activities, such as softball tournaments, high school and eommunity athletic events and tournaments, class reunions of loeal high schools, family reunions, cultural exchange/educational tours, and small, loeal conferences. The coordinator will also network with the eommunity to enhanee ongoing events like the Moloka'i Hoe and opportunities to work side by side in fishponds, taro patches and family fanns. The elements of conununity-based tourism for Moloka'i was first outlined in 1999 under the leadership of the late Greg Hehn, when our conununity developed a grant that resulted in what is now the Ke Aupuni Lōkahi-Moloka'i Enterprise Conununity. With an average occupancy of 25 percent, a

vision was developed to find a niehe in the visitor industry market to continually attract visitors who would appreciate the special, unspoiled qualities of quiet and relaxed rural island living. The conununity recognizes that our greatest assets are the hospitality of our people, our beautiful natural environment and resources, and our rich cultural heritage and traditions. Moloka'i wants to attract visitors who will respect our island as the "last Hawaiian island." The feeling of 'ohana and belonging is an important part of the cultural experience on the island. Visitors ean interact with loeal residents in a social environment on an intimate scale. The conununity should be weleome at all places that visitors have access. In fact, events should be planned as community events in whieh visitors are weleome to participate. Agriculture is an important foundation of the island's economy, including cultural agriculture, such as taro patches and fishponds. Regional food products and Native Hawaiian cuisine are additional attractions of the island that ean be expanded to enhanee the island's economy. The paniolo experience is another unique feature of Moloka'i, both historically and currently, and it continues to be accessible

through activities at Moloka'i Ranch. The single most important opportunity to expand visitor activities on Moloka'i is Moloka'i Properties Limited's plan to re-open the Kaluako'i Hotel in December 2007. Rising above the varied tourism issues on Moloka'i is the expanding sale of Moloka'i properties at escalated prices. For this reason, kama'āina who already have homes in Hawai'i would be the ideal visitor to attract to Moloka'i, including to the Kaluako'i Hotel. A popular bumper sticker sums up the sentiment of most longtime residents of Moloka'i: "Moloka'i: Not for sale. Iust visit. Our economy and lifestyle depend on it." The plan recognizes the need to separate the sale of real property on the island from visitor activities. The success of the plan will be measured with an increase in the number of jobs and enterprises related to the visitor industry and an increase in contributions to the island's economy from visitor activities and retail purchases. In the final analysis, the challenge is to "Keep Moloka'i Moloka'i," while expanding visitor activities that will diversify and enhanee a sustainable economy for the island. S

LEO 'ELELE • TRUSTEE M ESSAGES

Cūlette Y. Maehaelū TrustEE, Mūlūka'i aud Lāna'i